“ATLAS” (2024) | Film Review

Reference to Jackie Chan: none available

“God, that was so satisfying!”

You may think what you like about JENNIFER LOPEZ, but there’s one thing you can’t deny her: The woman demonstrates iron discipline when it comes to her top looks in her mid-50s, her associated health and her commitment to action film roles.

In ATLAS (2024), she plays an analyst who has been on the trail of a rogue AI since childhood. As she nears her goal, she is inadvertently thrown into the fray with so-called AI soldiers. They all die, except her. Of course.

Up to this point, I could overlook a few questions of logic, but by this point the film had lost me for good. How unprepared does a trillion-strong military force have to be to lose 100% of its men and equipment in the first battle? And how badly must the analysts have advised them beforehand?

Questions of logic really let this sci-fi film down and you seriously wonder whether the writers don’t know how an AI, an artificial intelligence, works. Why else does the film’s heroine ATLAS torture a robot to death at the beginning that can upload its AI anywhere? AI is software that cannot die. The analyst is told this several times. But she ignores it or can’t grasp it with her human mind.

But without all the action scenes in which a lot of things break, a simple EMP would be enough. Hello, Matrix! I then get an unintentional laugh from an AI mechwarrior who actually refers to the correct use of his pronouns. Netflix can’t let it go.

I really tried to like the film, but it doesn’t make it easy. Because the whole story revolves around a woman who learns what it means to trust thanks to an AI. She becomes so emotional in the process that it would make the cold hearts of transhumanists beat again. I find it strange and bizarre.

I would have found the development of little ATLAS, who grows up together with the first AI in a Boston Dynamics robot, much more interesting, until the AI then falls behind humanity. The ensuing struggle for friendly love, understanding and techno-socio-cultural revolution over 30 years could have made a profound blockbuster.

Unfortunately, Simu Liu wasn’t given enough screentime, J.LO as the heroine is made too easy and all in all it was just something like that again. Fans of J.LO’s trademark, her behind, will still get their money’s worth – but they have to stick with it to the end. She can’t let it go either. Not that I’m complaining, I’m just pointing it out.

For me, JENNIFER LOPEZ has always been primarily a singer and has done the acting on the side. She does a good job for that. I think fans are celebrating the film. I’m less the target audience.

Dystopian 3.7 out of 10 stars

Original trailer | “ATLAS” (2024)

All posters, photos and embedded trailers are considered small quotes for this film review and are protected by copyright.
© ASAP Entertainment, Berlanti Productions, Moving Picture Company, Netflix Studios, Nuyorican Productions, Safehouse Pictures, Schecter Films