 A good movie gets a sublime transfer to Blu-Ray! |
| Review Date: March 14, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Nicodimus, Hanover, PA USA |
| I own 56 Blu-Ray movies, and I have to say, this one is the way I wish all of them looked. Jaw-dropping detail, vivid colors, and no artifacts to be seen anywhere. A flawless transfer to HD, and a equally excellent audio track (I can only hear the 1.5 mbps DTS right now, but I can imagine how much better the lossless track will be once PS3 can decode DTS-MA.) Highly recommended, assuming you like the movie itself. |
"Perhaps this is my purpose"
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| Review Date: May 15, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Marc Ruby™, Warren, MI USA |
My first reaction as this film began was "Wait! This isn't Asimov." The Asimov I grew up reading was a weaver of ideas, more mind candy than adventure story. But here I found myself in Will Smith's bedroom, and then suddenly catapulted into a wild chase after a purse grabbing robot. A far cry from the delicacy used by Asimov. It took a while for the shock to wear off but eventually the conflict between Smith's gritty performance as Del Spooner and his original inspiration in the reminiscences of Dr. Susan Calvin (played by Bridget Moynahan) wears off and the view settles into a film that is inspired by Asimov, but does not imitate him.
The sooner that happens, the better, because this is an exceptional film in its own right, even if it does proceed with the speed of a video game. Smith creates a wisecracking character with a deep mistrust of robots. He is called in to to investigate what appears to be an impossible killing - robots can't kill humans, it's the first law of robotics. But Dr. Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell) lies dead and the only suspect is 'Sonny' a Series 5 robot with some surprising circuitry (played by Alan Tudyk).
The death is declared a suicide, but Spooner refuses to give in. suddenly the automated world turns on the detective, whose unlikely ally is Dr. Calvin, a robopsychologist responsible for the psyches of masses of robots about to be distributed around the planet. One hair-raising escape after another propels the story along until viewers find themselves at a surprisingly reflective conclusion. Not exactly classical Asimov, but a great story nonetheless.
Will does a good job as Spooner, but he is upstaged by Moynihan's performance. And both are blown away by Tudyk and the animators performance as Sonny. As you watch Sonny develop from being slightly more simpatico than the scenery into a full-blown personality there are countless moments of surprise. Moynihan and Smith do their best, but from the moment Sonny turns to Spooner and says "Thank you... you said someone not something." The film belongs to the robots.
Excellent animation and CGI create a world that is a retro version of the future - perhaps exactly what Asimov imagined rather than what we would now. The result is a compelling mix of the outré and the mundane that sticks in the mind just as Sonny's wink does.
This is not just an action film. Threaded through it are the same questions that Asimov raised about the nature of self and intelligence. Robots may never be human, but there are far more than furniture. And if their thought processes are alien, they are more than the sum of their programming. The result is one of the more carefully thought out science fiction films in recent times. |
great entertainment
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| Review Date: March 5, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Caraculiambro, La Mancha and environs |
First of all, if you're an Asimov fan, you're probably aware that the script of "I, Robot" is only tangentially based on Asimov's robot novels and stories. The screenwriters, though, make no attempt to disguise that, claiming the script was "Suggested by Isaac Asimov." If you are not an Asimov fan, I should warn you that, for example, his "starter" robot book, "The Caves of Steel," is so totally different from this movie, it's like they're not even from the same universe.
My work schedule is such that I can only see movies during the summer, but each summer I see dozens and dozens. Last summer, for example, I saw practically everything playing at the theaters within the space of a few days. "I, Robot" was the film I liked the most. I vowed I would get the DVD as soon as it became available.
What I liked most about this movie was the script. It was by turns funny, suspenseful, thought-provoking, etc. In fact, it's a really good script to study if you're into writing your own: it can boast textbook models of how a writer should handle reversals, foreshadowing, payoff, character arc, etc. And the conclusion and the prelude both made sense, total sense! In short, not a line out of place.
Other things that could sink the movie are held in check: Will Smith, while perhaps not the ideal candidate for the job, delivers a believable and versatile performance.
The special effects shots help the movie along, rather than drag it in their wake. What noticeable shots there are really do more to creep you out than overawe you (e.g., the horde of evil robots scaling the USR building).
I was very surprised to read many reviews of this movie (after I saw it), which panned it. It is very difficult for me to see how somebody could see this as a stinker, and I'm the kind of guy who usually only likes about 1 out of every 20 movies I see.
Naturally, there's zero depth to the film, of course; as long as you know this beforehand, you'll be unlikely to regret investing a couple of hours in this movie. |
A Thriller that Engages the Heart and the Mind
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| Review Date: December 4, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Johnny Flick, california |
| This film has eye-popping visual feats, and what makes them special are the ideas and humanity behind them. A rare sci-fi thriller that works as both science-fiction and mystery, this film is not a strict adaptation of the Asimov short stories, but its plot is truly labyrinthine, it works a specific theme, and is happy to end in a shroud of enigma. One of the very best films of the summer, this one will continue to grow in reputation as more people see it and realize it is much more than just another "Will Smith summer movie." A murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, spell-binding action, wonderful characters, and a CGI robot you really care about. The ending is a classic, and despite a few unnecessary one-liners, the shocking thing is that Hollywood released such a moody piece in July, probably not realizing that the filmmakers had made something far beyond the usual popcorn flick. See this film. I, fan. |
More like 4/12 stars...but leaning toward 5 because...
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| Review Date: August 10, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Kat, Mesa, AZ USA |
...Because the Audi Will Smith drives in this movie is just freakin' cool!!
This movie is top notch! I didn't know quite what to expect from this film going into the theater, but was nicely surprised by the time I walked out at the end. From the previews, I gathered it would be another one of those "robots take over the world" type of movies, and well yes...there was that, but there was much more to the storyline....which brings me to my next point.
The storyline is great in this movie...not overdone, not unrealistic...just a plain, well thought out plot with a ton of action and special effects that seem very real. The robot cgi's are superb...its almost scary how you forget you're watching computer animation throughout the whole movie. The acting is great and the character interactions seem very natural.
My biggest compliment to this movie is the way the futuristic concepts are captured. The time set of the movie is the year 2035...which isn't too far away from us, and if its anything like it was in the movie (cars that drive themselves, vertical parking garages, hi tech electronics, etc....you name it!) I can't wait to be there in person should our society ever get there. There are some great ideas in this film! What's also great is that this film does have a message/moral. I believe that it is something everyone can reflect on and relate to.
My only beef about this entire movie is the ending...its just a bit too happy and wonderful...after a bunch of mayhem and chaos...the clouds break and the world is all wonderful again...RIGHT! I really doubt it would end that smoothly...but hey, its a movie...these things happen.
Another point to consider is that this movie claims it is "based on the novel" by Isaac Asimov...and while I personally haven't read the novel, my brother has (he went to see the film with me) and agrees that "based on" is a term they should have really used very lightly...it should have been more like "inspired by" since much of the movie was completely different from the book.
All in all, this is a great movie. I have seen 3 movies total this past week and was most satisfied with "I, Robot". Our local theater already moved it to one of the smaller screening rooms, but even with that, the theater was still packed! That alone should tell you something. It has been out for a few weeks now so go while you still have the chance! Hope you enjoy it!
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