The Creator (2023) — A Film That Keeps You On The Edge!
A review or something like it
Film: The Creator. Year: 2023. Genre: Action/Sci-Fi/Drama/Thriller. Rating: PG-13. Director: Gareth Edwards.
Nowadays, when a film is made, it either inclines towards one polarity or another, there is always something missing. One expects a mainstream movie to have all the elements, and not just great CGI or an interesting story. The audience needs to experience that wholeness to enrich their soul, when they invest their 2 hours or so. The Creator is one of those films that is not only visually appealing but also thought provoking.
This brainchild of Gareth Edwards and Chris Weitz, displays what an impeccable screenplay is supposed to be. The direction by Edwards reminds us of the larger than life movies made by Steven Spielberg, who has successfully orchestrated the entire team to make this grand illusion possible. The moment the story begins, we are drawn into a world where Artificial Intelligence or AI has become a threat to humanity, since it was accused to be the reason behind a nuclear explosion, ultimately destroying the planet. The Earth is now divided into two categories, anti and pro AI. The ones living in far East Asia inhabit advanced robots called simulants. The few humans left in that region treat as equal, rather sacred, as they are sentient beings. The civilization worships an AI God known as Nirmata, and they have devoted their lives to protect it from Americans, who have been planning to destroy it.
Without the intention of spoiling the film, as I would encourage you to savour it to the fullest, let’s dive right into the beauty and philosophy of the motion picture. The aesthetics and cinematography are clearly inspired by Avatar, with lush green, tall mountainous islands, dominated by a race of mainly hybrid yet indigenous species. The character of Joshua (played by John David Washington) is quite complex but an interesting one, as he returns to the land, where his wife, Maya, who was bearing his child, had been assassinated amongst many others, in a brutal attack by a supreme weapon called Nomad, overshadowing the region.
Joshua discovers his 5 year old daughter, Alphie (played brilliantly by Madeleine Yuna Voyles), whom he accompanies and protects to destroy Nomad, the drone like weapon that has been threatening the simulants and humans of that region. Alphie is symbolic of Moses, who had been predicted to be a threat to the empire of Pharaoh, makes his way to the castle, and raised under their noses, post genocide of the slaves of Israel. By the help of Joshua, based on the Biblical figure, which in Hebrew means to save or salvation — Moses liberates his people from the oppression, as predicted by the pundits, leading them towards the promised land.
Maya (Gemma Chan), which is Sanskrit for illusion, is a bait for Joshua and Moses, to fulfill their mission. This can be compared to the parting of the Red Sea, which leads to the disillusionment of the people of Israel, making them realise their own potential. Harun (Ken Watanabe) is another powerful character, a Biblical resemblance, who is known to be the older brother of Moses, assists him in facing Pharaoh, by becoming his voice, as he is a gifted speaker. In the film, he is a simulant, who raised Maya, and is overprotective of Alphie, who is like his grand-child.
The story concludes, leaving you with a sense of hope and joy, as if you have been liberated from your own pain, identifying with the oppressed minority, while rooting for them throughout the film.
