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The Creator (Kẻ Kiến Tạo) emerges as one of the most impressive science-fiction spectacles of the early year, boasting stunning visuals and a well-rounded storyline.
After more than 7 years since Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), director Gareth Edwards makes a comeback with an original sci-fi script titled The Creator (Kẻ Kiến Tạo). This time's story unfolds in the near future of the late 21st century, where artificial intelligence (AI) has surpassed human control. One day, machines rise and unleash a nuclear bomb on Los Angeles as a declaration of war. The U.S. issues a ban on AI usage and develops a technological weapon named NOMAD to wipe out these rebels.
Meanwhile, an engineer known as Nirmata (The Creator) is determined to safeguard this virtual force by escaping to Asia and devising a weapon capable of defeating NOMAD. Consequently, this region is dubbed New Asia, where humans and machines coexist harmoniously. Simultaneously, the U.S. launches a war to completely eliminate AI threats.
The film's central character is Joshua Taylor (played by John David Washington), a government agent sent to Asia to trace Nirmata. Here, he approaches and captures the heart of Maya Fey (played by Gemma Chan) - suspected to be the daughter of the elusive engineer. However, Joshua himself falls in love with the girl and is thrilled about having a child together.
One day, NOMAD bombs Maya's sanctuary, leading to her death while pregnant. Overwhelmed with grief, Joshua returns to the U.S. and requests discharge. However, 5 years later, the U.S. government approaches him again, revealing that the New Asia faction has developed a weapon capable of reversing the tide. They also discover that Maya is still alive.
Engaging Sci-Fi Set in Asia
Following Joshua Taylor's journey back to New Asia to reunite with his long-lost wife, the decision leads him into an adventure full of surprises and challenges in Asia, now the epicenter of the formidable AI army. The Creator's war evokes memories of Hollywood films depicting the Vietnam War, only replacing humans with robots.
Director Gareth Edwards revealed that the idea for the film emerged after trips to Thailand and Vietnam. The textures of Southeast Asia are richly woven into the movie—rice paddies, stilt houses, and perilous mountainous landscapes. Additionally, Vietnamese is prominently featured in the film. Ngô Thanh Vân, in a supporting role, actively sought to incorporate more dialogue in her native language into this Hollywood blockbuster.
The Asian backdrop becomes a crucial element that sets The Creator apart from typical Hollywood sci-fi blockbusters. The natural surroundings here serve as a vivid and aesthetically pleasing canvas for director Gareth Edwards to depict the post-apocalyptic setting. The presence of Asian stars like Gemma Chan and Ngô Thanh Vân further enriches the film's ethnic diversity.
'Action star' Ngô Thanh Vân makes a cameo appearance in the film.
Well-rounded, meaningful script but still relatively safe
One aspect that helped The Creator win over audiences and critics is the well-constructed and sensibly narrated storyline. The film's script draws inspiration from sci-fi classics like The Terminator, The Matrix, or Blade Runner 2049. This direction contributes to a relatively well-rounded and logically developed narrative, albeit somewhat familiar and repetitive.
On his quest to find his wife, Joshua is thrust into a new journey upon discovering the AI faction's developed weapon, Alphie - a half-human, half-machine child with the superpower to control technology through thoughts. This plotline may not be unfamiliar to fans of the genre, allowing keen viewers to easily anticipate the trajectory and development of The Creator.
However, director Gareth Edwards cleverly weaves in philosophical elements to elevate the script, preventing the film from being shallow or solely focused on action and entertainment. Overall, The Creator prompts viewers to seek answers to questions about the relationship between humans and technology. If machines can think and feel, should humanity treat them with respect and empathy rather than mere tools or servants? Is oppressing and harming machines considered inhumane?
These messages are clearly conveyed through the relationship between the protagonist Joshua and the robot Alphie. 'Will I go to heaven?' the robotic girl asks, leaving the secret agent perplexed before coming up with an answer. Or how he explains to Alphie, when killing her kind, that it's just 'shutting down,' not 'death.' These subtle details contribute to making The Creator a sci-fi masterpiece that is not only rich in entertainment but also deep, stimulating the audience's thoughts. However, the incorporation of philosophical ideas sometimes makes the dialogue in the film feel somewhat artificial and cliché in certain places.
Impressive special effects, stellar performances by the cast
Immediately upon release, The Creator received widespread acclaim from audiences and critics for its visual prowess. After a string of projects criticized for lackluster special effects, Hollywood now introduces a sci-fi venture executed meticulously. Many international critics have noted that this is one of the visually and technically outstanding films of the year, a strong contender for technical categories at the upcoming Oscars.
The robots in the film appear remarkably lifelike, with expressive movements and realistic gestures. A minor drawback is the lack of creativity in character design, failing to introduce any android that leaves a lasting impression on the audience. Impressive is how the The Creator team achieved this with a budget of only about 80 million USD, quite modest compared to other blockbusters in the same genre.
The performances of the main cast are also a highlight of The Creator. After Tenet, John David Washington proves to be fitting for roles where life is constantly on the edge between existence and demise. In this project, he portrays a transformation from viewing machines merely as tools to realizing their ultimate value. Child actor Madeleine Yuna Voyle delivers an impressive portrayal as the robotic child Alphie. With an innocent face and natural acting, the character steals the spotlight in emotionally charged scenes.
Rating: 4/5
The Creator is a top-tier sci-fi project from Hollywood in recent years. Choosing Asia as the main setting adds a fresh perspective to the film. Director Gareth Edwards has successfully delivered a meticulously crafted blockbuster, both visually and narratively rounded. While not reaching the status of a cinematic classic, the film brings a breath of fresh air to a seemingly exhausted international film genre.
