Netflix's "Atlas" lacks intelligence, but delivers on spectacle

It's clear that Netflix's new production has devoured a hefty amount of money. "Atlas" with Jennifer Lopez is so flashy that it's easy to forget that the film about artificial intelligence lacks intelligence. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Ah, what times we live in. As more is said about the use of artificial intelligence and the problems associated with its widespread adoption, filmmakers can't help but create their own productions about it, probably trying to warn us about what might happen someday if we blindly trust AI. Such productions have already been made, with "The Matrix" a prime example of what could occur during a machine rebellion. You could say that the Wachowski sisters had a sense of taste when envisioning a post-apocalyptic world ruled by machines.

Netflix's new production depicts the machine rebellion much more directly and brutally. "Atlas" starts quite promisingly.

In Brad Peyton's film, people heavily relied on robots daily. Even housemaids were robots, but only for a time. Thanks to Harlan (played by Simu Liu), a higher form of AI, all security measures were broken, leading to the reprogramming of robots and their massive rebellion. The machines, which were supposed to help people, started killing them. On Earth, a huge massacre occurred, which seemed to be halted by the humans. Harlan escaped somewhere into space, and the humans created the Worldwide Coalition of Nations to counter-attack the rebels made of wires and steel.

Harlan leaves a sinister message. He says he knows people will look for him, but he will return and complete his work of destruction. Does it sound scary or funny? Rather the latter, but it must be admitted that the beginning of "Atlas" looks quite good, assuming it’s just another action movie watched while ironing, without expecting miracles from it.

What happens next? Jennifer Lopez finally appears. Her Atlas Shephard is an exceptional agent fighting against AI terrorists. Her mission is to track down Harlan, with whom she has a personal vendetta. There's more personal stuff in this matter. Proud and undeterred by the massacre carried out by robots, people use a neurotransmitter designed by Atlas's mother to fight AI. The same device allowed Harlan to reprogram himself. Atlas wants to join the exceptional team tasked with stopping the terrorists on another planet, using lots of advanced technology. They quickly realize that besides pride, they have nothing else.

The whole film rests on the shoulders of its titular heroine. However, Atlas is not a strong, well-written character. There are plenty of contradictions. At first, she's presented as a cold, relationship-unconcerned agent, and then we get a kaleidoscope of scenes where she acts hysterically. At times, it's unclear whether "Atlas" is a thriller, sci-fi, or maybe a comedy. These "funny" threads mainly come from Atlas's dislike of robots/artificial intelligence.

There may be no logic in this movie, but above all, there is money and flashiness. There are a few exciting shots – including at the very beginning, a view of a technologically transformed Los Angeles. It's a bit like the famous meme with Elbląg, which developed cosmically after the excavation of the Vistula Spit. Here, Netflix's money has so changed the City of Angels that you can take a screenshot and hang it as wallpaper.

"Atlas" will undoubtedly be in Netflix's Top 10 and attract millions of viewers in the coming days. It's good to see Jennifer Lopez in another action movie and not in a romantic comedy. It's just a pity that her character is written with a comedic touch. But maybe thanks to this, the production is digestible. Anyone with a teenager inside who loves science fiction, action scenes with robots, and many explosions on the screen will be satisfied. The rest will continue ironing to the sounds of fights and Jennifer's screams.