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Being a fairly regular visitor to the cinema I had seen the build up to this film for a couple of months. From the trailers I had seen it looked like it was going to be a good film so I marked it down as one to see. Once it was released I began to hear mixed reviews from various sources. I have been optimistic about films like this in the past when they have had mixed reviews and it is fair to say I am normally disappointed. Deciding to play it safe this time I decided to keep my expectations low and see what happened. After all, the hype surrounding this film is bound to lead to disappointment in the end. It always does.
** Storyline **
The year is 2035 and robotics has advanced to a stage where robots are an integral part of the community. They are part of everyday life and people have come to trust them, with their pets, with their children, with their lives. The robots have been developed on three basic laws:
* First Law: A robot may not injure a human, or through inaction, allow a human to come to harm.
* Second Law: A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, expect where such orders would conflict with the first law
* Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second law.
The laws have been designed to ensure that there will be no crime committed by robots. Del Spooner (Will Smith)
is a detective who is mistrusting of robots and seems determined to prove to the world that there is something, anything, wrong with these robots. When Dr Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell), a pioneer in the development of robotics, turns up dead in a supposed suicide it is left to Spooner to use his natural suspicion of robots to get to the bottom of a mystery that will change people’s perception of robots forever.
** Characters **
Detective Del Spooner – played by Will Smith (Men in Black I/II, Ali, Independence Day) is a police detective who is more than a little suspicious of robots and is on a personal mission to find a flaw in the laws of robotics.
Dr Susan Calvin – played by Bridget Moynahan (The Recruit) is a robotics specialist tasked by her employer with assisting Spooner with his investigation. She acts as chaperone around the company building and becomes involved in the investigation.
Lance Robertson – played by Bruce Greenwood (Double Jeopardy, The Core) is the richest man in the world and the owner of the robotics company that employs Dr Alfred Lanning and Dr Susan Calvin. He is desperate not to have any negative publicity surrounding his robots.
Dr Alfred Lanning – played by James Cromwell (LA Confidential, Blackball) is a pioneer in robotics who has apparently committed suicide by jumping from his office window.
Sonny – played by Alan Tudyk (A Knight’s Tale, Ice Age) is Dr Alfred Lanning’s personal robot who becomes implicated in the death of Dr Lanning.
** Opinion **
As I mentioned earlier I had read a couple of reviews of this film before I saw it as I was unsure about how good it was going to be. I don’t normally like to read reviews before seeing films, as I like to make up my own mind first and then see what other people thought. Anyway, one of the reviews I read on Ciao (written by atticusuk) mentioned some ridiculous product placement. I have to say that this film does contain some of the most blatant product placement I can remember seeing. I would think that Converse must have paid a hefty sum to have Will Smith repeat over and over again how nice his trainers were. It was something that is really noticeable about the film and is also quite annoying; after all you have gone to the cinema to see a film not a series of converse adverts.
Enough about the adverts and onto the film itself. The basic plot of the film is not complicated, although there are enough twists in the plot to keep viewers interested. The story does well at mixing action with suspense and mystery while maintaining a good pace so as not to lose interest. I must admit that I was expecting a purely action based film when I saw it advertised but was pleasantly surprised by the thriller aspect to the film. This is not purely a film about robots trying to take over the world. There are many deeper issues addresses throughout the film including prejudice, racism and morality. They are maybe not addresses directly but it certainly left me thinking about them.
Generally the characters in the film are well developed throughout the film. I particularly like the way the motives of the characters are held back and released later on. It is nice to add a little confusion to the actions of the characters early in the film. Having said that by the end of the film all motives are well explained.
Will Smith looked comfortable in this role and does really well. There has been a lot made of the fact that he is naked in the film. Not being a woman I am not really in a position to comment on if this is a reason to go and see this film. It certainly did nothing for me, although I did notice that he has beefed up a lot since some of his earlier films where he could look to whimpy to play this sort of role. He was a lot more butch in this film and the role really needed it.
Bridget Moynahan also does well in this film. I thought she did well along side Colin Farell and Al Pacino in the Recruit and she has only enhanced her reputation in this film. Alan Tudyk also deserves a special mention as he does brilliantly as Sonny, bringing life to a potentially difficult part.
As you are probably aware, Audi made a custom car for use in this film. I must admit it is a nice car and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it becomes available for general sale in the future (although I believe Audi are denying this at the moment).
Overall I have to say that I enjoyed it. I was feeling quite rough when I watched it (hangover) and it was just the sort of thing I was in the mood for. I didn’t want to watch anything that was going to require me to think too much, but at the same time I wanted to be entertained. I think this film finds a nice balance. When I came out of the cinema I thought it was an ok film, but the more I have thought about it since the better I think it is. It is certainly worth seeing and I think everyone will find something to enjoy in it.
Thanks for reading
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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
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 ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
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: incredible effects, realistic robots, Alex Proyas back in the director's chair Disadvantages: the mass product placement, the injustice towards Isaac Asimov's source material
DarkMark 09.02.2005 (09.02.2005)
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