An advanced screening of the new movie "A.I."-- Artificial Intelligence, for film critics and others in Salt Lake has left many of them uneasy about what they've seen and how they feel about the film.

The film's marketing gives the impression it might be a take-off from Steven Spielberg's "E.T." or "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

But Arts Specialist Carole Mikita reports on the difference between marketing and reality.

I talked with two critics who have seen it and although they don't agree on all points about this film, they both say it is NOT for children or even young teenagers.

Movie Clip: "IF A ROBOT COULD GENUINELY LOVE A PERSON? WHAT RESPONSIBLITY DOES THAT PERSON HOLD TOWARD THAT MECCA IN RETURN?"

The moral dilemma that is the premise of "A.I. Artificial Intelligence."

Set in a future world in which pregnancy is strictly limited, these parents adopt a robot child and try to love him, but this is no modern-day fairy tale.

Doug Wright/KSL-TV & radio film critic: "OH, THIS IS AN INTENSE MOVIE, THAT HAS AN EXTREMELY DARK SIDE. AND IT'S VERY COMPLEX. THERE ARE SOME SCENES IN IT THAT SHOCKED ME."

Jeff Vice/Deseret News film critic: "IN TERMS OF SPIELBERG, IT HAS A LOT MORE IN COMMON WITH HIS FILMS SUCH AS 'SCHINDLER'S LIST' AND 'SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.' IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO BROACH A SERIOUS SUBJECT."

The problem, they say, is with the promotion. It seems to be about a charming, mechanical boy. But it is also about the dark side of humans versus robots.

Movie Clip: "I CAN'T ACCEPT THIS. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR OWN CHILD."

It has a PG-13 rating, the critics say because "A.I." contains scenes with sex and violence.

Doug Wright: "I THINK IT'S A RELATIVELY STRONG PG-13. THE WAY THEY'RE GETTING AWAY WITH IT, IF THIS HAD BEEN REAL HUMAN BEINGS THAT THEY WERE DOING SOME OF THESE THINGS TO, I MEAN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HARD, HARD 'R.' BUT THEY GET AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S ANDROIDS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE."

Jeff Vice: "IT DEFINITELY EARNS THAT PG-13. I THINK PARENTS HAVE KIND OF LOOSENED UP ON PG-13, BECAUSE IT'S APPLIED TO FILMS SO LOOSELY."

Jeff Vice says overall, it's a very good movie -- thought-provoking but definitely not for children or young teens.

Doug Wright says it's not a bad film but he was disappointed.

Both Doug Wright and Jeff Vice will review this film on Friday. You can see Doug's on Eyewitness News at 6 am and noon.

And you can link to the Deseret News at www.desnews.com.