A.I. Artificial Intelligence Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Robot Pinocchio wants his mommy and goes on a really long road trip to find a fairy, but then aliens show up and clone her for a day before everyone goes to sleep forever.

🍿 A.I. Artificial Intelligence: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction of David

In a future where advanced robots called Mechas exist due to overpopulation and climate change, Cybertronics creates David, a robotic boy programmed to love. He’s given to Monica and Henry Swinton, whose son Martin is in suspended animation due to an incurable disease. David’s presence aims to fill the void left by their son’s absence, raising questions about artificial love and companionship.

The Return of Martin and Sibling Rivalry

A cure is found for Martin, and he returns home, creating a tense sibling rivalry with David. Martin, feeling threatened by David’s presence, manipulates him, leading to a dangerous incident at a pool party. This event forces the Swintons to confront the potential dangers of a Mecha capable of strong emotions, questioning whether David’s capacity for love also includes the potential for hate. The Swintons’ parenting struggles highlights issues of blended families.

Abandonment and the Quest for the Blue Fairy

Fearing for their son’s safety, Henry convinces Monica to return David to Cybertronics. Unable to bring herself to destroy him, Monica abandons David in the woods with his robotic teddy bear, Teddy. Believing he can become a real boy and regain Monica’s love, David embarks on a journey to find the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio, a figure he believes holds the key to his transformation. This sets the stage for David’s odyssey through a futuristic and often hostile world.

Flesh Fair and Rouge City

David is captured and taken to the Flesh Fair, a disturbing event where obsolete Mechas are destroyed for human amusement. He escapes with Gigolo Joe, a Mecha designed for pleasure who is wrongly accused of murder. Together, they travel to Rouge City, a place of synthetic pleasures and holographic guides. They seek Dr. Know, a search engine, for information on the Blue Fairy. This segment explores societal prejudice, and David’s unrelenting hope.

Submerged Manhattan and David’s Origins

Following Dr. Know’s directions, David and Joe journey to a submerged Manhattan where they meet Professor Hobby, David’s creator. Hobby reveals that David is a prototype and many other Davids have been made, suggesting David’s longing is built into him. David confronts the reality of his artificiality, realizing that he is not unique and his desire for Monica’s love may be unattainable.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• David (Haley Joel Osment): A highly advanced robotic boy programmed to love, embarking on a quest to become a real boy and earn his mother’s love.
• Monica Swinton (Frances O’Connor): A grieving mother who initially adopts David as a substitute for her comatose son but struggles with her feelings towards him.
• Gigolo Joe (Jude Law): A pleasure-providing Mecha on the run who becomes David’s companion and mentor, helping him on his journey.
• Teddy (Jack Angel): David’s robotic teddy bear and loyal companion, offering guidance and unwavering support throughout his quest.
• Henry Swinton (Sam Robards): Monica’s husband and an employee at Cybertronics, who is initially supportive of David but grows concerned about his capabilities.
• Prof. Hobby (William Hurt): The creator of David, driven by the desire to create Mecha with the ability to love, testing humanity’s capacity for acceptance.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• David: “Please don’t let them send me back.” – David pleads with Monica, expressing his fear of being returned to the factory where he might be deactivated.
• David: “I am a real boy!” – David shouts this repeatedly, desperately trying to convince himself and others of his humanity.
• David: “If you make me a real boy, I’ll be your real son.” – David expresses his ultimate desire to the Blue Fairy, hoping it will make Monica love him.
• Gigolo Joe: “They made us too perfect. Too perfect to be happy.” – Gigolo Joe laments the complex emotional and societal issues faced by Mechas due to their advanced design.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $100,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $78,616,689
• Worldwide Gross: $235,926,635

💥 A.I. Artificial Intelligence Reviews

Personal Review

A.I. messes with your head and your heart. I first saw it as a kid and honestly, it scared me! But now, watching it again, I’m just blown away by how much it makes you think about what it means to be human. The Flesh Fair scene is wild, and the ending… I’m still not sure how I feel about it, but it definitely sticks with you. The underwater Manhattan scene is something special. Osment nails his part, which makes the whole story more emotional. Bring the tissues.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of science fiction films with philosophical themes”
  • “Viewers interested in exploring the nature of artificial intelligence and humanity”
  • “Those who enjoy thought-provoking stories with emotional depth”
  • “Admirers of Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick’s filmmaking styles”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Themes of abandonment and loss”
  • “Some scenes of violence and robot destruction”
  • “Brief mature content (Rouge City)”
  • “May be emotionally intense for younger viewers”

Professional Reviews

• Roger Ebert: “Spielberg grapples with difficult themes of love, identity, and what it means to be human, creating a visually stunning film. While the ending may be divisive, the journey is undeniably thought-provoking. A.I. is a complex and ambitious work from a director willing to take risks.
• A.O. Scott: “The movie is burdened by heavy themes and a convoluted plot. Spielberg’s direction is visually impressive but lacks the emotional depth required to fully resonate. A.I. is an intriguing experiment, but its ambition exceeds its grasp.
• Peter Travers: “A.I. is a visually breathtaking film that tackles profound questions about the nature of humanity. Haley Joel Osment delivers a performance of remarkable depth and emotional range. The film’s ending is controversial, but it sparks debate and lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers praised Haley Joel Osment’s performance as David, highlighting his ability to portray a robot with convincing emotion.: Most viewers appreciated the film’s ambitious themes and visually stunning effects, though some found the ending divisive.

Viewers remember being emotionally impacted by David’s unyielding quest to gain his mother’s love and the sacrifices he made along the way.: Appreciation for the film’s thought-provoking exploration of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on humanity.

Overall Consensus: A visually impressive and ambitious film that explores complex themes, but the divisive ending and uneven pacing leave some viewers unsatisfied.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Visual Effects)- 2002

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Stanley Kubrick worked on ‘A.I.’ for nearly 20 years before passing the project to Steven Spielberg, feeling Spielberg was better suited to realize its emotional core.”
• “The film’s darker elements, including the Flesh Fair, were primarily Spielberg’s ideas, while Kubrick focused on the ‘sweeter’ aspects like Teddy the bear and the ending.”
• “The ending, often criticized as being too sentimental, was actually directly from Kubrick’s original story treatment.”

🖥️ How to Watch A.I. Artificial Intelligence?

A.I. Artificial Intelligence is available to rent or purchase on various digital platforms. You can find it on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability on cable or satellite on-demand services. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray are also widely available for purchase online and in stores.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed A.I. Artificial Intelligence, you might like these similar films:

• Blade Runner (1982): Explores similar themes of artificial beings questioning their existence and seeking humanity.
• Bicentennial Man (1999): A robot’s journey to become human, grappling with emotions and identity.
• Pinocchio (1940): The original story of a non-human character striving to become ‘real’, a direct inspiration for A.I..
• Ex Machina (2014): Delves into the complexities of AI and human connection in a modern, thought-provoking way.

🛒 A.I. Artificial Intelligence Related Products

• A.I. Artificial Intelligence (Blu-ray): Experience the visually stunning and thought-provoking film in high definition. The Blu-ray includes behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and special features that delve into the making of the movie.
• A.I. Artificial Intelligence: Supertoys Last All Summer Long (Kindle Edition): Delve into the original short story by Brian Aldiss that inspired the film. Explore the themes and ideas that sparked Stanley Kubrick and Steven Spielberg’s imagination.
• Haley Joel Osment Autographed A.I. Artificial Intelligence 8×10 Photo: A rare autographed photo of Haley Joel Osment as David. A unique collector’s item for fans of the film and Osment’s performance.
• A.I. Artificial Intelligence Movie Poster: A high-quality reproduction of the original A.I. movie poster. Perfect for decorating a home theater or adding to a movie poster collection.

🎧 Soundtrack

A.I. Artificial Intelligence features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Where Dreams Are Born” – performed by John Williams
• “Stored Memories” – performed by John Williams
• “For Always” – performed by Lara Fabian & Josh Groban

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

A.I. and the Pinocchio Problem | Big Joel

Take a deep dive into the complex themes and intriguing narrative of A.I. Artificial Intelligence with this thought-provoking analysis that’ll leave you pondering the nature of humanity and artificial life.

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