Movie Review: ‘The Creator’ is the best original sci-fi movie in years
If you love science fiction like “Star Wars”, “Avatar”, “Blade Runner”, “The Twilight Zone”, or “Black Mirror”, you will absolutely love “The Creator.” It’s an instant sci-fi classic.
I went into The Creator only knowing two things about it: That it was directed by the same person as Rogue One, Gareth Edwards, and this official synopsis of the plot’s premise:
“The Creator” is “an epic sci-fi action thriller set amidst a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence (AI). Joshua, a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife, is recruited to hunt down and kill The Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war … and mankind itself. Joshua and his team of elite operatives journey across enemy lines, into the dark heart of AI-occupied territory … only to discover the world-ending weapon he’s been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child”
Industrial Light & Magic
That synopsis, while technically true, is incredibly misleading in the best way. I walked out of the theater struggling for the words to give my first thoughts. All I could say at first, with tears running down my cheeks, was “wow.”
“The Creator” is a masterpiece of Science Fiction. It is incredibly emotional and high octane, both visually stunning and thought provoking, a feast for the eyes and the mind. Without spoiling anything, I will say, prepare to have some expectations subverted. Like all the best sci-fi stories, this one very clearly functions as a lens through which we are able to look at our own society. The horrors of war and the prejudices of the western world are subject matters that are not to be taken lightly.
“The Creator” is filled with amazing talent. John David Washington’s performance as Joshua alongside the young newcomer, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, who portrays the main AI character, have such an amazing dynamic. While the Found Father trope is one that we’ve seen a lot in recent popular media (“The Mandalorian”, “The Last of Us”, “Stranger Things”) “The Creator” manages to keep it feeling fresh and decidedly distinct, not to mention the incomparable Gemma Chan as Maya, Joshua’s Wife.
The hauntingly beautiful score is by Hans Zimmer, best known for “Interstellar” and “Pirates of The Caribbean”. And as I previously mentioned, the director is Gareth Edwards, so be prepared to shed tears, both happy and sad. (Eagle-eyed viewers may spot the Star Wars Easter Egg I did.)
“The Creator” is in theaters everywhere Sept. 29, 2023. We were able to see it in IMAX and the visuals have to be seen on the big screen, not to mention the impactful score and sound design. The film is rated PG-13 for violence, language, and subject matter. There are no end credit scenes.
