2023

The Creator (2023), written by Gareth Edwards and Chris Weitz is science fiction at its best; it entertains with edge of your seat action and, at the same time, forces you to consider philosophical and ethical issues. Unlike other movies about humans fighting against Artificial Intelligence, like The Matrix and Terminator series, The Creator introduces a more balanced concept where neither side is pure evil, and both the humans and robots are acting out of fear of extinction.

One unique aspect of the story is the blend of tech and religion, where you see robots dressed in Buddhist monks’ robes and a robot’s body is cremated in what appears to be a Hindu ceremony. That may be a glimpse into the future, because it isn’t that hard to imagine a Pastor standing behind a pulpit, using a sermon written by AI.

This movie is certainly worth the cost of a ticket to see it on the big screen, because the action scenes are impressive, with seamless CGI and very cool military tech. A sobering thought is that what is considered science fiction today, is often reality in the not to distant future.

What I didn’t like about The Creator was the way Americans were portrayed as heartless brutes who only understand force. One American soldier, trying to find the entrance to a artificial intelligence lab, threats to shoot a little girl’s puppy. Granted, the soldiers in the scene believe that if they don’t find the lab, it will mean the end of humanity, but it was still reminiscent of the worst images from the Vietnam War.

Throughout The Creator, the underlying theme is the relationship between humanity and Artificial Intelligence. It’s an important issue to consider, because it won’t be long before robots are working alongside humans in warehouses, while other robots are tasked with caring for the elderly.

The Creator will keep your adrenaline flowing, while it tears at your heart strings, which is the result of great storytelling. As I left the theatre and turned on my cell phone, I looked down at the screen and thought to myself, “I hope it doesn’t want to kill me.”

The Essential Church (2023), Written and Directed by Shannon Halliday, is a documentary about pastors, on both sides of the United States/Canadian border, who refused to comply with government restrictions during the Covid-19 crisis.

In California, Pastor John MacArthur, a man in his eighties, was threatened with fines and imprisonment. In Alberta, Canada, Pastor Tim Stephens and Pastor James Coates both spent time in prison. While they were behind bars, their congregations were meeting outside the churches, because they had been locked out of the buildings.

The documentary includes discussions with the pastors, their lawyers, and church elders, as well as television interviews and clips of police and health authorities. One clip records police arresting Pastor Tim Stephens at his house, in front of his wife and children. During the arrest, one of the police officers can be heard quoting scripture to Pastor Stephens. Would a police officer quote the Koran (Quran) to a Mullah?

Since I find history fascinating, I enjoyed how modern events were contrasted with events that took place hundreds of years ago in Scotland. When the Crown tried to dictate how they were to worship, some congregations rebelled and Christians lost their lives as a result. The stories of martyrdom use an animation technique with stone carvings in dark shadows. The unique animation adds a sense of gravitas to the narration.

During the Covid-19 crisis, the question many pastors had to grapple with, was whether government restrictions were forcing them to disobey the Lord Jesus Christ. The Essential Church is the story of three pastors who believed that was the case, and refused to back down.

J. Paul Cooper, Writer

Movie Review: The Creator (2023)

The Essential Church: A Review