A.I. Artificial Intelligence takes place in the late 21st century where due to an increase in flooded coastlines, a drastic reduction in the human population has occurred. A new class of robots known as Mechas - humanoid machines capable of mimicking human thoughts and emotions - coexist now with the humans. At Cybertronics in New Jersey, a new Mecha prototype has been created in the form of a child in order to display a "love" for its owners. One of Cybertronics employees - who's son is currently in suspended animation until there's a cure for his rare disease - brings home a test prototype named David (Haley Joel Osment) for his wife, Monica (Frances O'Connor). At first, she is turned off by David, but over time she warms up to him and finally activates its imprinting protocol, an irreversible imprinting which in effect causes David to project a love for her. After a cure is found for Monica's son, Martin, he is brought home. Her real son has a problem with David and a sibling rivalry ensues. This creates a tension which leads to Monica getting rid of David. Instead of taking him to Cybertronics - where they'd have no other choice but to destroy him - she drops him off in the woods and warns him to stay away from humans at all cost. Knowing Monica didn't really want to get rid of him but was forced to, David is determined to find the one he calls "The Blue Fairy" - a character he remembers from the story of Pinocchio Monica used to read to him. He feels if he can reach the Blue Fairy, she'll have the power to turn him into a real boy which in turn will allow him to be rejoined with his "mother" Monica. With the help of another Mecha, Gigolo Joe (Jude Law), David ventures out to find the Blue Fairy.
Director Steven Spielberg has filmed some of the most iconic science fiction films of all-time such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Minority Report. This film here certainly sits in good company with the many great Spielberg flicks. What I love about Spielberg's sci-fi films is that there's always something deep and meaningful you find within the story. That's not to say I don't enjoy action driven sci-fi films that are exciting and well made such as the Alien films, Independence Day, and of course, both the Star Trek and Star Wars films (to be fair, Star Wars - particularly The Empire Strikes Back has its share of deep moments too). At the center of the story you have the simple yet beautiful tale of essentially a computer, programmed to think and act like a child, wanting to be loved by Monica, its owner or "mother figure" you could say. David's told by other Mechas that he's just a machine and that Monica will never truly love him, but only love him for what he provides much like the humans they service only love them for what they provide. No matter how many times he's reminded of this, David is determined to get what he wants. Osment gives a terrific performance that's perfectly restrained, and watching him here - along with The Sixth Sense prior to this film - I can't help but now think what the hell happened? Jude Law gives one of his best performances as the oddly likeable Gigolo Joe, and there are three equally strong supporting performances from Frances O'Connor, the great William Hurt as David's creator, and Brendan Gleeson as the leader of the "Flesh Fairs" - a carnival where Mechas are destroyed. Before Spielberg took on this film, the late legendary director Stanley Kubrick was trying to get this film developed. Unfortunately, it didn't get the green light until close to Kubrick's death who by then had passed it on to Spielberg. That being said, you can definitely see Kubrick's unique influence throughout the film. As mind-blowing as the visuals are (as most Spielberg films tend to be), this is a story first kind of science-fiction film culminating in an ending (that I won't reveal) that's both emotionally moving and bittersweet at the same time. A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a definite must see and one of Spielberg's finest films.
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