We’re back! I hope everyone had a wonderful fall break and was able to relax and hopefully watch some good TV and movies. I had the opportunity to see Gareth Edwards’ new science fiction epic “The Creator” (2023).
Starring John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Allison Janney and nine-year-old breakout star Madeleine Yuna Voyles, the film follows Joshua (Washington), who is tasked during a future war between humanity and artificial intelligence to hunt down and destroy the creator of the AI, while also destroying its new secret weapon, which turns out to be an AI child named Alphie (Yuna Voyles).
Director Gareth Edwards has had many successful films in the past, directing such projects as 2014’s “Godzilla” reboot and 2016’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” both of which I greatly enjoyed. However, “The Creator” is the first time in a while in Edwards’ career that we can experience an original film from a visionary filmmaker. Edwards’ script manages to bring all the emotions, humor and action you want when going to a movie of this scale. The themes being explored regarding the use of AI and its distinction from the real are even more important now than ever before, with the film industry being shut down due to the disagreement on the handling of AI, among other issues.
The performances within the film are also incredibly well-done. Washington does the best work of his career, portraying a broken man who has lost everyone and everything he loves, but slowly gains it back. Yuna Voyles, at only nine years old, steals every scene she is in. Her ability at such a young age to have the range she has is massively impressive, and her performance in “The Creator” had me in tears by the end. Allison Janney, who I love from “The West Wing,” portrays the menacing, cold villain Colonel Howell. Legendary Japanese actor Ken Watanabe is phenomenal as always. Both are perfect for their respective roles.
Cinematographers Greig Fraser and Oren Soffer seamlessly blend practical and visual effects with the world around them, composing and creating some truly beautiful shots. The use of artificial light, in stark contrast to the scenes with natural lighting, wonderfully adds to the tone already being set by the film and its event.
However, “The Creator” was not a perfect film. One thing I took issue with was that the film often moves at a rapid pace, which leaves the viewer in the dust a couple of times. With all the themes and messages being told during the runtime, I felt as if the filmmakers could have gone even further with what they were trying to say. It seemed as if they lost steam towards the end and wanted to focus more on spectacle than wrapping everything together.
Overall, “The Creator” is a fun and entertaining sci-fi film that is sure to be rewatched for the next couple of years due to its relevance and is one of the few blockbusters today that utilizes its budget to the fullest potential.
