THE CREATOR REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Making an original sci-fi film can be challenging as there’s been so many that have explored similar ideas in an effective way and left a lasting impression on critics and audiences. That’s why, when a new sci-fi film is released, it can be difficult for it to stand out. That’s definitely an issue with Gareth Edwards’ latest film, The Creator, which has a futuristic settling and mainly focuses on the conflict between humans and Artificial Intelligence which has been done many times before but is still relevant in this modern day. However, does The Creator still manage to leave a lasting impression? 

Amid a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, Joshua (John David Washington), a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife, Maya (Gemma Chan), 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. However, Joshua is shocked to discover that the weapon is actually a young child (Madeleine Yuna Voyles), leading to him protecting her. 

Since the release of The Creator last month, the response has been divisive with most of the praise going towards the stunning visuals, practical effects and production design. However, there has been a lot of criticism towards the narrative and its lack of originality. It’s challenging making an original sci-fi that focuses on the conflict between the human race and AIs as it’s been done so many times before in films such as James Cameron’s The Terminator, Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and Steven Spielberg’s AI: Artificial Intelligence. While the narrative is predictable and is similar to several other sci-fi films, I didn’t find this to be much of an issue with The Creator. The unoriginal story is only a small flaw with the positive aspects of The Creator, including mesmerising visuals, impressive practical effects and an outstanding performance by Madeleine Yuna Voyles, outweighing the negatives and, as a result, is worth watching.

The Creator is directed by Gareth Edwards and is based on a script he co-wrote with Chris Weitz. Edwards is best known for impressing with his debut as director with the sci-fi horror, Monsters, which was released in 2010, with critics describing it as a “surprising blend of alien-invasion tropes, political themes, and relationship drama”. Sticking with monsters, Edwards then directed the 2014 Godzilla remake starring Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen. While far from a great film, it still further proved Edwards as a skilful filmmaker. In 2016, Edwards made the Star Wars spin-off, Rogue One, which starred Felicity Jones in the lead role, and, while far from the best film set in a galaxy far, far, away, still provides fans of the blockbuster franchise with thrilling action. Seven years later and Edwards continues to impress with his latest film, The Creator. Undoubtedly, he succeeds at capturing the futuristic setting and providing audiences with stunning visuals, making this a must see on the big screen. What’s most impressive is that, unlike a lot of films that rely on computer generated imagery and look artificial, the special effects are practical. The visuals are a good enough reason why The Creator is worth watching.

While most of the praise has gone towards the visuals and world building, the story has been described as unoriginal and predictable. While I do agree that the narrative is the most disappointing part of The Creator, I still found it to be an engaging watch for the majority of its 134 minute runtime. What I liked most was that Edwards’ decision to focus on the characters and story rather than relying on action sequences to keep the audience entertained. There will be those who may be hoping for a film that’s action packed like The Terminator and will be disappointing, however, that doesn’t mean that The Creator is a bad film. It’s the type of sci-fi that is more interested in exploring thought provoking ideas and relevant themes, such as the ongoing conflict between the human race and Artificial Intelligence. 

The Creator features a talented cast who each deliver strong performances, with John David Washington leading the way as Joshua. While far from his best performance, he makes for a likeable lead and someone easy to root for. I think that it’s difficult for John being the son of one of Hollywood’s best actors, Denzel Washington, as he’ll always be compared to him. I think that John has succeeded in making a name for himself with roles in Spike Lee’s Oscar winning drama, BlacKkKlansman, and Christopher Nolan’s twisted and action packed thriller, Tenet. Solid supporting roles are provided by Gemma Chan as Joshua’s wife, Maya, and Allison Janney as Howell, a colonel in the U.S. Army who recruits Joshua. She harbours a deep prejudice against AIs due to losing both her sons in the war. Ken Watanabe leaves a lasting impression with his portrayal of a simulant soldier named Harun and is proof that not all AIs are evil. As great as the talented cast are, the most impressive performance is delivered by Madeleine Yuna Voyles as robotic simulant that has the ability to remotely control technology and is seen as a threatening weapon to the human race. She is affectionately named “Alphie” by Joshua who becomes like a father figure to her. Their relationship is where The Creator is at its most effective.

While I understand why there’s a lot of disappointment towards the story as it’s far from original, I still found The Creator to be a compelling watch and filled with stunning visuals and an impressive performance by Madeleine Yuna Voyles.

8/10