Artificial Intelligence: AI

A.I. starts some time in our future, when most of the Earth is under water due to global warming. Mechanical beings, known as Mechas, have been created to ease the population burden of this new world. Despite the potential moral dilemmas, David (Osment), a robot that is programmed to feel his mother's love, is born. Monica (O'Connor) and Henry (Robards) are chosen to test the prototype as their real son lies in a coma. Monica is horrified when she first meets David, accusing Henry of giving up on their son, however, she is unable to resist this quirky, loving child, who looks at her with an undeniable yearning she can't deny.

Monica knows that David's not real, but she warms to him and he soon moves into their son's room and is given his old toys, one a walking, talking, thinking stuffed bear named Teddy (who absolutely steals the show in every scene!). Everything is fine until their son, Martin, awakens and comes home. Martin treats David like all his other toys but David can not understand that he's not human. He has no concept of being a machine, all he knows is to love Monica without question. Problems arise between the boys, ending in several incidents that make Henry uneasy about David's potential for evil.

Monica makes the hard choice of abandoning David to the outside world rather than let him be destroyed. David is devastated by her desertion, believing she left him because he wasn't real. Thus begins his quest, like Pinocchio, to find the Blue Fairy so he can regain his mother's love.

Based on a short story, 'Supertoys Last All Summer Long', A.I. is a film in three sections. First thought about by Kubrick (who didn't want to make it until the technology to get it right was available) and finally completed after his death by Speilberg, the film has obvious trademark symbolism from both. Although criticised by many for being too long, this film is one that will go down in history. Make sure that you have seen it - if only for the teddy!

Vicki Robertson