A.I. - Artificial Intelligence (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
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complete misfireSep 02, 2010 This mess has no idea what it wants to be. Spielberg at his cutesiest and most annoying (yes, this includes the horrible Color Purple and ridiculous War of the Worlds). What WAS he thinking? And the cockatootie teddy bear. Give me a break.
Polarizing, but Very Though Provoking and Unfairly JudgedAug 21, 2010 I used to dislike most of Spielberg's movies, but after re-watching his movies, approaching each one differently, and not overreacting the emotional scenes in many of his movies, I have to say that his work has grown on me a lot and I like his work quite a bit. Sure, some of his films are pretty mediocre to bad (Hook, the incredibly overrated ET which unfairly beat out The Thing. 1941, Always, The Terminal, the disappointing Munich) and others are pretty much average pop-corn munchers (War of the Worlds, Jurassic Park, The Lost World, Crystal Skull). However, he has brought us some incredibly entertaining action thrillers (Raiders, Jaws), some thoughtful sci-fi (Minority Report, Close Encounters of The Third Kind), powerful dramas (The Color Purple, Schindler's List), and the best damn war film ever made (Saving Private Ryan). Even with that, I still have to say that A.I. is easily one of the most polarizing of his films, and the duality of two visions (Kubrick/Spielberg) collide into a flawed, but unique and engrossing, often breathtaking work.
A.I. in my opinion is quite a different breed. It's a polarizing film, and it's one of those movies that many people seem to love or hate. It's also a very thoughtful and question raising film, something I would almost put akin to Blade Runner, not as cryptic and dark. A.I. is a thought provoking and challenging look at robots, cloning and the way humans use Artificial Intelligence. What is love? How far can you emotionally go with a robot? How does a robot have feelings even though it's been artificially made? What happens when robots get so advanced that they become as humane as us, even when they are deformed? How much of a human are these robots? All of these questions and more are raised in the film on display, and instead of giving your answers, it leaves you with some through provoking things regarding the subject of Artificial Intelligence.
It also has a heart. Very much like his other works, there's a lot of humanism. Sure, there are some of the infamous sentimentalism known in his work on display here (my only criticism as a matter of fact), but I didn't find it as prevalant here than I do in something like ET, and The Terminal, and even Jurassic Park. There are emotional "sweet" (why do I make faces every time I say that word?), moments, but I found many (NOT ALL THOUGH) of those moments to be quite natural, actually, despite the music in the background trying to ham it up. Haley Joel Osment gave a completely convincing robotic yet humanistic performance, he never blinks and his skin is almost robotic and artificial looking. After all, David is supposed to be a child, so it's much easier to buy and be moved by a child. Most children aren't as wised up and cynical as many of us adults, so I found his innocence, and wholesome childlike personality to be quite natural. It makes the movie much more easy to stomach and is much more involving. Of course, if you are disgusted by the wholesomeness of a robot child programmed to love, you shouldn't be watching A.I. anyway, but that's another kettle of fish all together.
However, despite all that, there's plenty of icy Kubrick bleakness, and even Spielberg himself adds to it (The ending of the film was actually Kubrick's, not Spielberg's), such as the Flesh Flair scene, which was his idea entirely. Speaking of that scene, that's my favorite scene in the movie. With Ministry playing in the background, robots being destroyed by a cheering crowd, and an industrial freak show type of feeling to it, I've never seen such bleakness in a Spielberg film before, especially since he cooked up something like that. The film also has a somewhat cold feeling in it's atmosphere, and when humanity is frozen, there's a very chilly and bleakness to it, which should be there. In addition, the contraction between the two make me like the movie even more, as it alternatives and sometimes blends into each other. I found that both tones were welcome in the movie, and gave the film a much wider vision than it would have it just Stanley directed it.
Another great thing about AI is that's is dazzling filmmaking. The future that Spielberg presents to us is just dazzling, as he once again uses his technical poweress and special effects wizardry to make a convincing breathtaking look at the future, similar to Minority Report. The aforementioned flesh flair makes the nihilistic freak show come to life, and Hue City is beautiful. It's neon splattered, Vegas like future is gorgeous to look at. The future depicted is mesmerizing, while sometimes empty, feels peaceful, like nothing matters because time doesn't matter anyway. The robots themselves are dazzling of special effects, as well as many of the futuristic equipment, such as the bikers that capture robots for their flesh fairs. Janusz's dazzling cinematography is a wonder to behold, and he once again shows why Spielberg chooses him for every movie he does. John Williams's score radiates with wonder, icy futuristic music. OH sure there's some sappy piano, and it's not among his best works, but he once again that he knows the word subtely, much moreso than other well known composers (James Horner, I'm looking at you).
I have to say I highly recommend AI, even though I can't you will like it or not. Some say this may be the next Blade Runner someday , and while I don't find that to be exactly true (that one was agressively panned by some critics during that day), I do think this artistic work will rightfully gain some acclaim like 2001 did. With the advent of AI technology advancing, who knows what could happen. While AI doesn't fully explore all of cloning/AI and issues surrouding it, it still is a very emotional, very entertaining, and often thought provoking piece of science fiction. Check it out.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Not As DescribedJul 01, 2010 Although the description stated (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition) only 1 disc was sent and the disc sent was not the Movie but the 2nd disc that shows screenshots and how the movie was made and all that other junk that shows behind the scene shots etc. which i really was not interested in. Tried to contact shipper but got no response.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
A FLAWED GEMJun 17, 2010 I love both Kubrick and Spielberg, but this film should have been one, or the other. The gadgetry, and CGI visuals are superb, and Osment, and Law are simply outstanding as David, and Gigolo Joe respectively, but the plot was over-burdened, and tedious at times. I loved PINNOCHIO too- when I was eight, but I think fairy tales for people beyond that age either need to not take themselves too seriously, or have to have the edge that, say, Scott's BLADE RUNNER did. Unfortunately, this movie didn't retain Kubrick's darkness, and I personally think it needed that. This said, Osment imbued his robotic character with such heartbreaking warmth, and yearning that one couldn't help but be fascinated ( or possibly 'repelled' ) by him.
Despite the lapses in logic this movie still entertains, and not because it's uplifting. It's far from upbeat. It does make one think a tad, and feel, and perhaps yearn just a bit oneself- for what could have been.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
The After LifeMay 08, 2010 This movie is so touching and it dives in to the issue of the afterlife. Humans tend to want to live forever. We don't say why should I do such and such if I will die tomorrow. In our minds, we live for today and tomorrow. I love it!
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