Artificial Intelligence (A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2 DVDs))

Member Name: sharktrager

Product:	A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2 DVDs)
Date:	14/04/02 (39 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's directed by Steven Spielberg, It stars Haley Joel Osment, The special effects are fantastic

Disadvantages: None

A.I. (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE) was Steven Spielberg's 19th film as a director, and for my money it is one of his best. Set in the near future, it stars Haley Joel Osment as David, a 'mecha' (robot) who is created by Professor Hobby (an inventor at a company called Cybertronics, played by William Hurt). This is the first robot in history who has the ability to love, and as a test he is 'adopted' by an employee of the company and his wife Monica (played by Frances O'Connor).

This couple's son had been seriously injured in an accident and David is initially treated as a replacement (although it doesn't come across quite as cold as it sounds). However then Martin (the son) gets better and comes home, and David is pushed aside. The remainder of the film follows David's quest to become human (in the style of Pinocchio) as he believes that then his 'mother' will love him more.

To reveal more about the plot would only spoil it, but suffice it to say it is a densely plotted film which spans 2000 years and involves an amazing performance from Osment. Other actors come and go through the film (including an excellent appearance by Robin Williams' voice) and these appearances are really nothing more than cameos. The real star of the film is Osment and it is a testament to his ability that he can carry off a film of this length. It can only be hoped that when he reaches the other side of puberty he will still have this ability intact. One thought that did enter my head whilst watching the film is what the making of it may have done to the boy. There are so many questions of reality and self that revolve entirely around David (and hence Osment) that I would be mightily impressed if he made it out the other side of the film with his sanity intact. Having said that I think that a lot of people would say the same about anyone working in films!

The special effects are also worth a mention, as they are phenomena
l. The only bad point are the futuristic cars, which don't look particularly futuristic to me. They just look like Audi TTs with three wheels instead of four. However, this is the only letdown as the CGI work is wonderful.

The history of the making of the film is very convoluted and I won't go into too much detail here as it is well documented elsewhere. Suffice it to say that the film was originally Stanley Kubrick's baby, and he discussed it in great depth with Spielberg in the years prior to his death in 1999. Spielberg then put everything else on hold (including the forthcoming MINORITY REPORT with Tom Cruise) in order to write and direct the movie himself in tribute to his friend. It is in fact a tribute to Spielberg that he has managed to merge both his sensibilities and Kubrick's in the final project. There are a great many touches in both the story and direction which hark back to Kubrick, especially in the infuriating ending. Kubrick seemed to love to create endings which make the audience ask 'Huh' What was THAT all about?' and that is definitely the case with the ending of A.I.

In closing I will say that I watched the movie at home on DVD and didn't get up from my seat once. I often have little patience when watching movies on TV and have to pause them again and again whilst I get up to make a cup of coffee and such like. Maybe it's a result of my being part of the MTV generation that I have a short attention span, but A.I. held my attention throughout - even through the closing credits whilst I was listening to the beautiful music scored by John Williams (a frequent Spielberg collaborator). I can think of no better recommendation than that.

If you would like to read the original story which inspire the movie (SUPERTOYS LAST ALL SUMMER LONG by Brian Aldiss) you can do so on this web page:

http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/0068.ht ml

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