Rating: Summary: Kubrick from beyond the grave... Review: A fine swan song to supplant Eyes Wide Shut, this idea of Kubrick's was a labor of love. Work for it carried on for close to 20 years going through many revisions and ideas. When his death came to pass, with Kubrick's wife's blessing, Spielberg (a constant contributor to Kubrick's process with the film) got the go ahead to put his spin on what Kubrick had done up to that point. Based on a short story called "Do Robots dream of Electric Sheep?" the tale is that of a sentient robot boy who wants nothing more than to love his adopted mother. With little leaked from the set of the film, not many people knew what to expect from this film, and suprisingly, the reaction was mixed. People enjoyed his take on "Pinochicco", while others didn't get it and felt like they were watching a ... Granted the ending feels very out of place with the rest of the film, it's very touching and makes you realize that there's no one you can love more than your parents. If there's anything that's lasting with this film, it's more the websites that went with the film. Very bizzare, but easily besting anything the Blair Witch Project could've hoped for...
Rating: Summary: A completely underrated film Review: I think the problem with this film is that it tried to appeal to a mass audience -- and it went way over its head. If you are an SF reader, or just like to think about what is not in the realm of commonly accepted wisdom, you will find it one of the most intelligent and touching movies ever. The acting is nothing short of superb. Haley Joel Osment walks perfectly the tightrope between playing a boy and playing a robot that has a very sophisticated program to make him pretend to be a boy. He remains a robot throughout, but only if you are careful -- otherwise his program can easily seduce you in forgetting who he is. Jude Law has what must have been one of the most fun parts ever, and his robot gigolo with a heart of gold is every bit as memorable as any Oz character. Other supporting roles are very ably handled. The imagery is also breathtaking, with sunken New York and the town of the robot witch-hunt being poignantly rendered. The emphasis is on strangeness but the effect is beauty as well. But the best part is the central search for meaning by a character to whom meaning is just a definition. In watching the un-human way that the little robot pursues his dream, you get to wonder how much of our own thinking is just even better programming by mother nature. Where does free will come in? I only gave the movie four stars because the last 10 minutes or so (set centuries after the rest of the movie) comprise a deus-ex-machina 'solution' that is quite pointless and should have been cut. The movie really should have ended with the boy endlessly -- and contentedly -- waiting for the answers that will never come. Spielberg perhaps felt that this would have been too frustrating, but his attempt at a 'solution' diminishes what could have been an all-time masterpiece.
Rating: Summary: at least it has it's share of fans Review: "A.I." is very, very underrated in ways -- oh, what the heck. Nearly every movie I like is underrated; but why for this film? Watching this in the theater was like a two and a half hour dream... everything was perfect. Now we get a glimpse of the DVD, and the packaging is perfect! And so are the extras. But I've read of nothing to do with any commentary yet.I was very glad I saw this film. So was the friends I went with. We all aggreed it was an amazing experience. And it is. Buy this DVD when it comes out... it'll most probably be worth it.
Rating: Summary: A perfect blend of Kubrick & Speilberg! Review: I'm not a fan of sci-fi, but when a masterpiece comes along, in any genre, I'll check it out. I'm glad I decided to gamble and see A.I. when it was in the theatres. This film, which shares the talents of both Stanley Kubrick and Steven Speilberg, is bold and intense. The effects are breathtaking, but its such a small aspect to this powerful movie. It tugs at the heartstrings, energizes with unique action sequences, and offers a different philosophy about what the future might hold. On so many different levels, A.I. is a masterpiece that was made years before its time - and in my opinion, will remain as one of the most under-appreciated films in motion picture history.
Rating: Summary: Absolutely Insane Review: There are three mistakes concerning this movie: 1. It should not have been made. The last 45 minutes are complete junk to supply the audience with a happier ending. I only have a 1000 words here, so I will leave out every other aspect about the movie (they all are bad). 2. It should not have been shown in theatres. I feel my soul and brain are now two steps lower on the evolutionary ladder for having seen it. After leaving the show I began calling everyone in my cell phone memory, "DO NOT SEE AI, NOT EVEN FOR MORBID CURIOSITY!" 3. It should not have been mass produced. Just like the robots who wouldn't die, these DVDs will linger in stores until the employees use them for decorations.
Rating: Summary: Not For Everybody, But.......... Review: After reading about a zillion reviews of this movie, most of them negative on the whole, I will risk a minority opinion. I saw this film when it was first released and I thought (and still believe) that it is vastly underrated. Yes, I was perplexed by the ending, since it is somewhat ambivalent, and the film could have been shortened by 20 minutes or so, by way of some judicious editing on the part of Mr. Speilberg. But overall, I found the film to be visually stunning, the characters entirely believable and the plot somewhat complex (hint: one must reflect on the film, in order to truly appreciate its major themes, that playing God is a risky endeavor and that to love does not mean that one's love will be returned, even by a "parent". Obviously, some people prefer not to think, reflect or otherwise be challenged by art.) I cannot remember when a "sci-fi" film so moved my emotions, and I'm not a terribly emotional person. The last 30 minutes of the film are the key to understanding its messages, especially the precious state of being human and how extraordinary we humans really are.....the robots of the future (in the film's ending) understand this, but do we? By the way, this film should win an award for special effects, the robots and the technology really are incredible. I can't wait to see the "bonus materials" on the DVD; I will probably buy the DVD for that reason alone. Do yourself a favor, buy or rent this DVD and watch the entire film again........it demands repeated viewings.
Rating: Summary: Outstanding metaphore Review: God, man. Man, android. The second wants to become the first. None of them can. That's the metaphore behind this movie. It`s a shame that it had to take almost 3 hours to express eternity and death.
Rating: Summary: Excellent Review: The movie requires you to tune into and see the deeper meaning of the story if you do not understand the story I pity you, for this is a great film. A true "Thinking Persons" film with amazing special effects, Good actors and Inspired direction. Very worth watching, A must for your DVD collection.
Rating: Summary: second favorite film of 2001 Review: My number one pick is David Lynch's Mulholland Drive. Most people i talk to dislike A.I. immensely. But, when i ask them why, all they say is "Spielberg stinks". Being myself one who generally leans toward a dislike of the trademark spielberg sappiness, i was pleasantly surprised by this film. it is far from perfect, i'll be the first to admit, and i would have loved to have seen a Kubrick directed version of it.. but Kubrick, sadly, is no longer with us. Even he, before his death, recognized that this film was better suited to Spielberg. I respect that. And i absolutely loved this film. Visually, emotionally, conceptually, and philosophically, it is not one you'll soon forget, unless you go into it with a closed mind and a hate for all things spielberg. But, then again, if you watch movies with that kind of attitude, you're likely to miss alot of the great cinematic efforts of your time. Perhaps AI isn't quite the Mona Lisa of film, but few are, and AI has more meaning and depth in the first 15 minutes alone than 90% of the garbage Hollywood has released in its entire existence put together.
Rating: Summary: A.I. Review: This movie is not alone a sci-fi-Adventure movie, it's a whole Pinocchio inspired universe in the near future, words cannot describe this movie, you have to watch it, if you're a big Spielberg fan! Elder school kids will love this entertaining and educating movie about our society, and the world, that could end like this movie.
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