"The Creator" (Rated T)
Cast: John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan, Allison Janney, Ken Watanabe
Genre: Action/Thriller
Where to watch: In Theaters
Dwight's Rating: 2.5 out of 4
Other than climate change - and the possibility of 100–degree winters, and the very real fear that islands like ours could end up like "The Little Mermaid" and be "Under the Sea" - one of the other items on the list of things that are keeping humans up at night these days is artificial intelligence or AI, and whether our own creation will ultimately spell the end of mankind.
And when you add AI to the mix of other issues causing insomnia, such as nuclear war and another global pandemic, then you have to wonder if this is either going to be the death of the human race or the thing that actually saves us from ourselves.
So, while the AI experts are all about the place claiming they don't even know the true or potential outcomes of these things that they continue to develop at a mindboggling pace, it's becoming increasingly clear that people love living on the edge, and that this is but mere chatter about the need to consider pumping the AI brakes.
One can only surmise that we will get what we're looking for and we will get what we deserve.
Well, the new movie "The Creator" explores all of this, and imagines a future in which humans accelerate full speed ahead into AI, to the point of war!
As a future war between the human race and artificial intelligence rages on, ex-special forces agent Joshua (John David Washington) is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI. The Creator has developed a mysterious weapon that has the power to end the war and all of mankind. As Joshua, and his team of elite operatives, venture into enemy-occupied territory, they soon discover the world-ending weapon is actually an AI in the form of a young child.
Wouldn't you know it, humans being humans, some of the people on the planet are on the side of the AI. But it's complicated, and there are human hybrids too - part human, part AI. Apparently, that's the future folks!
There's a lot that can be read into the storyline, even down to some of the characters' name. I'll leave you to form your own opinions, except to say it's fascinating what actually turns out to be the real source of evil, and what turns out to the source of the great last hope for humanity.
"The Creator" is well acted. Washington ("Tenet" and "BlacKkKlansman") is always good, even when the movies he's in don't make much sense. Young actress Madeleine Yuna Voyles makes a great film debut. And Oscar-winner Allison Janney ("I, Tonya") is always a joy to watch.
The film starts off well enough. It is truly a beautiful movie: visual, sound, music - all astounding.
But the further along we go, "The Creator" falls down some of the typical sci-fi potholes, with overly convoluted storylines, unnecessary and drawn-out scenes with lots of running up and down, trying to shut down or turn off or switch on and wipe out God-knows-what and why. Just get it over with already!
The final 45 minutes or so get so lugged down, it's exhausting.
Overall, however, "The Creator" gives us some important matters to consider. As "Avatar" has been telling us - and many other movies dealing with everything from the environment and aliens and prehistoric life to zombies and robots - in the worst of times, the humans are always the biggest problem.
• Dwight Strachan is the host/producer of "Morning Blend" on Guardian Radio and station manager. He is a television producer and writer, and an avid TV history and film buff. Email dwight@nasguard.com and follow him on twitter @morningblend969.
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