I, Robot

[SiriusTJMackey]

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mo/irobot250b.jpg


Director Alex Proyas
Writer Jeff Vintar and Akiva Goldsman
Starring Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk, Chi McBride, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, and Shia LaBeouf
Rating PG-13 for intense stylized action, and some brief partial nudity.
Release Date July 16, 2004


I'm surprised a thread has yet to be made about this movie, because I think it looks like a cool and fun ride. I'm hoping that it will be a better summer action film than Van Helsing, The Day After Tomorrow, and other choices from this summer, and I actually think it has a chance of doing this. Will Smith has a load of charisma and is great fun to watch on screen, the special effects and action pieces look excellent, and Alex Proyas is a unique and stylish director. I'll certainly be there opening weekend. How about you?

http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/twentieth_century_fox/i__robot/alan_tudyk/robot.jpg

[Tweek]

I'm going to see this.
I don't have exceptionally high hopes, but it looks spiffy.

[Mad Maggot]

It looks bloody awful to me. Just another summer blockbuster. Starring Will Smith... :o :o :o

[Scarface98.9]

Alex Proyas made Dark City and The Crow, so I'll see anything he does. Since this looks like a very good movie, it's definitely on my must see list

[sharkstank]

Originally posted by Tweek
I'm going to see this.
I don't have exceptionally high hopes, but it looks spiffy.

me too

WWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Strider]

I'm actually looking forward to I, Robot, primarily because it marks the return of Alex Proyas. His direction in The Crow and Dark City was absolutely stunning. Also, Will Smith kicks ass, and I've always been a fan since the Fresh Prince days - so that would be another reason why I'm looking forward to the film. I don't have high expectations for this flick, but it does look like solid sci-fi popcorn, so I'll definitely be there!

Strider

[Fisting Ackbar]

I have very mixed feelings about this. Hated the first teaser with Will Smith talking about sugar, and it seems to be totally different from Isaac Asimov's novel. On the other hand, it does look impressive on a technical level and Alex Proyas had made some good movies in the past.

I'll probably check it out, but I'm hoping for a more intelligent sci-fi flick than a standard actionfest with lines as AWW HELLL NO and GET OFF MAH CAR.

[Moviefan1234]

I don't know what to think of it. I like Alex Proyas a lot, but this seems as if it's your average popcorn action flick. Don't get me wrong, I like those, but I was hoping for something nice and dark from Proyas.

[Tuukka]

The buzz for this film is VERY strong. The word is out that it's a much more intelligent and ambitious film than what the trailers make it out to be. And I even liked those, they make the flick look like a lot of fun. I'm already sold for this baby.

Here is the only real review so far. DAVID POLLAND FROM HOT BUTTON really liked it. This is an excellent review in the sense that it will put many of your fears to rest.



July 8, 2004
I, Robot opens with "The Money Shot."

That is to say, a camera tracks up into Will Smith's bed after a fevered dream and then up his leg as Big Willie separates his legs as he bolts out of bed, effectively giving the audience a shot of the crotch of his tighty blackies. The female members of the audience let out a collective gasp, though the moment is familiar to the guys, since we are used to seeing a variation on it in movies with Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie, or thanks to paparazzi, getting out of the car with Lindsey Lohan.

It turns out, as the movie progresses, not to be the money shot at all. It is, however, a wake-up call. I, Robot is not going to go as expected. Alex Proyas has finally fulfilled the promise that Dark City made and, with the help of a boatload of CG, delivered his first futuristic masterwork - less gritty than Blade Runner and less emotional than Minority Report - but a movie that is sleek in its general simplicity and clarity of purpose. In other words, it comes up from behind you and puts its hands on your shoulders and forces you to stay in your seat. But after a while it releases you and you find that you have no urge to get up… you are suddenly there with the movie all the way.

When movie people talk about a four-quadrant movie, they are talking about a movie that plays to all four major demographic groups. But I, Robot is a four-quadrant movie in a different way. 1. It is a Will Smith movie, but not too much so. 2. It is very much an Isaac Asimov story, with its sense of spirituality mixed with the futurism. (Asimov's book is credited as the film's inspiration, not the basis… odd.) 3. It is also a straight out action movie with the best representation of large numbers of CG characters flying around while maintaining recognizably earthbound physical attributes that I have seen so far. (There is only one 15 second sequence in the film that made me think, "CG cartoon," but given that half the movie is brimming with CG robots, it is a remarkable achievement.) And, 4. It is one of the trend films of recent years which is looking anew at "science fiction" of the past decades with an eye to where we are now and where we really could be in a few decades.

The thing is, the four quadrants are so well balanced and blended by Proyas and credited screenwriters Jeff Vintar and Akiva Goldsman that the movie never leans too far in any one of the directions. That is what makes I, Robot so special. I sat in the screening and things felt familiar… but as the movie progressed, I found myself being slowly pulled further and further into its complexity, which still being thrown around in giant action set pieces. In the end, I was ready to watch it again… right then. It did what movies rarely do these days. It made me really pay attention to it. I didn't check the Blackberry… I didn't look around the theater… I didn't think too much about the CG. I just watched the movie, not wanting any distractions, lest I miss something important… something subtle and key.

It would be easy to overstep this tale of the next generation of humans creating electronic slaves and dealing with the slavery mentality. But Proyas was a masterful choice for this material, since he leans to excess subtlety instead of excess hype. He allows, as so few directors do, the audience to make the connections itself. For instance, the use of Chicago as a character in the film… the mixture of crumbling facades and excess grandeur right out of the Albert Speer's Grandson playbook… the ethnic mix of the city… the lull of it all that comes before the storm… even the sense we all get sometimes that our computers are intentionally choosing not to cooperate… But unlike Dark City, the connections in this story are clear and strong enough not to piss off and distance moviegoers who are not genre lovers. This is not, in many ways, a subtle film. But it is.

Word was - since denied, but so is everything - that there was a real battle at Fox over the tone of the film. Proyas wanted to keep the "Will Smith thing" reined in. Will wanted more of his trademark humor. And while a few Big Willie beats may have been added - he does get his laughs - this is mostly a straight forward, dark but not moody, go go go action film with some serious thoughtful subtext. One more joke and it would have been too jokey. One less joke and it might have been too moody. Smith ended up being shown in the perfect light… strong and macho beautiful, funny, fearless and driven. It is, with all the action, one of his best dramatic performances yet.

Special shout-outs to Alan Tudyk's performance (watch the credits), Marco Beltrami's score and Simon Duggan's work behind the camera. And the Weta and Digital Domain effects teams… again, a subtlety in very complex work that felt really unique. Some day they will go back and fix the end of the tunnel chase for DVD if the movie makes enough money or maybe robots will be doing the digital composting in 20 years and it will be cheap to make it perfect. But those 15 seconds are just a bit of spittle in a remarkable large sea of great work.

I will say this… you don't know what you're getting from the materials that are out there, which are selling Smith and not the full range of the movie. And perhaps that is an advantage for a moviegoer. As the movie unfolded, I found myself surprised by tone as well as the material. And for a critic that is a joy, even when the movie isn't that great. But this one… it feels great. As I said, it is not world-changing like Blade Runner or as loaded with fascinating sidebars as the undervalued Minority Report. The future here is not as bleak or as fascist, though there is always another fascist around the corner in most futurist films. This is almost like a prequel to The Han Solo Story. It is the future, but it is one man's story about how he became the most experienced gunslinger in the Old West.

I am taking a deep breath and hoping that I enjoy the film as much - even more - the second and third time around. I'm pretty sure I will. It's not like getting off the fastest ride in the park and racing to experience that big drop again. It's more like riding something and feeling like that was so cool that you are going to keep thinking about it for days and weeks to come. I, Fan.

[Kidsilk]

Cool. I think it looks good. I'll definitely be there opening weekend.

[MadsenOMC]

I love Alex Proyas, and I think it looks pretty good. Poland's review definitely makes me more optimistic, too. My only complaint is that I think this is yet another movie whose trailer reveals too much. It seems like, in two minutes, it covers the first, second and third acts. I hope that's not the case.

[Benny]

Could be good. Besides Spidey 2, I haven't seen a lot of the major action films of this summer yet (Day After Tomorrow, Van Helsing, Troy, King Arthur, etc.) because they've all looked pretty terrible, but this one does not. Not even Will Smith bothers me that much. I'll hopefully see it in theaters.

[m ali]

hells yeah i will be checking this flick out. Im a big fan of will smith so I gotta see this for sure and the action looks so freaking cool. Ill be there opening day.

[The Other]

I'm looking forward to it, and I hope it's true about the movie actually having some weight behind it and not just being about all the money shots.

[Labbla]

The movie looks pretty crappy but my friends want to go. I'm gonna tag along for the Batman Begins preview.

[Jon Lyrik]

God, the trailer was so awful it makes Asimov's corpse scream. And the robot design is very goofy.

But Proyas is a fantastic director and from early reviews it's more intelligent than the trailers make it look. I'll wait on this one.

[Arathon]

I finally saw a trailer for this last week and I must say it looks very good and definitely a fun popcorn flick. I'm a fan of Will Smith and Alex Proyas so fingers cross they won't let me down when i go see it.

[XCoRyX]

i plan on seeing this one this weekend...

[Patrick Bateman]

I really want to see the Batman Begins trailer. So, I'll be there.

[Joshmo]

I seriously dont know what people expect in trailers anymore when they say that those for I, Robot suck.. :rolleyes:


The trailers kick ass...the sfx looks stunning..I NEVER allow a book to taint my movie adaptation fun, as long as the film contains at least the "spirit" of the book and is made well. This flick looks like its gonna rock...I hope it does.

[moviegroupie]

If I spend a wad of cash to see this one in the theatres, you may title me: I, Idiot

[gyro_44]

Originally posted by MadsenOMC
I love Alex Proyas, and I think it looks pretty good. Poland's review definitely makes me more optimistic, too. My only complaint is that I think this is yet another movie whose trailer reveals too much. It seems like, in two minutes, it covers the first, second and third acts. I hope that's not the case.
Indeed. Is this the first case in which the tagline gives away the movie?

"One man saw it coming"

So.... I guess the robots go berserk?

I certainly have high hopes of anything coming from Alex Proyas, and I want this to be more than a Will Smith movie. I have a strong suspicion that Proyas didn't totally approve of casting Smith. I have read he really wanted to tone him down, which is good sign.

[JoeChar4321]

Originally posted by Mad Maggot
It looks bloody awful to me. Just another summer blockbuster. Starring Will Smith... :o :o :o

Yes, judging by the trailers they should change the title of this film for me...

I,Don't Care

[Tuukka]

For some reason Poland is the only established critic to give out a review so far. Reportedly Joel Siegel from Good Morning America also gave it a highly positive review, but it's not online yet.

Here are couple of comments from the IMDB message board:

"Saw it last night...

And sorry, it doesn't suck. The perfect summer movie, fun without being too stupid (see Armageddon). They throw in the 3 laws, but it has been such a long time since I read Asimov, I can't remember what else makes it into the movie. I doubt little else made it based on my hazy memory.

The CGI effects are great (and I usually hate CGI - they can be so sloppy). They did a good job of anthropomorphizing the robots. Esp. the one accused of murder. Warning - the camera gets a workout at times. It made me dizzy twice with movement.

It also helps Will Smith was a little less glib than usual.

Almost enjoyed this one as much as Spiderman 2.


...And here is a quite interesting post from the screenwriter of the I, Robot. This is from rottentomatoes:


"My spec script "Hardwired" was a classical-style murder mystery that played like a kind of sci-fi Agatha Christie stage play. One lone cyberphobic investigator named Del Spooner was called to the scene of a crime and found himself in the middle of a locked room mystery: a scientist was killed in a room that was locked from the inside. Was it a murder? And if so, who did it, and how? And of course all of his suspects were robots, holograms, supercomputers, and the like. [Spooner was actually the only 100% human being in the cast!] During the course of his investigation he uncovered a prime suspect in a robot that called itself Sonny, and came to realize that the outcome of the case may effect the long-term future of the human race.

Despite what the rumors may be on the internet that my script was just another dumb Hollywood "shoot 'em up," there was in fact no shooting of robots at all. It was a talky intellectual mystery, like I said, very much an old-style murder mystery but infused with elements of science-fiction.

Now, over the years, this script always garnered comparisons to Asimov.

Why? Simply because Asimov stories are also classical-style mini-mysteries. In each story you are given the Three Laws, and then presented with a mystery: Why is the robot hiding? Why is the robot running around in a circle? Why is the robot lying? Like a good Agatha Christie, the mystery is always explained at the end--via the Three Laws--and the immediate pleasure of the story is in the figuring out and explanation of the events.

So after "Hardwired" had been in development at Disney for several years with director Bryan Singer attached, the project got picked up by Fox for Alex Proyas. I worked on a treatment that would open up the mystery and allow our main character to move around the whole city, but essentially the story was the same intellectual puzzle--with a heightened sense of thriller. The guy who worked with me on the project closest was Alex Proyas' development exec, a smart creative man named Matthew Dabner. I recall him always thinking of it as a "sci-fi Chinatown." That's the sort of thing we were shooting for, I mean, we were shooting high!

Now when Fox picked up the rights to "I, Robot," it was not an outrageous suggestion that the murder mystery in "Hardwired" would be a great way to have a Three Laws mystery for the film.

In other words, my script and Asimov's stories had a lot in common. I think because we were both essentially writing Agatha Christie-style mysteries. In other words, they were both brain teasers involving robots. And Fox had one hell of a nice story in "Hardwired" already in front of them. It had big scope, a compelling mystery to drive the more abstract themes, and strong characters. Everything was wrapped up in a tight package. The design of the piece was always strong, dating back even to the spec. There have been many different versions of the script, but the basic dynamics of the story--the structure of the piece, the mystery, the themes, and the way the characters embodied those ideas--were the key to the uniqueness of the spec. Hey, not everything you write works. But there was always something about this one that kept it coming back from the dead for ten years of development hell. You don't get directors like Bryan Singer and Alex Proyas signing on to your work unless you stumbled onto something good, and in this case, the piece had that something.

No one wanted to make the kind of "Citizen Kane"-homage you would end up with if you tried to adapt several Asimov stories and bind them together with a framing device. I mean, I agreed with that decision, and I still do. Issac Asimov's original stories were not about looking back on the life of Susan Calvin or U.S. Robotics with melancholy and nostalgia. They weren't about the past. They were at their core just cool mysteries involving robots, and over the course of the stories you developed several continuing characters, and slowly created a future history.

If this film is a success, you can envision a whole series of films, also starring or co-starring Susan Calvin, that would recreate the experience of reading those early pulp stories far better than an episodic film ever would.

So I inserted a younger version of Susan Calvin into my script, and also the Three Laws of Robotics, and I spent several years fine-tuning the piece to meet all my hopes for "Hardwired" as well as do something that lived up to the title "I, Robot." I encountered that title first years ago when I read the original Eando Binder story, "I, Robot" [a tale which fits the title far better than the Asimov collection ever did, actually], and so I felt very protective of that name. And frankly, those early scripts kicked some serious Asimovian butt! I was told by one guy who represents the Asimov estate that the script was the "best Asimov story Asimov never wrote." He didn't have to say that, but I think he meant it. I'm still proud as heck of those drafts written in late 2000, 2001, and up to the summer of 2002.

Now the question on your mind, I know, is this:

Does the final shooting script of the film starring Will Smith still live up to the title "I, Robot"? Or has the film become just a mindless shoot 'em up, just another big dumb summer product, as the very vocal on-line community is so sure it will be? What's the final film going to ultimately be???

I just saw the film last night at the premiere, and I have what I think is my answer. But you see the film next week, and then tell me what you think!"

[Tuukka]

And here is a GREAT interview with Proyas, about I, Robot:

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/robot2.php

[JoBlo]

This was one of the movies that I was MOST looking forward to this summer (I thought the online clips were great and I love Proyas), so maybe that's why I didn't go as NUTSO over it, but I'm likely scoring it a 6/10 with super effects, solid action sequences but a pretty lame-o story that doesn't really provide for much suspense, drama or mystery, and a little too "safe" for my taste-- a REAL PROYAS version would have been MUCH DARKER and BETTER, me thinks. This flick felt "Hollywood-ized"...although it's still pretty fun overall and the robots were "the shit"!

Full review should be up in a few hours...

[xjustsaymaybex]

when i first saw a teaser trailer for I, Robot.
i was very unimpressed.
i didn't like the comedy angle it seemed to go with.
and i'm not a big fan of will smith.
but as i've seen more trailers for the movie.
and the movie studio has seemed to change the marketing campaign.
i've become so hyped up about this movie and can't wait for it now.
and alex proyas is an amazing director.
and it doesn't hurt that there is a batman begins teaser trailer in front of it either.

[Scarface98.9]

Thanks Tuukka for linking that interview, since it was a really interesting read

[ilovemovies]

I think this is going to make Spider-Man 2 look like a kiddie ride in comparison!

I'm as excited for this movie as I was about Spider-Man 2 before I saw it. Which means I'm EXTREMELY excited!

[sharkstank]

Originally posted by Patrick Bateman
I really want to see the Batman Begins trailer. So, I'll be there.

yup. jo gave this a lukewarm yay

WWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[§carecrow]

i am seein robot just for batman preview.

[Lynn7]

The look of this movie reminds me of that Tom Cruise movie where those robotic eyes came looking for him-can't think of the name. This one looks good- Smith is fun to watch.

[Ron34]

This movie has been getting very good reviews. After the first teaser trailer I wasent really impressed with the film, but after watching the full length trailer I was excited. Cant wait for the opening day.

[Scarface98.9]

Originally posted by Lynn7
The look of this movie reminds me of that Tom Cruise movie where those robotic eyes came looking for him-can't think of the name. This one looks good- Smith is fun to watch.
I believe you're referring to Minority Report

[The Heart Collector]

James Berardinelli gave it 3 and a half stars:
http://www.patmedia.net/berardin/movies/i/i_robot.html


When all of the dust from 2004's crumbling blockbusters has settled, I, Robot will likely emerge as the strongest mainstream motion picture of the summer. The best big-budget science fiction film since Minority Report, I, Robot gets high marks not only for storytelling but for its compelling vision of 2035 Chicago. Directed by Alex Proyas, who previously imagined the strikingly noir cityscapes of The Crow and Dark City, I, Robot takes ideas (and a character) presented in Isaac Asimov's classic anthology of nine short stories and uses them as a jumping-off point for a thrilling action-adventure movie. Proper recognition goes to credited screenwriters Jeff Vintar and Akiva Goldsman (and uncredited Hillary Seitz) for remaining faithful to the essential themes of Asimov's writing while taking the story in a different, more cinematic direction. Asimov fans take note, however: this isn't close to a faithful adaptation. In fact, it's not really an adaptation at all.

I, Robot transpires some 30 years in the future, when robots are becoming as familiar an everyday household appliance as refrigerators or vacuum cleaners. But, on the eve of the rollout of the landmark NS5 series, trouble is brewing at U.S. Robotics. Dr. Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell), the head of robot and cybernetic research, has apparently committed suicide. Technophobe cop Del Spooner (Will Smith) has been called in to investigate, and his first suspicion is that Dr. Lanning didn't kill himself - a robot did it. His prime suspect is Sonny (Alan Tudyk), a robot with personality and who seems to have found a way around the Three Laws of Robotics. Dr. Susan Calvin (Bridget Moynahan), a robopsychologist who works for U.S. Robotics, and CEO Lawrence Robertson (Bruce Greenwood), are suspicious of Spooner's motives for blaming a robot, and skeptical of his conclusions. But that doesn't stop Dr. Calvin from aiding the detective's investigation and Robertson, who has a lot of money on the line, from pulling out all the stops to end it.

The film's action sequences, which include chases and fights, are anything but generic. They are directed with flair, and that results in them being both tense and involving. The way the robots swarm after Spooner during one of I, Robot's centerpiece scenes is reminiscent of the aliens' attack patterns in James Cameron's Aliens. The film carries a sense of the unpredictable; we're never sure exactly what's going to happen next, and there's no assurance that Spooner will be alive when the end credits roll. These elements, not flashes and bangs, are what make action films suspenseful.

I, Robot starts with the story, which is more intelligent and engrossing than what we have come to expect from movies in this genre. The script uses the Three Laws of Robotics (developed by Asimov and John Campbell) as its foundation. They state: (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, and (3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. Instead of just making these precepts a throw-away aspect of the plot, they are integral to its development and success. Take away Asimov's Three Laws, and there is no movie.

I, Robot tinkers with ideas that have always fascinated science fiction fans. At what point does a personality simulation become a personality? Where is the line that divides a machine from a living being? When does consciousness occur? And at what point does an entity achieve the ability to interpret the Three Laws as it sees fit, not as they were intended? There's plenty of thought-provoking material in I, Robot - certainly enough to keep a thinking viewer attuned to the plot while never slowing down the proceedings or dulling the action. I, Robot deserves to be called "smart." It earns that distinction during nearly every frame of its 115-minute running time.

The setting - 2035 Chicago - is meticulously realized. Like in Minority Report, a great deal of thought went into imagining what the near future might look like. (Admittedly, however, I think much of what I, Robot postulates is too sophisticated for 2035. A better match to the technology evident in the film might be 2070.) Nothing in the film is outrageous. In fact, many aspects of life in 2035 aren't that different from what they are today. And there are some neat touches (watch how Spooner's car is "parked" after he arrives at U.S. Robotics). There are no phasers or lasers for weapons - the cops still use good old fashioned guns. Aside from that, the film looks stunning - but what else would one expect from the director of an eye-popping spectacle as Dark City?

I, Robot features some of the best uses of CGI special effects ever. Put this alongside the Star Wars prequels and The Lord of the Rings as a primer for the seamless incorporation of special effects. There's a lot of computer work in I, Robot, but it's never obvious or evident. It rarely calls attention to itself, and it is not clumsily inserted . When Will Smith interacts with a special effect, we forget that it's an actor posturing with something drawn in by computer. After seeing a lot of cheap effects work that looks like it was exported from a computer game, it's refreshing to see something of such high quality.

Another thing that I, Robot does is to prove that Will Smith can carry an action/adventure film on his own. Without support from Martin Lawrence, Tommy Lee Jones, Gene Hackman, Jeff Goldblum, or Kevin Kline, he shows that he's got enough charisma and energy to hold a viewer's attention. Plus, he can deliver the mandatory one-liners with as much brio as Schwarzenegger or Willis. Despite the physicality of the role, Smith manages to connect with the audience in everyman fashion, and, although the part requires a certain amount of wit, he doesn't play it like a clown. Effective, but not outstanding, secondary work is provided by Bridget Moynahan (The Recruit), who plays the lead human character from Asimov's stories. Bruce Greenwood is instantly recognizable as a bad guy, because he has become one of Hollywood's favorite villains ever since he graduated from the obscurity of Atom Egoyan films (which still represent his best work to-date).

Although I, Robot isn't quite as pulse-pounding or intellectually challenging as Minority Report, it stimulates many of the same areas of the brain, and causes the body to pump nearly as much adrenaline. In almost every way imaginable, it satisfies, and that (unfortunately) has been a rare quality at the multiplexes this summer. This is a movie to restore the faith of those who had given up on science fiction after The Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions. By adeptly combining action and ideas, it proves that Hollywood can still produce astonishing entertainment.

© 2004 James Berardinelli

[Moviefreek]

This is one that i've been looking forward to since I first saw the teaser trailer and heard of its existence. I will be off to see this one at Midnight tonight and will be sure to lend my thoughts afterwards.

[Lynn7]

Originally posted by Scarface98.9
I believe you're referring to Minority Report

Thanks!

[Moviefreek]

**Mild Spoilers***

A Movie which I was looking forward to since I first laid my eyes on its unique teaser trailer is finally on the screen. Was it what I wanted? Yes and No.

The acting was good for the most part. Any of it that I had a problem with was mainly due to some poor dialague choices and certain jokes are light humor that I felt should have been left out. I do want to say that this is the first film in which I saw a big maturity level in Will Smith's acting ability.

The story was good but at times I felt that the rambled on to much on certain subjects and it was at these times I felt myself kind of drifting of and no paying attention. I did like the human emotion that did play out during the film.

Special Effects were very nice. It was the effects that held the movie together. The robots were flawless in their looks and facial expressions. The robot on robot scenes were the most entertaining part for me. I loved seeing them duke it out.

In the end it was just an entertaiing movie. I have to agree with Joblo when he said he hoped for something a little bit darker. I agree with this as I wish it had a little bit darker of a mood than it did.

I, Robot-- 7/10

[ANavissi500]

An entertaining summer blockbuster, yes, but it seems like I, Robot could have gone deeper and darker. The CGI is some of the better CGI I have seen, but I still am cautious in completely giving in to loving CGI - there is a long way to go before I'll be wholly satisfied. The plot was pretty straightforward and Will Smith was pretty good. Bridget Monahan was a little one note, Chi McBride was overly skeptical of Smith (more of a characater flaw than an actor flaw), and Shia LeBeouf was totally unnecessary. The "twist" didn't impress me and the ending was a little ambiguous but not in a good way. I didn't connect with Proyas' message at the end, I suppose. All in all, its a cool summer flick that should be taken as that.

[Squirrel_X]

ack! I didn't get any bloody Batman trailer! what gives?!? all I got was a new AVP trailer that wasnt half bad.

However, It was oppressively hot outside today and I decided to go see a movie, and although I don't like Will Smith at all, I went to see this one. Upon viewing I must admit that it was a pretty fine movie, and my standards are pretty out there, especially with the whole summer blockbuster tripe that annually crawls out of the gutters.

The cgi was not "in your face" all the time, but there were a few "matrix-esque" moments that made me groan, but they were forgivable. The acting was on par for the most part, but good god I musta missed half the movie looking at Bridget Moynahan. She's freakin beautiful. But I digress. Go watch this movie and i think you will be pleasantly suprised if you had less than great ambitions about this flick as I did.

7.5/10

[ilovemovies]

I, Robot ***

An enjoyable scifi action mystery thriller. Interesting story and most of the action sequences are terrific. The one action sequece that kinda bothered me though was when Will Smith was in Lanning's home and it gets demolished. It was just a mess. And it's one of the few scenes where even the look of it felt off or something. The CGI, while mostly great, isn't perfect either. Many people complain how movies like The Chronicles of Riddick look like video games well the scene in the tunnel with all those robots jumping into Smith's car kind of made think that a couple times. The CGI was overdone or something. That was still an awsome scene though. Also there are some action sequences that would have been even more exciting had it not been in either slow motion or some wierd camera tricks and angles that were used. It was good but when the camera would go in circles it would momentarily take me out of the moment in the movie. This isn't really among Will Smith's best work (he was better in Ali, The Legend of Bagger Vance and Enemy of the State) but he's still solid and the guy has charisma to burn. The only other actor with significant screen time was Bridget Moynahan and she was for the most part fine, but in the begining of the movie she was so stiff that you could be forgiven for confusing her as one of the robots. Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, Chi McBride and Shai LeBouf barely have barely any screen time. LeBouf has maybe a total of four minutes of screen time and as for Greenwood, well if you've seen the trailer then you've basically seen all of his scenes. The best thing about the movie though is the robots. They were really cool! Sonny in particular was just awsome! Some of the best scenes of the movie infact are the scenes between Smith and Sonny. The mystery elements were solid and there is a twist of sorts in the movie but, although I didn't expect, it strangely didn't surprise me either.

So overall, this is good, solid summer entertainment but I was mildly let down because I was expecting something GREAT! It wasn't but I don't want to penalize the movie either because it is good despite the flaws.

[sharkstank]

saw it earlier today, and i was underwhelmed. the main thing was the movie ddint grab me at all. i felt like i was watching a moovie, not inside it world

SPOILERS



PROS-
SONNY
smith was alright
some cool action
effects were great
funny in most parts
actually made sense
had a plot
didnt overstay its welcome
great direction
neer sucked
mosly entertained

CONS-
moynahan was WOODEN AS ALL HELL
the film was TOO funy. every other sentence from smith was a one liner, and it hurt the film more than it helped
nothing we havent seen b4, and done better
wasted talent (cromwell, greenwood)
thrown in chracters
some REALLY cheesy and laughable moments (the kids vs robots street 'war')
we were three steps ahead of the chraracters. we knew what was going to happen, so it had to be a bit more interesting than it was
the ending which sets uo i,robots, which i guess could be good or bad
conveniant plot points (his arm)


END SPOOILES

overall, it was ok, but just that. i bascially agree with jo on this one.faint praise. an ok summer action flick, that really should've been better

**1/2 out of ****

WWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[DareDevil]

A very strong 8/10

the movie rocked, it was probaly better than i expected

Will owned it, the robots did kick alot of ass, and the action well was :eek: jaw dropping

someone above posted they didnt like the gang vs robot fight

i thought that was great...

my only complain was the score... which was good but not great

but maybe the strongest part of the movie was the directing, it was great

i would say this is the 2nd best blockbuster this year!

[anakinsrise]

My Review of I,Robot

IN SHORT:Basic cop story heightened by Will Smith's performance and Alex Proyas's stunning direction.


THE GOOD:I was really hyped up for this movie after watching its various trailers for the past few months.Smith surrounded like Custer at little big horn by marauding robots,absolutley stunning.And seeing it on the big screen was just as great.Will Smith does a fine job showing just the right emotion and humor when needed,and in my opinion his best role since Enemy of the State.I liked how his character detective Del Spooner,refuses to embrace the future ,even purchasing a pair of sneakers from 2005 in the year 2035.The film is visually stunning and the action sequences are intense and involving,some action sequences made me feel as if i was on a roller coaster.I liked the fact that i was surprised by some of the twists in the plot.I also enjoyed Alan Tudyk as Sonny the robot.Bridget Moynahan was very believable as a lovely but stiff scientist.I have enjoyed Alex Proyas's work since Dark City,that same quiet evil underneath tone to his work is still very present in I,Robot.


THE BAD:Its true we are given the basic cliche filled rogue cop story as a foundation. There are some scenes i could have done without especially those with Shia LaBeouf as a street kid ,why were these scenes necessary?!? I would have preffered longer action sequences or more scenes with Sonny.Usually the aforementioned lame scenes are left for the DVD.


IN THE END:Scale of 1-10 an 8 1/2 Go see it ! Cant wait for the DVD !

[Lazy Boy]

5/10

I, Robot is pretty underwhelming in two areas: the robot laws/Sonny's newfound experience with emotion, and the crummy action sequences. Will Smith's lame one-liners don't help either, but lest we think of it, he changes up his game and tries to tone down his usual Big Willy Style smarminess and attempt to portray "emotion." Ooh lah lah, woopity doo. I thought Bridget Moynahan's character was going to be uncovered as a robot, that was the only way to justify her wooden line readings. Sonny (voiced by Alan Tudyk) was the most interesting character, but pretty soon, he was as indistinguishable to me as the rest of the bland robot sentrons, feelings or not. A disappointment from Alex Proyas, whose Dark City felt like it spun a fantastic new world from something borrowed. Here, he borrows a lot of spare parts from other, better sci-fi films such as Blade Runner and A.I., and the end result has no heart. Credit must be given to the design of the city, which alternates between its sustained normalcy of Chicago and the towering metallic skyscrapers of the future.

[JoeChar4321]

I agree with "Lazy Boy" that this movie is very underwhelming. This film was just too predictable. I knew right where it was going every step of the way. The CGI really wasn't very good. I thought the female lead role was an identical clone of Sandra Bullock's character from Judge Dread. Same mannerisms, same hair cut and even the same monotone, emotionless voice. I swear she called Will Smith "John Spartan" once. This wasn't as bad as Judge Dread but it wasn't good either. It’s the same old "Oh hell no!" Will Smith that we have grown tired of. He makes the same facial expressions and doesn’t bring any depth to the movie. It engaged more in the visuals then trying to make a point throughout the entire movie. No one even reacted well to the CGI "threat". In other words, it has no feeling or no depth and felt like you are watching a "making of" featurette even though you were watching the film itself. You could almost picture the green screen.

4/10

[ilovemovies]

Originally posted by JoeChar4321
I agree with "Lazy Boy" that this movie is very underwhelming. This film was just too predictable. I knew right where it was going every step of the way. The CGI really wasn't very good. I thought the female lead role was an identical clone of Sandra Bullock's character from Judge Dread. Same mannerisms, same hair cut and even the same monotone, emotionless voice. I swear she called Will Smith "John Spartan" once. This wasn't as bad as Judge Dread but it wasn't good either. It’s the same old "Oh hell no!" Will Smith that we have grown tired of. He makes the same facial expressions and doesn’t bring any depth to the movie. It engaged more in the visuals then trying to make a point throughout the entire movie. No one even reacted well to the CGI "threat". In other words, it has no feeling or no depth and felt like you are watching a "making of" featurette even though you were watching the film itself. You could almost picture the green screen.

4/10


Um, Sandra Bullock is not in Judge Dredd. Diane Lane is.

[JoeChar4321]

Originally posted by ilovemovies
Um, Sandra Bullock is not in Judge Dredd. Diane Lane is.

Opps, I was thinking of that dumb future action flick where Sylvester Stallone & Wesley Snipes are frozen and awaken to fight in the future. That's Demolition Man not Judge Dredd. Both are pretty sad though.

[Rick-James]

The only reason I saw this was to see the Batman Begins trailer, but it was not with it :mad: that pissed me the fuck off, I was thinking about geting up and watching Spider-Man again... but I stayed.

Bad Idea!

The movie had some cool stuff, but Smith ruined it... what an awful actor.

5/10

[jackson13]

Spoilers - big time.


I just wanna know one thing: Whats with the end? Are the robots free now? Thats my take on it.


Oh and, what the fuck happened to Lake Michigan? All the water dried up within 31 years time yet the streets of Chicago are constantly wet and the river running through the city WHICH COMES FROM THE LAKE is still there? WTF?

[bugdog]

Spoilers below:

I was looking forward to i Robot for a number of reasons, and I didn't feel ripped off when I left the theater.
I'll admit that the action scenes -- while eventually very repetitive -- were fun to watch.

But the previous person who posted finally brought up a major topic: The Ending. It's not as silly as that in the PLANET OF THE APES remake. But I figured it would have people talking just as much. That intriguing visual can be interpreted several different ways.

Things I didn't like:
1. There's hardly any Isaac Asimov in this story. They use his title and the Three Laws and that's about it.
2. Moynihan could walk on water. Or float anyway. Her performance is that wooden.
3. The rebel cop, the cigar-chewing superior officer -- not very good writing. Pretty cliched.

Spiderman-2 is much better written. I Robot is pretty much an action film first and foremost, and there's a place for those too.

[Fisting Ackbar]

I'd give it a 7/10

The first ten minutes started off as being weak, but I got into it more as the story progressed. The set design was awesome, and I loved most of the action sequences (with slight exception of the car chase which had the camera moving a little too fast at times). Smith was his typical self, and a few shots of him showing off his hot pumped up body (and his ass) seemed really gratuitous. It definitely could have added more Asimov and perhaps a darker mood but I got what I was expecting out of it, which was a good time.

[LVance]

Fantastic movie. Thought the last 45 minutes were great, and the build up for that wasn't bad either. I don't take a "is this believable?" thought when seeing a movie like this, because I don't think it matters. You've gotta use your imagination. With that said, it still has to be smart, and I thought this was. The story was very well done and manipulated. Alex Proyas, who has already made one of my favorites of all time, Dark City (along with the very good "The Crow"), spits out another good one in "I, Robot".

86 - 8.5/10 - 4 Stars.

[VickieLee1967]

I saw this movie with my husband and kids on opening day. My husband is a big Scifi buff and said even though he hates Will Smith's acting that this was the best Scifi movie he has ever seen. I think so too. I loved it and so did my 4 kids. Everyone should go see it it was great.

[moose1132]

I really wasn't too hyped about this movie; which is probably why I was so suprised at how much I liked it. I'm gonna go see again tomorrow. Just loved everything about this movie.

[Nachokoolaid]

Originally posted by VickieLee1967
I saw this movie with my husband and kids on opening day. My husband is a big Scifi buff and said even though he hates Will Smith's acting that this was the best Scifi movie he has ever seen. I think so too. I loved it and so did my 4 kids. Everyone should go see it it was great.

How did you like your kids seeing Will Smith's naked ass for way too long. That part should've ended up on the cutting room floor. And we get that "crotch shot" of him waking up out of bed, not once, but TWICE. I wouldn't want my kids seeing that.

[skrunt]

I really wasn't too hyped about this movie; which is probably why I was so suprised at how much I liked it

I agree. I had some pretty low expectation going into it, and this might have added to my overall feel, but I was blown away. I can see the points that people criticised, but i think the good definitly out weighed the bad.

[Scarface98.9]

I really dug the movie, and is perfectly fine among Proyas's filmography, which has 2 great movies (Dark City: 10/10, The Crow: 8/10), so I gave it an 8, maybe an 8.5/10

[EDsoulsurvive*]

I, Robot was a big disappointment IMO. Will Smith is one of teh most irritating characters of all time. As an actor, his performances (for teh most part) just seem so fake and maunfactured. This movie was no different. Smith's stupid one liners and unjustified attitude problems were a complete killjoy. Moynihan showed no personality until the last 10 minutes, the best performance was given by Sonny, the fuckign robot! He was the most interesting character and severely underused. There were also some laughable plot holes, painful cliches, and many useless scenes which had me checking my watch.

Now onto what I did like, and why this movie is getting 5/10. I have to say the action was pretty terrific and I loved the design of the robots. Proyas created a dark atmosphere which was spit on by the horrible Will Smith. I was also entertained for majority of the film, even with my reservations.

5/10

SPOILER
ok here's my question, how could Will Smith's character have gotten into a 3 car accident if the cars drove themselves and all the roads and such were computerized?

[Fisting Ackbar]

SPOILERS











Originally posted by EDsoulsurvive*
SPOILER
ok here's my question, how could Will Smith's character have gotten into a 3 car accident if the cars drove themselves and all the roads and such were computerized?

He was driving the car manually (ie: himself), which I believe was mentioned at least a couple of times in the movie.

[EDsoulsurvive*]

Originally posted by Fisting Ackbar
SPOILERS













He was driving the car manually (ie: himself), which I believe was mentioned at least a couple of times in the movie.



SPOILER






yeah i kno what manually means but did they say that he was driving manually when the accident happened? I believe he said it was because a trucker fell asleep at the wheel.

[Fisting Ackbar]

SPOILERS








I don't remember something about a trucker being a sleep at the wheel, but after the accident the Chi McBride character is pissed at Smith for driving himself, and considering that he was doing that in earlier scenes, that's my assumption.

[daddiefatsacks]

i think the last 3 movies that I have seen (Anchorman, King Arthurt, I,Robot) all have scenes involving a mass amount of people charging into another group of people to do battle

when does it end?

[EDsoulsurvive*]

I didn't even realize that FA. And maybe i just tuned out and my mind added the trucker thing, but i coulda swore i heard it. It's no big deal though.

[Thorwald]

I was very surprised at how good this turned out. I really enjoyed it. I would rate it about an A-.

I really like the direction, the action, the robot (and the voice actor), the production design, the story, and Will Smith, who is always likeable, but now is immensely LICKABLE, too. Man, what a bod on him! Folks were whistling at his nekkid ass scene and when the camera lingers on his luscious pecs. Sheesh. He's a hottie!

The only thing I didn't care for was the lead actress. I wish they had cast someone more well known. She was rather blasé. Overall, I really enjoyed this movie and will certainly buy the DVD.

All hail the nekkid Big Willy!

[MadsenOMC]

SPOILERS

Finally saw it. The combination of Alex Proyas directing and positive reviews from Dave Poland and James Berardinelli had me excited as I took my seat at an empty matinee. But the best I can say for it is, it kept my attention and I was moderately entertained. Nothing more and nothing less. I was really impressed with the visuals. There is a ton of eye candy and overall the effects are pretty great. I really liked the look they went with. I also really enjoyed the Sonny robot. I found myself actually caring about him/it, and I felt kind of weird about that. I also found portions of the story somewhat compelling, like the possibility of robots evolving and how the three laws are supposed to work. Unfortunately I found plenty to not like. The performances are all pretty flat, mostly due to the one-dimensional characters everyone is stuck with. And I am really starting to dislike Will Smith. I didn't like his one-liners, so thankfully they're kept to a minimum. Too much of the story is routine and sort of dull. The rogue cop who no one believes and has to be suspended. His weary superior. The little sidekick from Holes was annoying, too. I thought it dragged in the middle at times, too. Overall, I kind of enjoyed it, even though it's nothing special. Enough to be diverted for two hours, and that's about it.

6/10

[Sigur509]

I went in with low expectation, but I turned out to be a very good movie, Smith's one-liners were not very overdone, the actions scenes were great, the effects were very well-done.

8.5/10

[drdash]

awesome film and it definitely has to be my favorite will smith film. as an asimov fan i enjoyed it, there was enough of his robot stories to appease the sf geek and enough action to appease the summer film crowd.
10/10

ciao
drdash

[HHH123007]

Originally posted by EDsoulsurvive*
SPOILER






yeah i kno what manually means but did they say that he was driving manually when the accident happened? I believe he said it was because a trucker fell asleep at the wheel.

I think he might drive manually now because he can avoid anything like that if it happens again?

...and yes, I say that with a question mark. The movie doesn't really help out with this.

[Common Sense Man]

SPOILERS----------------------------------


Well I have seen this movie twice in it's entireity and I
have seen multiple parts dozens of times.

I must say I was initially upset that Smith was going to be in this but I think he did fantastic.

I know people say he was the same character as he always is but I don't think so.

He was actually a bit more subtle this time. Sure he joked but it was sarcasm this time not stupid over the top one liners.

I thought the CGI was fantastic, I mean if they can't make computer generated robots that look good they might as well hang up their mouses!

The tunnel car/robot battle was great.

And yes the robo-shrink was wooden, but that was because she was more logical than emotional and slowly moves more towards her emotional side the longer she is around Smith.

I have never read any of Asimov's Robot books so I was not hindered by that.

The directing was deflty done, I did not guess it was Vicki until the end.

The only think I had a problem with was the secret "Service Entrance" that is not gaurded or monitored in any way that leads directly into the heart of the building.

Yah I buy that.

Other than that plot hole I loved the rest of it. And the more I watch Smith be smarmy to the Top Dog at USR the more I like it.

8/10

Out..............................................

[bskutle]

For me, the wait for a new Alex Proyas film was akin to how Kubrick fans must have felt in the time between the late director's films (7 years between "The Shining" and "Full Metal Jacket"; 12 between "Full Metal Jacket" and "Eyes Wide Shut"). My last theatrical experience with a Proyas film was in 1998 with "Dark City," a stunning sci-fi thriller that still stands as the best effort in the genre since 1980's "The Empire Strikes Back," "Matrix" worshipers be damned. In the six years since "Dark City," I've had to contend myself with Proyas' two major films ("Dark City" and 1994's "The Crow"), discovering his short films and some of his commercials and music videos by way of his terrific website (http://www.mysteryclock.com), and torturing myself with tidbits about his films, both past (his 1989 feature debut- "Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds" (a trailer can be seen at Mystery Clock)- is unavailable) and forthcoming. Last year, Proyas came out with a Rock and Roll comedy called "Garage Days," but it quickly sank in limited release, never making it to Atlanta-area theatres (apparently, it was to be released in Atlanta on August 1, 2003, but when the film tanked in other markets, it was pulled out); it finally saw it's US DVD/video debut on August 3 (my birthday, coincidentally, enough; thanks Fox).

This summer, the six-year drought of Proyas-free movie theatres ended with the release of "I, Robot." Science Fiction fans will recognize the title from Isaac Asimov's classic novel (released in 1950), a collection of nine short stories about mankinds fragile relationship with robots which introduced the "Three Laws of Robotics" that provide the basis for Asimov's robot universe.

The laws go as follows:

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.

They'll also recognize the Three Laws, US Robotics, and characters such as Dr. Susan Calvin, Dr. Alfred Lanning, and Lawrence Robertson. What they won't recognize, however, is the story (though it slightly echoes Asimov's "The Caves of Steel"), which was originally written as a spec script by Jeff Vintar ("Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within") titled "Hardwired," and later reworked to fit within Asimov's universe by Vintar and others (most prominently, hit-and-miss Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman) when 20th Century Fox acquired the rights to "I, Robot." What does all this mean? Take the credits at their word when they say "Suggested by Isaac Asimov's book."

Just as well, perhaps. Though a brilliantly constructed anthology, Asimov's "I, Robot" would be a tough nut to crack when adapting it for the big screen. One person has tried in the intervening 54 years between Asimov's book and Proyas' film- back in the late '70s, famed writer Harlan Ellison took a stab at adapting "I, Robot," and his results- which languished in development hell at Warner Bros. for years (and are available as an illustrated screenplay in hardcover format)- pleased the late Asimov to no end, and followed the same, journalistic structure Asimov used in the book. It's a great structure on the printed page, but one that might come off as, well, dull if literally translated to the screen and handled the wrong way. I could be wrong; "Citizen Kane" has a similar structure, and that film- a great film- is widely considered the greatest ever made.

But this is a moot point in discussing Proyas' new film, which is- more or less- a traditional action/mystery thriller in form and story. At the center of Proyas' "I, Robot" is Del Spooner (Will Smith), a detective in 2035 Chicago who's wary of the robots designed by US Robotics (or USR), who's just about to introduce its' latest model- the NS-5- to the public when Dr. Alfred Lanning ("L.A. Confidential's" James Cromwell, authoritative and effective in his brief scenes)- who developed the Three Laws in Asimov's universe- seemingly commits suicide by jumping out of his office window at USR. When Spooner is called in to investigate, he finds USR's CEO- Lawrence Robertson (Bruce Greenwood, teasingly ambiguous in his typically-villainous personality)- smooth but on-edge, and grudgingly willing to cooperate when Spooner smells something more to Lanning's death. This leads to an unlikely partner Robertson assigns to Spooner- Dr. Susan Calvin ("The Recruit's" Bridget Moynahan), USR's resident "robopsychologist." Spooner's distrust for robots leads him to an impossible idea- a robot killed Dr. Lanning. Of course, the nature of the Three Laws makes that a particularly paranoid theory, but it's not far into the investigation when Spooner and Calvin run into Sonny, an NS-5 hiding in Lanning's office that leads the two on a chase around Chicago and into the USR manufacturing factory. But that, as you may have guessed, is only the beginning.

Now, as my regular readers should know, I've been dreadfully worried about "I, Robot." Not because it was deviating from Asimov's book, but for other reasons. Chief among them was this- in addition to starring in the movie, Will Smith was also executive producing. Now, most seasoned moviegoers will tell you that when stars have that much power on the set, tensions can rise. The best examples: Tom Cruise on "Mission: Impossible"; Mel Gibson on "Payback"; Sean Connery on "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"; and lastly, Kevin Costner on both "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" and "Waterworld." In all cases, the actor wielded their power with an iron fist at times, which led to the directors either being out of control of the film's final cut, or abandoning the film all together. In almost all the cases, the film- however entertaining- suffered creatively (though in each film's defense, such actor-director quarrels were not the only reasons for weaker-than-desirable end results).

Did this happen on "I, Robot?" Not that I can tell. In this case, Proyas delivered a smart and engrossing thriller with top-drawer special effects and production values, intriguing performances and ideas, and an effective balancing of elaborate action and brain-teasing suspense that's a few steps ahead of just about every other large-scale epic that's come out this summer.

That last component is especially important to note. In "Dark City," "The Crow," and now "I, Robot," Proyas has proven himself one of the most fluid, creative, and thoughtful storytellers in modern cinema. I can say this in spite of having not seen "Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds" for this reason- in each of his four films I have seen, I can think of no scene, no subplot, and no character I would remove were I editing Proyas' films. Proyas' films are some of the most carefully edited this side of Kubrick, without the endurance-testing running times (none of his five films have run over 2 hours; "I, Robot" is closest at a brisk 115 minutes).

What separates him from some of his higher-profile contemporaries from the world of music videos? (Michael "Pearl Harbor" Bay, Antoine "Training Day" Fuqua, and Simon "Tomb Raider" West are among that list.) My best guess is his experience and experiments in the short film format, something the aforementioned directors lack if their filmographies at Internet Movie Database are to be believed. Before "Spirits of the Air" back in '89, Proyas had already directed at least three fine shorts, and in 1994- the same year "The Crow" came out- his short "Book of Dreams: Welcome to Crateland" played at the Cannes Film Festival. Though not all great works, he clearly loves the medium and risks short films present, resulting in a richer and more rewarding body of work than any filmmaker deserves.

So that's one thing Proyas brought to the table for "I, Robot"- a strong sense of storytelling. Another factor in that equation- a rich visual style. One thing you will hear from only the most jaded of critics as criticism of Proyas is that he lacks imagination. Both "The Crow" and "Dark City" are two of the most imaginatively directed and designed films of the past 10 years, and "Garage Days" is no slouch in the former category, either; no surprise when you see the list of credits for either production designer ("The Crow's" Alex McDowell has gone on to do "Minority Report" and "The Terminal" for Spielberg; "Dark City's" Patrick Tatopolous designed for "Independence Day") or "The Crow" and "Dark City's" cinematographer (Dariusz Wolski also shot "Crimson Tide" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl").

"I, Robot" is a worthy successor to Proyas' earlier films. With Proyas' keen storytelling instincts, a visual sensibility only enriched by the production design of Tatopolous and cinematographer Simon Duggan (who also shot "Garage Days" for Proyas), and a distinct, strongly thematic, and aesthetically colorful score by Marco Beltrami (the "Scream" movies; "Hellboy") that further intrigues after multiple listens, "I, Robot"- Proyas' first blockbuster production- remains, through and through, an Alex Proyas film. Though it follows the more lighter visual pallette of "Garage Days" than the dreary, noirish universes of "The Crow" and "Dark City," Proyas continues to find the narrative center of the story, tell it in a way that neither "dumbs it down" nor baffle the audience, and enhance it with a strong and consistant visual style that doesn't dwarf the story, or conflict with its' tone.

If there's one area that Proyas- and his screenwriters- misstep in "I, Robot," and there is the one, its' the humor. Some of the humor flies, but too much of it doesn't. Word has it Goldsman was hired on to tailor the script to Smith, and it shows. If Smith's brand of sarcasm didn't grab you in his earlier blockbusters ("Bad Boys," "Independence Day," "Men in Black"), it won't here either. I've not had many problems with Smith in his earlier films, but even I could tell- from the film's first trailer (which shouldn't have even been released)- that his typical smartass self just didn't fit in Proyas'- or Asimov's- world. Should "I, Robot" have been devoid of humor? Of course not; in fact, from what I've read of Asimov's books (all of "I, Robot" and "The Caves of Steel"; I'm working on "The Naked Sun" now), he was a master at incorporating subtle, everyday humor into his writing- jokes not meant for a punchline, but observational and growing naturally out of the situations. Not a crippling criticism of the movie mind you (some movies have survived more damaging flaws), but a disappointment to be sure for fans of Asimov's writings.

The cast is uniformly excellent in that it finds the core of their characters, and even if not all of the characters are layered, they manage to make us identify with them and understand them. None of Proyas' films have had what you might say were three-dimensional characters in them; the characters are usually archetypes within their genre, and mostly serve a purpose in the story than feel real. No matter; Proyas- like Kubrick- always manages to give these thinly-written- yet smartly developed- characters personality and strong character arcs that leave a viewer riveted.

In "I, Robot," three actors stand out in particular. As Susan Calvin (who's much older in Asimov's book), Moynahan is simply asked to play "the girl," but this isn't a romantic interest. Instead, she's more of the Scully to Will Smith's Mulder if you will, bringing intelligence and a nose-to-the-grindstone professionalism that makes Calvin more than a pretty face. Like Sandra Bullock's character in "Speed," she's not afraid of a little danger, even if she's not used to it, making the character far more appealing than it has any reason to be. Next is Alan Tudyk, who provides- in Andy Serkis-as-Gollum-like fashion- the voice and mannerisms of Sonny, the robot at the heart of the investigation. Who is Tudyk? You'll probably best remember him as one of Bullock's rehab buddies from "28 Days," or even as Steve the Pirate in this summer's hilarious "Dodgeball." But genre fans like myself best know him as Wash, the comically-inclined pilot of Serenity on Joss Whedon's beloved sci-fi western saga "Firefly," which is making its' way to the big screen next April as "Serenity." The thing all of these characters have in common with Sonny is that they have nothing in common- each character is different from one another. In just this handful of roles, Tudyk proves himself a strong character actor capable of any feeling and finding distinct nuances, and as Sonny, he does probably some of his best work, investing this slickly-designed machine with a soulful warmth and conviction that brings to mind not only Gollum- still the gold-standard in CG characters BTW- but also the most memorable of cinematic robots ("2001's" HAL, "A.I.'s" David and Gigolo Joe, and Schwarzenegger's "T2" Terminator). That leaves the star- Will Smith. Don't mistake this character for a futuristic version of his "Bad Boys" characture, or "M.I.B.'s" smartass intergalactic cop, though it shares attributes with both. This is a more mature character, and a more world-weary individual than any fictional character Smith's played (not including his problematic but laudable turn as "Ali" in Michael Mann's epic). Granted, he's not above sarcasm; as I said, this character was tailor-written for him, and some of his patented comedy comes through (even if it falls flat). But Det. Spooner is someone who hasn't let advancing technology take over his life, and he sees the risks others aren't willing to admit when it comes to allowing robots do the grunt work humans are now too lazy to do. He's not above change, though; he's not a purist or a prude who would rather see things go back to how they were before. He's just a realist. This is probably Smith's best character yet, and in my opinion, his best work yet (his Ali felt too much like an imitation than an immersion in the character to me). If a rumored about sequel does happen, one hopes Smith will be allowed to explore and enrich this character further, not just follow the same routine as before (as happened in both "Men in Black II" and "Bad Boys II").

In the end, "I, Robot" is just the type of film you want to see during the summer. One with visionary ideas, intelligent and engaging characters, dynamic visuals, and a storytelling momentum that knows when to stop for the little moments that define character and enhance the story, and, most importantly, knows when to quit. Proyas achieves that, and I can't thank him enough.

[Moviefan02000]

Originally posted by JoeChar4321
I agree with "Lazy Boy" that this movie is very underwhelming. This film was just too predictable. I knew right where it was going every step of the way. The CGI really wasn't very good. I thought the female lead role was an identical clone of Sandra Bullock's character from Judge Dread. Same mannerisms, same hair cut and even the same monotone, emotionless voice. I swear she called Will Smith "John Spartan" once. This wasn't as bad as Judge Dread but it wasn't good either. It’s the same old "Oh hell no!" Will Smith that we have grown tired of. He makes the same facial expressions and doesn’t bring any depth to the movie. It engaged more in the visuals then trying to make a point throughout the entire movie. No one even reacted well to the CGI "threat". In other words, it has no feeling or no depth and felt like you are watching a "making of" featurette even though you were watching the film itself. You could almost picture the green screen.

4/10

I agree, it was a really bad movie. But everything about it was bad, besides the opening credits...2/10

[The Engraved]

8/10

I didn't expect much and I never read the story, but I tell you what, I thought this was a very good movie. I was pleasantly surprised. I thought the special effects were great and the story was good. My only real problem was with Will Smith. For some reason throughout the movie i just kept thinking how it would be like with any other actor. Regardless, the robots were fantastic and I love how it truly does mirror the Matrix mythology. And to tell you the truth, it also reminded me a bit of Dark City. Now two annoying aspects of the movie that bothered me were the endless plugins for Converse (I always hated those sneakers) and that kid from Freddy VS Jason (All of his scenes were useless and should have been deleted).

8/10 - Both my brother and sister agreed with me on this one.

Hopefully there will be a sequel.

[Tuukka]

It finally came to Finland, and I loved it.

Althought there are some cliched moments and some of the Willie trademark stuff doesn't really fit the film, it was still very, very good.

The script is MUCH better than I tend to expect from action movies. There was wit and originality at play in here, and Sonny was a truly great character. Directing was very effective, and visuals were often impressive. The car chase went overboard with CGI, but the robots were executed extremely well. Cool score, too. I also dug the acting, which was solid across the board.

I was VERY intrigued from start to finish and hugely entertained by it all. And what really hit the film home for me was something that these kind movies rarely have:

A heart.

I actually found myself for caring Sonny and his troubles. His search for his soul was affecting, and I was really rooting for the little guy.

Great ending, too. Just a perfect way to tie up the story.

8/10. What a pleasant suprise. I expected a solid, generic actioner, and got so much more out of it.