Gareth Edwards has been building his repertoire over the years as a director beginning with 2010’s Monsters before shooting to popularity with 2014’s Godzilla and 2016’s Rogue One A Star Wars Story. 13 years after his movie, he has arrived with The Creator, his second original sci-fi movie. We don’t generally get many original big-budget sci-fi movies not based on existing IP (like Star Wars, Dune or Star Trek), so it’s great that The Creator fills a void in the current landscape saturated with franchise movies.

I, Robot

A scene still from 20th Century Studios’ THE CREATOR. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

It’s best to go into The Creator not knowing anything about the movie beyond perhaps watching a trailer or two. Just like in 2010’s Monsters, Gareth Edwards proves that he’s able to achieve great worldbuilding yet again, crafting a setting featuring a world with humans and AI that feels futuristic and contemporary at the same time. With all the current issues surrounding AI in the real world, the world in The Creator presents a frighteningly possible future, though in refreshing ways. While I won’t spoil any details, The Creator is unique in that it doesn’t follow the usual trope of the AI being the main antagonist or the villain. This world is one that’s ripe for exploration. It’s also impressive how the movie doesn’t play it safe by featuring the Americans as the antagonists, to the point of committing war crimes.

Another impressive aspect of the movie is its incredible special effects and CGI. The robots and robotic humanoids look convincing and very realistic (almost practical effects-like). I would also praise the designs for many of the humanoid robots and the futuristic machines, including a giant orbital machine called NOMAD that will make any sci-fi fan (especially fans of military sci-fi) happy. It’s been a while since an original sci-fi movie has presented designs and special effects that don’t look generic. The setting of the movie is also unique, with a majority of the movie being filmed and taking place in Thailand (and Southeast Asia), with many of the characters in the movie often speaking in Thai. There are even other Southeast Asian influences such as Indonesian songs/Malay songs being featured in certain scenes, as well as breathtaking Asian natural vistas and visuals that are rarely seen in sci-fi movies (instead of the usual clinical and modern city settings).

Madeline Voyles as Alphie in 20th Century Studios’ THE CREATOR. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

One aspect of the movie that might prove to be divisive is the emotional parts featuring a romantic relationship between John David Washington’s Joshua and Gemma Chan’s Maya. The movie would have been better off focusing more on the dynamics and relationship between Joshua and Madeleine Yuna Voyles’s Alfie. The supporting cast is generally great, with a highlight being the always-amazing Ken Watanabe playing a robotic humanoid named Harun.

The Creator is also a bit of a slow burn, with a few choppy edits here and there that might make things a bit confusing if you’re not focused. Besides that, there’s plenty of action and stuff happening that you won’t get bored. Gareth Edwards definitely brought a lot of what he learned from Rogue One into The Creator. It has similar vibes and elements, so much so that The Creator feels like the movie Gareth Edwards wanted to make with Rogue One but couldn’t due to IP restrictions.

A scene still from 20th Century Studios’ THE CREATOR. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Ex Machina

A scene still from 20th Century Studios’ THE CREATOR. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Ultimately, The Creator is an original sci-fi movie that’s worth watching at the cinemas for its world-building and spectacle. It’s rare that we can get an original sci-fi movie that’s decent with all the production value of something like The Creator. Gareth Edwards is a director with the potential for more worthwhile sci-fi movies down the line.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100

We attended an early screener of The Creator courtesy of The Walt Disney Company Malaysia. The Creator is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 28 September 2023.