Movie Review: I, Robot

Living here in the shadow of the once mighty "Silcon Mountain," it's easy to remember the birth of the techno age. Fourteen year olds purchasing Audis; old people learning a keyboard and a typewriter are the same thing. Clinton was still doing unmentionables in the White House (actually, there are still unmentionables going on, it's just less exotic these days). But as with all things--when we see the good, we have to see the bad. It was only a matter of time before we saw technology as villian. It only made sense as it took such a large role in our daily extravagances.

The Terminator had already been born and died in the late 80s, early 90s and besides, he had moved onto the governor's mansion. We saw a rash of really crappy titles hit the market trying to ride the wave. Hackers and the Net come to mind. But then the Matrix took evil technology where we wanted to go. We were hooked. We wanted to know the logical outcome to this success.

Robots. The Matrix said that technology's evils would come in the form of robots. From what I understand (from my copy of the hugely underwatched Animatrix, by far better then some of the work in the film's sequels), one robot killed it's master and the civil war between robots and humanity began.

Honestly, I have to thank Star Trek, before I go on. I wouldn't have understood any of this pursuit of humanity theming so imperative in this movie without the input of the character Data on Star Trek:TNG. Without him, I would not have appreciated the movie I, Robot.

You see I, Robot covers the same bases as Matrix and Star Trek. There's really not much new. In this plot, it appears that the creator of 2035's largest robot manufactures has been murdered. And since robots are programmed to not kill humans, this 'future noir' begins. Picture a 1940's gumshoe with huge issues with a given suspect (cliche then as it is now), his mole who is on the inside (cliche then as it is now), the usual suspects (cliche then as it is now) and you have a Dashiell Hamett tale.

And this movie as well. Folks, there's nothing new here. The movie tweaks that famous formula by having one of the robots possibly commiting the crime. Is the robot possibly overriding his programming, ya know, becoming more human?

See what I mean? Thanks Star Trek.

Are the robots actually planning some kind of take over? Thanks Matrix.

Now, here's the part you'll be shocked about.

I did like this movie.

The current edition of Entertainment Weekly talks about the current lack of 'stars' on the big screen. We just aren't seeing the Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks of the 90s being formed. Obviously, they've got their eyes shut, I believe. With Clint Eastwood either mayoring in Carmel or making sappy dreck and Arnold holing up in Sacramento, who's going to lead us in the action department? Tom Cruise is too heady. Have you seen the preview for Collateral? Will Smith. Let's say that again, shall we? Will Smith.

Where have you been all my life? Still buff from Ali and obviously edging up his acting quoteint from the same movie, he's my pick for today's action hero. The dude is funny, dynamic and puts what little dept there is available to him in an action film up there. He's buff and a good guy. I began to think of all the action films, good or bad, he's tried. He's working on it. I see that Entertainment Weekly might have found a new John Wayne, if they want him.

And his activity is so strong willed, I wanted to see what happened to him through the movie.

What also worked? This is a science fiction. And science fiction and movies have always had a very healthy relationship. You have to have a big screen to capture the scope. These kinds of stories need the room to have thousands of robots attacking; they need the budget to create these robots, so visually delicious. And I have to tell you, thank God this movie was made in terms of digital characterization. I thought their only input was going to be JarJar Binx and the Hulk, and that's pretty sorry. Wait until you see the machine known as Sonny in I, Robot. He has a flexible skin YOU CAN SEE THROUGH. It's the very definition of eye candy.

So if you like sci-fi, I'd recommend this movie. If you are a bit jaded by the summer runs of movies, maybe not. Hopefully, I've conveyed this is not a clear GOOD or BAD movie. It's one of those grays that snarls up all movie going traffic.