I just saw 'I, Robot'

POSTED BY: JustDavid
UPDATED: Saturday, August 7, 2004 23:19
VIEWED: 6176
PAGE 1 of 3

1 2 3 NEXT PAGE

JUSTDAVID

Friday, July 16, 2004 5:56 AM

There was a radio station give away of passes for an advance screening. Before the movie started, they gave out some pointless little freebies to people. The thing I got was credit card sized, with the movie title and artwork, and an lcd display counting down the days hours and minutes until the official release tomorrow. I thought "this is the most worthless thing in the world." Then I saw that I could change the countdown date to April 22, 2005, and put Serenity stuff on it and I thought "this is totally cool!"

I'm glad that I went in knowing it wasn't based on Asimov's work. For me the movie was somewhere between fair and good. Alan Tudyk's voice work was flawless. That man has talent (but I guess you all knew that already). Even though I didn't find the movie very gripping, none of it really sucked either.

I did approve of the part in the closing credits that said "suggested by" Asimov's work. Anything further wouldn't have been accurate.

"Light it."

VENGEANCEGOD

Friday, July 16, 2004 6:14 AM

I just saw an interview with Will Smith, and he said that Tudyk also did the motion work for the robots, as well as acting in scene, like Andy Serkis's work as Gollum. I'll definitely have to check this out now that I know it's Alan.

"If something should happen to me, all the world's women would grieve!"
-Edgar Roni Figaro

ECGORDON

Friday, July 16, 2004 10:53 PM

Yes, Alan did a good job with his voice work, and I would like to support him in his other endeavors. Unfortunately, I have too much respect for Isaac Asimov to recommend this film. If you have never read the book, and you like flashy CGI-filled flicks with lots of action and explosions, then go ahead. I have no doubt it will do good business, so you will have plenty of company.

But if you have read the book, the only things you will recognize are a couple of character names and mention of the Three Laws of Robotics (which they trash).

I hereby establish the Three Laws of SF fans:
1. Don't f*** with the story.
2. Don't f*** with the story.
3. Don't f*** with the story.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

MAUGWAI

Saturday, July 17, 2004 12:00 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
But if you have read the book, the only things you will recognize are a couple of character names and mention of the Three Laws of Robotics (which they trash).

I hereby establish the Three Laws of SF fans:
1. Don't f*** with the story.
2. Don't f*** with the story.
3. Don't f*** with the story.

On the one hand, I agree. Don't call it "I, Robot" unless it is "I, Robot".

There's an interview explaining why they did it here: http://www.chud.com/news/july04/july13proyas.php3
It also talks about Alan.

Anyway, even if this was actually made form Asimov's work, it would still have to differ some degree from the original work, even to the point of messing with the plot a little. For one thing, some stuff in a book just doesn't transfer to screen. And when you're dealing with old scifi, adaptation is especially difficult because some of the things the author had to make up as "futuristic" we now have the ability to do in a different way. So every book has to be changed some.

This story just had the wrong title, that's all. Just pretend they called it something else.

"Dear diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy."

EVILMIKE

Saturday, July 17, 2004 3:31 AM

Quote:

I just saw an interview with Will Smith, and he said that Tudyk also did the motion work for the robots, as well as acting in scene, like Andy Serkis's work as Gollum. I'll definitely have to check this out now that I know it's Alan.

At least Alan already has his own action figure.

www.stikfas.com/product_camwhite.html

With apologies to TC, who thought of the joke first.

ASTRIANA

Saturday, July 17, 2004 4:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
But if you have read the book, the only things you will recognize are a couple of character names and mention of the Three Laws of Robotics (which they trash).

I hereby establish the Three Laws of SF fans:
1. Don't f*** with the story.
2. Don't f*** with the story.
3. Don't f*** with the story.

A couple of things to consider:
First, it's not a book. It's a few short stories that are loosely related to each other (mostly by the presence of Dr. Calvin in all of them, and the Three Laws). Asimov himself didn't write one cohesive story about this universe, why should we expect the movie to do so?

Second, no one associated with the movie ever claimed that they were trying to adapt Asimov's work to the screen, nor did they say that they were trying to transfer his ideas to film. Again, why should we expect that the film will be a transliteration of the short stories when we've been told that it won't be?

Third, as someone noted above, the credits state that the movie was "Suggested By" Asimov's works. Not "based on," which would indicate an adaptation of the original story to the screen. Someone essentially decided they wanted to play in Asimov's universe, so they wrote a story based in it. Much like we do when we write fanfic of any kind - Firefly, Buffy, Star Trek - anything that fanfic can/has been written for where the writer did not invent the universe but borrowed an existing one in which to play.

Fourth, without spoiling the movie for those who may/do want to see it, they do NOT trash the Three Laws. (Unfortunately, if I explain how they don't I'll ruin it for everyone else...)

Anyway, enough sermonizing on my part. I just came from seeing it, and it was pretty good. Alan did a great job with all his voice/acting/motion work, and gets a lovely, large letter credit!

~Astriana~
~Long-Winded Goddess of Inter-Board Communication and Diplomacy~

and

El Jefe Magnifico's Mistress... of Communications and Harems...

...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.

ECGORDON

Saturday, July 17, 2004 5:33 AM

Quote:
Fourth, without spoiling the movie for those who may/do want to see it, they do NOT trash the Three Laws.

Sorry, Astriana, but I can't agree with that statement.

As I said originally, in and of itself the film is not totally bad, in fact I kinda liked it for about the first thirty minutes. But I could never come close to saying it is good. Just my opinion, and I respect your opinion too, just have to agree to disagree. If they had kept the original title of "Hardwired" and used names other than had been used in Asimov stories I wouldn't have much problem with it.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

SINGULARITY

Saturday, July 17, 2004 6:49 AM

If they had kept the original title of "Hardwired" and used names other than had been used in Asimov stories I wouldn't have much problem with it.

ECGORDON:

Ok...I respect your opinion..I might even understand your point of view...but your last sentence makes you sound elitest and a little unhinged. By that I mean...no work by any writer has ever...ever been 100% truthfull to the idea, concept, and power of the written word. I do not ever see something and say to myself that this will be just like what I love. I know in my heart that things will be similar yet slightly different. Nothing I think transfers as well as it could to please everyone. Most of the time it doesnt please anyone. Some movies are fluff, some are good, some will cause me anger. But I try to look at things as they are, not as I want them to be....if wishes were horses we'd all be eating steak.
I am not trying to flame or alter your view. Just try and keep in mind that movies, tv, books, and/or life are seldom what we hope they would be.....just take them for what they are and get something positive from the experience and dwell less on what is negative.

Oh....and lighten up....it had our BDH in it. Its shiny just for that

Nothing can escape the event horizon. Light, matter, and especially Twinkies.

THEREALME

Saturday, July 17, 2004 7:31 AM

Hi.

I have not yet seen this movie, but I probably will.

But from what I've seen in previews and the like, it has zillions of robots going amok in such a way that human beings are in danger.

Never could I imagine Asimov approving of that. In fact, most of his robot stories were of the form: "We KNOW that the Three Laws hold, so how do we explain this particular robot's behavior?"

From what Asimov presented, a robot's brain would melt down before it violated one of the Laws.

In my mind if the Laws are really violated (and okay, maybe there IS an explanation, but I can't see what it could be), then it is wrong to entitle the tale "I Robot". They are just writing a new story of their own and tacking on Asimov's name to take advantage of name recognition.

If someone wants to make up their own robot story, great. Then let it live or die by its own merits. Don't drag the name of a science fiction master into it unless you will respect his vision.

I have a handful of apologies ready just in case they do something VERY clever.

The Real Me

SLOWSMURF

Saturday, July 17, 2004 7:49 AM

Ok, I'm going to be forward and say I have NOT read the stories, I might've read something by the author my dad gave me, I'm not sure. But I definetly haven't read his stories.

Anyway, first off I do not feel they were attempting to "cash in" on his name recognition, simply because there aren't that many people who would see a summer blockbuster movie who HAVE heard of or read his works(at least this one). I think they honestly wanted to use some things from it(ie the Laws).

I don't get how you people can condemn the movie simply because it didn't follow the exact themes etc in the books. So what? IT IS NOT THE BOOKS. It doesn't tell you DO NOT READ THE BOOKS. They wanted to make an entertaining movie in the universe, at least more or less, of his books. Whats the problem? I suppose you would also condemn the Lord of the Rings movies because they alter things?

I just don't see the point.

Anyway, I thought it was a good movie. Had some action etc, but one of the most plot filled(with very few plot holes etc) sci fi movies I've seen in a while. I'm not really one to write a huge article on it or anything, just saying it exceeded my expectations by a lot.(and I was expecting a decent movie with a few horrible logic flaws)

1 2 3 NEXT PAGE