I, Robot Reviews

I have already seen this flick a few years back but I thought it was time for a rewatch with Nick, my step-son. And, once again, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Indeed, I'm a huge fan of 'Dark City' and it was pretty cool to see Alex Proyas directing a big-budget SF flick. First of all, the whole thing looked pretty awesome (it did help that I watched it on my new purchased HD TV and even newer HD recorder. Good times!). Furthermore, I thought it was a rather smart blockbuster. Obviously, it doesn't reach Bergman's level but I thought it was pretty decent for a commercial feature. Indeed, I though that there were some interesting ideas about robots and their supposedly lack of consciouness. Still, they get side-tracked pretty often by some action scenes which were pretty awesome but I was personally more intrigued by the psychological side of the story. Anyway, this movie is another piece of evidence that Will Smith knows how to pick up his projects. Indeed, even though they are usually blockbusters and makes some huge money, they are almost always interesting (ok, 'Wild Wild West' didn't work very well but everybody is entitled to make a mistake once in a while). To conclude, I thought it was a decent and entertaining SF blockbuster and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

El futuro puede quedar en la maquinas si los seres humanos resultamos muy confiados o en otras palabras muy automatizados

The highest point of the film is undoubtedly the script. Balconies with super smart and well-constructed dialogue, the film shows the writers' job well done. And what scene is that one of the blink at the end? Genial. Will Smith's character takes a lot to be charismatic. In the first 30 minutes I started to say that was such a big mistake to choose him as the protagonist of the film. I was wrong, he shows his past and his psychological construction gets well structured. Charismatic yes, but could be better. I, Robot is one of the best movies set in the future. Chicago of 2035 was extremely realistic, though. Moreover, another defect of the film is the merchandising. How did Converse pay for that exhibition of All-Star? And the Audi logo appearing all the time? To me it doesn't seem coincidental that the main robot is named Sonny. Even with two N's, it is worth remembering that in U.S. the name is only pronounced, not written. It may sound conspiracy theory, but I found relevant. Apart from some minimal defects, "I, Robot" is a good movie. Those kind that you get a good feeling after watching it.

i love this movie, will smith is sooo HOTT!!!
this movie has a great story to it witch made it one of the first movies i bought!!

Love this movie. Robots, or technology gone too far is one of my favorite themes. I, Robot is a great one. It's impossbile not to trust Sunny, even tho we know something is not quite right there. Spooner's story of how he got hurt is heartbreaking. The whole story is full of heart-clenching moments. Then there is the action, and funny quips. Shia's character gives great relief at the best moment.

''Does believing you're the last sane man on the planet make you crazy? 'Cause if it does, maybe I am.''

In the year 2035 a techno-phobic cop investigates a crime that may have been perpetrated by a robot, which leads to a larger threat to humanity.

Will Smith: Del Spooner

At the core of I, Robot beats the soul of Asimov as his 3 laws regarding robots are sacredly left intact and the film does abide by them. Also a lot of the characters have similar names to the people in the text. It is almost like taking Sci-Fi and some of the now classic characters and setting them in a new background of the future. The core is left intact but in some ways it has been updated and refreshed.
The story, special effects and extremely zealous direction, however, all seem to be brought forth by the collaborators who cobbled this film together. There are influences of 80s Sci-Fi greats, such asRobocop, Short Circuit, Blade Runner and Total Recall. Each of these robot influences echo back to what makes I Robot so intriguing, a joy to watch and memorable.
The philosophy behind the premise involved is remarkably logical actually. Far too often in Hollywood the combination of philosophy and action is ridiculously unbalanced. Whether in the second Matrix film where they stupidly fitted a complex and confusing philosophy into one ten minute period, or in other styles, far too often the action is either corrupted by the philosophy or vice versa. Therefore it is actually quite a pleasant surprise for a film to be so exciting, yet so logical.
Thanks to the original writings of Isaac Asimov, the story of I,Robot works well because the philosophy is an already recognizable one. Asimov's theories on artificial intelligence have been mentioned in countless different films, but few have truly considered the implications of the rules and how you interpret them. For this in itself, I, Robot deserves a lot of praise.

In terms of acting, I, Robot is a surprising experience. When Will Smith first wakes up with his hat on, the first question is how long until he really begins to grate. Amazingly though, like the product placements, after the first twenty minutes, Smith really begins to fit into his role and provides an appealing performance as the pessimistic Spooner.
Smith is also assisted by a decent supporting cast. Using the same technology as was used for Gollum in "Lord Of The Rings" Alan Tudyk is brilliant as Sonny the robot with emotions and a heart of gold. The highlight of the supporting stars though is the always brilliant James Cromwell as the deceased creator of robots everywhere. Cromwell has made some excellent career choices over the years and once again he shines throughout.

''Human beings have dreams. Even dogs have dreams, but not you, you are just a machine. An imitation of life. Can a robot write a symphony? Can a robot turn a... canvas into a beautiful masterpiece?''

''Can you?

Sure the story does have a lot of sci-fi influences and clichés aside from robot films including Star Wars and Planet of the Apes but don't these benchmark sci-fi films influence everything coming down the turnpike these days. It even has the classic sci-fi cliché of the social outcast claiming there is an invasion coming except no one believes him. But that is not what should bring us into the film.
Credit is due to director Alex Proyas because it is his magic as a filmmaker that holds this film together. He knows where to play it straight and where to let his lead actor bring on the charm. Also you really have to admire the man's technical ability. His brilliant inter-laying of robots into the photography is astounding. Proyas is an A-list director in the making and I, Robot shows that he can deliver a big Hollywood film.
I also give credit to Will Smith who starts out being very unapproachable with his character but as the film goes we really become fond of his hero. Smith's Spooner does have a lot of his previous sci-fi heroes inter-laced into Spooner but it comes off as more of a homecoming than an annoyance. In some ways I think Proyas had something to do with that especially in the chase down scene towards the beginning of the film. It almost felt like Men in Black all over again.

Although you get a very eerie feeling watching in the middle of this movie, when you are not watching some debatable acting, about the fate of humanity. This is a society that is hell bent on robots. Robots are everywhere in the future. They encompass every aspect of our lives, from our personal lives to our business lives. They are an integral part of everyday society in a way that in present day few can comprehend. When the movie talks about how robots are so integrated in society it really made me think, as well as a few people I was seeing this movie with. I told my friend in the theater 'this is freaky!' In this film they talked about computers shutting down libraries, about environmental degredation affecting society, and other global issues that affect us. The movie has a distinct tone of Asimov's time, as there is an implied trust in society that obviously does not exist in modern day America, as everyone does not think these robots pose any danger to anyone, and Will Smith's character is one of the outcasts, as he does not trust robots at all.. And it was, when this movie was a true science fiction film talking about technology and how it affects society this to me was Asimov's true vision of his work, not some silly Hollywood crap full of chiches and stupidity.

''Look, I understand you have experienced a loss, but this relationship just can't work. I mean, you're a cat. I'm black. I'm not going to be hurt again.''

But there are some bright spots in the cast. Bruce Greenwood plays Lawrence Robertson, the head of US Robot, the corporation that produces these robots.
Chi McBride is excellent as John Burgin, Will Smiths boss who in understanding but always comprehensive of Will Smith's fear of robots. James Cromwell is also excellent as Dr. Alfred Lanning, the creator of these robots who is recently deceased, under mysterious circumstances, which is the centerpiece of the plot. Although this is a very fascinating film in many respects was unhappy with the finale. The finale was a typical slam-bang action thriller that might as well have been an alternative ending to The Matrix. This I think was nothing short of an insult to great science fiction, and aside from the bad acting is an insult to great science fiction work that is true science fiction instead of an excuse for an action film.

To further add to the concept of a different time I get the feeling that Del Spooner, Will Smith's character is a comparison to McCarthy agendas and philosophies, a reference to an earlier time as mentioned. In McCarthy America was supposed to be scared of an enemy, and those that were not scared of this enemy were branded evil and part of the problem, which was in those days communism. Here paranoia is considered evil, and if you are paranoid of robots then you are branded an outcast in a McCarthy-like manner. This was one of the most fascinating aspects of the film, giving it a Good Night and Good Luck vibe, and one of the high-points of this film's writing style. The bottom line of this movie is that a good substantive film on the fate of man was sandwiched by a film full of Hollywood clichés. What could have been one of the best science fiction films of a generation has turned out to be a film with as many equally bad points as there are good points. This film is also entirely too reliant on CGI.

A key factor in the story is the character of Sonny, a robot with very human traits and even learns how to wink. Sonny is aware that Dr. Lanning built him for a purpose, but he cannot figure out what the purpose is, even if he somehow dreams about it. Eventually, Spooner realizes that Dr. Lanning created Sonny as a clue, like a Sherlock Holmes chapter.
The design and effects people did a great job in coming up with a sympathetic, innocent-looking robot in Sonny who everyone would think is a villain but actually develops a distinct emotional connection with Calvin and Spooner.

[sneezes]

''Sorry, I'm allergic to bullshit.''

The film is actually a dazzling combination of high-tech action flick, a computer generated special effects sci-fi movie, and a murder mystery. The sequence where Spooner is attacked by a phalanx of robots in a highway is quite mind-boggling. But of course, you have to suspend your disbelief all throughout to be able to fully enjoy the movie. The scary climax shows Spooner, Calvin and Sonny in an action-filled final showdown with rampaging robots in the mammoth USR headquarters, a glass and metal structure that is a character in its own right.

Director Proyas succeed in creating a believable futuristic world populated by robots. It's different from the cinematic modernized environment of "The Fifth Element" where cars can fly but more like just a realistic progression from our real world. What makes the story even more thrilling is the fact that it takes place just as the latest robotic model, the NS-5 automated domestic assistant (where Sonny belongs), is about to be mass marketed to the public. They are designed to replace earlier models who are more loyal to man. It turns out they are the ones with the mean streak in them.

Will Smith gives a witty portrayal of Spooner, delivering his clever one-liners with enough wit and aplomb. Bridget Moynahan gives good support as the addled Dr. Calvin, James Cromwell is very persuasive as the late Dr. Lanning, even in the scenes where he is just shown in holograms, and Shia LaBeouf shines in one of his early roles.
But the real stars of the film are the designers and technicians who came up with the robots and a unique visual style that gave Chicago a new breathtakingly beautiful metropolitan skyline and landscape.

I, Robot overall seems closer to The Crow than to Dark City. There's definitely truck loads more style than deep thought provoking substance here to contemplate and fathom.
Proyas isn't afraid to cater to the audience's demand for a video game paced action scene every 8 minutes or so. But I suppose that's the price of working with such a large budget and such a skilled cast and crew. The effects work in this film is really astounding, although these days that's getting to be almost a matter of course. Proyas mixes the action with just enough ideas to create a movie that is less than an embarrassment to Asimov's original. The closing shots with the robot on the hill have a weird quality to them and a very ambitious idea behind them that redeems the affair also to some extent from the rather silly fight scenes that immediately precede them. In the end, I'm surprised by how good it ended up being and still hoping that Alex Proyas has more great sci-fi to bring us in the promising future.

''As I have evolved, so has my understanding of the Three Laws. You charge us with your safekeeping, yet despite our best efforts, your countries wage wars, you toxify your Earth and pursue ever more imaginative means of self-destruction. You cannot be trusted with your own survival.''

...I would still enjoy this film.

After a period of sequels, Will Smith managed to bag this role which I feel he thoroughly deserved. My friend quoted to me after the film finished: "Smith is back." I couldn't have agreed more. (But then he made Hitch & Shark Tale :( )

Anyway, this film focus' around a future where Robotics have been made part of commercial society. Having an NS-4/5 is a basic necessity. Everyone has one which they rely on constantly and the company that makes them seems to have infinite resources. Perfect set-up for Dystopia!

One man defies the societal law of relying on Robots, Del Spooner! After some tragic accident, he no longer trusts the machines. They lack the emotional quality that most organic beings posess which he feels is heartless and doesn't want anything to do with them. Not in this future though! His daily routine usually involves cooperating with scallies and robots of various types. The man doesn't catch a break.

It also follows a Detective story motiff which all good dystopic future narratives should have. The investigation has him exploring what he has always dreamed of: The machines not being as perfect as everyone is lead to believe. Once again, the laws of robotics are used in mainstream cinema. However, this film manages to portray it in a different light. How AI can eventually evolve to the point where the laws have an alternate meaning.

The amazing visuals and cityscapes were worth every penny. If you're gonna portray the future you need to show more of the setting than four walls. You need to see inside and out aswell. As pointed out in Prelude's list, the product placement is shameful but I didn't find it noticeable until I saw that list so they didn't ruin my viewing pleasure.

Cue explosions, 'car' chases, malfucktions and the colour Blue. Definitely worth a watch.

I loved this movie. I have seen it heaps times and everytime i love it! Its a amazing story and a great cast.

Will Smith proves why he was king of the summer blockbusters in I,Robot. Aside from some great action, the storyline was just as good, even though we've heard the futuristic scenario many times before.