Sean Richard McCarthy
This is a very good movie, despite the extremely bad acting! It has Barrett Oliver (Never Ending Story) and Danny Corkill (Without A Trace). In my opinion, this movie was the inspiration for Artificial Intelligence. I recommend watching this movie, because of the extremely great story. Just overlook the bad acting (it's not hard to do).The movie is about a robot in a boy's body. He is misunderstood by his creators, who believe him just to be a mechanical being, not capable of the will to live, to have the ability to love, or feelings and emotions. But, he does have all these traits, and you will come to care about him. (now doesn't that sound like A.I. to you?) SPOILER ALERT:What makes this movie's peak of emotions is the ending, where the song 'Somewhere I Belong' by Teddy Pendergrass is played. Give it a chance, you won't regret it!
TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews
This is something as rare as a film that while mainly(and plainly) aimed at children, to a remarkable degree avoids insulting anyone not of that age. The plot isn't bad, and moves this along nicely. The pacing is reasonable. The acting varies, but Oliver... can someone please explain to me why he never got more of a career? I've yet to see him suck. McKean is both good and likable. The special effects, while some are outdated, are actually pretty good. The sci-fi elements do hold some interesting points, and are handled well, not too simplified. The sense of humor certainly has its moments. Direction can be great. Editing is usually positive, and it has some rather effective parts. Cinematography is fine. For a kid's movie, there is a bit of language. There is also some violence, and a handful of mature references. This does bear some marks of being for little ones, if not many. Music is OK. As has been pointed out, this is a solid choice for the whole family. I recommend this to young 'uns, their parents and their siblings... as long as they're all open to science fiction. 6/10
pwat5607
During the movie Dr. Stewart made a comment to Joyce, Andy and Turtle that DARYL was conceived in a test-tube and that only his brain is a computer while the rest of him is human. Also while conception is possible in a "testtube" DARYL still would need a surrogate mother in order for him grow into an infant. Also was Dr Stewart the sperm doner? That would make him a cyborg not a robot. However, my problem with this is that this would mean that his human brain would have had to been surgically removed after birth and a computerized brain put in its place. His computer brain size would have to be extremely small to be placed in an infants skull. Also as DARYL grew from an infant to a pre-adolescent child his computer brain would have to had been changed to a accommodate his growing skull. Unless of course the scientist working on this government project waited until DARYL became a pre-adolescent child before removing his human brain and replacing it with a computer brain. I enjoyed this movie but it lacked an explanation as to when and how his computer brain was placed in his skull.
the duck
Not since Buster Keaton's "Seven Chances" has there been a re-telling of the life of Jesus this compelling... or this outrageous!! This Messiah is represented here in D.A.R.Y.L. (not "played" so much as "portrayed" by Barrett Oliver, who could have been the next Olivier had he bought a vowel.) After escaping from the top secret government laboratories (just like in Matthew 12.24), D.A.R.Y.L. meets a new family and friends, including Turtle (not "played" so much as "not-played" by Barrett Oliver, but by someone else) and his sister the trollop (inspired by Mary Magdalene and possibly, if the bathroom graffiti is to be believed, Simon Peter.) It is here that D.A.R.Y.L. is subject to various earthly temptations (video games, breaking windows with baseballs, piano lessons, scenes opposite Michael McKean) and is ultimately brought back to the top secret government laboratories (just like in Matthew 24.48.) and subsequently smuggled out by his new family, utilizing the "temptations" he had learned while in their presence. And thus, the story ends, yet begins again, like the waters of the Great Flood, like the parting of the Dead Sea, like Jonah and the Whale, the Circle of Life.I think. Honestly, I don't pay much attention in church, unless they make an announcement about the availability of donuts. Circular. The Great Circle of Life. No?Okay.