Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
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NEW ASIA — I am not a sci-fi junkie, but I do admit I miss original sci-fi. Don't get me wrong, "Star Wars" and "Avengers" movies are fun, but they seem like your only sci-fi choices.
I'm a child of the '80s and '90s, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't often pine for the days of blockbusters being original fare. Gone are the days of "Independence Day," "Terminator," "Stargate" and "The Matrix."
Sure, we've recently seen sequels or spinoffs to all these movies. Still, I'm talking about a studio taking a chance to spend money on an original idea that isn't based on a comic book or an already successful franchise. There have been a few in the last decade or so, like "Inception," "Looper" and "Source Code," but it doesn't happen as often as it should.
I tell you all this because I am genuinely excited about "The Creator." After all, it brings original sci-fi back to the big screen and is a fantastic movie.
Here are some reasons "The Creator" surprised me in the best way possible.
The Story
I will not try to tell you that we've never seen anything like "The Creator" before. There are hints of "The Terminator," "Children of Men," and "District 9" throughout the story, but I didn't mind that. The plot isn't breaking new ground, but the story is engrossing, and I found myself fully invested in the characters.
The writing team of Gareth Edwards, who also acts as director, and Chris Weitz weave an intricate narrative where the antagonists and protagonists seem to swap back and forth and keep us guessing as to what the truth is. There is an emotion to the story that grabbed onto my heart from the start and kept its grip through the end credits.
As I mentioned, this is not a brand-new story we've never seen, but it is expertly crafted and delivered, and results in an emotional and engaging movie.
Madeleine Yuna Voyles
You may not be familiar with Madeleine Yuna Voyles, but she stands out in "The Creator." The movie boasts a strong cast, including Allison Janney, John David Washington, Ken Watanabe and Gemma Chan, but the young Voyles steals the show.
I don't want to say much about her role because the less you know about the movie, the better; but the young actress is a pivotal character, and the film's success hinged on that performance. I can't imagine the stress Edwards went through trying to cast this role, but he could not have found a better choice. The expertness of her performance is in direct contrast with her young age and limited experience.
The action
As I mentioned earlier, "The Creator" is an emotional rollercoaster. While there is plenty of story-driven drama, there is also a great deal of action and it's done incredibly well.
The plot revolves around an ongoing war, happening all around us. Edwards is no stranger to big action epics with lots of action. Edwards directed "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," which is my favorite of the franchise. (I know, I lost much credibility with all of you, but I am who I am and I refuse to apologize). Edwards knows how to set up an action scene, and they are impressive in "The Creator." These scenes are a spectacle and precisely what an action/sci-fi fan would hope for.
What parents need to know
"The Creator" is light on sexual situations, and there is some language, including one F word. Overall, however, I'd say the language is less than the recent "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3." Where the movie earns its PG-13 rating is the violence.
"The Creator" is a war movie, and you feel that. There is much killing, and much of it happens on screen. I was slightly surprised by the amount of violence, but it made more sense when I realized this movie took place during a war. There isn't necessarily a lot of blood and gore, but a lot of death, explosions, shootings and other violence may be too much for some audiences.
"The Creator" is officially rated PG-13, and I think the rating makes sense, but I also believe it's on the higher end of that rating, due to the violence.
Conclusion
I was looking forward to seeing some of the big movies of 2023, like "Oppenheimer," "The Barbie Movie" and "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1," but "The Creator" wasn't really on my radar. What a mistake that was.
This movie is easily the biggest and most pleasant surprise of the year.
It's all done well, from the acting and set pieces, to the story and music. It all flows and packs an emotional punch that sticks with you. I've been sitting with this for over a week now, and I'm still thinking about it and will be for a while. This movie created one of those experiences when the credits rolled, the theater sat in silence for several minutes, as we tried to take in what we had just witnessed — and those are my favorite cinematic experiences.
"The Creator" takes me back to the days of original sci-fi, and I hope it's back because it's a fantastic genre.
"The Creator" is officially rated PG-13 for violence, some bloody images and strong violence.
