A.I. Discussion
12-12-02 | 03:37 PM
#51
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
I think that with all this discussion about whether the ending is happy or sad or if David is "real" or not leads to the heart of the film. All of the characters are wrestling with the idea of what reality means. Hobby believes that mechas equipped to love can be more real. The father tries to create a real family again. The mother does not feel for David until his devotion is real. The advanced mechas try to understand real humanity. Gigolo Joe (and the other obvious mechas) understand their position. They know they're machines and can grasp that. It's only when David's programming turns to the ideal of love that the confusion starts. The image that really embodies this confusion is when the "moon blimp" rises over the hill. It's natural but wholly unnatural.
That's where I think the film has a great understanding of the complexities of artificial intelligence. That distinction and the definition of real becomes blurred.
That's where I think the film has a great understanding of the complexities of artificial intelligence. That distinction and the definition of real becomes blurred.
12-12-02 | 03:59 PM
#55
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Big Quasimodo
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
or in human storytelling...
... and then the frog prince, realizing he had fulfilled his dream, allowed his decaying body to slowly dissolve as he passed to the outer realms of the universe ...
[vs. and then the frog prince died...]
12-12-02 | 04:04 PM
#56
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
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From: Cary, NC
Originally posted by Seeker
or in human storytelling...
... and then the frog prince, realizing he had fulfilled his dream, allowed his decaying body to slowly dissolve as he passed to the outer realms of the universe ...
[vs. and then the frog prince died...]
Spoiler:
or in human storytelling...
... and then the frog prince, realizing he had fulfilled his dream, allowed his decaying body to slowly dissolve as he passed to the outer realms of the universe ...
[vs. and then the frog prince died...]
Spoiler:
12-12-02 | 05:00 PM
#58
DVD Talk Godfather
Like someone said to me ages before me, I wouldn't buy the A.I. DVD if I was on fire and it came with a big glass of water. I think the movie has interesting parts and fails wonderfully, so I respect Spielberg for trying. It's not the worst movie ever made, it's not even the worst movie of 2001, but it's a few dozen rungs short of a masterpiece.
12-13-02 | 03:23 AM
#59
Uber Member
Originally posted by pixyboi
Also Scot, you do notice that his mother, Monica, was totally different in the ending sequence than she was in "real life".. it may appear to be happy but was it? It was obviously fake, but you could also assume that it didn't matter to David.. it's happy, but only on the surface, the moment you apply any rational thought to it, it gets dreary..
wonderful, ain't it?
Also Scot, you do notice that his mother, Monica, was totally different in the ending sequence than she was in "real life".. it may appear to be happy but was it? It was obviously fake, but you could also assume that it didn't matter to David.. it's happy, but only on the surface, the moment you apply any rational thought to it, it gets dreary..
wonderful, ain't it?
12-13-02 | 07:30 AM
#60
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Blade
If this is actually a mecha fairy tale, and presuming that their goal is to become truly human, then isn't David supposedly becoming human a happy ending for the mecha?
If this is actually a mecha fairy tale, and presuming that their goal is to become truly human, then isn't David supposedly becoming human a happy ending for the mecha?
12-13-02 | 01:05 PM
#61
Uber Member
Originally posted by pixyboi
Hmm.. good point.. but even still, if he did become human, it doesn't change the fact that he'll never see Monica again, and since he was programmed essentially to only love her, and seeing he's the last human on the planet.. it would still be a little strange. I guess it really depends on how much firther out from the ending you want to think.. if he became a real boy, he would obviously be happy and has accomplished (at long last) his journey.. but then, he'd have to spend his human life alone, and obviously pretty confused.
Hmm.. good point.. but even still, if he did become human, it doesn't change the fact that he'll never see Monica again, and since he was programmed essentially to only love her, and seeing he's the last human on the planet.. it would still be a little strange. I guess it really depends on how much firther out from the ending you want to think.. if he became a real boy, he would obviously be happy and has accomplished (at long last) his journey.. but then, he'd have to spend his human life alone, and obviously pretty confused.
12-13-02 | 03:15 PM
#62
Guest
Posts: n/a
Do robots dream of electric sheep?
I only saw this movie once, and it disturbed me. The whole creating servants in our image thing. And yes, humans can be very inhuman. I've seen it many many times. You would be astonished at the inhuman things people do. But I have a new perspective on A.I. and will watch it again from the story telling point of view. I didn't get it first, I get it now. That makes sense now.
I only saw this movie once, and it disturbed me. The whole creating servants in our image thing. And yes, humans can be very inhuman. I've seen it many many times. You would be astonished at the inhuman things people do. But I have a new perspective on A.I. and will watch it again from the story telling point of view. I didn't get it first, I get it now. That makes sense now.
12-13-02 | 06:47 PM
#63
DVD Talk Hero
I posted it in the other thread, but it's worth a re-posting here: The Mysteries Of A.I. FAQ .
A read-through of this faq will answer many questions and perhaps allow you to see the film in a new light.
Like any Kubrick film, this one demands repeated viewings (I can't count how many times I've watched 2001) to fully appreciate it, if you are up for that kind of thing (in other words, a "Film Afficianado" rather than a "Movie Fan").
I placed this and Mulholland Drive as the two best films of 2001.
Enjoy.
A read-through of this faq will answer many questions and perhaps allow you to see the film in a new light.
Like any Kubrick film, this one demands repeated viewings (I can't count how many times I've watched 2001) to fully appreciate it, if you are up for that kind of thing (in other words, a "Film Afficianado" rather than a "Movie Fan").
I placed this and Mulholland Drive as the two best films of 2001.
Enjoy.
12-23-02 | 12:29 PM
#64
DVD Talk Special Edition
This is what I see in the ending.
Not that David wants to be only a real boy, but a real boy so his "mom" will love him.
Real boy or not, David got his wish when Monica said "I love you, I have always loved you". (or something like that) This was what David always wanted.
This was what his whole search was about.
Not that David wants to be only a real boy, but a real boy so his "mom" will love him.
Real boy or not, David got his wish when Monica said "I love you, I have always loved you". (or something like that) This was what David always wanted.
This was what his whole search was about.
12-23-02 | 06:51 PM
#65
DVD Talk Hero
David was the first to bring about a new form of A.I. into being, his "story" illustrates the idea of imparting "sentience" into something mechanical and gives the spark for the development of the next form of intelligence/life that shows up as the mechas 1000 years into the future.
David could be considered the progenitor of the species known as A.I.
David could be considered the progenitor of the species known as A.I.
