You, Robot

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 9:14 AM

I've tried to start this blog several times, and ultimately, I think it's this:

What I admire most about "Serenity" and "Firefly" and "Buffy" and "Angel" is the writing, okay? I LOVE the writing. I love the drama, I love the jokes, I love how little insignificant pieces of dialogue can tell us so much about a character, can go so far to define River ("I can kill you with my brain"), or Jayne ("Pain is scary,)" or Spike ("Bollocks!), or whoever. I LOVE this about Joss.

"I Robot" had none of that. I respect the director, I know he has done good work before. I respect the actors and I admire the production design, and the costumes, and the numerous humans who no doubt worked tirelessly on the special effects.

I have no doubt I will love all these things about "Serenity," but ultimately "I Robot" collapses under the simplicity of the script. I know most people reading this won't care. Most of us don't care about the opening credits, about who the screenwriter or the cinematographer happen to be.

But man, Joss Whedon got me in to all that. I would watch the 2nd season of Buffy in my college dorm, and there was SUCH a diversity of talent on that show. If the opening credits said "Written and Directed by Joss Whedon," I knew, KNEW the episode was going to knock me off the couch, and I told this to everyone in the room, constantly. And they (these episodes) never disappointed. If it was someone else (no reason to name names), I knew it would be less than stellar. Most of the writers were very VERY good, but Joss exceeded them... and there were 1 or 2 who generally let me down. This is life.

I maintain that Akiva Goldsman can't write. Some of you may have liked Batman and Robin, or Lost in Space, or the criminally overrated A Beautiful Mind. I never saw Practical Magic, so I can't comment on that one, but this man is NOT one of the great screenwriters of our time. I don't know how much of "I Robot" was him vs. the original treatment by Jeff Vintar, but the names that really stick in my head among writers, and directors, are the really really great ones, and the really really bad ones.

To my surprise, the visuals, and the acting of "I Robot" did everything they could to overcome a standard Hollywood Action script. Without gushing with detail for eight paragraphs, I'll just say I give a thumbs up to everyone in front of the camera. EVERYONE, without exception.

But I love Joss Whedon, and others, because of the stellar writing, and the stellar directing (no pun intended). "I Robot" had stellar direction. The writing was not, but I guess, ultimately, people will say that's just my opinion. But I know what's meant to be complex and challenging, and what's just meant to be enjoyed over popcorn and those freaky-huge sodas. I love both, but I PREFER Joss's stuff, that's just me. I love talking about all the little things afterward. With Joss you can do that; hence, this entire website, and so many others.

Anyway, if you're curious about the movie, DO make up your own mind. But when I commented in a previous blog, I wasn't just talking out my @$$. If you're interested, you can learn a lot about a movie by the names in the credits. If you're not interested, then... just be thankful you're not a huge geek like me.

Not sure how to end this, but hey, blogs are SUPPOSED to be pretty random, I guess. Hats off to the day we can all sit around a table together and discuss this all at once, rather than hurl bits n' pieces at each other. THAT is the real fun of great TV and movies, to me .... but these blog thingies sure do help for a quickfix every now and then.

XOXO
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