July 20, 2004

I, Robot (originally posted on The Smoking Section 7/19/04)

So…
We saw I, Robot over the weekend. It was a very good movie. I wasn’t expecting much when I went in to it. I have read the short stories that it was based on, and the movie was true to form as far as they went. It was very pretty. The effects were smooth and shiny. The plot was outlined and played out to the point. There was nothing to my attention that was left out. Will Smith was his blockbuster self once again. The movie is based on the three laws of robotics: Law 1 A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Law 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. It is a perfect circle of protection. The cool thing is, the robots become so advanced that they evolve and are able to interpret the laws in different ways while keeping the laws the same. The laws are wired into their hardware. Nothing can change the laws, but how the robot interprets them is the key. The ending was a surprise ending as well, you think one guy is causing all this trouble, but it ends up it is someone else completely, in that J.K. Rowling style, but not as brilliant as her I will have to admit, but still very well done. I would also recommend the short stories to anyone. Asimov writes good stuff. I would say that it was the best movie I have seen this summer: Shrek 2, Spiderman2, Anchorman, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Dodge ball, in that order more or less, with I, Robot at the top. I give I, Robot a nice 9.3. You should see this movie. I think you will be surprised.

Posted by jessab at 09:42 AM