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Firstly, let me say that I thought that AI was absolutely incredible.
In the time leading up to the release of A.I, I tried to think about the movie as little as possible. I didn't read any plot summaries, very few reviews, whenever the word "spoilers" appeared, I disappeared. I knew that if my expectations were too high, I would absolutely despise the film. With the exception of The Sixth Sense, every film I've gone into or watched with high expectations, I've been let down by.
However, my efforts were ultimately useless. I had to cave in and eventually read everything that I could find on this film, well, almost everything, I still avoided all the spoilers.
Then, after a long wait, the big day came along. I saw the movie at one of the first showings of the day, with exceedingly high expectations. Deep down, I knew I wouldn't like the film because of that, but I had pumped myself up to see it all the same.
Then the lights dimmed and the curtain rose.
Right from the first image, I knew that this film was different. And it's not because of the breathtaking special effects, or the beautiful, sweeping cinematography, or even the textured performances by the films stars. It goes far deeper than that, below the surface to the very fabric of the story itself.
The critics all complained that the film had no heart and that it was too hard to sympathize with the main character, because he was a robot. Having now seen the film for myself, I still can't see how they could think this. The film isn't at all deserving of the negative reviews and low box office take.
Haley Joel Osment's performance can be summed up in one word: spectacular. He almost tops his Oscar nominated performance in The Sixth Sense, making David one of the most real characters in recent history, even if he isn't. Frances O'Connor is equally as impressive in a smaller role as David's "mother", who can't seem to return David's everlasting love. I won't go on about Jude Law or Teddy, or I'll be here all night.
If you think about, the film is depressing. Even with Spielberg's trademark glossy coating and sweet ending, the story beneath is a very bleak one indeed. Clearly this comes from Stanley Kubrick's early involvement and Steven's wish to honor the late filmmaker's intentions. A.I is most likely Spielberg's darkest film ever, and certainly his best.
So I hope that if you haven't seen this film already, you get out to see it before it's gone. It deserves a much larger audience that it's getting. I know that I needed that second viewing to digest the entire film and form a better picture of it in my mind.
Thanks for reading.
Gaming Guy.
In the time leading up to the release of A.I, I tried to think about the movie as little as possible. I didn't read any plot summaries, very few reviews, whenever the word "spoilers" appeared, I disappeared. I knew that if my expectations were too high, I would absolutely despise the film. With the exception of The Sixth Sense, every film I've gone into or watched with high expectations, I've been let down by.
However, my efforts were ultimately useless. I had to cave in and eventually read everything that I could find on this film, well, almost everything, I still avoided all the spoilers.
Then, after a long wait, the big day came along. I saw the movie at one of the first showings of the day, with exceedingly high expectations. Deep down, I knew I wouldn't like the film because of that, but I had pumped myself up to see it all the same.
Then the lights dimmed and the curtain rose.
Right from the first image, I knew that this film was different. And it's not because of the breathtaking special effects, or the beautiful, sweeping cinematography, or even the textured performances by the films stars. It goes far deeper than that, below the surface to the very fabric of the story itself.
The critics all complained that the film had no heart and that it was too hard to sympathize with the main character, because he was a robot. Having now seen the film for myself, I still can't see how they could think this. The film isn't at all deserving of the negative reviews and low box office take.
Haley Joel Osment's performance can be summed up in one word: spectacular. He almost tops his Oscar nominated performance in The Sixth Sense, making David one of the most real characters in recent history, even if he isn't. Frances O'Connor is equally as impressive in a smaller role as David's "mother", who can't seem to return David's everlasting love. I won't go on about Jude Law or Teddy, or I'll be here all night.
If you think about, the film is depressing. Even with Spielberg's trademark glossy coating and sweet ending, the story beneath is a very bleak one indeed. Clearly this comes from Stanley Kubrick's early involvement and Steven's wish to honor the late filmmaker's intentions. A.I is most likely Spielberg's darkest film ever, and certainly his best.
So I hope that if you haven't seen this film already, you get out to see it before it's gone. It deserves a much larger audience that it's getting. I know that I needed that second viewing to digest the entire film and form a better picture of it in my mind.
Thanks for reading.
Gaming Guy.
I did read it actually.
Responded yesterday, but it's been lost in the change of servers. In case you didn't read it (cutting out all the interesting and amusing banter)
Yes
(Sorry, too tired and it feels to phoney to reproduce the actual old post now)
Yes
(Sorry, too tired and it feels to phoney to reproduce the actual old post now)
Excuse me Mr. Duck but-
"IT'S DOCTOR DUCK!!!"
Sorry couldn't resist.
But anyway, your tag line wouldn't happen to be from Marathon Man would it?
"Is it safe?"
"Errrr, yes. It's very safe. It's incredibly safe! You wouldn't believe how safe it is."
"Is it safe?"
"No! It's not safe at all, you should be careful."
"IT'S DOCTOR DUCK!!!"
Sorry couldn't resist.
But anyway, your tag line wouldn't happen to be from Marathon Man would it?
"Is it safe?"
"Errrr, yes. It's very safe. It's incredibly safe! You wouldn't believe how safe it is."
"Is it safe?"
"No! It's not safe at all, you should be careful."
You can't review this film, you damned hairy...
Just kidding ; )
Just kidding ; )
Its not only Goatboy who hates Speilburg.
He Americanises everything he touches.
He Americanises everything he touches.
Yessssss, finally someone who agrees with me.
I too, thought that A.I. was a great film. It was dark and it was gloomy but it was really, really well done.
The swimming pool scene in particular was very well directed. The camera was used brilliantly, especially when it rose into the sky, showing David lying at the bottom of the pool. I thought that was possibly the best scene in the film.
Then again, there was also the scene where David is left in the woods. That was very impressive and it was played superbly by both Osment and O'Connor. But I think the swimming pool scene just nips it for me.
Now I know a lot of people on here don't like Spielberg (GOATBOY! :-D) but this was different to his other films. I mean, this had a much darker feel. It was eerie. The part which actually shocked me which was particularly unlike Spielberg was when David hits the other version of himself over the head with the lamp. That really surprised me which made it even the more shocking. Then the head rolled across the floor towards Jude Law's feet and he stepped away, back out the door. That was done so well.
However, as much I liked the film (and I really did like it), I can see how many others did not. There were parts which were very boring and parts which were down right awful (the Dr. Know scene for example). Even though I was bored at a few points though, I never once thought to myself 'hurry up and finish'. I always thought that there were parts during these boring bits that saved it from being 'truly' boring. The performances were what saved it most of the time. Haley Joel Osment was brilliant in the role, as you said. He played it perfectly and at last I have found someone who also thought Frances O'Connor's performance was very good. Jude Law was one of the best things about it. I have to say he was brilliant and when he left the film, I must admit it did lose something.
The music was utterly superb. John Williams has made one of the best soundtracks that I can think of in recent years. It went brilliantly with the entire film, from 'abandoned in the woods' to 'the search for the blue fairy'. Every song was brilliant.
I did actually see it twice at the cinema and there was one part which I picked up on the second time which I really didn't like. I strongly believe that the film should have ended on the first narration when David finds the blue fairy. That would have cut out a good 25 minutes off the running time and you also wouldn't have to sit through the painful narrated scene in which it tells you what David and his mother did on their final day together. Although this did it give it the happy ending, I don't think a film like this should have had a happy ending. It would have been much better to have ended it as soon as David finds the blue fairy and the narration ends. The 2000 years later and the high tech robots was too much. In fact, my dad's response to this was 'Monty Python' and it was actually something you'd see in a Monty Python film.
So really it was a film that you either loved or hated. Obviously more people appeared to have hated it but, like you, I was one of the few that loved it. Now I just have to wait another few months for the DVD. Please let there be an alternate ending (or a shortened ending for that matter - I could press stop when the first narration has finished I suppose). But yeah, all in all, great film.
I too, thought that A.I. was a great film. It was dark and it was gloomy but it was really, really well done.
The swimming pool scene in particular was very well directed. The camera was used brilliantly, especially when it rose into the sky, showing David lying at the bottom of the pool. I thought that was possibly the best scene in the film.
Then again, there was also the scene where David is left in the woods. That was very impressive and it was played superbly by both Osment and O'Connor. But I think the swimming pool scene just nips it for me.
Now I know a lot of people on here don't like Spielberg (GOATBOY! :-D) but this was different to his other films. I mean, this had a much darker feel. It was eerie. The part which actually shocked me which was particularly unlike Spielberg was when David hits the other version of himself over the head with the lamp. That really surprised me which made it even the more shocking. Then the head rolled across the floor towards Jude Law's feet and he stepped away, back out the door. That was done so well.
However, as much I liked the film (and I really did like it), I can see how many others did not. There were parts which were very boring and parts which were down right awful (the Dr. Know scene for example). Even though I was bored at a few points though, I never once thought to myself 'hurry up and finish'. I always thought that there were parts during these boring bits that saved it from being 'truly' boring. The performances were what saved it most of the time. Haley Joel Osment was brilliant in the role, as you said. He played it perfectly and at last I have found someone who also thought Frances O'Connor's performance was very good. Jude Law was one of the best things about it. I have to say he was brilliant and when he left the film, I must admit it did lose something.
The music was utterly superb. John Williams has made one of the best soundtracks that I can think of in recent years. It went brilliantly with the entire film, from 'abandoned in the woods' to 'the search for the blue fairy'. Every song was brilliant.
I did actually see it twice at the cinema and there was one part which I picked up on the second time which I really didn't like. I strongly believe that the film should have ended on the first narration when David finds the blue fairy. That would have cut out a good 25 minutes off the running time and you also wouldn't have to sit through the painful narrated scene in which it tells you what David and his mother did on their final day together. Although this did it give it the happy ending, I don't think a film like this should have had a happy ending. It would have been much better to have ended it as soon as David finds the blue fairy and the narration ends. The 2000 years later and the high tech robots was too much. In fact, my dad's response to this was 'Monty Python' and it was actually something you'd see in a Monty Python film.
So really it was a film that you either loved or hated. Obviously more people appeared to have hated it but, like you, I was one of the few that loved it. Now I just have to wait another few months for the DVD. Please let there be an alternate ending (or a shortened ending for that matter - I could press stop when the first narration has finished I suppose). But yeah, all in all, great film.
Firstly, let me say that I thought that AI was absolutely incredible.
In the time leading up to the release of A.I, I tried to think about the movie as little as possible. I didn't read any plot summaries, very few reviews, whenever the word "spoilers" appeared, I disappeared. I knew that if my expectations were too high, I would absolutely despise the film. With the exception of The Sixth Sense, every film I've gone into or watched with high expectations, I've been let down by.
However, my efforts were ultimately useless. I had to cave in and eventually read everything that I could find on this film, well, almost everything, I still avoided all the spoilers.
Then, after a long wait, the big day came along. I saw the movie at one of the first showings of the day, with exceedingly high expectations. Deep down, I knew I wouldn't like the film because of that, but I had pumped myself up to see it all the same.
Then the lights dimmed and the curtain rose.
Right from the first image, I knew that this film was different. And it's not because of the breathtaking special effects, or the beautiful, sweeping cinematography, or even the textured performances by the films stars. It goes far deeper than that, below the surface to the very fabric of the story itself.
The critics all complained that the film had no heart and that it was too hard to sympathize with the main character, because he was a robot. Having now seen the film for myself, I still can't see how they could think this. The film isn't at all deserving of the negative reviews and low box office take.
Haley Joel Osment's performance can be summed up in one word: spectacular. He almost tops his Oscar nominated performance in The Sixth Sense, making David one of the most real characters in recent history, even if he isn't. Frances O'Connor is equally as impressive in a smaller role as David's "mother", who can't seem to return David's everlasting love. I won't go on about Jude Law or Teddy, or I'll be here all night.
If you think about, the film is depressing. Even with Spielberg's trademark glossy coating and sweet ending, the story beneath is a very bleak one indeed. Clearly this comes from Stanley Kubrick's early involvement and Steven's wish to honor the late filmmaker's intentions. A.I is most likely Spielberg's darkest film ever, and certainly his best.
So I hope that if you haven't seen this film already, you get out to see it before it's gone. It deserves a much larger audience that it's getting. I know that I needed that second viewing to digest the entire film and form a better picture of it in my mind.
Thanks for reading.
Gaming Guy.
In the time leading up to the release of A.I, I tried to think about the movie as little as possible. I didn't read any plot summaries, very few reviews, whenever the word "spoilers" appeared, I disappeared. I knew that if my expectations were too high, I would absolutely despise the film. With the exception of The Sixth Sense, every film I've gone into or watched with high expectations, I've been let down by.
However, my efforts were ultimately useless. I had to cave in and eventually read everything that I could find on this film, well, almost everything, I still avoided all the spoilers.
Then, after a long wait, the big day came along. I saw the movie at one of the first showings of the day, with exceedingly high expectations. Deep down, I knew I wouldn't like the film because of that, but I had pumped myself up to see it all the same.
Then the lights dimmed and the curtain rose.
Right from the first image, I knew that this film was different. And it's not because of the breathtaking special effects, or the beautiful, sweeping cinematography, or even the textured performances by the films stars. It goes far deeper than that, below the surface to the very fabric of the story itself.
The critics all complained that the film had no heart and that it was too hard to sympathize with the main character, because he was a robot. Having now seen the film for myself, I still can't see how they could think this. The film isn't at all deserving of the negative reviews and low box office take.
Haley Joel Osment's performance can be summed up in one word: spectacular. He almost tops his Oscar nominated performance in The Sixth Sense, making David one of the most real characters in recent history, even if he isn't. Frances O'Connor is equally as impressive in a smaller role as David's "mother", who can't seem to return David's everlasting love. I won't go on about Jude Law or Teddy, or I'll be here all night.
If you think about, the film is depressing. Even with Spielberg's trademark glossy coating and sweet ending, the story beneath is a very bleak one indeed. Clearly this comes from Stanley Kubrick's early involvement and Steven's wish to honor the late filmmaker's intentions. A.I is most likely Spielberg's darkest film ever, and certainly his best.
So I hope that if you haven't seen this film already, you get out to see it before it's gone. It deserves a much larger audience that it's getting. I know that I needed that second viewing to digest the entire film and form a better picture of it in my mind.
Thanks for reading.
Gaming Guy.