Celluloid Lane: "I, Robot"

Earlier this week I was lucky enough to attend a pre-release screening of "I, Robot", 20th Century Fox's cinematic take on the short stories of Isaac Asimov.

If you aren't already familiar with Asimov's impressive sci-fi collection, let me get you up speed with his 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 to 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 and Second Laws.

In theory, these Laws seem kind of perfect and fool-proof, right? Robots are good, robots help people, robots stay safe. And that's exactly what we see as "I, Robot" (the movie) begins. In the futuristic city of Chicago set in 2035, humans and robots mingle seamlessly as machines have taken over life's dirty work. But a new revolution is on the horizon, as a brand-new model called the NS-5, manufactured by corporate giant U.S. Robotics (USR), is about to be shipped to households in numbers that will swell the robot population to 1 unit to every 5 humans. The movie cleverly incorporates Asimov's Laws into the slogan USR has created on billboards around the city touting the NS-5's guarantee: "Three Laws Safe!"

Detective Del Spooner (Will Smith) is a vintage-loving cop wary of robots and their infinite logic. He doesn't trust their inability to make emotionally-charged choices and suspiciously awaits a big malfunction. When the facts on a suicide from inside USR's headquarters don't add up, you can bet Spooner's on the case. It's at this point that he's introduced to Dr. Susan Calvin (Bridget Moynahan), a shy, brilliant robot psychologist working for USR and lacking a few good ol' human social skills. Together they try to figure out the mystery behind this death with the help of one very unique NS-5 robot named Sonny, one that is markedly different from its peers.

I'm not going to give away the plot, so if you're intrigued by what you've read so far, you'll probably dig this film. The sci-fi aspect alone is fascinating, and a surprisingly believable peek into a future Chicago is carefully thought-out and a joy to observe. "I, Robot" also claims to feature the most advanced CGI character ever on film (the robot Sonny), and I imagine you tech buffs will have a field day debating this film's proper rank on the special effects scale. It looked pretty good to me, but I also suspect that SFX are like megapixels to my eyes: once the picture looks good, further advances provide diminishing returns.

And forgive me for pointing out the obvious here, but action movies have become so utterly, painfully obvious and predictable (e.g. hero/sexy woman/danger/car chase/explosion/sexual tension/car chase II/ injury almost to the point of death/motorcycle chase once car is demolished in climactic car chase III) that I have a hard time accepting them time after time. Will Smith, already a proven actor capable of more than guns and one-liners, offers up little more here than big muscles and weak jokes. I'm not surprised, but rather disappointed, with both the film's producers and the enthusiastic audience for allowing this kind of uncreative nonsense to seep into every freakin blockbuster released in the last ten years.

Ok so it wasn't perfect, but I liked the movie. Good premise, good adaptation of a science fiction concept first delivered over half a century ago, good effects. Just don't expect twists and turns beyond the Hollywood norm and you'll be fine.

Comments

[Jules]

Only one small problem. ITS GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BOOK! Major Suckage. Or did you even read the book?

[The Dreamer]

That's quite the step up from formerly making the greatest modems in the world. Too bad my old modem got zapped.

Though it is strange that I don't have a modem on my computer now....I used to have dozens of them piled around....of course, not much use these day..not even as backup against my dialup now that I'm on Vonage.

The Dreamer.

[Tim]

I haven't expected twists and turns in Hollywood movies since I was little. When I get them, it's a pleasant surprise but I never go into them thinking I'll find them. Sounds like an interesting film and I've been waiting to see it! Thanks!

[Iskander Ben Amor]

I haven't seen this movie yet... but I've been slammed with trailers about it for months. I have come to a few conclusions though.

The movie is called IRobot, and the robots look suspiciously like the new Imac and Ipods. Did they all use Apple computers in this movie?

I also see an influence from something else, not Isaac Asimov, but The Simpsons!

Am I the only person who thought this movie looks a ton like that episode of The Simpsons where they go to Itchy And Scratchy Land? In the trailer, one of the dudes is looking at the robots like "Oh my god, what have we done?" (or something like that) and I'm thinking he looks like the scientist on The Simpsons who is like "Oops, I forgot to carry the Y".

[Queenlynx]

This movie seems very similar to Animatrix's "New Renaissance" story.

[Jason aka The Dark Magician]

Personaly i like the premise of the movie. though in retrospect of it i realize it is sorta the norm for an action movie in good ol Hollywood. As for the name of the movie im guessing it might be an adatation of the phrase i think therefore i am. Sorta like they obey these laws there for they are robots or something like that. By the way have i mentioned the total jealous i have for ms lane for getting a sneak peak at the flick.

[eric]

I'm a huge Asimov fan; looking forward to the movie, "I, Robot"; hoping not to be disappointed.

Robot: Chzech word meaning "compulsory labor."
Karl Capek, 1921 published "R.U.R." in Czechoslovakia -- "Rossum's Universal Robots" .. robots designed to do the labor of the world and to free humanity for a life of creative leasure. Robots rebel; human species destroyed.

Robotics: term coined by Asimov in 3/1942 issue of "Astounding" on page 100 ("Runaround")

"I, Robot" published 1/1939 in "Amazing Stories" written by Eando Binder.

12/1950 -- collection of 8 of Asimov's robot short stories published in a volume the editor called "I, Robot."

In several of Asimov's robot stories, the company that has a monopoly on their manufacture is "US Robotics and Mechanical Men" -- you can believe the modem manufacturer came after Asimov's stories.

I believe "I, Robot" -- the film is modeled after Asimov's robot novels that feature a robot named "R. Daneel Olivaw."

You must read "Caves of Steel", "The Naked Sun" .. then read the 1st 4 of the Foundation Series (Foundation, Foundation & Empire, Second Foundation, Foundation's Edge) and go on to "The Robots of Dawn."

[J-La]

I can't help but wonder what US Robotics thinks about their name being used in the movie. They probably got their name from the Asimov book, but I'm sure they have it trademarked. I sure hope my USR modem doesn't try to kill me tonight.

[Teja]

I envy you ever so much Sarah : \

Lol,

[Matty P.]

I am really looking forward to seeing this flick. Also, the actor behind Sonny's face is Alan Tudyk, who of course played "Wash" on Firefly and is reprising his role in the soon-to-be-classic "Serenity." Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait.

[Juan Whoknows]

I seem to remember that the founders of USR (the modem company) WERE Asimov fans and named their company after US Robotics and Mechanical Men (the robot company in the stories). On the other hand, from the trailers I get the feeling that I,Robot has as much to do with the book as Blade Runner had to do with "Do Androids Dream or Mechanical Sheep?"

[Mike]

Sounds like it was more hollywood special effects drivel from your review.

Too bad that....Michael Moore wasn't Del Spooner, and the robots weren't replublican senators hell bent on killing innocent people. Oh wait thats that other movie...never mind.

[eric]

You know; now that i think of it, I'm going to keep my Roomba vacuum cleaner (iRobot Corp.) blindfolded until this whole "I, Robot" thing passes by.

I'm afraid it might rebel in the middle of the night -- maybe suck my face off or something.

[David Kornahrens]

Yes, Hi Sarah. I have been following your website and things from TechTv for quite awhile now. I am just curious as to what blogging script you are using? Something that comes with Fantasco on Cpanel? http://dmkjr.com/blog is my blogging script, similiar to what you are using. Check it out, I would like some more action in it as well.

[Samantha]

look at me:
http://samantha-green.biz.ly/samantha.html

[garry in Canada]

From what I've seen of the movie, the only thing it has in common with the book is the title.

[IronWolf]

Free iPod

http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=7072058

[JohnHoens]

Sarah, I was a big Asimov fan in the day. I actually attended a lecture of his at NJIT so this should be interesting. Asimov is one of the most underrated Sci-fi authors of the 20th century, only getting any real attention from Honda in the form of a robot. Great review! Looking forward to seeing the film.

PS> Are you moving to Los Angeles???
JMH

[mitchell]

Sarah, you are an awesome Windows Tipper/TSSer but a long winded and obvious Movie Reviewer.

No offense.

I agree with Samantha, this movie is a rip-off, not a tribute or interpretation.

[Josh]

Leep on rocking, Sarah :)

[Josh]

Hate it when that happens. If it looks messed up, I said keep on rocking sarah :) :S

[Joseph]

http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=7107687

Help a fellow out whos tring to get an I POD

[midas]

the movie was good i give it a 4 star , but i had a concern it did not really say who killed the owner of ussr {was it sonny or viki?}

[John B]

I saw the movie, I would give it 2 1/2 out of 5, nothing great.

[Douglas]

Hey Sarah! I just wanted to let you know we had our baby. A beautiful baby girl! Tons of pictures at the site. :P

[Jester]

Yea I am looking forward to this movie...
I am actualynjust doing a test post here. Gonna see if my new sidekick will let me :p

[Erik Gersovitz]

If you would like to change the look and feel of the G4TechTV website, and give it more of TechTV.com's former appeal, here is the petition for you! We currently have 129 signatures! http://thiscause.org/p/menu.php?petition=Anonymous33799

[Corey]

what Iskander Ben Amor said

[Joseph]

help a guy get a free ipod i only need one more

http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=7107687

[James]

For anyone who would like to try out the free Ipod offer, please use the link below. I'm only 1 referal away! Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=7183288

[Joseph]

Same as the guy above.

Hey help me get a free IPOD. It's the world of free stuff gotta love it.

http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=7108145

[brasonmyguitar]

Hi all, I'm the admin of the sourceforge project GmailerXP, we need expierienced C#
developers to help get the project to a release phase in a timely
manner. If you are interested email me, or post in my forums at
http://migraineheartache.com/forums/

The GmailerXP sourceforge project can be found here:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/gmailerxp/

More info about GmailerXP Can be found

here: http://migraineheartache.com/archives/000017.php

& here:
http://www.migraineheartache.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5&st=0
Thanks in advance for yourtime, peace out-

-b

P.S. - Sorry, I'm not trying to "adverstise" in here or anything I just thought if I was going to ask anyone, I might as well as all of you people, thanks and sorry if I've offended anyone with this

[Joseph Burt]

Hey please help a guy get a free IPOD

http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=7108145

[Sarah]

When I heard that it totally twisted what Asimov wrote, I was really disappointed. Leave it to Hollywood, I swear! But I'm going to see it this weekend anyway. What the heck!

[Ken]

Great movie.

[IPODCRAZEE]

I just read two posts about someone getting their IPOD. If you could help me it would be really great!

http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=7050284

[Erik]

Check it out, now don't get mad at me for posting this, and don't say I didn't warn you :-D! http://hosting.mixcat.com/thesegwayproject/

[radicaledward]

Is it just me, or does Sarah look like Franka Potente? Maybe i'm just crazy, but they look exactly alike!

[Jack]

On the July 21 ScreenSavers you talked about Google finds your sensitive data, and a Google seach of that phrase returned 2 hits on G4, but the pages did not contain your remarks which included find, intitle, etc.

Is your segment archived somewhere?

[Erik]

I know this sounds really weird, but it's better than doing those "Free iPod" offers... will someone donate a dollar to me through PayPal? It's not that I "need" the money, but I would like it as I have 0 dollars in my PayPal account right now. I told you it was a weird comment! Thanks, and my PayPal email address is Kfkm09@aol.com.

[Bryan]

IVE FOUND THE BEST WINDOWS XP THEMES SITE: www.dr-pepper.de

[Bryan (aka FUnni64)]

Actually i found the place where all of the win xp hack logo/ theme stuff located:http://www.winxptop.com/default.asp?cat=0

[jason]

Just for the record... That is one of my favorite simpson's episodes ever! Now I've got to see this movie, haha

[steel]

Movies... Many producers are running out of ideas!! Lord of the rings is quite fine, though... I can't say much about the rest...Heh
One movie idea they haven't thought of would be the last men at the end of Ice's Age