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Author	Topic: I saw Spielberg's " A.I. " this afternoon

Rich Douglas Oscar® Winner	I got to see an advance screening of A.I. today with 5 other people here in Dallas, and no this post contains no spoilers, dont worry. I love working with a film critic! Just thought i would let you all know that it is one of Spielbergs BEST films!!! Absolutely incredible! But be warned, it's not your average Spielberg, it starts out just plain creepy and will send shivers down your spine as did mine I'm sure. Especially after you see some of the creepy technology. Then it gets very very dark Kubrick style. Act III will surely bring tears to your eyes and is a very good moviegoing experience. Williams' score is TOP NOTCH with some use of electronics (Which is strange for williams). He even uses some techno beats it seems for some chase music backed with some orchestra. For the first act, its mainly beautiful piano with some electronics (Think of a form of wendy carlos or even Goldsmith). The score release better be a good one. DO YOURSELVES A FAVOR AND GO SEE THE FILM THE 29TH!!! ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! The critic i was with and myself were both in tears after the 2 1/2 hour film came to a close and both agreed it was the best film we had both seen in a long time. Which is unfortunate cause i wanted it to keep going and going. There wasn't one boring part, the whole thing kept the 5 of us entirely interested. The actors ALL did a great job, especially Osment. The film was so well shot it's not even funny, and the special effects were very incredible. Just wait till you see "Teddy" waltz across the floor so very lifelike it's scary. Well.. thats my 2 cents. ActionGuy (Rich D.)
posted 06-13-2001 07:24 PM PT (US)

jonathan_little Oscar® Winner	Wow, electronics. That sure is interesting, for Williams. Thanks for the report, Rich!
posted 06-13-2001 08:30 PM PT (US)

Kross Oscar® Winner	Was it a "smart" film or is it like any other Spielberg film where it is all emotions really and no brains? I do want to see this film for I have hope for it...hoping it will gain Steven some respect from me.
posted 06-13-2001 09:20 PM PT (US)

Kross Oscar® Winner	Actually, the question I have is...is it a Kubrick film? Since this film is basically a Kubrick film and he had most of the pre=production crap done for years, and Steven and him worked together with it for a long time, does Steven do a good job acting as Kubrick directing his film?
posted 06-13-2001 09:26 PM PT (US)

Rich Douglas Oscar® Winner	Let me put it this way Kross, it's like nothing you've ever seen Spielberg do before, and is very much like a Kubrick film with the usual great spielberg shots and emotion. I've never cried during a spielberg film, (in fact i NEVER cry at movies) but the end of this film for some reason seemed to tug at all the right emotional strings. Parts of the film are just so spooky and parts are just really really dark (possibly dark enough for an R rating, but i doubt that). The spooky parts are really helped by the great score done by williams (in my opinion). You find yourself sitting there thinking.. is THIS realllllly spielberg? or is this Kubrick? Thats just how dark and strange parts of the movie are. Then again the film is shot soooo well it must be a spielberg film, and it totally switches gears into an emotional wonderful ending. And i can't say enough how unbelievably real the special effects are. ActionGuy (Rich D.)
posted 06-13-2001 11:41 PM PT (US)

Kross Oscar® Winner	Well dark is very very good. I will see it for sure now. Hopefully the end will not be typical Spielberg fluff and maybe it will be Kubrick thought tugging instead. I dunno. I will have to see.
posted 06-14-2001 12:10 AM PT (US)

Buba Fett Oscar® Winner	Spielberg fluff?! Sigh.
posted 06-14-2001 01:42 AM PT (US)

Widescreen Oscar® Winner	Rich, I'm a Dallas resident,like you, and while I understand you may not be able to reveal which film critic you work with, Could you let those of us in this area that get this paper know when to expect his review in the Dallas Morning News? Thanks.
posted 06-14-2001 06:24 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Rich Douglas: and it totally switches gears into an emotional wonderful ending. "Wonderful emotional" ala Close Encounters? Or just schmaltzy and tear-jerking? That's the point I've been wondering about for months. If it's the former, I'm sure this will be a great film. And I'm very much looking forward to Williams' score now. Techno-stuff? Looks like the closest he's come to that before was Sleepers, which has some excellent parts. NP: The Doors Concerto
posted 06-14-2001 06:39 AM PT (US)

Rich Douglas Oscar® Winner	I'll let you all know when and where to see the official review. It's very funny that you mention close encounters, something alot like that, with some tear jerking. ActionGuy
posted 06-14-2001 07:10 AM PT (US)

André Lux Oscar® Winner	Spielberg isn't capable to make a movie like CLOSE ENCOUNTERS anymore. Didn't you see the DVD documentary, where he was able to bash his own movie (which is one of his best) by saying that he would never do movies like that again, since at that time he was just a naive and stupid young man... But considering the kind of movies he is doing in the last years one may consider that he last thing he was when young was naive! Spielberg was a master while doing infantile movies for kids. Now he is just a dork, making infantile movies for alienated and idiotic adults... [Message edited by André Lux on 06-14-2001]
posted 06-14-2001 08:35 AM PT (US)

Probable Oscar® Winner	You know, André, it wouldn't hurt you to be open-minded about this one. The expectation of not enjoying a film is often a self-fulfilling prophecy.
posted 06-14-2001 09:34 AM PT (US)

Big Bear unregistered	Amazingly eloquently put, Probable.
posted 06-14-2001 10:42 AM PT (US)

Quill Oscar® Winner	Prob...isn't the same philosophy true for scores as well. If so, don't bother with the arguement...I've already tried.
posted 06-14-2001 11:31 AM PT (US)

Aaron R. Brown Oscar® Winner	Okay some of you guys have issures with Steven. I don't. I love his films even the ones like Hook that have problems still are fun to watch. I loved his works Ryan, Amistad, The Lost World and the other recent films. I think if you can't appreciate those films its just your lost.
posted 06-14-2001 03:31 PM PT (US)

Scorro Oscar® Winner	All I've seen of A.I. is the trailers on TV, but it's the first movie to garner my interest in quite awhile. Looks to be one of the most intriging sci-fi flics to come along in a long time. As for Spielberg, kudos for some really great movies, both dramatic and in the fantasy/adventure realm. Schindler's List, for example, is in territory that he alone has taken us. Difficult to watch, but one of the best films ever made, literally. _Sc
posted 06-14-2001 03:54 PM PT (US)

Hasta Oscar® Winner	Kross I don't think anybody shares your opinion on Spielberg, personally I think he's one of the best directors out there, and most definitely one of my favorites. Sure all his films aren't fantastic, but when he hits the mark nobody is better. NP: Toys Expanded (Zimmer) **/***
posted 06-14-2001 04:41 PM PT (US)

wistiti Oscar® Winner	Oh goody, so now I feel special: I share Kross' opinions about Spielberg.
posted 06-14-2001 04:59 PM PT (US)

Big Bear unregistered	My two cents: I've talked to a lot of people about Spielberg over the years, and lately I've noticed that... regardless of the quality of the film in question (I personally hated Amistad, save the first 25 minutes and LOVED Private Ryan)... he simply can't win with anyone anymore. If he sticks to his guns with fantasy fare, people claim he is doing the same old same old. At the same time, it seems like NO ONE will let the guy grow and try some new things. I think he needs to keep expanding and growing. His heart isn't in the action-adventure stuff the way it used to be (compare RAIDERS to LOST WORLD... or on second thought, don't ever compare those two movies... EVER). His best work lately has been the more serious films. With that in mind, I can't wait to see A.I. Conceptually, it's just D.A.R.Y.L. But the more I get glimpses of the trailer, the more I know there's a whole lot more in store for me. Anyhoo.
posted 06-14-2001 06:01 PM PT (US)

Probable Oscar® Winner	I have difficulty with anyone who has seen Schindler referring to Spielberg's work as 'emotional fluff' myself, but everyone is entitled to their own opinions. You're right, though, BB, people are down on him. It's very strange, too, considering how big some of his movies are, and how critically acclaimed. [Editde fore Spilling] [Message edited by Probable on 06-14-2001]
posted 06-14-2001 06:19 PM PT (US)

not-often Oscar® Nominee	Well, if we have advance screenings going on right now, we'll probably see a lot of spoilers coming up over the next couple weeks. There's gotta be someone out there posting spoilers as we speak. I honestly didn't expect any screenings to take place until Thursday, the 28th. Kinda surprising...
posted 06-14-2001 10:48 PM PT (US)

Kross Oscar® Winner	Spielberg is the best at what he does but I am not a huge fan of what he does. Many people share my opinion. I find more agree with me than not nowadays. Spielberg needs to make a mature film. I am highly looking forward to AI as I look forward to ALL of his films. He has huge, gigantic, monster talent...yet each film always goes the same easy route. I think AI will be different, thanks to the great Kubrick, and I will be seeing it .
posted 06-15-2001 12:34 AM PT (US)

JJH Oscar® Winner	Mature film? jeez; time to read a new thread.
posted 06-15-2001 12:46 AM PT (US)

Buba Fett Oscar® Winner	Spielberg has made mature films, some have worked and some have not. He can do just about anything, but he doesn't have to prove himself. In fact, Schindler's List should have ended this argument.
posted 06-15-2001 01:26 AM PT (US)

Big Bear unregistered	quote: Originally posted by Kross: Spielberg needs to make a mature film. Come on, Kross. You can say you don't like it, but to imply that Schindler's List wasn't a mature film is pretty asinine. Personally, I think Private Ryan is pretty powerful, mature stuff. With your talk of Kubrick (the master of cold, emotionless craft), it doesn't sound like you want a mature film, but rather an obtuse one.
posted 06-15-2001 02:05 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	I'm one of the few who really enjoy Hook. Re Private Ryan, the "war" parts were very powerful, but the "emotional" parts were too schmaltzy for my taste. I don't have a problem with how the film wants to remember audiences of the people who sacrificed their lives in WWII, but some of the scenes were so much on the Hollywood side that it was annoying - and I also can see why many people were annoyed by Hymn to the Fallen in that context. NP: Lawrence of Arabia (Maurice Jarre)
posted 06-15-2001 10:37 AM PT (US)

Quill Oscar® Winner	My only problem with Spielberg is that he is emotionally manipulative...which is not necessarily a a bad thing. But he is so damn direct, its like he slaps you over the face and says "Now cry, dammit!"
posted 06-15-2001 10:45 AM PT (US)

selectd Oscar® Nominee	The beauty of this movie is that we actually get to see a collaboration of Kubrick and Spielberg. For those ripping on Steven, remember that the amazingly talented Kubrick doubted whether or not he could direct this properly. The two directors are so completely different and I believe that is what will make AI one of the most worthwhile projects to grace theatres in quite some time.
posted 06-15-2001 12:45 PM PT (US)

Big Bear unregistered	quote: Originally posted by selectd: For those ripping on Steven... Do you have to call him that? Come on, none of us know him personally. And I don't know about any real 'collaboration' here. Kubrick, as I recall, stopped developing this material some time before his death. I'm sure Spielberg wanted to pay homage to Kubrick with this film. But to imply it is a collaboration flies in the face of some very simple facts. Like the fact that Kubrick is dead, and was dead for the whole production of the film. Now I've know people I have wished were dead while I was making a movie, but that's not really the same thing, is it? [Message edited by Big Bear on 06-15-2001]
posted 06-15-2001 12:56 PM PT (US)

Kross Oscar® Winner	A while back Steven was set to produce and Kubrick was set to direct AI,a while back. It was mainly they WANTED to do this, and Kubrick had many many many pre-pro things done for it, but Kubrick did move on to other things. Since he had so many storyboards and all of that good stuff already down, and since him and Steven were fairly close on this one, Steven just took over. I will see AI as soon as it comes out. Agree or disagree, I just get tired of every single film Steven has done since they all are the same emotionally. S. List is a very good film but after having seen it many times it is not as great as many people claim it to be. Everyone should see the film, and it is Steven's best so far, but like all of his films they are heavily one sided(for good or bad) and not "smart" in how things are shown or approached. Steven more or less shows an image and has williams do the rest of the work before, during, or after that scene. I like a mending bewteen smarts and emotion...all we have from Steven is emotion. That emotion is only present in a few of his films.
posted 06-15-2001 01:22 PM PT (US)

El Cid Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Kross: Spielberg needs to make a mature film. You mean a porno?
posted 06-15-2001 01:23 PM PT (US)

selectd Oscar® Nominee	Big Bear, Over two decades of trading notes on this project would meet the definition of collaboration. There is no way that you can say SPEILBERG made this movie on his own. From what has been published, Kubrick said he could not make this movie by himself. SPEILBERG used someone else's treatment and research to do this movie. Yeah, he's dead, but his work on this film still exists and will most likely be apparent when it is released.
posted 06-15-2001 03:48 PM PT (US)

Camillu Oscar® Winner	El Cid - LOL
posted 06-15-2001 03:58 PM PT (US)

Quill Oscar® Winner	Sounds more like adaption than collaboration to me....somehow I doubt Spielberg and Kubrick were secret pen pals working all these years on a secret project.
posted 06-15-2001 04:14 PM PT (US)

selectd Oscar® Nominee	the discussion of this movie started back when Raiders and The Shining were being filmed on the same sound stage back to back. And actually it was confirmed by Spielberg that Kubrick faxed him at all hours of the night about this project.
posted 06-15-2001 04:19 PM PT (US)

selectd Oscar® Nominee	In fact this was never a secret. Kubrick originally announced this movie as his next project after Full Metal Jacket in 1987. That was the first time Spielberg's name got mentioned. He was waiting for the technology to do the movie the right way. Then "Eyes Wide Shut" came up and he dropped the project. We all know the story from there.
posted 06-15-2001 04:34 PM PT (US)

Gae Oscar® Winner	Well personally, Im a big fan of Spielberg. When he makes a good film he makes a great film and when he makes a bad film he makes a good film. Some of Spielberg's films are amongst my all time favourites. I grew up at a time where I was able to see all of Spielberg's films on first release and over the years, growing up, his movies have given me, my friends and family a great deal of pleasure. Its a sign of these jaded and cynical times I reckon that Spielberg's movies are seen as sentimental and manipulative fluff. What ever happened to the idea of coming out of the cinema with a good feeling at seeing some magic portrayed on screen, as opposed to coming out more cynical and depressed than going in. When his movies first appeared back in the 70s and 80s they were great entertaining features that made a trip to the cinema a worthwile and enjoyable experience. Just look at the list below and see what a giant Spielberg has been over the last 30 years. Thats just my opinion and your welcome to disagree with it...but, no-one will change my mind!! DUEL SUGARLAND EXPRESS JAWS CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE E.T. POLTRGEIST (uncredited) THE COLOUR PURPLE EMPIRE OF THE SUN JURASSIC PARK SCHINDLER'S LIST LOST WORLD:JURASSIC PARK II SAVING PRIVATE RYAN Called me daft, but in my eyes thats a pretty impressive CV. If he'd only made one of the above movies he would still be one of the best directors of the last 30 years in my eyes. Also, he seems to have been pretty inspirational to a certain composer you may have heard of called John Williams who has composed several of his masterpieces while viewing Spielberg's films. Gae [Message edited by Gae on 06-15-2001]
posted 06-15-2001 04:45 PM PT (US)

Big Bear unregistered	I still think that Kubrick's unavoidable deadness should preclude anyone calling this an out-and-out collaboration between him and Spielberg. I'd bet you Kubrick would agree with me. He was alive when they made Spartacus and didn't want his name attached to it, because he didn't have enough control over the material... and I warrant his small control was still more than the control he ultimately had over A.I..
posted 06-15-2001 05:18 PM PT (US)

André Lux Oscar® Winner	DUEL *1/2 SUGARLAND EXPRESS * JAWS *** CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND * RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK * E.T. POLTRGEIST (uncredited) * INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM * THE COLOUR PURPLE *1/2 EMPIRE OF THE SUN 1/2 INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE JURASSIC PARK SCHINDLER'S LIST **** LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK II * SAVING PRIVATE RYAN 1/2 AMISTAD *1/2 Yes, he was good. No doubt about that.
posted 06-15-2001 08:29 PM PT (US)

Lou Goldberg Oscar® Winner	I'm not a big fan of Spielberg but felt the need to do an Andre here as well. The best he's done: Jaws Above average: Raiders of the Lost Ark Schindler's List Average: Duel Sugarland Express CE3K Indy 2 & 3 Poltergeist Empire of the Sun Saving Priavte Ryan AI Junk: ET (except the score) The Color Purple J. Park 1 & 2
posted 07-05-2001 09:26 PM PT (US)

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