In the almost forty years since James Cameron’s The Terminator depicted a dystopian future dominated by advanced AI, concerns about artificial intelligence have only grown. However, The Creator, a visually stunning science fiction film from Gareth Edwards, director of Godzilla and Rogue One, presents a different perspective. In this film, the narrative shifts to empathize with the robots and advocate for peace with the algorithm. It’s almost as if Skynet itself wrote this movie.
Of course, the weakest aspect of The Creator is its screenplay, credited to Gareth Edwards and his Rogue One collaborator Chris Weitz. Despite this flaw, the film stands out as one of the most visually impressive blockbusters in recent years, featuring outstanding design throughout.
The Creator Gallery
The Creator is set in the 2060s after a nuclear attack on Los Angeles by artificial intelligence. In response, the American government declares war on all AI and sends special-forces agent Joshua on a mission to infiltrate a group of robot sympathizers led by a godlike scientist known as The Creator. Joshua seduces and marries The Creator’s daughter, Maya, only to develop genuine feelings for her. When Maya is killed, Joshua abandons the fight. Years later, he is persuaded to join a new mission to find and destroy a secret weapon created by The Creator, which takes the form of a synthetic child unaware of her role in the struggle.
The plot of The Creator draws inspiration from various movies, including The Terminator, Blade Runner, A.I., and Akira. There are also clear references to Apocalypse Now, with the film incorporating Vietnam War imagery. Gareth Edwards successfully captures grandeur and scale in his films, and The Creator is no exception. The visuals portray combat and sacrifice against colossal forces, with humans and humanoids dwarfed by destructive power. The film’s special effects, shot across nearly 100 locations worldwide and enhanced with CGI, create stunning backdrops that surpass the expectations set by higher-budget movies.
Despite its visual prowess, The Creator falls short of being an instant classic. The emotional transformation of the protagonist, Joshua, as he learns to see the humanity in robots, is not adequately developed. John David Washington’s performance adds depth, but the father-daughter dynamic feels shallow and the overall storytelling is rather generic compared to the film’s exceptional design.
The film’s stance on artificial intelligence and sentience is sentimental and leans towards soft science fiction. It assumes AI’s autonomy and right to exist as a given. This idealistic perspective may seem out of touch with current concerns about AI and its implications in society. However, it could also be interpreted as a preemptive propaganda for the algorithmic world we may soon face, suggesting a different outcome than the anxiety-inducing narratives prevailing today.