I, Robot : Movie Review


I, Robot (2004) - Movie PosterI Robot is mostly about Will Smith doing what he does best, looking handsome, flexing his Ali muscles and displaying his penchant for semi-witty one-liners. And it’s not that the rest of the cast (Bridget Moynahan and Alan Tuydek) are unimpressive, but this is still clearly the Fresh Prince’s show.

Alex Proyas has directed several successful films including cult favourites such as The Crow and Dark City and he handles this film well. I did feel that some of the special effects were a little too futuristic but they were only a minor distraction.

Cinematographer Simon Duggan is clearly a big fan of the Matrix and this influence is evident throughout the film. Also evident however is Duggan’s own inventiveness, imagination and style.

Screenwriters Jeff Vintar and Akiva Goldsman have written what in fairness is a far more intelligent script than most blockbusters can boast as they fall off the Hollywood summer assembly line. It’s of course in part at least thanks to Asimov’s fine inspirational works, but at least Vintar and Goldsman didn’t make a mess of it.

And although on occasion I temporarily timed out and was in need of rebooting whilst watching the big set-piece tunnel scrap for instance I, Robot is still RAM packed full of impressive action sequences.

So apart from a few minor short-circuits I, Robot is an enjoyable sci-fi, futuristic, whodunit. And although I knew it’d be a film that I’d quickly forget, for its runtime I enjoyed it.

4 stars out of 5

Author : Kevin Stanley