I, Robot (2004)

Happy Birthday!  

The famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, who's accomplishments include Bicentennial Man, Fantastic Voyage and this story would have been 96 years old today.  The interesting thing about this date is the fact that Asimov's mother changed his birth records temporarily so he could attend school a year earlier.  Asimov said he wasn't sure actually when he was born, because of poor records and his mother actions.  He said he was actually born somewhere between October of 1919 and January of 1920.  Asimov settled on January 2nd, 1920.  Happy Birthday IA !!!!!!



Run Time:  115 mins
Genre:  Science Fiction, Drama
Format:  Widescreen Format, Color
Director:  Alex Proyas
Starring:  Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Adam Tudyk, James Cromwell and Chi McBride

IMDB.com Entry for the film:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343818/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Wikipedia.org Article for the film:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Robot_(film)

Wikipedia.org Article for the collection of short stories:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Robot

Wikipedia.org Article for Isacc Asimov:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov

Trailer for the film on YouTube:


This is a classic tale that harbors close to many great ideas from film history’s past.  The Pinocchio idea comes to mind.  So does the Elephant Man’s proclamation that he is not a monster, but a man.  Even watching Star Trek’s Lt. Commander Data deal with his android emotions while trying to become as human as possible, brings thoughts of these kinds of ideas to the surface.  As seen in Steven Spielberg’s film, AI: Artificial Intelligence (2001), it is the idea of computers and mechanical brains evolving to a point where they get so close to being human that the idea of robot freedoms come into play.  In the case of I, Robot, we have a robot whose intelligence manages to create emotions that make him not happy about his possible extermination and he rebels.  Cue Will Smith’s police officer Del Spooner, who never trusted robots to begin with and you create a recipe for humans and robots to collide.  It is the same approach that came along with The Planet of the Apes concept too. - Phil

Before this film there was a version of I, Robot featured in an Outer Limits episode back in 1964 starring the late, great, Leonard Nimoy.  Here is an excerpt from that on YouTube:


Getting back to the 2004 film, Alan Tudyk’s Sonny, who is the main robot in the film and the one that manages to become more than just a robot, is a perfect contrast to Will Smith’s Officer Spooner.  They become two “people” who are on different courses in the beginning of the film, but eventually come closer as they begin to understand each other’s point of view.  Throw in Bridget Moynahan’s Dr. Calvin to act as the moderate calming influence and this film ends up, not only entertaining but it also produces plenty of emotions that you feel very much.  I was worried when I saw this film years ago that it might not be good, but I was pleasantly surprised that it turned out to be pretty awesome. - Phil

Click the link below at GoWatchIt.com to see where you can stream or watch I, Robot (2004) online or on TV right now.
http://gowatchit.com/movies/i-robot-39784

Or check out TVGuide.com to see if this film is playing on TV/Cable in your area:
http://www.tvguide.com/movies/i-robot/137430/

CHECK IN TOMORROW for our movie of the day !!!! ~ Phil

And Another Thing... (A Note From Chris)

I'm so glad Phil covered I, Robot. Another Asimov "cover" I will always cherish is the Ralph MacQuarrie cover illustration for Asimov's Robot Dreams. 

In fact, I discovered Asimov through this cover. Being a Star Wars fanatic, I devoured texts about all things Star Wars including the original Star Wars concept artist Ralph MacQuarrie. I read that MacQuarrie did this cover and went promptly to the local bookstore and sought out this paperback. This book was my first step into the science fiction genius that is Asimov. ~ Chris