MovieChat Forums > A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) Discussion > For those who saw it in the theater, was...

For those who saw it in the theater, was the audience jeering or booing?

posted 9 years ago by muthatrucka
78 replies | jump to latest

I'm pretty shocked at how many dislike this and read several comments about how the theater audience were actively displaying their displeasure at the end, booing or making fun of it. I have to say that, when I saw it at home after it came out on VHS when I was about 19, I was engrossed the entire time and cried at the end harder than I did about ET and Terminator 2 (those I saw when I was under 10 years old).

There are different ranges of people I suppose. I recommended this to some friends and they absolutely despised it and even got mad at me for suggesting they watch it. Their reaction confused me at the time but now I see that their opinion is a popular one. I actually don't like them much any more, for other non-movie based reasons, but looking back I think that I should have been suspect because of AI. Did people really act out like this in the theater?

[–] type-club 9 years ago

some of the execution wasn't quite right, I wish Kubrick had made it, but this film is genius.

[–] kaskait 9 years ago

Kubrick wanted Spielberg to direct it while he acted as producer. Which is the right impulse..a marriage between schmaltz and gimlet eyed rationality.

Except when it was actually made the rational side had gone to the greater beyond and all that was left was schmaltz. That is what we got on screen. Spielberg tries so hard to do what he thought Kubrick would like and it dulls his own style.

The film never should have been made once Kubrick passed away.

[–] cinemabon 9 years ago

I went to the first showing in Chicago. As a writer, the film's premise made me squirm. I found the robotic child's treatment too callous for my taste. However, others were even more upset. Several people walked out before the end; and by several, I mean practically a stampede. I stayed until the end. I got the evolved robots. I could not understand machines having emotions that are physical traits of humans based on deep psychological attachments to memories. No machine could mimic that. I doubt a corporation would spend hundreds of millions of dollars to make "real" children. What would be the point? As to its special effects; they're no more special than any other film. John Williams has written better scores. I found it a bore and offensive. Hardly a milestone in science fiction. If Spielberg wants to make a great science fiction movie, why doesn't he make "Dune" the greatest science fiction novel ever written. This whole "homage" to Kubrick is farce.

[–] movie_nazi 9 years ago

I watched in the theater and I can remember being let down by it. Watched it recently and although I didn't dislike quite as much as I remembered I still didn't like it.

My Vote history: http://www.imdb.com/user/ur1914996/ratings

[–] dandaman-64128 9 years ago

I don't remember anyone jeering or booing.

[–] Howard_Hand 9 years ago

Reading all these stories is pretty infuriating. I'd hate to have a movie like this spoiled by the quips of pathetic wannabe comedians and the hollering of morons. I'm glad that I only go to theaters like the Alamo Drafthouse nowadays. They filter out undesirables like the ones mentioned on this board with a strict no talking policy.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] aangen 9 years ago

Calm down Mr. Trump.

[–] xthe_shiznitx 9 years ago

that made absolutely no sense. trump is racist, i hate fascists.

[–] vampyrebat666 9 years ago

that made absolutely no sense. trump is racist, i hate fascists.

Calm down, social justice warrior. Hey wait a second, aren't you Dick from the internet? http://dilbert.com/strip/2015-06-07 Wow, you're famous!

[–] Howard_Hand 9 years ago

Man. all of the IMDB psychos that troll my posts sure frequent the Game of Thrones boards a lot. I think there's a pattern.

[–] piratecannon 9 years ago

It was pretty quiet in my theater from start to finish--most people were mesmerized, I think. For me this is Spielberg's most underrated movie. It's really brilliant.

[–] brefane 9 years ago

Neither jeering nor booing:Sleeping

[–] MaxRenn2 9 years ago

Well, the first time I went to it in the theater, I was the only person in the place, so I was free to boo-hoo all I wanted at David being stuck underwater.