I, Robot Trailer

[TheAuldGrump]

Ahhh, once upon a time (20 or so years ago...) there was a version of I, Robot in the works with the screenplay being written by Harlan Ellison. I wish it had happened, as is we are seeing... dung.

the Auld Grump

*EDIT* Make that 27 years ago... http://members.tripod.com/templetongate/robotfilm.htm

 

[Mog Elffoe]

I, Robot will be to Isaac Aasimov as Starship Troopers is to Robert Heinlein.

I really do hope that I'm wrong, though.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Worse. There is some small similarity in plot between the Starship Troopers movie and book. (I liked the book, and thought the movie was mind nubingly stupid, but I could recognize it underneath...)

I have this strange urge to get a 2x4 with rusty nails in and visit Hollywood with my friend Mr. Clue Club...

The Auld Grump, who knowss what movie he won't be seeing.

 

[Goblyn]

For those who have read the stories...

Please please please don't expect the movie to be like them. At all. Even if the story is faithfully followed, the telling almost certainly will be different. If not because the director will not be the author, but because the media are just about as different as they can be(written word vs. film).

Also, about what the trailer makes it look like(mindless action movie): It is just the first, so there is still the possibility it is not(we can hope). There have been other movies which turned out to be quite different than what their trailers made them out to be.

the benefit-of-the-doubt-giving, hopeful Goblyn

 

[Rackhir]

In many ways it looks like the film is the exact opposite of an asimov story. One of the reasons why Asimov used robots as his main characters, was because he could make them better in every respect than humans. The main editor at the time wouldn't buy any stories where aliens for example were better than the humans in every respect, the humans had to at least be cleverer, more determined, innovative etc...

Robots on the other hand could be the "pure" souls he was looking for in some of his stories. So having the robots being the "bad" guy and part of a sinister conspiracy exactly inverts what he wanted the robots to be. While it has since been "gotten around" he though up the three laws of robotics specifically to eliminate exactly the kind of story it looks like the movie is.

 

[EricNoah]

Well there were a couple of "detective" novels of his that involved robots; one I recall specifically had a robot that was accused of murdering a human. I wonder if the plot is based loosely on those moreso than the I Robot stories...

 

[Mercule]

Well there were a couple of "detective" novels of his that involved robots; one I recall specifically had a robot that was accused of murdering a human. I wonder if the plot is based loosely on those moreso than the I Robot stories...

That was my assumption. I've not read any of Asimov's robot books but, as a Sci-Fi buff, I'm at least aware of the large brush strokes.

Although I like deep thought movies, I also like action. Knowing this is an action flick, I'll go in with that portion of my brain engaged (and the rest disengaged).

I've also learned that no one in Hollywood really cares about 'classic' works. Everyone there seems to have a large enough ego that they think they can 'out-Shakespear Shakespear', so to speak. *shrug* If it's enjoyable, cool. If not, it won't be the first mediocre movie (I doubt it'll be a real tanker) I've seen. I just won't buy it.

 

[Desdichado]

I have not read I, Robot. Even when I was younger, more tolerant, and more likely to read something like Asimov, I didn't particularly like his stuff. It's dated, it's slow, it's "classic" sci fi at it's most quientessential: when sci fi was for authors to explore their philosophical meanderings without having to worry about actually being entertaining or good.

If I, Robot took more than just the title and the premise from the book of the same name, it would be a complete commercial disaster that even genre fans wouldn't like. For those of you who think this movie will fail big-time because it won't be like the collection of short stories written in the 50s by Asimov, you don't know what the heck you're talking about.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

If all you take is the premise from the book you shouldn't take the title. This may be a great action film (I don't know yet) but it is not "I, Robot." Don't try to confuse them. Call this movie "Robot Wars starring Will Smith" and I would gladly go see it.

 

[Desdichado]

If all you take is the premise from the book you shouldn't take the title. This may be a great action film (I don't know yet) but it is not "I, Robot." Don't try to confuse them. Call this movie "Robot Wars starring Will Smith" and I would gladly go see it.

So let me get this straight -- you don't like the title of the movie, so you won't see it?