MovieChat Forums > A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) Discussion > Any Kubrick fans who like this film?

Any Kubrick fans who like this film?

posted 8 years ago by !!!deleted!!! (65704626)
9 replies | jump to latest

AI has always had its critics but I always thought the biggest criticisms came from Kubrick fanboys who had a deep hostility towards this project because they felt it belonged to Kubrick and was ruined by Spielberg. I'm a huge Kubrick fan too but I also like Spielberg so for me, AI: Artificial Intelligence was the perfect film. I think the reason why it wasn't a big hit initially was because because it alienated both fanbases of Kubrick and Spielberg. Kubrick fans took against the film because they weren't used to Spielberg's direction and the fact that they blame the infamous ending on Spielberg, refusing to believe that Kubrick could ever up with something like that. And Spielberg fans didn't take to it because they weren't used to the dark dystopian overtone of the film. In the end, AI alienated both fanbases and it didn't find an audience.

If you watch Screen Junkies (youtube movie channel), they were recently debating what was Spielberg's best post 2000 movie. And one of the guys (who's a textbook Kubrick fan) trashed the ending to AI, even though it was pointed out to him that it was originally Kubrick's idea. Spielberg confirmed it years ago of course but people don't even have to take his word for it, Kubrick's brother in law who was close to the production also said that the ending where the mecha revive David was Kubrick's idea.

[–] Druffmaul 8 years ago

I think the fans who truly understand Kubrick like A.I. We know the long hisotry behind the project- We know that Kubrick wanted Spielberg to direct A.I. and was very persistent about trying to convince him to do it. We know that it was Star Wars that inspired Kubrick to try his own at making a "futuristic high tech fairy tale" and that it was E.T. that convinced him that Spielberg was the master of childlike warmth. We know that the movie Spielberg made was very much in keeping with how Kubrick envisioned the project while he was alive.

The people who hate the movie and think Spielberg ruined it are simply ignorant.

[–] Troyal1 7 years ago

I do have to play devils advocate here though. There were many times that Kubrick cut ending ideas from his films at practically the last minute. Like with 2001, or when the shining had to be sent back from theaters to have its ending cut out.

It could have happened here as well too. That being said I do love this movie. But I wish the ending had focused a bit more on the blue angel scene and "how important David was to them" as it's ending rather than watching David with his fake mom.

[–] IceboxMovies 7 years ago

I wish the ending had focused a bit more on the blue angel scene and "how important David was to them" as it's ending rather than watching David with his fake mom.

No. That would be like if 2001 had ended by focusing on the unseen aliens studying Dave Bowman.

[–] Troyal1 7 years ago

I think you misunderstood what I mean. When the blue fairy scene happens she talks about how Important David is to them, but this is immediately glossed over to quickly get back to the whole mom thing in the very next sentence. It would have been nice if the fairy scene had been extended I think. As many people completely missed the point and thought the ending was just trying to be sentimental.

[–] Line-of-Flight 7 years ago

Yeah these socalled "Kubrick fans" aren't that big fans if they don't even know Kubrick wanted Spielberg to direct the movie since long before he died. It was supposed to be a "Kubrick production, directed by Spielberg" al along. And that's what we got. That's why the movie is so interesting imo.

[–] fleischwolf (294) 6 years ago

I'm a huge Kubrick fan, but I don't care about what Kubrick supposedly wanted. He allegedly also thought stupid sitcoms where great and enjoyed watching them. What I care is what he delivered and that where stunning masterfully made and fascinating movies. All what this cheese fest isn't.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I like a lot of what the movie had to offer. This movie has a lot of great scenes that were well acted and it's visually interesting. It's not the best or worst. It's just another movie. Sure, the ending was more like a fairytale, but that's okay. It could have ended with him in the ice. I don't think people would have liked that either. In the end, the fanboys still have other great movies by these directors that they can watch instead.

[–] CinemaDemon989 (1286) 5 years ago

I enjoyed the movie. But I wouldn't compare it to any of Kubrick's films.

[–] Burk48917 (10979) 5 years ago

Great movie with a bad ending.