I, Robot

[Fellfrosch]

This movie is getting wildly mixed reviews, and I'm really curious about it--when was the last time a movie was simultaneously praised as intelligent and derided as brainless? Has anybody seen it?

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_robot/

[EUOL]

No, but a lot of the reviews say that it's a good movie if you pretend it has nothing at all to do with Asimov.  

[JP Dogberry]

My old English teacher told me not to see it, and that it had absolutely no relation to Asimov. On seeing the preview once, I was inclined to agree with him.

[stacer]

I've never read the Asimov, but from the previews my friend and I think it looks like an installment of Terminator, but with Will Smith as the protagonist.

[fuzzyoctopus]

I think if I go to see this movie I will go in with the mindset that it is based on Asimov about the same way that 'O Brother Where Art Thou?' is based on the Odessey.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

I don't know if that will work. O Brother had a similar plot structure.
The only thing that appears to be similar between I, Robot and Asimov's book of the same name is the inclusion of robots. And Will Smith. He's so smoooov.

[Spriggan]

EUOL told me that this actualy appears to be taken from another Azmov book ( the title escapes me at the momenet) that's not quite as well known.  And that they probaly took that story and placed the I, Robot name on it since that was a more well know title.

[EUOL]

Maybe.  The plot of CAVES OF STEEL, the second of Asimov's robot books, focuses on a detective trying to discover if a robot committed a murder or not.

However, the problem with seeing this movie and relating it to Asimov--even in an 'Oh Brother Where Art Thou' way--is that it appears to fundamentally violate Asimov's vision and beliefs.

The entire point of the robot series was that Robots, though constructed devices, were more moral and good than humankind.  A good half of the stories--including most of the novel-length ones--were about how decent, honest, and true robots were.  They COULD NOT hurt people.  It just wasn't possible.  In the end of the series, they became like gods, protecting mankind in a more over-arching way.

A movie about robots going crazy and killing people is so anti-Asimov that it hurts to think about it.

[Gemm: Rock & Roll Star; Born to Rock]

I think I'll go pay $8 to see Monty Python's Life of Brian instead.

[Maxwell]

I thought only one robot went crazy in the book...

[fuzzyoctopus]

Well I've lost all desire to ever see it...

I guess I must be past the stage in life where Will Smith in black leather can be the sole reason to see a movie.

[Maxwell]

I think most of the human race has *evolved* past tha point

[GorgonlaVacaTremendo]

I saw it and I actually liked it a decent amount.  It is a great action flick, but the plot seemed too predictable for me.  

EUOL, if you were to see the movie I think you might see it a little more as an Asimov way, I would go into depth but I don't want to put a spoiler up.

It has kinda a pre-Matrix feel to it, like a first a second renassaince feel, but with a different, open ended ending.

I would suggest seeing it sometime, even if you wait to rent it on video.  

[Spriggan]

it's still at 63% on Rottentomates so it's can't be a horrible movie.  If you want an Azmov film go watch the 3 hour Bicentenial man, I want a Will Smith movie baby!  Is it still not the "Willennium"?  Just nodd your head......

[42]

So I saw the film. It was fairly good. Just a note, the film credits say: "Suggested by Issaac Asimov's I Robot", not "based on..."