Rating: Summary: The year's greatest film Review: I'm not too surprised to see some very negative reviews here, this is an unusual and challenging film that requires some patience. If you are looking for a breezy date flick or sci-fi romp, look elsewhere. If instead you want a thought-provoking quest that examines a whole range of fundamental human issues from daringly original perspectives, you must see this. Kubrick began by asking, what is the limit to what our machines can accomplish? Could a robot actually learn to love, to be human? By the end of Haley Joel Osment's quest, you might ask yourself if we could ever be as human as this robot. Along the way, the film also asks, how we are intelligent and conscious? What basis do we have for holding a machine, or a human, morally accountable for his actions? What is it that makes us care about our loved ones, or feel devotion to a higher being? How real is any human interaction? How much are our relationships really worth to us? This film elevates science fiction to its highest calling, to use fantastic technology and an outlandish scenario as the only possible method to make a totally new and original strike at the most basic human questions. In that way, it is on par with Kubrick's previous sci-fi masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and with the Carl Sagan film, Contact. I never knew what turn it would make next - I was astonished. The film's only weaknesses come from the changes made by Spielberg after he took over the project after Kubrick's death - for instance, the occasional and totally needless narration. Those are minor distractions though from a fitting finale to Kubrick's startling career.
Rating: Summary: A.I. Artificial Intelligence Review: This film is an emotional roller coaster ride. Perhaps people with younger children would be affected most deeply in all areas. The future depicted is both fascinating and disturbing at the same time. While the jump from David's abandonment to the introduction of Joe and the "mecha" world is a bit bumpy, the film as a whole is engrossing. The mother's role is very well played, you can feel the war of emotions in every instance. She clearly does not want to love this robotic child, but is helpless to do otherwise. Haley Joel Osment is a joy to watch. This young boy only grows stronger in his craft, and I find myself marveling that he is still a child. His actions were unerring, and the initial bonding with the human mother was startling and actually made me cry, as it was something my own daughter would do. The interesting thing is, that at no time does this boy drop into completely human behaviour. You always feel he is robotic beneath the surface. The ending is quite emotional, he acheives his goal and yet it is incredibly sad. This film is very much worth the purchase price.
Rating: Summary: MIA: The plot, which goes AWOL early in the story Review: I have always been a lover of Steven Spielberg's work. But he tried too hard to make this film reminiscent of the work of Stanley Kubrick, who began the film before his death. About an hour into the movie, the story takes an almost tangible turn from Spielberg's world of warm and heartfelt, tear jerking fantasy to the grim un-reality and horrific science-fiction underworld of Kubrick, whose passion for the underbelly of storytelling definitely has a place in the film world, just not in this particular movie. Closer to the end of the movie, an attempt to bring the two opposing ends of the spectrum together backfires, leaving the audience with benefit-of-the-doubt thoughts like, "Maybe no one could figure out the best way to end it," or, "Maybe he meant to end it an hour ago and the camera just didn't shut off." Either way, A.I. Artificial Intelligence is definitely not a feat of fine movie-making, apart from the captivating, however misplaced, special effects and the brilliantly mastered talent of Haley Joel Osment, who stars.
Rating: Summary: Great idea, not so good execution. Lots of peole have Review: an opinion so here's one more. It was just a bit disappointing. I was waiting for a "pay off" that never came. It just ambled along, very slow in some parts. The movie started with really possible scientific development that will happen, probably in the relatively near future. Then it concludes with something totally different. It was if the producers didn't know how to end it. 20 years ago ET was great. Today AI not so.
Rating: Summary: Save your money!! Review: Many people told me, don't bother with this movie. I should have believe my friends. This is one of the most boring movie I have ever seen. Save your money and save your time. I would rather watch the paint dry. Two cockroaches crawling up the wall is more interesting.
Rating: Summary: Emotionally stunted, dull and way too long Review: I really was hoping for a good time when I sat down with this movie last night. What I got was a complete waste of over two hours. While A.I. is visually interesting, the uber-depressing plot rambles here and there with no solid direction. I think this must have been a "movie by committee" where everyone involved threw in their ideas on what the characters should do and no one bothered to say "No, that is silly" or "no that will make this movie even longer". I was even underwhelmed by the usually fantastic music by John Williams. I think this is the first time I ever saw a movie with music by John where I wasn't enthralled with the score and couldn't walk away humming the main theme. This movie was a terrible dissapointment.
Rating: Summary: Remarkably Troubling Review: Any science fiction that abstains from the perfunctory space battles and photon death rays deserves the stamp of "remarkable." The films "Gattaca" and "Bladerunner," and the novel "Dhalgren" are examples of such daring outside the genre conventions, whilst still delving deep into the human condition. But no sci-fi movie I've seen to date measures the profundity of "AI". It took fifteen years in the planning from one of the most disturbing minds of the twentieth century (Stanley Kubrick), and throughout its two hour, twenty minute run, it provides a mixture of eye candy (astounding special effects) and a sphinx-like musings over what it really means to be human: to live and to die; to give and receive love.
In part, the movie seems to be asking, "Are we nothing more than circuits ourselves?" Does David's mother really love him, or does she only love what he does for her. It is not a question, as stated in the beginning of a movie, of whether humans can ever truly love "mecha", but whether love (in the spiritual sense we've known it since time inmemorial) even exists at all.
As for our existence, from the opening scenes we get a clear idea that this is Kubrick's (not Spielberg's) world that we are entering. The world is dying because of our own improvidence. This is what I especially loved about "AI": unlike in the vision of the "Star Trek" series and movies, human beings have not miraculously forgotten how to hate, how to betray, how to murder, how to destroy. All our vices and evils still exist a hundred thirty years in the future as they have existed since the dawn of civilization. It may be a bit mysanthropic to say that because our flaws are so fundamental, we can never hope to escape them. But in an age where people think they can solve problems by flying planes into buildings or blasting a whole country to pieces, it seems terrifyingly true.
That, however, is the most definite statement made in "AI." The rest is left for the mind to puzzle over. And this is a commendable thing, and it is a worthy homage Spielberg pays to Kubrick in not spoon-feeding the audience.
I understand that this dark aspect (and the out there ending) earned plenty of ire from several reviewers. But given our track record here on Earth so far, I find it hard to argue against the film's bleaker sensibilities, and the ending seems particularly appropriate.
The combination of Spielberg's directing and Kubrick's vision have created a masterpiece. Spielberg's occasional tendencies toward jejune spectacle is left out, as is some of Kubrick's more devastating existentialism. All actors give marvelous performances, but none more so than Haley Joel Osment, who must simultaneously hold in his emotions and convey the desperation of a machine who wants to feel. Not easy.
This movie will probably always weigh on my consciousness. And if you're one who likes to be challenged rather than be merely predictably entertained, "AI" constitutes must-see cinema. If I could, I would give it ten stars.
Rating: Summary: Amazing, visually stunning and thought-inspiring Review: I saw A.I. in the theater on opening weekend and was actually disappointed in the movie's ending (I thought it should have ended with the Blue Fairy). However, in the months since I've developed a fondness for the story, and its ending, and after purchasing the DVD and watching it again, A.I. has become one of my favorites. It is an incredible story, once you grasp the extent of its message, and a truly beautiful film to watch and experience. Both Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law deliver remarkable performances, and John Williams tops it off with a wonderful musical score that will tug at your heartstrings as the film reaches its end.The DVD is of exceptional quality, both in sound and video. The DTS sound is especially clear and lifelike. The bonus features disc is packed with short segments that highlight virtually every aspect of the movie's story and the effort that went into its production. It's a high-quality production, as you would expect from Steven Spielberg.
Rating: Summary: Confusing ending, if not pointless, but otherwise worthwhile Review: AI is a worthwhile film and it includes some good acting and interesting thoughtful elements, although the last sequence is a bit silly and screams of some kind of budget crisis possiby, I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
Rating: Summary: I have seen A.I., Senator, and it is no 2001 Review: Spielberg takes a concept from the master sci-fi director of all time (OK, James Cameron has a claim there too but anyway, work with me) and drops the ball while going for the ultimate TD, i.e. the besting of 2001: A Space Odyssey. It is all there, fantastic score, good acting, talking computers, 2.5 hours of screen time, last third to one half of the movie taken up by insane transcendental weirdness, etc. But Uh-oh, the aforementioned transcendental weirdness is not weird enough or transcendental enough to serve as a payoff and just goes on...my goodness, and on! The hotel room/Starchild sequence in 2001 - well what was *that* about? But it sure looked cool - and you were left to your own devices to interpret it as you wished, or just go along for the ride. Here we have an hour of aliens/robot descendants (who knows?) engaging in so much explication, moralising and unexplained (and somewhat pointless) acts of godlike benevolence that it would seem they are robot descendants of Spielberg himself, or aliens from planet SKG. The cool things: the scenes of an ice age New York are "wow!" and Teddy, reliable companion, eminence grise and sometime savior is mondo cute. But it's 2.5 hours that feels like 4. The thing about Kubrick, he knew when to shut up, Spielberg doesn't here - there were two places in the film where he could have cut and run, and it would have improved it substantially (SPOILERS: the two points are...!! when David falls in the water after meeting his "maker", and when he finally "meets" the Blue Fairy). As for the DVD extras, I have not watched them yet, so cannot comment. To be honest, once I see the main movie, and it is as much of a turn-off as this one, I am not that interested in seeing how it was made. Maybe that's just me!
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