Hollywood Gradebook: ‘The Creator’

Film: The Creator (2023)

Plot: In the midst of a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, Joshua (Washington), a retired special forces agent suffering from the loss of his wife (Chan), is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI (artificial intelligence) who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war… and humanity itself.

Cast: John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Sturgill Simpson, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, and Allison Janney

Director: Gareth Edwards

Studio: 20th Century

Average Grade: B-

Member Reviews:

Rick Bentley
The best way to watch the movie is knowing it was written and directed by Gareth Edwards, the man behind “Rogue One.” He’s used the same structure of a group going on a suicide mission to find technology that can change the course of history. At least the familiarity with past work by Edwards is a bit more acceptable.
Grade: B-

Don Shanahan
With The Creator, Gareth Edwards becomes a power source that can enliven familiar parts. His film may have informal traits from other sci-fi places that folks will criticize, but it has an emphatic beating heart all its own that cannot be contained and is wondrous to behold. Combining the genre’s penchant for implausible creativity and a powerful emphasis on existential connection, “The Creator” explores and reaches a special place within science fiction films.
Grade: A

Michael Lee
While I was in awe of the visuals, some of the violence depicted against Asians and the imperialistic imagery left me a bit shaken.
Grade: C+

Demetri Panos
THE CREATOR looks great. It’s Directed and acted well enough, but the story plays as if written by A.I. ChatGBT! – it has no soul.
Grade: C-

Leo Rydel
I really enjoyed The Creator. The film has stunning visuals and tone. John David Washington and Madeleine Yuna Voyles are magnetic. This feels like a new sci-fi classic. I even enjoyed the story and pacing, however, I’m slightly confused by some of the messaging. I need another watch!
Grade: B+

Aaron Neuwirth
An original sci-fi action film with plenty of ideas on its mind, terrific use of visual effects, and further evidence of what Gareth Edwards can bring by way of spectacle to help him continue to stand out.
Grade: B+

Ashley Saunders
The Creator is a visual and technical feast for Sci-fi fans. It is especially a treat for those who have been clamoring online for something original. Director-writer Gareth Edwards, along with his Rogue One partner Chris Weitz have created a film that boasts incredible visuals and ambitious world-building, that also challenges everything we believe about morality, compassion, and what it means to be human. What grounds the film amidst all the simulants and mega-machines is the connection between Washington and the scene-stealing Voyles. Their bond carries the story through even when the second act drags its feet a little in order to land a stunning finale.
Grade: B+

Nicholas Spake
The Creator is a dazzling experience, combining its futuristic setting with the gritty realism of a Vietnam War picture. Apocalypse Now was a clear inspiration with Edwards using 1970s anamorphic lenses. As Edwards demonstrated with Godzilla and Rogue One, he has a gift for shooting combat, making the audience feel as if they’re engaged in the action. It’s in the character department where he struggles, even with Chris Weitz co-writing the screenplay. Still, the characters aren’t bad and by the finale, you do find yourself emotionally invested in them. The characters don’t stick with you like some of the movie’s imagery, however. This holds it back from being a sci-fi classic, but the film may provide a stepping stone to more original creations.
Grade: B

Aaron White
Visually stunning and ambitious with plenty of explosive action and an intriguing premise centered on humans seeking revenge for an A.I. nuclear attack, but unfortunately lacking in exploration of its bigger ideas, largely a reskin of STAR WARS, and only somewhat effective emotionally. Could have been, and should have been, so much more.
Grade: B-

Mike Manalo
It’s difficult for me to dog this movie because we need to stand up for original movies to be made. But I simply cannot defend a movie that pretentiously divides itself into chapters, but also thinks the exchange “What do you want?”/”For robots to be free” is profound. My heart was incredibly broken by a movie with as much potential as The Creator. I wanted to love this movie so much, and on almost every narrative and character level, I was left disappointed by either painful dialogue, obvious narrative reveals, tone-deaf moments for Asians, unlikable characters, left-field character and relationship beats, and been-there-done-that ideas/themes that were better executed in much stronger films.
Grade: D

Alex Billington
In an era of reboots, sequels, adaptations, and remakes, it’s really, really nice to see a completely original sci-fi movie. And this stands out being so big and bold and fresh. In terms of the visuals & world-building, this movie is off the charts spectacular. In terms of the story & script, this movie is underwhelming. It’s not even really about A.I., it has nothing to say about A.I., it’s actually just another Vietnam War movie set mostly in Southeast Asia about one side vs the other. Good sci-fi movie but lacks depth exploring any themes.
Grade: B+

James White
Gareth Edwards’ big return to film is a visually impressive sci-fi film that perhaps borrows a little too heavily from existing movies to be truly credited as original. Yet good performances anchor a story that occasionally dips into cliche.
Grade: B+

Daniel Rester
The Creator is a visually stunning sci-fi epic with intriguing ideas about artificial intelligence. Gareth Edwards seems to borrow a lot from previous films, but he presents his material in exciting ways. The film has heart and humor to go along with the spectacle as well. 
Grade: B+

Scott Menzel
The Creator looks stunning and newcomer Madeleine Yuna Voyles is fantastic, but the generic science-fiction story left much more to be desired. The film also feels cold, soulless and emotionless. There are so many people who die in this film and I felt nothing. The story does such a poor job creating and shaping characters. John David Washington’s performance lacks depth and heart. The Creator feels like a hodgepodge of science fiction films and tv shows with hints of Blade Runner, The Mandalorian, Children of Men, Rogue One, Ex Machina, Star Trek and others. The Creator is effective from a visual standpoint but is lacking everywhere else.
Grade: C

Caillou Pettis
The Creator is a visually arresting and intellectually engaging science fiction film that pushes the boundaries of the genre.
Grade: A-

Alexander Robinson
Though a lot of the ideas and themes of THE CREATOR may not be 100% original, it is still a visually remarkable film that deserves to be seen on a big screen. Gareth Edwards brings the same level of awe and large-scale scope that he did with both ROGUE ONE and 2014’s GODZILLA, but for a far smaller budget than what those two films cost. $80,000,000 was the budget of this movie, and it looks better than most of the major blockbuster franchises that have come out in the past couple of years. The story itself isn’t too original either, but it is certainly timely and told in an effective manner. The movie is reminiscent of Guillermo del Toro’s PACIFIC RIM from 2013; an original science fiction film that proudly wears its inspirations on its sleeves but manages to stick out as its own thing that may go down as a cult classic in ten years!
Grade: A-

Jonathan Fujii
Gareth Edwards paints a beautiful picture with every frame of this movie. It’s a shame that the beautiful visuals are filled with a dull story and lackluster characters. A clunky start only to find its way in the second half but by then, it’s too late. 
Grade: C+

Christian Eulinberg
Wow, what an original sci-fi experience! The pacing felt rapid (maybe a bit too rapid), mainly because I was eager to delve deeper into the AI world these characters inhabited. The final act completely blindsided me, and the cinematography was absolutely stunning.
Grade: B

Ema Sasic
The Creator isn’t perfect, but it does a pretty great job captivating you in this futuristic world and centering itself on a story about what it means to be human. The CGI is out of this world in every aspect, and the cinematography is stunning in so many scenes. The story is basically a mishmash of others we’ve seen before, but I still enjoyed many parts of John David Washington and Madeleine Yuna Voyles‘ journey together. 
Grade: B

Francisco Cangiano
SCI-FI-TISFIED! Been looking forward to the next great epic sci-fi film, and The Creator somewhat nabs that title. Gareth Edwards’ nifty exploration of AI, war and life itself, is a big-screen spectacle that delivers on thrills, mind and heart. 
Grade: B

Kevin Taft
While visually arresting, “The Creator” suffers from over-familiarity both in look and plot. With a sci-fi realism akin to “District 9” and “Tales from the Loop,” and a cliche “I must protect the ONE” storyline we’ve seen repeatedly (“The Last of Us,” “The Mandalorian” and 2006’s “Children of Men”), nothing seems that fresh here. Stories about AI fighting back are a now-classic trope and writer/director Gareth Edwards doesn’t add enough of anything new to justify extended interest. Characters are one-note or never developed, and our lead just barely earns his arc. Studios have long tried to make John David Washington a star (mostly based on his pedigree), but he just does not have the screen presence to make his performances memorable. Admittedly, the film gets more interesting at the two-thirds mark, but that was too little/too late for me. 
Grade: C

John Nguyen
Gareth Edwards has crafted a beautiful world with #TheCreator Imagine the Tales from the Loop artwork coming to life with sci-fi elements mixed with beautiful vistas. Still, I felt the relationship between John David Washington’s Joshua and Alphie was contrived and lacking.
Grade: C-