REVIEW! - 'The Creator' (2023)

'The Creator' (2023)

In an alternate history future, AI robots were developed to help mankind through the decades. Unfortunately, the AI robots seemingly destroyed Los Angeles in a nuclear blast. Years later, the U.S. has been at war with AI “Simulants” that are still being developed in New Asia. They are on the hunt for “Nirmata”, aka the Creator of these new AI robots. The US uses a devastating ship known as the U.S.S. Nomad to carry out devastating strikes against supposed AI bases.

Undercover operative Joshua Taylor (John David Washington) has been undercover and married to Maya who does not know his true allegiances. One day, there is a strike and his wife is seemingly killed after she flees with other Simulants during one of Nomad’s strikes. Five years later, Joshua is recruited to carry on his search for the elusive Nirmata and to take out a terrible weapon that Nirmata has supposedly created and the U.S. has used evidence that Maya may still be alive in order to entice Joshua to take the mission.

When Joshua finds out that the “weapon” is a Simulant child named Alpha O (Madeline Yuna Voyles), he decides to keep her alive so that he can try and find Nirmata. Over time, he inevitably begins to grow closer to the child and he begins to understand the world of Simulants and that they might not be so bad after all.

If you’re worried that I spoiled too much there, don’t worry. That’s just the tip of the iceberg from director Gareth Edwards who developed the story for this movie and co-wrote the screenplay alongside Chris Weitz. So, to the biggest flaw of the movie first.

If you’re looking for wholly original sci-fi content here, you need not apply. At various points in the movie, I felt the echoes of “Star Wars”, “District 9”, “The Terminator”, “Blade Runner”, and even “Avatar” running through this film’s veins. However, I don’t care if I recognize formula within a movie, the only true detriment would be in the execution if not handled correctly.

In this regard, Edwards mostly succeeds in giving us a pretty good sci-fi action experience. Yes, there are times where I feel this movie takes itself a little too seriously, but that’s okay. Afterall, its timely commentary on AI is a welcome one. I’m actually surprised that with the rise of recent AI technology that more films haven’t commented on it already.

The movie is also bolstered by the performances. Washington is a lead that I don’t mind following and he gives a pretty good performance here. Voyles as the innocent Simulant that Joshua eventually names Alphie is also great. Finally, Allison Janney, an actress I almost always love to see, is a great villain in this piece as the dastardly Colonel Howell, the person behind the hunt for Joshua that definitely gives off the same vibes as Stephen Lang as Miles Quaritch from the “Avatar” films.

Another thing that succeeds in this film’s favor are the special-effects. Even if someone happens to not like this movie, you’ll definitely like the movie’s effects because throughout the whole affair, I was never distracted by bad effects because they were so well done. Sitting here writing this review, I can’t think of a single scene where I sat there and thought, “That doesn’t look right.”

At the end of the day, the movie is not that original. It doesn’t set out to change the sci-fi formula and it even embraces plenty of its tropes, but again it’s not about recognizing the formula. It’s about seeing if the formula is executed well and for the most part, “The Creator” is a fun sci-fi film that I can ultimately recommend due to strong performances, astounding special-effects, and good direction from Edwards. I say check it out!

'The Creator' may not be the most original sci-fi film, but it is still an entertaining ride nonetheless.