The Creator
Humanity Evolves 🤖
Welcome to Pop' n’ Pizza, a newsletter highlighting what’s new in pop culture and pulp fiction. This week, I’m talking about THE CREATOR, the new movie by Gareth Edwards (GODZILLA, ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY). 🍕🥤
The Creator
Genre: Science-Fiction, Action
Release Date: September 29, 2023
Running Time: 133 Minutes
Rated: PG-13
Studio: 20th Century Studios
Behind the Scenes
Directed by Gareth Edwards
Written by Gareth Edwards & Chris Weitz
Cinematography by Greig Fraser & Oren Soffer
Music by Hans Zimmer
In Front of the Camera
John David Washington as Joshua
Madeleine Yuna Voyles as Alfie
Gemma Chan as Maya
Ken Watanabe as Harun
Sturgill Simpson as Drew
Allison Janney as Howell
Ralph Ineson as Andrews
Veronica Ngo as Kami
What’s It About?
“Joshua, a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the loss of his wife, 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. Joshua and his team of elite operatives journey across enemy lines, into the dark heart of AI-occupied territory, only to discover the world-ending weapon he’s been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child.” — 20th Century Studios
How Is It?
I am not a religious person. I have, however, had several spiritual experiences at the cinema. STAR WARS, THE TERMINATOR, ALIENS, ROBOCOP — as a kid, these films imprinted on me a sense of wonder and ignited my imagination by introducing me to thrilling, sometimes terrifying, new worlds filled with endless possibilities.
As an adult, the likelihood of having that kind of experience with a movie — or any piece of art, for that matter — is rare. We're too cynical, too world-weary. It's why many of us have children, I suppose, so we can live vicariously through a fresh set of eyes, introducing them to the things we loved as kids, hoping they inspire and excite them too.
Every now and then, however, a movie comes along with the power to break through the cynicism and weariness of adulthood and reignite my sense of wonder. THE CREATOR is one of those films — a bold, soul-stirring sci-fi spectacle that examines the ethical, moral, and existential questions that arise when humans and advanced technology come into conflict.
Equal parts BLADE RUNNER, APOCALYPSE NOW, and DISTRICT 9, THE CREATOR offers powerful, emotional performances from John David Washington, Gemma Chan, and newcomer Madeleine Yuna Voyles, as well as absolutely stellar cinematography, production design, and special effects work. It’s not only one of the best films of the year, it’s the best original science fiction film since 2014’s EX MACHINA.
With films like MONSTERS, GODZILLA, ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, and THE CREATOR under his belt, Gareth Edwards has firmly established himself as a visionary storyteller, one who – like Ridley Scott and James Cameron – will no doubt inspire countless kids and future filmmakers out there to dream big and imagine worlds beyond their own.
See THE CREATOR on the biggest screen possible. The only way we’ll get the next STAR WARS or THE TERMINATOR is if we support original stories from filmmakers with something to say. And with THE CREATOR, Gareth Edwards has a lot to say about what it means to be human in a world of artifice.
Slices (Out of 5)
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Seeing it in IMAX on Sunday! Very excited. Your review sold me