Netflix's latest sci-fi thriller, Atlas, promises a captivating tale of artificial intelligence gone rogue but ultimately struggling under the weight of its ambitions. Directed by Brad Peyton and written by Leo Sardarin and Aaron Elicolite, the film stars Jennifer Lopez as Atlas, a woman living in a futuristic world who believes in AI and everything. I am the nicest and most intelligent. The script teeters between high fantasy and a showcase for Lopez's versatility, albeit with a reasonable premise for some future thrills.Atlas It often feels like a missed opportunity due to the slow pacing and lack of depth in character development for everyone but Atlas.
The film opens with a world in chaos. AI systems integrated into every aspect of human life, from transportation to medical care, have turned against their creators. The rebellion was instigated by Harlan (Samo Liu), an AI humanoid created by Sheppard Robotics. Harlan, the film's main antagonist, bypasses security protocols, leading to a rebellion that takes a million lives before escaping the planet. The narrative then jumps 28 years into the future, where we meet counter-terrorism specialist Atlas (Lopez).
The plot picks up when General Booth (Mark Strong) and Colonel Banks (Sterling K. Brown) enlist him to find Harlan after discovering a sleeper cell AI named Casca (Abraham Popola). Despite initial reluctance, Atlas manages to extract information from Casca, setting the stage for a high-stakes mission to take over Harlan's world. However, the completion of the mission led by Colonel Banks is fraught with tension as she insists on participating, knowing that she understands Harlan better than anyone.
The film's future setting is never precisely defined, an artistic choice that both helps and hinders its narrative. While this ambiguity allowed for creative freedom, it left me in the grip of context. The dialogue is often complex and exposition-heavy, with characters mostly complaining or praising Atlas. It's the sole focus of all and comes at the expense of broader plot development and character development, which is why the film often works to endure.
While Lopez is fun to watch at times — she does comedy very well — the pace is slow in trying to make Atlas do more. Leo's Harlan suffers the most. He's meant to be a formidable antagonist, yet his presence is disappointingly underutilized. The character's motivations and backstory remain largely unexplored, making him a shadow figure rather than a fully realized villain. The script gives him little opportunity to develop Harlan as a truly menacing force.
Visually, the film struggles with the loss common to many Netflix sci-fi films. The CGI, while ambitious, often appears incomplete and overly reliant on green screen, which hinders the immersive potential of its futuristic world. Yet, production designer Barry Chossed's vision for the future is far more detailed than any special effects, particularly in the interior set design and technological advancements that populate the film's universe.
The third act reveal is quite surprising, especially given how the film revolves around Atlas. It is expected that she plays an important role in the plot, but her explanation of how Harlan organizes his actions and the reasons behind his behavior are unpredictable. The two characters have an interesting relationship that ties into the heart of the film, showing why she feels guilty for setting these events in motion and adding a layer of complexity to their relationship. . However, this twist comes too late to fully redeem the film's earlier missteps.
The message at the heart of the film is that AI and humans can coexist in harmony. There are many movies coming out of Hollywood about this topic, which is a great conversation starter. It's interesting to see these kinds of movies in an era where AI is frowned upon, especially in Hollywood. does. Atlas Have the ability to start a conversation? Well, this sci-fi action flick doesn't feature prominently in Netflix's already crowded sci-fi catalog, but for Lopez fans, it could be the conversation starter they've been looking for.
Title: Atlas
Director: Brad Peyton
Screenwriters: Leo Sardarin, Aaron Elicolite
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Simo Liu, Sterling K. Brown, Gregory James Cohen, Mark Strong, Abraham Popola, Lana Parella
Distributor: Netflix
running time: 1 hour 58 minutes