“A.I. Artificial Intelligence” is a thought-provoking science fiction drama that works on many levels and reveals deeper meanings long after the movie is over.
“A.I.” is based on the short story “Super-Toys Last All Summer Long” by Brian Aldiss, about a little boy who lived his life not knowing he was a robot. Profound questions about love, reality, creation, history, religion and morality are raised along his journey to become a real boy.
Director Steven Spielberg (“Jurassic Park,” “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial”) gives “A.I.” a dark, eerie and ominous tone in tribute to the brilliant late director Stanley Kubrick, and manages not to have “A.I.” feel like a typical Spielberg film.
The special effects are excellent and give “A.I.” a touch of reality, despite their surreal nature.
“A.I.” was rumored to be Kubrick’s next film after “Eyes Wide Shut” and was one of several unfinished projects he was working on at the time of his death two years ago.
Although Kubrick (“A Clockwork Orange,” “2001: A Space Odyssey”) had never fully cast or scripted “A.I.,” he discussed the project and its special effects with Spielberg and others before he died in his sleep at age 70 .
Spielberg picked up the pieces and dedicated “A.I.” to Kubrick, definitely doing justice to his memory and body of work.
Kubrick is revered by film lovers and filmmakers around the world for his attention to detail, diverse body of work and choice of stories that surface in the deeper questions and darker side of the human experience. Kubrick was known to never stop shooting until he achieved perfection, even if it took 100 takes.
In “A.I.,” David (Haley Joel Osment) is the young boy robot with artificial intelligence programmed to love. He is adopted by Henry Swinton (Sam Robards) and his wife Monica (Frances O’Connor). Trouble develops and the adventure begins when David begins his quest to become real.
David has many interesting and unexpected experiences and is helped on his journey by his loyal super toy, an intelligent mechanical bear named Teddy (voiced by Jack Angel), and Gigolo Joe (Jude Law), a mechanical man, or “mecha,” made for love.
Osment (“Pay It Forward,” “The Sixth Sense,”) is well-cast as the almost-perfect human boy whose few faults - such as super-literal robotic reasoning - sometimes get him in trouble. But Osment provides a rare combination of innocence and seriousness beyond his years.
Law (“The Talented Mr. Ripley”) is engaging as the suave Gigolo Joe and balances the intensity of the film with a few lighter moments.
Teddy’s deep-voiced presence is occasionally chilling, reminiscent of HAL 9000, the computer from Kubrick’s “2001.”
Although the film runs a little long, “A.I.” is worth your time.
