Review of A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) by Mike S — 07 Dec 2011

Can a robot be taught to love and be genuinely loved in return? Exploring this very fascinating subject, as well as a number of other philosophical themes, this well-crafted sci-fi yarn has much to offer when it comes to engaging moral debate.

Spielberg, who took over the helm for this film after the sudden passing of Stanley Kubrick, knows how to effectively win our attention and pull at our heartstrings. Many have accused this film of being too sentimental, and in some ways I may agree.

Overall though, I thought it was a very poignant and thought-provoking experience. Revolving around the fate of a "mecha child" named David (played outstandingly by Haley Joel Osment), it's a story that really gets under the skin, with its rather complex dilemmas and haunting visuals.

Is it right to treat an artificial being however we please, simply because it's not human? And where do we draw the line between life and non-life? You'll find it difficult to watch this movie, without pondering at least once about these questions.

Pacing-wise, things move very slowly in the first hour or so, but once David is set free into the world, the story gets a lot better and become really exciting and adventurous. Beside Haley, the ensemble also includes talents like Brendan Gleeson and Jude Law.

Law especially is really superb as the robotic "Gigolo Joe", who goes on the run after being tied to a murder he did not commit. Phenomenal special effects to boot, which even 10 years after their making, still impresses the eyes.

My favourite part of the movie comes with its final 30 min, where we are transported through time to quite an imaginative vision of Earth in the far-distant future. I wish I could say more, but I don't wanna spoil anything for those that haven't seen it yet.

What I can divulge though, is that it's a journey well worth taking. Especially if you're a fan of either of its two master storytellers.