A.I. Artificial Intelligence

Kubrick behind the concept, Spielberg the creator, and in the end, a beautiful film full of naive searching, simple and human thoughts, breathtaking performances by Osment and Law, and a conclusion that can mentally overwhelm. I admire this film for being able to combine traditional Spielbergian family values with a fascinating vision of the future, a plethora of technical gadgets, and many intellectual stimuli. (06/07/2005)

Artificial Intelligence: AI is a remarkable, extravagant futuristic film that, on the one hand, wants to be a fairy tale for the masses and, on the other hand, seeks to philosophically discuss the most complex topics of artificial intelligence in our world. In formal terms, it is perfect. John Williams’ music is once again brilliant, the performance of Haley Joel Osment, whose character’s great inner development is the basis of the story, is also brilliant, and the design of the futuristic world (especially the final “weeping lion city”) is breathtaking. But from a complex directorial point of view, the film is strange and chaotic. As it was Spielberg who took over this project, he should have focused on what is his strong suit and made it into a dreamy, emotionally engaging and heartwarming work. Combining the uncombinable does not pay off. (09/04/2018)

A futuristic tale wrapped in the fine veil of a Disney classic about a robot/puppet who wants to become a normal boy, directed by one of my favourite and most respected directors of all time... well, that's a big attraction, and not just for me. The story is brilliantly composed, and even though at times I felt it was a bit wild, the ending made up for it. Haley Joel Osment is amazing in his role, and for most viewers, myself included, he will always be that child actor from A.I. and The Sixth Sense. Audiovisually, it's a gem, but that's not unexpected after Steven Spielberg's "dinosaur wonder". And I'm pretty sure that if I had seen the film when it premiered, I would have begged my parents for Teddy, because there are very few toys like that indeed. In short, it's not a perfect film, and it could have easily been twenty minutes shorter, but within its genre it's beautiful and memorable. (07/08/2011)

A captivating and visionary sci-fi film that is unlike anything ever made before. It's not worth arguing about whether Kubrick would have done it better or worse. Spielberg made the film the way he wanted and did not embarrass his colleague. A technically flawless film with beautifully ethereal music and excellently chosen actors. A great experience and once again, one of the masterpieces of world cinema that will most likely never be fully appreciated. (26/10/2003)

A post-humanity horror film and a film that strays heavily from Spielberg's previous style. It feels very closed, isolated, surreal, and most importantly, fatal. Despite its piecemeal screenwriting and production missteps, it is an exceptional film in how convincingly it closes the human chapter. Not just in the story, but also in the work with visuals, with Kaminski working with a tightly defined, hazy space and the role of sounds and music here uncharacteristically subdued for Spielberg and Williams, giving the film the impression of a memory even as you watch. (16/01/2022)