2001: A Pinocchio Odyssey (A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2 DVDs))

Member Name: ed.carter

Product:	A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2 DVDs)
Date:	23/09/01 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Effects, acting, ethical questioning

Disadvantages: Disappointing end

In case you don't know, AI (Artificial Intelligence) is an effort from Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick. It follows the story of David, who's love, as we are told from the trailer, is real, but he is not.

Why not? I hear you ask. Because he is a robot.

/** THE BASICS

It's some time in the distant future, where the ice caps have melted and technology has progressed to a level where we are now using artificial intelligence beyond what we are at the present - "A monster that can play chess" - is a good example from the film.

Now as we know, computers follow a basic code, and they are set apart from humans where they have to deal with conflicting situations. Artificial intelligence simulates the minds ability to deal with complex situations beyond what a machine can usually deal with.

The emphasis is on simulation. For example, in the film, the robots (or mechas as they are referred to) cannot 'feel' pain, but have a program that can 'react' in a similar way to how humans do if were to experience pain.

The basic plot behind AI is to create a mecha child, that can 'love' his 'parents', but never get ill, or do anything wrong. In theory.

"He knows how to love, so it stands to reason he can learn how to hate..."

/**THE PLOT

Meet Henry and Monica. They have a child called Martin, but he is seriously ill. We never really find out why, but he is frozen, presumably because there is no cure for what he has, and he will be defrosted when one arrives. That's my idea, but you can make up your own explanation.

Henry and Monica are the first to have a prototype of David, the mecha child. At first Monica is dead against the idea, mainly due to the fact that David is beyond doubt the scariest child in the world.

She eventually falls in love with him, because she misses her own son, and he even starts to call
her 'mummy'.

Evrything goes fine until Martin makes a recovery, and being a child he instantly takes a dislike to David (naturally), and does everything in his power to get him in trouble. This is where we see David having trouble coping with certain complex decisions.

Despite David being a machine, his emotions go far deeper than even his creators can imagine, and he experiences jealosy. This is where the trailer misleads you (as I have read in a title of another opinion). I thought that after this, AI mechas would try to overthrow the world, and destroy humankind (like Terminator, The Matrix). It doesn't. It goes on to delve into many different extremes and looks at the potential gains, and the numerous flaws of creating thinking machines.

/** THE THOUGHTS

This film provokes many ethical questions, as Jurassic Park did about cloning. Should we really make children like 'toys' that are merely discarded when we get fed up with them? If these machines can really think, how do we make them feel?

Halley Joel Osment does an excellent job of portraying the modern day pinocchio who only wants to become a real boy, and be loved himself. He can learn how to love, but since he is not real, he can never really be loved back.

"They love what you do for them, not what you are"

He goes on to meet Gigalo Joe, a mecha lover (yes you heard right). Joe is on the run, as are many mechas, and are chased by humans who are against all artificial life. They are hunted down and thrown into modern day colosseums, and killed Running Man style.

This is another example of how this film explores from different angles. This is like the racist angle, which would probably happen if this film were to actually take place.

/** AFTERTHOUGHTS

It may sound like I've told you a lot about this film, and revealed too much plot, but I haven't.

This film goes wa
y beyond that what I have told you, and does make you think. It poses the questions about 'man playing god' as is often mentioned nowadays, whilst telling an emotional tale that will sadden some.

It's also a very long film (around two and a half hours) and some parts are dragged out for longer than necessary.

I was content with this film. It is not an action film, but rather a provoking one, designed to make you question yourself, and science.

I was content until the end. It felt as though the end was stuck on just to give it an ending, rather than leaving us to interpret it how we would like, which I would prefer.

The end is overly long, and a little confusing, not to mention unnecessary.

/** TO CONCLUDE

I have given this film three stars. You should see it, but only after considering what I have said. It is not an action film like the trailer suggests, so don't go expecting action.

It reminded me a little of 'Explorers', a film about some children who go into space. There was a great build up, but an unsatisfactory end.

The acting quality is generally good, and the music not too intrusive. The ideas are clever and the special effects are stunning.

I'm just not really sure how I feel. It did not leave me happy, sad, or anything really. And I feel it left some questions unanswered.

/** A WARNING

Before I saw AI I was warned of the final scenes, which involve a skyline of Manhattan. The trade centres are still up, with scenes of devastation and toppled buildings around it. I thought some of you should know.

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