I still remember the first time I saw A.I.: Artificial Intelligence by Steven Spielberg. I didn’t see it in the theaters, I actually waited quite a while before I saw it, thinking it seemed boring. And now I’ll never forget it. The way it made me feel bad for being a human and broke my heart for machines taught me something about humanity. And not in a great way. Bladerunner talks about robots being more human than human and in a lot of ways it’s right. And while I can appreciate and savor the thought it invokes, I was traumatized by seeing a nanny Bot die. I can still see it in my mind as if I were watching it in real time. And I don’t need more of that. We’re all stocked up here.

The Creator is a movie about the war between the United States and AI. It’s certainly a cautionary tale with the ongoing war against AI these days especially in the entertainment industry.  Early on in the film we learn that there is an explosion that causes the U.S. military to turn against them and deem them threats. As a result they kill every robot they come across and hunt down others. However, they are most focused on someone they deem the creator of AI and the source of all their troubles. It follows a man who loses his pregnant wife and can still feel the devastation it’s left behind.  He’s a broken character much like Decker in Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049 if you want a good comparison. But broken characters usually turn out to be the best heroes.

The acting is great, especially Madeleine Yuna Voyles. She really show s emotion when it is needed and an innocence when restrained. Of course, John David Washington can be relied on for a great performance, but I think he really shows tempered talent. And Gemma Chan shines in her small parts, though they are few and far between. She was better in the BBC sci-fi show,  Humans, where over the course of 3 seasons we get to see her fantastic character development as an android.  Sometimes,  you can’t do as much in a 2 hour movie compared to series.  Perhaps this story would have been better as a series!

While the cinematography isn’t anything we haven’t seen before, there are some beautiful shots that really display balanced and genuine aesthetics. I think they seem well thought out and even better executed, making a beautiful Sci-Fi movie much like 2021 Dune. The color palette really moves your mood and emotion, showing the director really knew what they wanted and conveyed it well. The story is one that isn’t wholly knew, this is an ongoing allegory of war between man and AI that will always be explored in Sci-Fi.  You can see that within Star Trek with the character of DATA  from The Next Generation series to Picard Series 3.  However,  I was happy to see a concept that wasn’t beaten to death and something that was told differently. It really felt like a journey, which you don’t see a lot of anymore. Especially with dialogue that feels organic and like it belongs. That especially made it a beautiful movie.   Overall, I thought this was a great movie. I would recommend it, whether you are thinking about a date night ticket or a quick matinee. Just remember to bring the tissues. There are a few touching moments and regardless of the details of your life…you’re gonna cry. I would give it an eight and a half, but since we don’t do that here I’ll say nine. After all, any film I can enjoy and not NEED a drink deserves to be round up.  😉