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Artificial Intelligenceis Steven Spielberg's latest opus, inspired by the short story "Supertoys Last All Summer Long" by Brian Aldiss. Set
against the backdrop of the technologically advanced 21st century, A.I.
is about David (Haley Joel Osment) a "mecha" (mechanical) boy, programmed to love. The robot child, looking like a real 11-year old is brought home by Henry Swinton (Sam Robards) for his wife Monica (Frances O'Connor). He hopes that this robotic child would help alleviate her sorrow for their son Martin (Jake Thomas) who has been, for five years, lying in deep freeze until a cure could be found for his fatal sickness. Fascinated with this mechanical child, Monica activates an imprinting program — that comes with the robot — making David love her as his mother. A major problem soon arises. Martin, already well, comes home, and an intense rivalry for Monica's affection flares up between them, aggravated by the real son. This threatens to upset the household and troubles Monica. Forced to make a choice, she reluctantly lets David go. However, the robot-boy-almost-human child so longs for his mother's love that he begins an obsessive search for someone, with the support of a "mecha" Gigolo Joe (Jude Law), to transform him into a real boy, thus worthy of his mother's love.
This is a fantastic story, very well sustained by the latest special effects that technology
could come up with in this century and time. However in trying to present so much, the story begins with a series of well-paced events, but gets bogged down in the last third
by long and slow sequences. Exceptional acting is given by Haley Joel Osment. His acting shows the convincing difference between his portrayal of a robot and that of
almost-a-boy. The other members of the cast including those in supporting roles give very good performances.
The audience see a real child in David longing for his mother's love, like the way she loves
Martin, her real son. Viewers can't help but feel for him as David when, like Pinocchio, he goes in search of the Blue Fairy to make him "whole". This main theme of love
includes the rivalry between the "mecha" boy and the "orga" (organic) child; Monica's love for and attitude towards the two. Intriguing thoughts of what is in the film
include: Could a mechanical object, programmed to be human in same aspects, become human? Can we say definitely that androids, no matter how well crafted and programmed, can
never be human, unlike how Pinocchio ends, except in fairy tales?
At this point in time, we have to say, what is artificial remains artificial.
(Date reviewed: September 7, 2001)
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