Video Capsule: A.I (6/10)

[Tom Samborski]

A.I

Stars: Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O'Connor,William Hurt

This film was quite a disapointment for me. The special effects were mind blowing, and it had a great premise, but it was too long, and there were quite a few plot holes. One big plot hole is when the robot boy's mother leaves him in the forest. I don't understand why she left him there, and in that way. The length of the movie was an issue too. You expect the film to end at many points, but it doesn't. The ending was very sappy too, although it had great visuals. Haley Joel Osment was great as David the robot, and so was Jude Law, but the acting by everyone else was poor. It shows that A.I concentrates more at becoming a thrill-fest with visuals, rather then becoming a great all-around movie with a good plot.

[This message has been edited by Tom Samborski (edited 09-16-2002).]

[Tuukka]

One big plot hole is when the robot boy's mother leaves him in the forest. I don't understand why she left him there, and in that way

RE: It was stated in the film that if a parent doesn't want his/her robot child anymore, the mecha has to be de-activated. In other words, killed.

Mother didn't love David like a mother loves a son, but she didn't want David to be killed either. So she dumped him in the forest, where he at least potentially had the change to survive from humans. This way she was also able to keep her consciousness more clean.

It's a very similar thing to what people do to pet cats when they don't want them anymore. They dump the cats to woods. It happens all the time.

Personally I would give the film 8/10. I have written a review in the Joblo's review section.

[Tuukka]

Also, David was being a real pain in the ass for the family and he almost killed their real son, so it's no wonder the mother wanted to get rid of him.

[notchreturns]

Honestly, I was put off with the whole feel of the film the first time, but on many repeat viewings I started to respect and LOVE Spielberg's vision of our future society. The acting was pretty good all around. Osment handled himself very well with the lead role... kid never blinks!... and Law proved to be charasmatic and, at times, very powerful presence. William Hurt gave a convincing performance as the tortured genius. My main problem with A.I. was the acting of the parents. The mother seemed over the top and overwhelemed by the part and the father sleepwalked through his role.

The story was captivating and, in the end, my jaw was on the floor and my heart was slowly pumping back to normal speed. I was in awe of the visuals, the drama, the performances, the score and the tone of the film. Spielberg's script contained some memorable lines and, in fact, was very deep and misunderstood. Jude Law's final piece of dialogue summed up the film for me... "I am, I was." Like David, he is a product, his only purpose for enjoyment. In the end, he realizes this and with his final words "I am, I was."... he is, yet again, a product, a toy, a object we throw away when we don't feel the need for it anymore. The look he gives Osment is priceless and his final action, pressing the submerge button, gave me the feeling he was trying to save his friend who needed to get to the "otherside", away from the bad they have felt.

The final act, which garnered much hate and bad-mouthing, was actually my favorite act. Haunting images were thrown onto the screen ala Kubrick and John William's low key, sullen score put me in a mood I will never forget.

The ending itself is neither happy, or sad. It was bittersweet too me. David's emotions and deepest, most sacred thoughts were manipulated and torn apart by the mechas who were only interested in the human race. To me, mommy was never there, it was a figment of his imagination that the mechas were able to put in because of the the lock of her hair. In the end, yes he got his wish, although it didn't exist and the mechas got what they wanted. Everybody wins, but nobody plays honestly... just like in real life... just like humans...

A.I., my 3rd fav film of 2001, is a haunting, well-acted, emotionally deep film that embraced me with its awe-inspiring images and camerawork and keep me in tune with it's heart and power.

A.I. is quite possibly the most misunderstood film in the past 15 years...

PS: The final 30 minutes of A.I. contained the best direction of any film of 2001... http://www.joblo.com/ubb/smile.gif

A very high...9/10

[urbanlegend23]

This movie sucked. It was boring, pointless and unoriginal. I'll admit some of the special effects were cool and Haley is an amazing actor but it felt too over-the-top and inane for me to care about anything that was going on.

STAR RATING
** out of 5

[Mike]

I bought this movie back in the beginning of September having never seen it. About a month ago I watched the first hour of it but then had to do something so I stopped it. Well, I finally decided to finish it today. I must say that it wasn't too bad, but it could have been quite a bit better too. It's not really a mainstream movie so I can definitely see why it tanked at the B.O., no surprise there. It's a weird yet entertaining movie with some good performances, especially by Osment. I did like the very ending though, it was strangely beautiful.

I'd give it a 6/10. I'm not sure if it would be a C+ or a B- yet though.


One thing...

*********************SPOILERS********************* I had heard many people say that David died in the end, but that's not true. I was expecting him to die throughout the whole movie but unless I misunderstood something---he didn't.
*********************END SPOILERS*********************

[dh1989]

A.I. is a beautiful film. Speilberg's vision is amazing. The look the future where this film takes place is haunting, and sad. The acting is great. Haley Joel Osment, one of my favorite actors, is brilliant. His innocence is so great in the film. Jude Law is hilarious, and his final line is worthy of much discussion. The special effects are used to support the story, and they do not cast a shadow on it. A great film, on of my all-time favorites. 10/10

[Jerk Shapiro]

Stephen Spielberg did the best directing job of 2001 in this movie. He had to make it "Kubrickian", and by God he did.


This is a visually stunning movie, as are all Spielberg's. I love the premise of sort of a "futuristic Pinnochio". Very Kubrick!

Haley-Joel Osment delivers a great performance. I love Teddy, who should at least have gotten a Golden Globe for this, but...

Overall, one of the 5 best of 2001. And one of Spielberg's best as well.


MANIAC: 9/10

[willem84]

I don't believe A.I. tanked at the box office. It made 79 million in the U.S. as the 28th highest grossing movie of the year and over 200 million worldwide. It only spent three weeks in the top 10 movies. It debued at one and fell quickly, but I loved this movie. I have seen it eight times to date, and saw it the day it opened in theatres. I believe it was probably the only movie of 2001 that actually made me cry. The visuals effects were breathtaking and Osment's performance was magnificent. I loved Jude Law's and Frances O'Conner's performances as well, and I think someone deserved a nomination. This movie was more wonderful than I ever could have imagined and for the first time since 1993, i gave three movies a 10. A.I. being my third favorite. I recommend A.I. to everyone and there is just so much to say about this wonderful film. I definately think, like many others, it was before its time and underrated.

A.I.: Artificial Intellegence
10/10

[EdibleCannibalX]

Originally Posted BY Tom Samborski One big plot hole is when the robot boy's mother leaves him in the forest. I don't understand why she left him there, and in that way.

This was because she was going to go get him destroyed but could not do it so she left him in the forest.

[Dude]

EXCELLANT MOVIE! 8/10

After seeing this MASTERPIECE 5 times, I've come to the conclusion that what some may consider plotholes are indeed NOT... there is some thinking on your own you have to come up with.. which is what Kubrick was known for. I dont feel I was left hanging at all as far as plotholes are concerned. As for leaving him in the forest like that... that's a no brainer.. she was enroute to the facility that made him. She realized she couldnt go thru with knowing he would be destroyed, so she left him to fend for himself... still cruel, but she was pressured by her asshole husband who gave David to her in the first place. The husband obviously found out that David wasnt brought back in.... is it a too far of a stretch to accept that the company was informed that David was being returned, called the family and asked where he was when Monica didnt show up, and then they began their tracking of him? Not everything needs to be spelled out in a film, as long as there is some logic we can apply to what is perhaps taking place offscreen. ;)

[em_pretzl]

The storyline was a huge let down for this movie. This movie had huge potential, a modern day pinocchio story. I found this film extemely depressing that seemed to be all over the shop. I think that Spielburg missed out on an ample opportunity to make this film into a success.

[Dude]

On the contrary, A.I WAS a success. Worldwide Boxoffice says so:

Rank 29 with 235 Million returned on a 90 million budget.. and that's not counting another 10 million in home video sales.

[Requiem-for-a-Dream]

A.I.- 4/10

Rated PG-13 for some Disturbing Images.

What could have been an amazing and disturbing movie turns into a ridiculous fairy tale that has one of the worst endings I have seen in a large budget flick. The first 30 minutes are fantastic and earned the four points. But once it starts getting cliche and manipulative, it went right down hill. The visuals are beautiful, the effects astonishing but the story hollow and ludacris.

Acting- 8/10
All do well and play their parts with heart, which is a shame because the talent could have been used in a better movie.

Directing- 7/10
Much is vibrant and beautiful but with no reason but to show vibrant and beautiful imagery. The pace was awful though and at times it felt like hours for a minute to pass.

Gore- 1/10
A very bloody victim and some disturbing stuff.

Nudity- 0/10
None.

Matt

[Santa Clause]

Great visuals, great actors, shity movie. It was the most moring 3 hours of my life. The ending was very boring aswell as the other parts of the movie. It longer than it should be. It could have been 90 minutes long. They didn't need to make it so long. The director put as much not needed stuff in it to make the movie long. I say no more. 4/10 mabye a 5/10 for the awesome burning gas seen.

[Dude]

Okay, YOU are scaring me...

Scooby Doo and Tombraider rank like an 8/10 from you.. but A.I is a SHITTY MOVIE?????????? :confused: Opinions are just that .. OPINIONS.. but A.I truly doesnt deserve to be called SHITTY, while praising action filler FLUFF.... which is ok in its' own right.. but ... SCOOBY DOO & Tombraider over A.I????


HELLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPP MMMMMEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

:eek: :eek: :eek:

They're SO YOUNG Lord..... So Young....

:p

[Requiem-for-a-Dream]

Uh, I don't think you're talking about me but in any case, A.I. is shitty. It's beautiful shit but it's still shit. The reason I loath it so much is because of my innitial reactions to it. While watching it was wonderful until all the fairy tale drivel that Steven Spielberg loves so much kicks in. I don't think Scooby Doo is better or Tomb raider but I can't stand what Steven S turned A.I. into...a complete mess and a waste of time. But that's just my opinion.

Matt

[Dude]

I disagree with you about A.I being shitty... BUT.... at least your perspective is in place, by stating Tombraider and Scooby Doo are not better films than A.I... Common Ground! :)

[Requiem-for-a-Dream]

lol, I guess you're right. You're very mature and kind when dealing with opposite opinions, some people are assholes when someone dissagrees with them. Lets just agree to dissagree.

Merry Christmas!

Matt