I, Robot Review
by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)July 23rd, 2004
"I, Robot" – A Logical Choice for Fun
If summer films generally have the budget and the desire to bring wild imaginings to life, then "I, Robot" gets good bang for every dollar that it spent. Credit the artists for making the future look distant yet recognizable. Taking place in Chicago circa 2035, the era boasts intelligent vehicles that have eliminated traffic snarls. It has a transformed skyline that enhances the Windy City's beauty. We can glimpse innovative uses of holographic technology. Particularly astonishing, though, is the proliferation of lifelike, robotic valets.
Will we be able to buy one of these at the Sharper Image at some point? Humanoid-like in appearance, possessing a soothing voice, and exhibiting an exoskeleton that seems like something you would grip on one of those space-aged pens, these machines carry out tasks from the mundane to the dangerous. None of that impresses Detective Spooner (Will Smith), however, who holds a deep distrust for them even though robots have never committed a crime nor have they ever been deemed a danger to the human race. That's thanks to the fundamental 3-Law Principle (the robotic equivalent of the Ten Commandments) that has been embedded into their program by robotics pioneer Dr. Lanning (James Cromwell). These laws govern their behavior so that humans remain safe. The newest generation of robots, set for nationwide, large-scale distribution, will be his life's crowning achievement. Thus his recent suicide baffles the motivated detective.
"I, Robot" is based on various elements of Isaac Asimov's sci-fi robot stories. It presents the delicate relationship between man and machine. One the one side is the reckless ways of humanity who engage in war and ever-increasing creative ways to kill off one another. The other side comprises the robots with their evolving positronic brains that calculate the best way to keep their master's and creator's safe. This brings forth not only a creative premise but also an interesting paradox as well.
It explores how both sides are reliant on one another. For example, Dr. Lanning needs the resilience of his robotic creation, Sonny (voiced by Alan Tudyk), to counter an impending dangerous situation. Sonny, meanwhile, is a seemingly cognizant being who is unique. The paradoxes continue with Spooner and another character, Dr. Calvin (Bridget Moynahan), who migrates from frostbitten scientist to caring citizen as she helps the detective with his investigation. But the human element is somewhat sacrificed in favor of an action-police story. And we wished that more attention were given to its other characters such as Spooner's down-home grandmother and a scrappy grunge-boy. Its only really poignant segment, which occupies only 5 minutes, involves a car accident that helped to shape Spooner's life.
Nonetheless, the film is a lot of fun. Will Smith exhibits his smart-alecky sense of humor and shows us once again that he can headline a big-budget summer film. He endures the obstacles of his investigation, which include a thrill ride through a tunnel, a narrow escape on motorcycle, and a climactic battle atop a catwalk. In the meantime, he tries to put together the pieces of a puzzle that is much more complex than this kind of film normally possesses. "I, Robot" is a modest yet sublime offering that provides a little bit of a mental challenge and a whole lot of summer escapism.
Note: watching a film like this makes you more curious about Asimov and his writings. To learn more, just log on
(http://www.asimovonline.com/asimov_home_page.html).
Grade: B+
S: 0 out of 3
L: 1 out of 3
V: 2 out of 3
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