The Creator ★★★½

GARETH Edwards’ The Creator is one of the most under-rated films of 2023.

It’s another science-fiction film that explores the future impact of artificial intelligence, but there are two aspects that make the film interesting and set it apart from others in the same vein.

Firstly, it’s based on an original script, which is rare these days in the sci-fi genre. You may argue that Edwards draws on many influences for his story, but how is that different to almost any other writer.

Secondly, it successfully creates a future world that is still familiar to audiences and therefore helps ground some of the fantastical elements.

While he had $80 million at his disposal, that still isn’t enough these days for Edwards and his creative team to bring to life entire landscapes and cities from the imagination.

So, rather than mostly use a sound stage he took crew and actors to a range of locations throughout Asia and then overlaid the expansive special effects.

The locations and accompanying culture play an important role in the film because in this version of the future, set in 20250, AI is not a universal enemy.

The nations that comprise ‘New Asia’ have actively chosen to embrace and continue to enhance AI despite the technology being banned in most other parts of the World. AI has been banned following a catastrophic nuclear detonation in the United States which has sent its military on the hunt for a new weapon.

As well as producing an exciting and suspenseful story, Edwards’ script touches on a range of themes other than the AI debate, including Western means of subjugating other lands and cultures.

There is also a solid cast in interesting roles, including John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe and Allison Janney.

Maybe The Creator doesn’t re-invent the wheel, but it’s much better looking and engaging than many critics would have you believe.

Definitely give it a go.