I, Robot

[jrandom]

Saw the movie on Friday night.

I was a little apprehensive about shattered envisionings, etc. I grew up on Asimov's robot stories (among others) and have always had a soft spot for his fiction. I remember feeling genuinely sad when I heard about his death in 1992. As far as I'm aware, he's still the only author that has had at least one work published in every single sub-classification of the Dewey system. His fiction style, which is more of a minimalist zen-like non-style in its simplicity and straightforwardness, is uniquely refreshing and readable; you read *through* the words, if you like, rather than being aware that you're Reading A Story.

So if you're not familiar with Asimov's work, pop down to the library and borrow one of his short-story anthologies, or read the Foundation trilogy.

Anyway. The movie.

If I had to rate it, I'd give it three-and-a-half stars out of four.

It wasn't anything like a direct adaptation of any of his robot stories. What it was, was... a new story, true to their spirit. Really. I say that without any hint of silliness. It contained several very recognisable themes and sequences from his older robot stories, such as the single robot that was, somehow, different, and tried to hide among other outwardly identical units. The robot that dreamed of salvation. The question of consciousness. Susan Calvin. Not Susan Calvin anything in particular, just Susan Calvin. A US Robotics HQ building that looked like USR HQ should look.

And the cliché Outmoded Gasoline-Powered Vehicle Pulled from Dusty Garage by Main Character in SF Movie after Losing Original High Tech Conveyance was... an MV Agusta F4.

Class.

[toads]

well I have seen the ad's on Tv and thought it looked like a good 'un will definately go and see it now thanks.

[FROSTY]

thanks random--You put so well my reasons for not wanting to see the movie.
Asimov has always been one of my favorite authors. -Funny innit how so much he wrote as science fiction has now become science fact ?

[Zed]

Saw the movie on Friday night.

...Anyway. The movie.

If I had to rate it, I'd give it three-and-a-half stars out of four.

It wasn't anything like a direct adaptation of any of his robot stories. What it was, was... a new story, true to their spirit. Really. I say that without any hint of silliness. It contained several very recognisable themes and sequences from his older robot stories, such as the single robot that was, somehow, different, and tried to hide among other outwardly identical units. The robot that dreamed of salvation. The question of consciousness. Susan Calvin. Not Susan Calvin anything in particular, just Susan Calvin. A US Robotics HQ building that looked like USR HQ should look.

And the cliché Outmoded Gasoline-Powered Vehicle Pulled from Dusty Garage by Main Character in SF Movie after Losing Original High Tech Conveyance was... an MV Agusta F4.

Class.Quite entertaining in its entirety - I gave it a 7/10 for unique story, great effects, and good acting (even by Will Smith in a semi-serious role :confused: )...not happy with the "use the F4 as a missile" idea though! :pinch:

[matthewt]

Quite entertaining in its entirety - I gave it a 7/10 for unique story, great effects, and good acting (even by Will Smith in a semi-serious role :confused: )...not happy with the "use the F4 as a missle" idea though! :pinch:

Blame the Matrix for that one !! Trinity launched a F4 into that power station (although it was actually a 600 monster with f4 bodywork).

[jrandom]

Blame the Matrix for that one !! Trinity launched a F4 into that power station (although it was actually a 600 monster with f4 bodywork).

Was that supposed to be an F4? I lazily ID'd it as another 996.

That motorway chase scene in Reloaded was some of the best bike-riding CGI stuntery I've seen, I think. Gave me fond memories of the northwestern motorway on Monday mornings.

[Cajun]

yeah i watch i robot yesterday on vcd dc:< wasn't to bad.

[danb]

Ugg some day I shall go and see it - Its one that’s on my List of movies to go and see. Hopefully at a theatre on the big screen that having to download the bloody thing of DC++ ;)

[vifferman]

It wasn't anything like a direct adaptation of any of his robot stories. What it was, was... a new story, true to their spirit. Really. I say that without any hint of silliness. It contained several very recognisable themes and sequences from his older robot stories, such as the single robot that was, somehow, different, and tried to hide among other outwardly identical units. The robot that dreamed of salvation.So it was only very loosely based on the "I, Robot" novel?

[jrandom]

So it was only very loosely based on the "I, Robot" novel?

*Thwack*! 'I, Robot' wasn't a novel, it was a short-story anthology.

But yes, 'very loosely' would be right. Some of the stuff in the movie was even taken from other, post-'I, Robot' Asimov stories. The only commonality in the movie was the setting, the 'story world' if you like, and a couple of the main characters.

[Devil]

Saw it yesterday, for those of you like me that go to the movies to be entertained, it does its job well.

For those of you who go to the movies to pick apart and critisize, you'll hate it.
Every minute of it.

[vifferman]

*Thwack*! 'I, Robot' wasn't a novel, it was a short-story anthology.Oops - my bad.:confused2 Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember it/them.
But go easy there, young fella - 'twould have been at least 30 years ago that I read it. And my memory (like the rest of me) isn't what it once were.:crazy:

Saw it yesterday, for those of you like me that go to the movies to be entertained, it does its job well.

For those of you who go to the movies to pick apart and critisize, you'll hate it.
Every minute of it.So it's almost excessively Hollywoodised?
Yeah, I'm a picker-aparter. But only when I'm not grabbed by what I'm watching. Sometimes I can actually manage to ignore all the bollocks and just enjoy the spectacle. Sometimes...

[Cajun]

Ugg some day I shall go and see it - Its one that’s on my List of movies to go and see. Hopefully at a theatre on the big screen that having to download the bloody thing of DC++ ;)

ahhh good ol dc++ i use to use that, i use bit torrent at work
to get must of my stuff now, only have poor dialup at home

[Devil]

So it's almost excessively Hollywoodised?
Yeah, I'm a picker-aparter. But only when I'm not grabbed by what I'm watching. Sometimes I can actually manage to ignore all the bollocks and just enjoy the spectacle. Sometimes...
Yeah, theres definately hollywood in there (Its Will Smith, duh! ;) ). But a movie doesnt have to be hollywood to be entertaining!

But not looking at my watch was a good sign.

EDIT: re-read your post. No not excessive hollywood, but definately hollywood. It could be worse.

[Ms Piggy]

I went and saw it this morning & really enjoyed it. I had thought (before reading JR's review) that it would be a peice of shite but it was a good peice of movie.

[Kickaha]

*Thwack*! 'I, Robot' wasn't a novel, it was a short-story anthology.

But yes, 'very loosely' would be right. Some of the stuff in the movie was even taken from other, post-'I, Robot' Asimov stories. The only commonality in the movie was the setting, the 'story world' if you like, and a couple of the main characters.

Give that ignorant peasant another *thwack* for me.

I heard they were going to do the Caves of Steel,or was that blended into it as well.

[Posh Tourer :P]

That motorway chase scene in Reloaded was some of the best bike-riding CGI stuntery I've seen, I think. Gave me fond memories of the northwestern motorway on Monday mornings.

1) I agree it was good

2) Yes, having followed you (or tried to) up Symonds St to Galbraiths, I can see something just as gripping as that scene being enacted weekly... Perhaps without the homicidal special police/machines though.

[jrandom]

having followed you (or tried to) up Symonds St to Galbraiths, I can see something just as gripping as that scene being enacted weekly... Perhaps without the homicidal special police/machines though.

Really? You're kidding me, right? I DISTINCTLY remember thinking "they don't know where it is, ride sedately, ride sedately..." and buttoning off quite a bit from my usual style.

I *must* be a looney.

[jrandom]

I heard they were going to do the Caves of Steel,or was that blended into it as well.

TBH it's been several years since *I* last looked at an Asimov story, so I can't remember which goes where.

But yes, there was certainly material from post-'I, Robot' work. Couldn't say if any of it was from Caves of Steel, though.

[matthewt]

Was that supposed to be an F4? I lazily ID'd it as another 996.

:no:

If you watch it you'll see right away, I think at one stage you can see the wheels which is a big give-away, well that and the MV & F4 logos.

[Coldkiwi]

:no:

If you watch it you'll see right away, I think at one stage you can see the wheels which is a big give-away, well that and the MV & F4 logos.

ehh??? that was definitely a 996 in the chase scene... how/when did she change bikes?? anyone got a still of that part we can examine?

[jrandom]

ehh??? that was definitely a 996 in the chase scene... how/when did she change bikes?? anyone got a still of that part we can examine?

You might recall that the bit where the F4 was crashed into the building followed a removal from and re-insertion into the Matrix at different places. They re-inserted Trinity (with the F4) just prior to the time she initiated the assault on the building by jumping the bike off the ledge, etc.

So it was all moot to the storyline whether they used another 996 similar to the one in the motorway chase scene, or something different.

[k14]

Pretty sure it was a 998 in the motorway chase scene.

[Devil]

Pretty sure it was a 998 in the motorway chase scene.
Hence the Ducati 998 Matrix edition.
http://www.ducati.com/scoopage.jhtml?area=bikes&scoopNum=087

[jrandom]

Hence the Ducati 998 Matrix edition.
http://www.ducati.com/scoopage.jhtml?area=bikes&scoopNum=087

Hmmmm.

Best looking stunt rider I've seen in a while, too :p

[matthewt]

Yes yes yes, it's all dead obvious that the 998 was used in the motorway chase. I never said the f4 was used there. They only used the f4 in the bit where Trinity attacks the power station. Not sure why they didn't just use another 998.

[FROSTY]

Shit what a great movie.
Definitely using Asimovs ideas
Was I the only person that shouted NOOOOOO as that sexy motorbike got trashed to save the dumb kid???
A bit of useless trivia --the car used was especially built by Audi for the movie.
It was a concept vehicle. with sphrerical wheels.
I really enjoyed the whole thing except that bike scene