Parents' Guide to

Archive

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Familiar but effective sci-fi tale about death, robots.

Movie NR 2020 109 minutes
Archive Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

NylesGerard
NylesGerard Adult
November 2, 2020
age 13+

Smart Sci-fi forces you to think

There's a degree of language in this, but overall good sci-fi with surprising twists that force viewers to think between the lines and formulate their own hypothesis about the characters, and even existence itself. The story is far less racy and far more compelling than Ex-machina, but does require a certain level of intellectual investment to be truly appreciated. Younger children probably won't have any interest in the somewhat slow-burn of the intrigue, but older sci-fi fans should enjoy the complexities of certain moral issues [keeping someone alive after death against their will, love with robots, the definition of being alive, etc]. [SPOILERS] Don't let the ending fool you into accepting a surface-level explanation. Think between the lines and the Mise en scene for the clues left by the producers, cinematographers, etc to dissect the plot. Parent's Guide Language: 5/10 Sex: 2/10 Nudity: 0/10 Blasephemy: 3/10

This title has:

Too much swearing
Emily M.
Emily M. Adult
July 10, 2020
age 14+

Great movie

Surprisingly emotional, great performances especially Theo James
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In ARCHIVE, George Almore (Theo James) is working on an AI robot in a rundown, remote lab in Japan. He's already built the rudimentary "J1" and "J2" robots, which have allowed him to perfect the new "J3" (Stacy Martin), who's nearly finished. In the meantime, George spends precious hours every day maintaining the lab's crumbling security system. He also speaks to his late wife, Jules (also Martin), through a program called Archive, which allows the living to speak to the dead for a limited number of hours to help resolve their affairs. While George's backers demand frequent updates on his work, which he refuses to provide, a man named Vincent Sinclair (Toby Jones) arrives unexpectedly to inspect the Archive machine. George realizes he can't hide his secret project any longer -- but can he finish it before he's shut down for good?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):

Though it comprises familiar elements from many other sci-fi movies, this debut feature's appealing visual design and surprising emotional content are ultimately enough to make it worth a look. Written and directed by Gavin Rothery, Archive recalls other robot/artificial intelligence movies like Blade Runner, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and Ex Machina, as well as another movie about a lone man and a robot stuck in a single location: Moon, upon which Rothery worked as a designer and visual effects supervisor. Even the excellent music by Oscar-winner Steven Price (Gravity) sounds a little like the famous Blade Runner score. Consequently, Archive sometimes feels a bit second-rate.

But although the gorgeously designed J3 robot is part of a long tradition of beautiful female robots (going all the way back to Metropolis), Martin brings her own strength and personality to the part. Divergent heartthrob James, who co-produced, gives a serviceable performance, managing to work for the story by matter-of-factly dealing with the complex relationships between George and the robots. (They used to be his romantic partners, and now they're more like petulant children.) Rothery's screenplay for Archive ties all of its themes together nicely, asking questions about death and loved ones left behind, and provides a satisfying ending that's sure to please hard-core sci-fi fans.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Archive's violence. How much is shown, and how much is suggested? How does sound work to make unseen violence seem more threatening?

  • Why do you think it's so difficult for George to accept death? Is he doing the right thing by trying to re-create his wife? Why or why not?

  • Why are robots so interesting? How do the robots here compare with others you've seen in movies or TV shows?

  • What is George's relationship with J1 and J2 like? How are they similar to a parent and children, and how are they dissimilar?

  • What's the appeal of sci-fi movies? What do stories about the future tell us about our present?

Movie Details

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