I, Robot

Have to agree with one thing- Will Smith indeed plays himself and no one else. Not all acting was bad- the corporate lady made a convincing transition from being downright unbearable as a person to an almost likeable state- but Will Smith just overthrows the whole atmosphere. Too many flashy one-liners and comedy moments are the issue here. What might have been a serious cyberpunk story turns into a neat, but cliched hollywood film with some intelligent ideas thrown in.

And yeah, the robots started off as almost unbeatable, but at the end they dropped like baddies in a computer game.

Oh and the advertising… never seen so much product placement in one film, even though Minority Report had some (the red Lexus for instance, plus the interactive ads). And believe it or not, there was product placement in… the Matrix. Ever wondered why almost ALL the cars in the highway chase are Buicks, Cadillacs and Chevies? Maybe the machines did not know that there are other manufacturers than General Motors when they created the Matrix…

I usually don’t mind product placement all that much. As long as they are integrated into the narrative, they aren’t that bad. In some movies, like Bond movies, you actually expect and look forward to it as it is usually part of the pre-movie hype (how much did the car maker pay for this movie, etc.). But in I, Robot, it was SOOO In-your-face, and right up front. At least with The Island, they waited a bit before bulk-loading the commercials. Here, within the first five minutes, you almost had to ask whether they were showing commercials prior to the movie starting or not.

But, hmm…I remember a Mustang in the chase scene as well. I’ll be reviewing Reloaded soon, so I;ll keep an eye out for that.

Yeah, it reminds me on that scene in the first Wayne’s World. “I will not bow to any sponsor[pulls a slice of Pizza Hut pizza out of the box and grins]”

I have to agree with Metatron…Will Smith and the ridiculous amount of product placement almost single-handedly ruin this one. Personally, I thought this was a complete bust from the word go, committing the single greatest crime a film can enact…being almost totally and instantly forgettable. Even when something is horrendously bad, it at least makes an impression. This film was gone from my mind within a few hours. Nevermind the fact that it’s a total disgrace against the name of Asimov (I suppose putting Sonny on trial for his supposed crimes wasn’t as “exciting” as a robot revolt). Either way, when I walked out of the VASTLY superior A.I., I remember thinking if they were to go through with an I, ROBOT adaptation, they’d be hard pressed to deal with the issue of synthetic humans as well as that film did. They were…and they failed…miserably. Such a shame coming from the director of the incredible DARK CITY (but let’s not forget he also did GARAGE DAYS).

*Sidenote: this film didn’t begin life as a straight Asimov adaptation, but actually an original CP film entitled HARDWIRED (which was also one of the working titles of JOHNNY MNEMONIC, when studio heads found that title “too difficult” to pronounce). In my opinion, the title should have stayed there, because this has about as much in common with Asimov as THE ADVENTURES OF ELMO IN GROUCHLAND.

Hi Case, I was honestly debating whether to give I, Robot a 7 star rating or a 6 star rating - it appears as if you would vote for the 6 star rating?

They did have “one” shot (the picture above of the robots with the #18 in the background) that was related to I, robot that lasted just a few seconds - similar to the story, where all (in this case) 500 robots lined up, and Dr. Calvin had to figure out how to find the unsafe one. Lucky for us, Will Smith wasn’t in the book, so she didn’t just start crazily shooting them, but instead chose the interview approach.

But wow! You walked out on AI??? I LOVED that movie! I’m guessin you won’t be liking my review of it (8 stars I think, unless my rewatch changes the score).

I only liked the first half of AI. I’d probably give the first part 8 stars, but the second half would not get any more than 6, stunning FX notwithstanding…

Ah yes, there is major disagreement among many on the ending of AI. Some absolutely detest it while others think it’s perfect. I’m sort of in the “perfect” camp (and generally like the second half quite a bit), but I’ve participated on many a discussion on Rotten Tomatoes about this movie - enough to know that some truly felt it was horrid. It’s usually fun though to find movies that engender this vociferous level of objections and differences.

Proyas and the writer tried their best on this one… but it wasn’t to be. Also, they did not choose Smith, who is, in turn, the last person that should be blamed for the casting - he did exactly what the studio-defined movie required, and I have no problem with him.

I always thought Proyas actually did great with the product placement - the first five minutes, in your face, and you almost forget about it by the end. Best way to go, IMO.

I don’t think I, Robot should be mentioned in any connection with Asimov’s name… it does not do it justice, but doesn’t drag it through mud - it’s simply “slightly inspired” and let’s just leave it at that. The “Asimov inspired” moments were by far the best ones, and that is a positive thing.

This movie is just a monument to studio tactics, and should be viewed as such, therefore - I agree with SFAM’s rating here.

And AI was painfuly bad… I was never that eager to leave a theatre…

Actually, my rating for I, ROBOT would most likely be a 4 (5, at best)…but…that’s me.

No, you misunderstood me. When I said, “walked out” of A.I., I simply meant out of the theater…after the movie was over. No, I actually think that’s a vastly UNDERrated film, though I would agree with most that it was still about 20 minutes too long. I would have ended it with David asking the Blue Fairy to be back with his mother…over and over…after the camera pulls back, slowly fade to black. An ironic ending…probably similar to the one Stanley Kubrick had in mind when he conceived the projects many years eariler.

Either way, I’d agree with the 8 star rating.

Wew! I was gonna say - tough crowd walkin out on AI! But do you think Sonny wasn’t even an interesting character? Just to be clear - my 4 star movies include such hits as Absolon, Cherry 2000, Cyborg, Galerians: Rion, and Judge Dredd. Do you see I, Robot as similar to those? At a minimum, the actual polish is far better (you could argue that it’s polishing a turd, but still - absolon is an unpolished turd!). The FX for the Robots are terrific, and Sonny, I think, is an interesting character.

Again, I could easily be swayed to drop this down to a six - I’d still give an extra point for Sonny, but might take one away for the commercials (personally I hate them being at the beginning).

Hi Budo, thanks for the insight into the casting. Yeah, given what we’ve seen from Proyas in the past, it seemed pretty clear that his ability to impact this picture wasn’t that great.

Still, we’ve seen Will Smith actually stretch himself occaisionally. In Enemy of the State, Smith was actually a different person (somewhat) than he is in his summer blockbusters.

I liked the interesting idea of the 3 Laws taken to the extreme and Sonny was interesting. Not as interesting as David in AI but nevertheless interesting. Will Smith wasn’t as bad as he was in ID4 here but he can take away from a picture. I liked him as Bagger Vance though.

Note that the name “HardWired” is also the name of a Walter Jon Williams novel.
Any chance of some novel reviews, by the way?

David Gentle said: “Any chance of some novel reviews, by the way?”

Yes, a very good chance, in fact. All we need are reviewers! We have two interested in potentially doing this, but clearly, due to the number of books, we definitely need more.

Does this mean you are volunteering?

I could knock some reviews together. Do you want to start a list of titles in the forum?

Yes!!! That would be great. Starting off with a book list is the right way to do it. There’s a good one on the net that I know hasn’t been updated in a while, but let me upload this to the forum for starters.

Once you register to the forum (if you haven’t already), I’ll get you into the reviewers forum.

Oh, Sonny was definitely the best part of the film, so I agree with you there. In fact, the film would have been far greater just by getting rid of the Spooner character altogether and putting the focus on Sonny and his creator…but that goes without saying. As for the ratings, let’s just say that my rating system would be a lot different than yours…but then, I’m probably a much harsher judge. I wouldn’t be above giving trash like CHERRY 2000 and CYBORG 1 or even no stars.

Just as an I’ Robot related aside: the robots in this are ripped off from the design from Chris Cunningham’s video for Bjork’s All is Full of Love.
Cunningham is, of course, the guy that was trying to do a film of Neuromancer (with W. Gibsons full cooperation).

Just found this link:
http://unit.bjork.com/specials/gh/SUB-01/

‘Funny you should mention that, David, as I was just trying to find a good forum in order to ask SFAM if the image in the “logo” for cyberpunkreview.com was taken from Bjork’s video. If I had any brain, though, I’d just go downstairs and watch the Chris Cunningham DVD I have and find out for sure…

‘Happy to hear of Bjork’s video (and Chris Cunningham - his NEUROMANCER film - R.I.P.) getting some recognition. Both are brilliant.

I was by no means criticizing your ratings system (I wouldn’t change a thing, actually). I was merely saying I’m much less…”forgiving” than you, shall we say? But then, I’m a film snob. Ask any of my friends. Heh…

Hi Case, I get what you are saying - some films are just crap. But I sort of enjoy “sorting through the shit” to find gem-like scenes. Truly, this is all you get as you go down the ladder.

Also, some are totally unforgiving of fancy FX but no story. I tend to appreciate at least some aspects - which both Terminator and I, Robot have. That said, something like “The Island” I will have a hard time giving it 5 stars, even though the FX are good - great even in some places.

And regarding the Neuromancer film, was there ever any shoots from this, or did it not even get to production? I would LOVE to see some stills.

Hi SFAM - My heart breaks every time I even mention it, but Chris Cunningham’s feature film version of Gibson’s NEUROMANCER never even got off the ground (although it came close). Sad, because although he has yet to helm a full-lengthed film, I can think of no better director for the job. Let’s just hope Brian Yuzna doesn’t regain his interest in directing…:::shivers:::

I have never read Neuromancer, but I HAVE read Gibson’s own script for it, dating back to about 1993, I think. Are you going to review some of that “could have been” stuff, SFAM?

Hi Budo, that sounds like a terrific idea. Reviewing a “could have been” type thing goes along with a “Why is hollywood screwing us?” post. If you want to do this, I’d love to include it.

Hi! Before the movie I read some Asimov’s books (including some not related with science fiction). I think the movie’s writers did a decent job, but Will couldn’t transmit the conflict between the feelings versus the logic. It was easier for the robot transmit human behavior.

I recognize a commercial when I see it, but I liked the movie anyway. I think Seven stars are good enough.

If it wasn’t for Sonny and the spectacular FX, this movie would be worth five or six stars at best. I though Will Smith, as jaded MIB cop, was almost a complete drag on this movie.

that movie was bad ass!

cool film i wana I Robost 2 too see

I finally got around to watching this. I really loved the CGI, it was done quite well. I also enjoyed Will Smith’s performance for the most part. He wasn’t nearly as well, himself. Most of his roles he plays “The Fresh Prince” but he was a decent bitter, bigoted cop. He pulled off the tortured by the past thing pretty well. I would have preferred a bit more, blade runner feel, more noir and dark and gritty, but overall it was a pretty entertaining flick. I whole heartily agree with it having too many holywoodisms, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as many people made it out to be.

Hi L1zrdking, I agree that its not that bad (hence the rating), but just as clearly, drop the hollywoodisms and it coulda been great. Smith was just the wrong choice for this.

No doubt, Smith is what kept me from watching a long time ago. I think the director kept him from most of his typical fresh prince act, but defiantly no bruce willis in 12 monkeys. I just wonder how bad he’s going to butcher I am legend.

Your use of the word “overblown” is overblown.

This is such a great movie!!!!! i think that Will Smith is super sexy!!

wow this movie was awsome. Though the laws of robotics are kinda confusing. though you should find it natural because i’ma blonde and all blondes are dumb. this movie was the best sci-fi film i’ve ever seen in my life. i don’t agree with any of you nerdy people this movie is da best. HAHAHA. and I agree with janice cardona will smith is soooooooooooooooooo sexy.

SFAM are you blind? Will Smith is the best actor. Did you not watch thee Persue Of Happiness? Will Smith was the correct choice to play the main character.

The Three Laws of Robotics
1. A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Smith is super sexy!!

I Robots is a good movie. I’d give it an 8. But were the robots really there? Or were they animated? If they are real where are they now, and will they be in our future lives?

the last three comments have cracked me up. the movie wasnt bad, good ideas blown over to fit with a hollywood big release, which this is and is only.

Hello!!!!!!! I am from … Ukraine!!! It is very cool…. yes?

I thought that this was a good movie, not great, but definately not bad. Will Smith does play Will Smith, but that just adds some decently interesting chase scenes and such. I am much more content with a small sense of unrealism in a movie, than I would be with a completely realistic movie where there are no bad-ass characters. Sonny was great, Will Smith was ok, the robots got worse and that made me mad, but that doctor guy who was killed by Sonny was great… especially that bitter moat of a soul part. Oh, and to the advertisement part… you complain about reality a bit, but doesnt the advertisements, like having Fed-Ex come to the door and such just make it more realistic?

hey there, on the subject of advertising… I hate to refer to Blade Runner… but if everyone had a problem with the advertising in I, Robot, why no problem with the ads in Blade Runner? I know they are two very different movies (in terms of quality, and style).

my personal opinion: I thought it was totally okay.

Also, something totally different, I would love to see something like that sort of “blade runner curse” that went around, where all the companies advertised in it all had a major negative development. (anyone not familiar with this should wiki the movie and read up on it)

[…] to an AI, even going so far as to launch a campaign to coincide with the release of 2004’s I,Robot called 3 Laws Unsafe to show how the famed 3 laws are unethical to a robot’s or AI’s […]

I must admit I’m totally biased because I can’t stand Will Smith and don’t like obvious CGI and am getting tired of the rebel cop thing unless done with a certain flare. I would only give this a 3 – 4.

Hmmm…my two cents.

I’m of two minds when it comes to I, ROBOT. One is the wish that they had used Harlan Ellison’s amazing screenplay, which actually uses some of the stories in the original book and would have made a serious, mature SF story. The screenplay was actually published after Asimov’s passing in 1992 with wonderful illustrations by Mark Zug. If you can find it, GET IT. You want to know how to write a strong science fiction screenplay? Look here.

On the other hand…I still like the I, ROBOT film that was made. I still check it out when it comes on TV. Yes, it is “inspired” by Asimov’s book. However, it still has a brain, and the discussion of the The Three Laws is solid. I actually liked Smith and the rest of the cast. The fact that Alex Proyas directed this also made it worthwhile, even if it is not his best film.

That said, the robots steal the show. Thanks to Patrick Tatopolous’s designs, and the incredible VFX, and also Alan Tudyk, Sonny is truly one of the most memorable robots to appear on the screen. He is actually the one element of this film that is truly dead-on to what Asimov describes in his robot stories.

hi its ahmad from lebanon i am 14 years old i would like to comment about this movie :i like it lot and it is a very good movie
i would like to see another part of i robot

ay hvil hav a robot

i like this movie

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i thought the futuristic images alone was worth the admission price… but i’m a sucker for eye candy

it sucks

your right it sucks

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I don’t mind Will Smith.. his biggest problem isn’t that he tries to be Fresh Prince, but that he’s _expected_ to be it… He’s proved that he can play serious roles too. All the “Will Smith Funny Lines” you hear in this movie… I doubt they can be blamed on Will Smith himself, but rather the people behind the scenes.. writers, directors etc. If they tell him to say a funny line, he’ll say a funny line. If they don’t tell him to say funny lines, I doubt he’ll make stuff up on his own in front of the camera…

What I _do_ mind about this movie is the bad advertising. They should never had advertised it as an Asimov movie, just “inspired by…” would’ve been enough. Now they pissed off all the Asimov lovers for no good reason.

The movie itself is very good, it has become one of my scifi favourites. But then again, I do like the “mainstream Hollywood stuff” too.

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