A.I. Artificial Intelligence: Film Review by Kev & Ces

Entrance to Rouge City.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Film review by Cesar B. and Kevin N.-D.


Film Information 

Title: A.I. Artificial Intelligence

Release year: 2001

Director: Steven Spielberg

Screenwriter: Steven Spielberg based on the short story “Supertoys Last All Summer Long” by Brian Aldiss.

Lead actors: Haley Joel Osment (David), Jude Law (Gigolo Joe), Frances O'Connor (Monica), and William Hurt (Professor Allen Hobby)
Running time: 146 minutes (Wikipedia)

Trailer

General Review

In the future, where the designs and systems of artificial intelligence have greatly advanced, two parents wait for their son to awake from a coma. A prototype “human child” robot or "mecha" named David, who perfectly resembles a human boy and is specifically designed to love, is given to them to ease their pain. At first, Monica (Frances O’Connor) only sees him as a robot, but she slowly begins to express a motherly love after programming him to make her his “Mommy.”  When Monica and Henry’s real son, Martin, awakens from his coma and returns home, it is clear that Martin does not want a sibling and a rivalry ensues between the two “children”.   Martin even promises to tell Monica that he loves his new “brother” if David cuts off a lock of Monica’s hair.  After David drags Martin into the pool as protection at a pool party, almost drowining him, David is regretfully thrown out of the house along with the supertoy, Teddy. Outcast, David meets Gigolo Joe (Jude Law), a humanoid sex machine, and together they search for the fictional Blue Fairy from Pinocchio to transform David into a real live boy so that Monica can love him again.  This seemingly impossible journey brings the trio through futuristic cities lit with neon lights and dark, submerged towns, all to answer the encompassing, existential question: what does it take to be considered “real?”

The main character of the film is David, a “mecha” robot created to show love to its owners.  At first, we found David to be mechanical, especially since he always seemed to have the same blank expression on his face or an exaggerated smile. When he does express himself, it is through loud exaggerated laughter or yelling.  However, as the plot evolves, David definitely begins to nuance his emotions in a much more humanlike way and we actually started to feel empathy for him.  For example, when David is left all alone in the forest, we could not help but feel hopeless for him, given the situation. 

David seems to truly love Monica and is willing to do anything to be loved by her once again. The child “mechas”, such as David, were designed not just to show emotions but to have them. As his capacity to love grew, so did our sympathies for him.

Ironically, the most developed characters were the non-human ones. In the beginning, David gives off this uncanny valley effect, making viewers almost feel revolted by his appearance.  He makes more and more human decisions as the story progresses, and so by the end, the uncanny valley effect completely wears off and the viewers judge him more human than robot.  This concept can also apply to the character of Gigolo Joe.  At first, he seems to be weird and also gives off the same effect.  However, as the story progresses, he gradually seems to display human feelings and attitudes, especially in the way he takes care of David on their adventure.  We definitely felt more empathy towards these characters at the end of the film.

A change in Monica is also seen, but to a lesser extent, especially since she only appears in the first hour or so of the movie.  At first, she is apprehensive towards having David living with her and her husband, and so we see her as indifferent or even heartless towards David.  However, she quickly warms up to him and even recites the imprinting protocol, something her husband never does.  This last action really made us develop an attachment to her, and when she leaves David in the forest crying, we couldn’t help but feel the pain of a mother leaving their child behind.  We think this scene really made us feel for Monica and her situation.

Monica.

In our opinion, Haley Joel Osment, who plays David, has captured the essence of his character.  The way he speaks, the way the moves, and his facial expressions all tend to convey that he is not totally a human, but rather a robot acting like a human.  As David seems to become more and more human and less robot, his facial features, his voice and his movement all seem to become less artificial and more human.  Frances O’Connor was able to portray the apprehension her character felt towards David at the beginning and slowly turn this apprehension into love as Monica’s relationship with David grew.  Jude Law was also able to properly portray his character’s charm and charisma, while still creating the slight impression that he is in fact a robot and not a human.  He knew how to balance Gigolo Joe’s human and “mecha” sides.  We believe that the main actors cast in the film were properly chosen and accurately captured the essence of their character.

David observing his new environment.

Various techniques were used throughout the film that we thought helped improve the film.  Firstly, the sets are appropriate to the context and content of the film: they often match the emotion the characters are feeling or what is going on in the story.  For example, the sets for the Swintons’ house are very bright and modern, but also feature some organic materials such as wood.  This matches the modern setting of the story, but also matches the general feeling of warmth and love that the story features.  In fact, the house is where Monica and David develop a love for each other and so the sets of the house help emphasize this feeling of love.  However, once David is left alone in the forest, the sets become vast and dark, almost like we see in fairy tales, such as Snow White and Hansel & Gretel.  This setting of a dark, sinister forest helps emphasize David’s feeling of being lost and alone.  Additionally, when David is captured at the Flesh Fair, the set consists of a dirty and muddy arena, flames spewing from the stage, and the ground littered with trash.  This set fits directly with the scariness David feels.  Rouge City, where David and Gigolo Joe visit Dr. Know to receive information on the Blue Fairy, is very large and futuristic.  In fact, tall buildings and neon red lights represent Rouge City, further emphasizing its futuristic look. Rouge City resembles Las Vegas, and gives off a “vibe” of sin and vulgarity, a place where no child (David) should be.  The city helps to emphasize David’s feeling of being away from Monica and his general loneliness in this world, as he has lost the only family he ever had.  Rouge City also seems to be much more vibrant and energetic than other sets, such as the Swintons’ home and Manhattan, which matches the action featured in this chapter of the film.  All of these sets helped us connect with what the characters were feeling, allowing us to develop empathy towards them and create a certain feeling of attachment.

Rouge City.

In addition, the film features diegetic sound, such as dialogue, the sound of the cars and “amphibicopter”, and the cheers coming from the crowd at the “Flesh-Fair”.  All of these diegetic sounds make the film much more realistic and help situate us in the middle of the action by surrounding us with all of the environing sounds.  The film also features non-diegetic sound, such as fast-paced music to accompany action scenes, like when the “mechas” are running away from the Flesh Fair trappers.  These sounds add on to certain scenes to further convey each scene’s general emotion.

The film also features low-key lightning and high-key lighting that we think were used to appropriately fit the scene.  For example, at the beginning of the film, when David joins Monica and Henry, the lightning is mainly high-key, because there is a feeling of optimism and everything seems to be going pretty well.  However, after Monica leaves David in the forest, the lightning becomes low-key, very dark, to match the effect of David being “lost” and “alone”.

We also found that the circular shape was featured prominently throughout the move in various sets and props, such as the light above the kitchen table, the moon, and the circular frame of Martin’ bed. This shape is related to the circular journey David goes on, where he starts off with Monica, goes on a journey, and finally ends back with her at the end of the movie.  Even though the movie ends with David going back to Monica, David has changed from the beginning.

First look at David.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence also features foreshadowing.  For example, in the scene where David falls into the pool and drags Martin in with him, almost drowning Martin, David’s fall foreshadows his own suicide attempt near the end of the film.  In fact, the way David falls to the bottom of the pool on his back with his arms open is the same way he falls when he learns he is not unique and tries to take his own life.

David at the bottom of the pool.    

The main questions and issues raised in this film are whether or not robots can replace humans and their increasing presence in our world. In the movie, humans have robots as servers for example, but this new “mecha” of a child pushes the boundaries.  Are the humans in this film ready to have robot children?  Are they capable of loving these “mecha” children as much as they love their biological children?  This film also explores the idea of human emotions and whether robots can mimic these human emotions or ultimately feel these human emotions. Can these robots ever have emotions like humans? Can they mimic human emotions? 

The film is also about the love between a mother and a son.  As the story progresses, Monica develops love for David and loves him as if he were her own son.  This love is especially shown in her reaction when she deserts him in the forest.  She does not want to return him to Cybertronics, the institute he was fabricated in, because she does not want to see him “die”.  David also develops the emotion of love for Monica, to the point where he searches for the Blue Fairy so he can become a real human and live forever with his "mommy" Monica. 

The statue of the Blue Fairy falling apart.

Finally, this film also develops the themes of hope and innocence.  Hope and innocence are distinctly human, yet David, a robot, seems to have those emotions.  After being read the story of Pinocchio, David believes that the Blue Fairy will be able to transform him into a human boy, just like she did for Pinocchio in the story.  Pinocchio is a classic fairy tale that children know and love.  David, even though he is a robot, still possesses this child-like innocence and hope that he will one day become a real boy.  We would think a robot would be logical enough to know he can never become a human, but David still has this hope.  (1802 words)

Pinocchio.

Quality of the Film

This was another example of revolutionary film-making by Steven Spielberg. It may not be a blockbuster like Jurassic Park or Jaws, but it dealt with many ideas about the growing presence of robots in our world, the relationship between humans and robots and the theme of innocence (especially within a child).  We believe that these ideas raised are the film’s biggest strengths, because they leave viewers thinking about them well after having viewed the movie. 

Also, the choice of actors to portray the main characters was impeccable  as these actors were able to properly portray their character’s emotions and feelings throughout the movie.  It is important to praise Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law’s acting as they both properly balanced the robot side and the human side of their character as well as their character’s progression as the storyline moved along.

In addition, all of the cinematic techniques and theatrical elements helped emphasize the futuristic setting of the movie and add on to the emotions the characters felt.  The sets were well built and looked completely realistic.  The use of lighting added on to many scenes, further emphasizing certain aspects, such as the emotions of the characters in that scene.  The use of foreshadowing for David’s suicide attempt was well integrated within the plot of the story and actually showed that the story was all linked together.

However, the 2000 year time jump at the end of the movie was not necessary in our opinion, because it seemed as if the screenwriter (Spielberg) was looking for a way to end the movie appropriately, and this was the only scenario he could imagine.  It was as if he wanted David to end up with Monica, but the story could not end like that, so he added another part.  Also, since the movie was already quite long, this time jump simply made the film feel even longer and did not bring much to the story.

Overall, even though the plot did seem a little muddled at times, the film was quite interesting and raised some important questions our society will need to ask itself as we move towards new technological innovations.

Rating



Course Connections

The film also has the following connections to material seen in class:

1. Not only is David said to be conscious (as evidenced by Allen Hobby, who declared David a “self-reasoning being”), but the audience knows he is conscious because of the decisions he makes and the fact that he realizes certain consequences. Though a problematic concept to define, consciousness is "the ability to perceive or be aware of an external object or something within oneself" (McKinney). Identifying David as a conscious being is very difficult, because he does not seem to sense external matters. For instance, when he competes with Martin over who could eat the most spinach, he doesn’t seem to be aware of the spinach clogging his inner database, and continues on even though it could “kill” him. After the 2000-year jump, he awakes from the ice without even a shiver, proving how he cannot feel the cold. Time itself doesn’t seem to affect him; the 2000-year wait for the Blue Fairy to grant his wish seems to go by in a flash. However, being conscious is to be able to dream and immerse you in thoughts and ideas. Much like Pinocchio who dreamed of being a real live boy, David also immerses himself in the idea of becoming a real boy. Professor Allen Hobby explains that the objective of his prototype is for it to be able to dream, and by the very end of the movie, David is said to have closed his eyes and dreamed, proving that he is an intelligent, thinking being, and does not have to be a human boy to be smart. At that point, he was conscious of being conscious.

The nanny Mecha David meets in the forest.

2. Robots, or “mechas” as they are called in the film, usually have a core/minimal self, because they "maintain basic level of coordination of bodily functions and behaviours using an inner modeling capacity to assist motor planning" (McKinney).  Robots are conscious and their awareness is immediate.  On the other hand, robots are not usually considered to have a self-aware self, because they "cannot reflect or introspect, they cannot reflect on what is happening" (McKinney). Robots may seem to have feelings, but those feelings are actually reactions they are programmed to express to some predetermined triggers.  However, the film challenges this belief, because David, a “mecha”, seems to develop emotions, notably the emotion of love for Monica.  At first, David seems to only have minimal self, because Monica must read the imprinting protocol to David so that it may start to love her.  However, as the story progresses, it seems that the David truly does love her and that is why he goes on such a journey so that me may return to her.  He is aware that he is only a robot, reflects on this, and chooses to believe that the Blue Fairy can transform him into a real human boy like she did for Pinocchio.  In addition, when David finds out near the end of the film that he is not unique, he attempts to take his own life by jumping into this water.  Attempting suicide implies that you are aware of yourself and choose that it is no longer worth living.  In my opinion, suicide is an example of self-aware self. So, did David develop self-aware self or was he programmed by the scientists to think this way if we were ever separated from his “parents”?  Is his journey to be reunited with his mother a pre-programmed function or does he embark on this journey on his own?  Other characters also developed a self-aware self.  When they are first introduced, Teddy and Gigolo Joe also don’t speak of themselves as “I’s”, probably because they still believe of themselves as objects.  However, after the Flesh Fair, Teddy uses the pronoun “I”, and when Joe is abducted by the authorities he turns to David and says “I am, I was”.  This comes to show how through emotional experiences, these characters emerged as thinking beings and developed a self-aware self.

Gigolo Joe saying "I was".

3. When we discussed robots in class and read the article “Us. And them”, the main concern about robots that emerged was whether or not we are ready for the increasing role of robots in human environments.  Are we ready to have robots all around us?  How will the development and increase in the presence of robots affect how humans interact and socialize with each other?  The film gives us an insight into the answers to these questions.  At Martin’s birthday party, the other kids examine David, since they have never seen a robot made to look like a human child; they have robots more as servers, like one child mentions.  The kids do not seem grossed out by David, but they are eager to “see” how he is built and all of his functions.  On the other hand, the film also showcases at the Flesh Fair a group of people completely against robots in human environments.  They are against robots so much, that they turn their destruction into a public event, where they torch, smash, and torture robots for their own personal enjoyment.  At the end of the film, when there is the 2000-year time jump, the narrator mentions that all humans have been extinct and advanced “mechas” now live on Earth.  Maybe the participants of the Flesh Fair were scared robots would overtake humans and that is why they wanted to destroy them?  This film showcases both sides to the question about the presence of robots in human environments.

Interesting and Provocative Questions

1. A.I. Artificial Intelligence questions the presence of robots and artificial intelligence in our world.  The film explores both sides of this issue with David developing and feeling human emotions, but also with the Flesh Fair hunting "mechas".  What are your thoughts on the growing presence of artificial intelligence in our world, such as Siri?  Do you think humans should be threatened or actually embrace these new forms of intelligence?

2. Even though she was apprehensive at first, Monica develops “feelings” for David and actually reads the imprinting protocol that makes him love her back.  Do you believe that humans can actually develop feelings towards robots or automatons in general?  Would having feelings towards these robots be considered as crazy and foolish?

3. Near the end of the film, a 2000 year jump is made and the audience is told that humans have been extinct from Earth and advanced robots have replaced them.  The idea of robots taking over the world has been seen in many other films.  Do you think that the idea of robots taking over the planet is actually realistic or is an idea of fiction?

Related Links

1. David’s hope to become a real boy is motivated by the story of Pinocchio that Monica read to him.  In fact, David believes that the Blue Fairy will be able to transform him into a human boy and he will be able to go back to Monica and be loved. Here is a link to the story of Pinocchio by Italian writer Carlo Collodi.

2. A.I. Artificial Intelligence is not the only film that deals with the aftermath of introducing automatons to human societies. Besides Her, and, Bladerunner, and other movies discussed in our Knowing the Inner Self course, the 2004 hit film I, Robot also delves into the artificial future and communicates themes of dystopia through cheap thrills and edge-of-your-seat action. This is merely a suggestion of another film to add to the "future of humanity" roster relevant to our course. Here is a link to the "I, Robot" Wikipedia page. 

Works Cited

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. Directed by Steven Spielberg, performances by Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O'Connor, and William Hurt, DreamWorks Pictures. 2001. DVD.

Carroll, Chris. "Us. And Them." National Geographic. N.p., Aug. 2011. Web. 06 Sept. 2012.

McKinney, Kelly. "Consciousness Lecture Notes." Knowing the Inner Self. John Abbott College, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. 01 Sept. 2016. Lecture.

Wikipedia contributors. "A.I. Artificial Intelligence." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 13 Oct. 2016. Web. 13 Oct. 2016.