Can humans create robots that are more human than humans? Should they?

Your own personal experiences with technology may very well determine your like or dislike of the new film called The Creator. Anyone who has attempted to troubleshoot a computer problem via conversations with a chatbot knows first hand the evils of the technology.

But are we humans any less evil?

That question is at the heart of The Creator, a sci-fi action thriller by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards. While the answer comes from many points of view, we are unquestionably at a tipping point in time where the world is wrestling with a lot of issues and concerns about AI, its potential benefits, and the dangers it presents to mankind. Please know this up front: The Creator takes a decidedly pro-AI stance.

The Creator opens in 2065 in the aftermath of a cataclysmic disaster, the annihilation of Los Angeles at the hands of artificial intelligence. As expected, western governments respond with a total ban on AI while eastern countries, particularly New Asia, continue to develop and embrace the technology for commercial purposes and as a replacement for human labor. AI robots are very human-like and embraced as equals to humans. It is even possible to sell your likeness for money.

This difference in world ideologies sets in motion a war between the West and East, specifically, America against Asia, which is the setting of the story.

We meet Joshua Taylor (John David Washington), an American operative working undercover in Asia who gets caught up in these attacks and is eventually separated from his wife, Maya (Gemma Chan). After learning that Maya was killed in the attacks, Joshua returns to the States a broken man.

Jump to five years later, Joshua is asked by the military to return to the war zone to neutralize the perceived threat of a rumored weapon that can win the war for the East. The gravity of the situation is emphasized by General Andrews: "Sergeant Taylor, we are this close to winning the war. But the A.I. are developing a super weapon. Retrieve it or they win." After being informed by Colonel Jean Howell (Allison Janney) that his wife is believed to still be alive in New Asia, Joshua reluctantly agrees to join the mission.

Once deployed back in the war zone, Joshua discovers that this feared weapon is a six-year-old girl he befriends and names Alphie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles). As he becomes more and more attached to the young girl, his allegiance to country and everything he thought he knew about AI begins to come into question.

As interesting as it all sounds, The Creator is an epic disappointment masquerading as an intelligent, thought-provoking exploration of the complex relationship between humanity and artificial intelligence. In a time when society is grappling with profound questions about AI's ethical implications, the film's unabashed pro-AI stance feels tone-deaf. It mostly ignores the legitimate danger and concerns we have with technology, instead turning it into a propaganda piece for AI enthusiasts. Look, I get it, the twist is getting us to see the other side of AI. It is meant to challenge us as viewers. But the movie’s one-sided perspective does a disservice to the complexity of the issue. We’re left with a bitter taste.

To its credit, The Creator takes on some worthy topics and makes salient points meant to address societal polarization and the prejudice plaguing today’s world. Humans have always harbored a fear of those who are different from ourselves, and it seems to have gotten much worse as of late. We've become more polarized.

The Creator dramatizes a situation where someone once held a huge prejudice against a certain group and then the person is thrown into that group and must find a way to live amongst them or find a way out alive. That narrative falls flat here, however and isn’t totally convincing as it fails to evoke any genuine empathy or understanding for the characters’ struggles. Their motivations and development are shallow, and their dilemmas lack depth. It's as if the film is trying to explore the deep ocean of human sentiment with a kiddie pool net.

With all the CGI eye candy, mind-blowing world-building, and hi-tech gadgetry at every turn in a film like this, it’s easy to fumble the grip on the story’s humanity. Sadly, Edwards and fellow screenwriter Chris Weitz (About a Boy) make it more about the robots, technology, and whiz-bang dressing than they do about wanting us to fall in love with their characters. Now I hate that evil tech support chatbot even more.

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital 4K

Home Video Distributor: Disney/Buena Vista
Available on Blu-ray - December 12, 2023
Screen Formats: 2.76:1
Subtitles: English SDH; French; German; Italian; Japanese; Spanish; Danish; Dutch; Finnish; Norwegian; Swedish
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1; Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; German: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1; Italian: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

Disney/ Buena Vista bring the future of AI technology to Ultra-high definition with the release of The Creator on 4K UHD. The native 2160p transfer features a 2.76:1 aspect ratio in HDR10 format.

On the audio front, we have English language Dolby Atmos, and Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio options. The two-disc black eco-case comes housed in a cardboard slip cover with the film's artwork printed on the cover in a matte finish and some foil stamping.

VIDEO

The HDR10 presentation of The Creator is an interesting, but highly effective one. Shot digitally – including drone mounted cameras, what we get actually more closely resembles a film transfer with a noticeable – but pleasant - grain. Yes, grain. The result is a beautiful filmic quality throughout.

I'm surprised this technique works for a film about AI and high technology, and I'm sure some will take umbrage with it, but it does work by lending a gritty texture which plays nicely with the film's more violent and dirty sections – it's a dark and violent film. Colors are beautifully rendered throughout and the fine details are always sharp and impressive.

Fast forward to the 01:04:00 mark which features a lengthy night time scene. You will notice that finer details of the scene remain tack sharp with colors – particularly blues - that are perfectly saturated, while darks remain inky black with no digital crush. Now, that's how it's done!

AUDIO

The English language Dolby Atmos track which accompanies the 4K disc is a spectacular one that features a totally immersive experience. Your room will come alive with laser fire, gun shots, spaceship noises, and Hans Zimmer's soaring score that put you smack dab in the middle of the action. Amazingly, even the dialogue – which is often purposefully low key or even whispered, is always perfectly audible. This is a great presentation to find out what your systems got!

Supplements:

Commentary:

• None

Special Features:

Only one bonus piece?! Don't be fooled onto thinking Disney dropped the ball in the Extras department. Yes, there's a only a single feature, but at nearly an hour in length, it's fun viewing for the film's lovers and should be considered mandatory for aspiring filmmakers as director Gareth Edwards takes us behind the scenes on the team's scouting trips in Southeast Asia.

• True Love: Making The Creator (55:47)

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 133 mins
Director: Gareth Edwards
Writer: Gareth Edwards; Chris Weitz
Cast: John David Washington; Madeleine Yuna Voyles; Gemma Chan
Genre: Sci-fi | Thriller
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "Sergeant Taylor, we are this close to winning the war. But the A.I. are developing a super weapon. Retrieve it or they win."
Theatrical Distributor: Sony Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: September 29, 2023
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: December 12, 2023
Synopsis: Against the backdrop of a war between humans and robots with artificial intelligence, a former soldier finds the secret weapon, a robot in the form of a young child.