Lynn b. of our Hollywood Preview crew, went to a screening of a new science fiction/fantasy film.. Here are her feelings about:

A.I.: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Remember that teddy bear you probably had as a little kid? Maybe you still have it. In A.I., 13-year-old star Haley Joel Osment (playing younger) has one too, only Haley's "Teddy" weighed over thirty pounds and was radio-controlled. When the bear wasn't computer-generated, Haley had to tote the heavy puppet around for a good part of the film. "He really was a supertoy. Because he had so much machinery inside, he could curl up, wiggle his nose and ears, even grab things. I just completely forgot he wasn't real.". And what's "real" and just a machine is the heavy question that this eye-popping, epic science fiction/fantasy film tries to answer.

In the future when family size is limited and human-looking robots take on a lot of Man's workload, robotics guru Professor Hobby (William Hurt), creates a flawless robotic boy in the image of his dead son and names him David (Haley Joel Osment). He's the first robot capable of love. Hobby chooses employee Henry Swinton (Sam Robards) and wife Monica (Frances O'Connor) to be the test family for David. Since their own son Martin (Jake Thomas) is in a frozen sleep until his disease can be cured, the family, especially Monica, is yearning for a son.

David "imprints" on Monica as his mom and loves her deeply. When Martin recovers and returns to his parents, his jealousy of his robotic "brother" splits the family apart and David, with his sophisticated supertoy sidekick "Teddy", is forced to fend for himself in a world still hostile to robots with human emotions. David reasons that, like Pinocchio in the fairy tale, if he can just become a "real", boy, his mom will love him again.

In his quest to become "real", David's journey teams him up with Gigolo Joe (Jude Law) an adult robot who is also on his own. Together the two bond and face horrible danger and have wondrous new adventures until David finally confronts Dr. Hobby, his "maker". Not liking what Hobby has in store for him, David must make a terrible decision that ultimately results in recapturing his mother's love.
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A.I., was originally the dream project of famous director Stanley Kubrick (A Clockwork Orange, 2001: A Space Odyssey). He was fascinated with what humans would do if they created a robot boy who could love. What responsibilities would we have to that child? Could we truly love him back? Kubrick passed his pet project on to Stephen Speilberg who, in tribute to the recently-deceased Kubrick, has created a haunting, otherworldly, emotional epic that combines Kubrick's violent comments on our society with Spielberg's ability to make us care deeply for his characters.

Young Haley Joel Osment is incredible as the focal point of the film and in his scenes with Jude Law, it's like watching the two directors exchange ideas; Osment/Spielberg is "Luke Skywalker" light and Law/Kubrick represents the lure of the "Darth Vader" dark side. Law is terrific in his role as the ultimate ladies' manbot. He's charming and kind of creepy at the same time. When he struts his stuff, it's like watching an electronic John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

Effects are fantastic, especially a partially-submerged Manhattan. The wonderous "Teddy", the robot sidekick/bear and tons of other robotic creations are well worth the price of admission. Once you see Teddy, you'll want one of your own. Hats off to Stan Winston and the other effects wizards, advisors and the army of tech people it took to bring A.I. to life.

A.I. is not E.T. Don't bring a kid sister or brother to this one. It's a bit "deep" at times to hold their interest and certainly too violent and heart-breaking for anyone under 13. This incredible film, unlike so much teen fluff or blustering, mindless action faire out this summer, makes its audience think and feel. How much would we go through to be unique in the world? What would we be willing to give to experience undying love? Will Man's inhumanity to Man include machines he builds in his own image? Is it playing God to create a being that can love? The questions are endless.

Some critics think that this film is endless but I found it hard to take my eyes off the screen for a second. If you come to see cool effects, you won't be disappointed. If you come to see hot Jude Law, you're covered there too. If you come as a fan of directors Spielberg or Kubrick, the mix here is fascinating. If you ever cared about following your dreams then bring a box of Kleenex and watch the adventures of Haley and his incredible teddy bear!

Directed by	Steven Spielberg
Screenplay by	Steven Spielberg from a short story by Brian Aldiss and screen story by Ian Watson
Starring:	Haley Joel Osment as David
	Jude Law as Gigolo Joe
	Frances O'Connor as Monica
	Sam Robards as Henry
	William Hurt as Professor Hobby
	Jake Thomas as Martin