Spielberg vs. Kubrick: A Look at "A.I."
Steven Spielberg's “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” is one of the most anticipated films in recent memory.  Legendary director Stanley Kubrick (“Dr. Strangelove,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “A Clockwork Orange,” “Eyes Wide Shut”) bought the rights to “A.I.” 20 years ago, but could never bring himself to complete it, and handed it to Spielberg just before his death.  With the sole purpose of inspiring an intelligent discourse on the filmmakers and the film itself, The Rail takes a look at how the two directors' visions differ.

Kubrick: A biting socioeconomic satire which cuts to the cores of both the essence of humanity and its ironic predisposition to self-destruction.
Spielberg: Lots of hugs.

Spielberg: A robotic boy struggling to become "real" in the eyes of humans.
Kubrick: A robotic boy uses his chainsaw-arm to murder his adoptive family.

Kubrick: A tale of bitter isolation at the hands of technology gone awry.
Spielberg: Features warm colors and music.

Spielberg: The most ambitious visual spectacle of the year.
Kubrick: Includes a 30 second scene of dinner table dialogue which takes five months to film.

Kubrick: Uses a simple teddy bear as a metaphor for insecurity.
Spielberg: Uses a $30 million digitally created teddy bear as a metaphor for insecurity.

Spielberg: Attracts millions of parents and their children.
Kubrick: Causes a massive protest which results in the burning of the film's negatives and digitally editing the video and DVD releases so as to suck out any provocation and innovation.

Kubrick: A painstaking effort developed over two decades of intense cogitation.
Spielberg: Done as a side project when there was no time conflict from producing and promoting a dozen other movies and TV cartoons.

Spielberg: Pushes audiences buttons systematically, to a cliched yet appeasing effect.
Kubrick: Causes numerous cardiac arrests in theaters, as well as a mass denunciation of religion of any kind.

Kubrick: As in past works, the director is able to imply that, with caution and intellect, the future does not have to be as grim as it seems.
Spielberg: The director reminds the audience that he is a Jew.