“The Creator” First Reactions: A Stunning, Emotionally Resonant Original Sci-Fi Saga
It sounds as if writer/director Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One) has pulled it off. Delivering a huge, original sci-fi blockbuster is a hard thing to do in the best of times, and especially hard in a climate that prefers its blockbusters to have built-in IP, yet the first reactions to his latest film, The Creator, suggest he’s done just that. “Masterful,” “soulful,” “visually stunning and emotional,” and “absolutely radical” are a few of the descriptions being bandied about. The full reviews are embargoed for now, but these initial reactions are sure to whet the appetite of sci-fi fans everywhere.
With The Creator, Edwards turns his attention to our growing unease with the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence in a film that puts a human face on the algorithms of doom. The film is centered on John David Washington’s Joshua, an ex-special forces agent grieving his wife’s disappearance (Gemma Chan) who is recruited to take out a weapon created by the architect of a robot rebellion against humanity that began with a nuclear detonation in Los Angeles and has led to an outright war between humanity and the robot world. Yet when Joshua finally makes contact with the weapon, he finds out it’s a small girl named Alphie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles), who is far from your average elementary school student. Alphie is a humanoid robot powered by artificial intelligence that is believed to be the ultimate weapon of mass destruction.
Joining Washington, Voyles, and Chan is a top-notch cast that includes Ken Watanabe (Inception), Allison Janey (I, Tonya), and Sturgill Simpson (Dog). Edwards directs from a script he co-wrote with Chris Weitz, his collaborator from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Check out the early reactions here. The Creator hits theaters on September 29:
#TheCreator is being called the best original sci-fi movie in years https://t.co/8RccHaUqAI
— Total Film (@totalfilm) September 19, 2023
#TheCreator is a MASTERFUL piece of original sci-fi. Gareth Edwards is one of our GREAT filmmakers. A soulful, nuanced, Lucas-like interrogation of human beliefs/biases & our insecurity in the face of something greater. Spectacle & heart to the highest order. Pure cinema baby! pic.twitter.com/XPi6jEp2xb
— Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) September 19, 2023
Though it pulls from identifiable inspirations, #TheCreator is 1 of the best original sci-fi epics in years. Massively entertaining, enthralling & profound on every level. Gareth Edwards constructs an immersive world & fills it with compelling characters. Absolutely radical. pic.twitter.com/fjAwuB0VtR
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) September 19, 2023
#TheCreator is astonishingly good. Best film of the year and best sci-fi film in ages, in my opinion.
Gareth Edwards flips expectations really impressively for a visceral, touching, and creative story of humanity.
Genuinely loved it. You have to see this one. pic.twitter.com/2IH7YTeSFh
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) September 19, 2023
#TheCreator is an ambitious sci-fi odyssey with a profound take on humanity, acceptance & freedom at its core. John David Washington gives a career best performance, while Madeleine Yuna Voyles proves she’s a young actor to watch. The third act surprised me, this film WENT THERE! pic.twitter.com/2UODyqmt15
— Kristen Maldonado (@kaymaldo) September 19, 2023
Gareth Edwards doesn’t miss with The Creator. The movie takes place alongside Terminator 2, Alien, and Star Wars as absolute smashing examples of how sci-fi can parallel our world. It’s easily among the best films of the year. #TheCreatorMovie #TheCreator pic.twitter.com/bWUDxwIhbH
— Hunter Bolding (@HunterBVideo) September 19, 2023
Visually #TheCreator is PHENOMENAL. If you want a cinematographer on the rise to keep your eye on, it’s Oren Soffer. This movie is one stunning frame after the next. pic.twitter.com/s1swupvGfN
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) September 19, 2023
#TheCreator is a masterpiece & one of the year’s best movies. It hits on so many levels with AI being such a hot topic. Gareth Edwards does a masterful job of keeping the audience engaged every step of the way. Madeleine Yuna Voyles has to be in the conversations for The Oscars pic.twitter.com/n8XSTiNqcm
— Joseph Deckelmeier (@joedeckelmeier) September 19, 2023
I’m so impressed with what #GarethEdwards pulled off on #thecreator. He’s made an original sci-fi movie in a time where making original movies on this scale is next to impossible and the film delivers on so many levels. Seek this one out and absolutely see it in a movie theater. pic.twitter.com/sQGSGqImG1
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) September 19, 2023
#TheCreator is a massive feat for the sci-fi genre and the all-too-rare original blockbuster.
It’s the culmination of Gareth Edwards’ career so far, and it’s the ultimate version of the type of movie he’s been making since 2010’s ‘Monsters.’
More of this, please. pic.twitter.com/9gOnEpPa4K
— Brian Davids (@PickYourBrian) September 19, 2023
Not only is The Creator visually stunning, the story is really emotional, too. I was completely captivated pretty early on. Alphie is adorable! I totally fell in love with her! Love the important underlying themes of accepting those who are different from you. #TheCreator pic.twitter.com/jnnuMn3teO
— Tessa Smith – Mama’s Geeky (@MamasGeeky) September 19, 2023
#TheCreator is a masterpiece of an #AI story. It had me in tears. Watching a film without knowing how it would play out was such a joy. Gareth Edwards shot a beautiful film. John David Washington deserves to be recognized during awards season. Still thinking about it days later pic.twitter.com/ZH0lbrDBr3
— Jenna Busch-Henderson (@JennaBusch) September 19, 2023
For more on The Creator, check out these stories:
Final “The Creator” Trailer Finds John David Washington in a Fight for the Fate of Humanity
A New Special Look at “The Creator” Probes Gareth Edwards’ Humans vs Artificial Intelligence Epic
The Official “The Creator” Trailer Reveals Gareth Edwards AI-Centered Sci-Fi Epic
Featured image: John David Washington as Joshua on the set of 20th Century Studios’ THE CREATOR. Photo by Oren Soffer. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
