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Enemy of the State is one of my favourite action movies and along with Men In Black are the only movies that I have ever seen the multi-talented Will Smith in. To be honest I did not plan to see this film but arriving at the cinema looking to kill a couple of hours the Bourne Supremacy was not showing for another two hours and this was the only film that did not offer a diet of cartoons or kiddie humour.
What I actually got to see was a pretty good, fast paced action movie with a pretty fancy array of special effects and fight scenes. He film is set in the future and Smith plays the part of Detective Del Spooner a homicide detective who has an unhealthy dislike for the prevalence of robots that now exist as servants to humans. The development of robots has become so advanced that the upcoming roll out of the latest model the NS5 will see there being five robots for every human. Spooner has a deep seated prejudice against
the robots born out when early in the film he sees a robot running through the crowds with a ladies bag, giving chase he brings the robot down only to discover that the robot is running to it’s owners assistance. Later in the film you discover the source of this prejudice through a recurring nightmare that Spooner has each night.
In the week before the roll out of the new robots their creator Dr Alfred Lanning, played by James Cromwell, commits suicide, jumping from his office window at US Robotics. Spooner is called to the scene where he receives a message from Lanning and begins to suspect there is something more behind the suicide, he is introduced to Dr Susan Calvin (Bridget Moynahan) who is instructed to assist him in his investigation. While searching Lanning laboratory one of the robots flees the scene and the first of the action packed chase scenes takes place. The puzzle that Spooner needs to unravel is how could a robot be involved in the death of a human as all robots are subject to Asimov’s three robotic principles which briefly are, a robot cannot kill a human, a robot will do what a human asks provided it does not compromise rule one and thirdly a robot will protect itself provided it does not conflict with rule one or two.
If you are looking for a film with strong character acting then you will be disappointed, this is an action film pure and simple with a few cute one-liners from Smith who puts in a rather standard performance as the maverick smart-ass cop with a chip on his shoulder and a little more in his left arm. The real stars of the show are the special effects and also the performance of Alan Tudyk who plays the robot Sonny. There have been a number of programs showing the making of this movie and the special effects used to bring Sonny to life with Tudyk parading around in a green suit covered in censors and he does manage to give the robot a real personality.
The special effects are very good and at time the film reminded me a little of Minority Report with the robots resembling the early terminators, minus Arnie body from T1, and with lot less scary faces. Director Alex Proyas keeps the action moving along at a fast pace and this is required as basically the plot twists can be seen coming a mile away. Sometimes it is the little effects that catch the eye (similar to Minority Report) and in particular in the future they seem to have found an answer for both parking issues and the clearance of crash scenes. Apart from the recognition of Spooners own prejudice there is little attempt to examine the relative merits of a society so thoroughly dependent upon robots to exist and ultimately to control our lives.
The one complaint I do have about this film is the blatant product placement, in the first 2 minutes we have seen some great camera shots of Converse trainers, FedEx and the Audi symbol which the latter must be in with a chance as best supporting actor based on the amount of camera time it gets.
This film is a 12A and there I nothing really to offend most people, for the ladies you do get to see Will Smith in the shower and he is still pretty pumped from his Ali movie and for the men there is a balance with Moynahan having her own shower scene although sadly there is a little too much steam for my liking.
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Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Will Smith in the shower ........... Now if that ain't a reason to watch, I dunno what is? Except, they did have to do some creative editing and cut a certain little 'large part' out of that scene. Damn shame I say. Lisa :~)
offy 26.09.2004 21:20
"the Audi symbol which the latter must be in with a chance as best supporting actor based on the amount of camera time it gets" - LOL. I loved this film as I am a sci fi fan, and as long as the special effects are great, who cares about characterisation!
As paranoid cop Del Spooner, Will Smith displays both his trademark quips and some ... more
impressive pectoral muscles inI, Robot. Only Spooner suspects that the robots that provide the near future with menial labor are going to turn on mankind--he's just not ...
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As paranoid cop Del Spooner, Will Smith displays both his trademark quips and some ... more
impressive pectoral muscles inI, Robot. Only Spooner suspects that the robots that provide the near future with menial labor are going to turn on mankind--he's just not ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
As paranoid cop Del Spooner, Will Smith displays both his trademark quips and some ... more
impressive pectoral muscles inI, Robot. Only Spooner suspects that the robots that provide the near future with menial labor are going to turn on mankind--he's just not ...
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As paranoid cop Del Spooner, Will Smith displays both his trademark quips and some ... more
impressive pectoral muscles inI, Robot. Only Spooner suspects that the robots that provide the near future with menial labor are going to turn on mankind--he's just not ...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Great CGI effects and a superb performance from Smith Disadvantages: SMith may be becoming Type Cast, No real chemisrty between Smith and Moynahan
Andy.mack 18.12.2004 ·
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