Artificial Intelligence gone awry is the theme of Netflix's new sci-fi movie Atlas starring Jennifer Lopez.
In the film, Jennifer portrays the character of Atlas Shepherd, a brilliant counterterrorism analyst who is extremely dubious about AI but is forced to face her suspicions head-on for the salvation of planet Earth.
Atlas was designed to jump in on the discourse on AI's growing role and influence, including the potential harm expressed by pundits and plain folks, in today's highly tech-driven times.
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It follows the route taken by past and recent, but more stellar movies, with similar themes like Her, After Yang, Brian and Charles, and The Creator, among others.
SYNOPSIS: AN IMPENDING APOCALYPSE
Twenty-eight years after a deadly AI rebellion that he led, cyber-terrorist Harlan Shepherd (Simu Liu) is planning to carry out another attack on Earth from his present home based on a planet in the Andromeda Galaxy.
Counterterrorism analyst Atlas volunteered to join in on a mission to foil Harlan's plan.
But before that, Atlas needs to board an AI-powered robot named Smith to allow her to survive the harsh conditions of an unknown planet and possibly withstand the attack of a sophisticated enemy.
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The situation swiftly takes a turn for the worse, thrusting Atlas and Smith into a precarious struggle for survival where they must depend on each other to stay alive.
Atlas's distrust of AI proves to be a stumbling block for them to succeed in their mission. Smith's desire for Atlas to open up with him to build that connection between an AI machine and a human is met with strong resistance.
Layer by layer as Smith probes, Atlas's intricate past gradually unfolds, revealing her childhood and deep ties to Harlan, ultimately shedding light on the reasons behind her strong desire to combat the cyber-terrorist threat.
IS ATLAS WORTH WATCHING?
Viewers crazy about science fiction and fascinated by AI may find the movie intriguing.
Visually, Atlas is a spectacle, featuring towering mechanical robots armed with over-the-top weapons and executing commands with heads-up display effects reminiscent of Iron Man. Its explosive action sequences deliver the spectacle befitting a conflict rooted in cutting-edge technology, particularly AI.
Director Brad Peyton and his team used complex visual effects to present a futuristic world (flying cars, anyone?) and a strange, alien planet inhabited by entities with superhuman abilities.
For certain viewers, mere visual spectacle falls short, particularly those who loathe the prevalence of green screen reliance in modern cinema. Atlas might not be your cup of tea if you belong to this camp of detractors.
As Atlas, Jennifer Lopez lends the character charisma, coming across as tough and smart, but also confused and full of self-doubt as she tries to reconcile reality and the pervasive influence of technology on human existence.
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Beyond the dazzling effects, Atlas does present hard truths that are very much relatable today: the unsettling invasion of privacy through intrusive data mining.
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While Atlas may not revolutionize the sci-fi genre, it shines in certain moments, offering entertaining and sometimes relatable scenarios appealing to viewers.
Atlas is now streaming on Netflix.