I, Robot (2004)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Alex Proyas

Writers (WGA):

Jeff Vintar (screenplay) and
Akiva Goldsman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 July 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

What will you do with yours?

Plot:

In the year 2035 a techno-phobic cop investigates a crime that may have been perpetrated by a robot, which leads to a larger threat to humanity.

Plot Keywords:

Robot | Law | Death | Suicide | Investigation

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Will Smith	...	Del Spooner
Bridget Moynahan	...	Susan Calvin
Alan Tudyk	...	Sonny
James Cromwell	...	Dr. Alfred Lanning
Bruce Greenwood	...	Lawrence Robertson
Adrian Ricard	...	Granny (as Adrian L. Ricard)
Chi McBride	...	Lt. John Bergin
Jerry Wasserman	...	Baldez
Fiona Hogan	...	V.I.K.I.
Peter Shinkoda	...	Chin
Terry Chen	...	Chin
David Haysom	...	NS4 Robot / NS5 Robot
Scott Heindl	...	NS4 Robot / NS5 Robot
Sharon Wilkins	...	Woman
Craig March	...	Detective

Also Known As:

Hardwired (USA) (working title)
I, Robot (Germany)
Yo, robot (Argentina) (Chile) (Mexico) (Peru) (Spain) [es]
Я, робот (Russia) [ru]
Én, a robot (Hungary) [hu]
Ben, Robot (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Ego, to robot (Greece) [el]
Eu, Robô (Brazil) [pt]
I, Robot (France) [fr]
I, Robot (Finland) [fi]
Io, robot (Italy) [it]
Já, robot (Czech Republic) [cs]
Ja, robot (Serbia) [sr]
Ja, robot (Slovakia) [sk]
Les robots (Canada: French title) [fr]
Mina, robot (Estonia) [et]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense stylized action, and some brief partial nudity.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) (Canadian Home Video rating) | UK:15 (DVD rating) | France:U | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | Brazil:10 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Czech Republic:12 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:MG6 | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (Approved No. 40784) | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:12PG | Ireland:15 (DVD/VHS release) | Greece:K-13

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Another "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" reference is that the only good day of Spooner was a "Thursday". In the "Guide", this is the day of the week that Arthur Dent "never could get the hang of..."

Goofs:

Continuity: After Spooner and Calvin determine they have to reach Robertson's office at the top of the NSR building, Sonny, while with them advises there are "2,880 stairs" to climb. Most people tire after 50 stairs or so, but Spooner and Calvin climb these stairs in a matter of seconds, and are not tired at all. Even with resting, it would take almost two hours to climb that many stairs and even someone in perfect physical shape could not do it in one go, let alone in ten seconds - the time between them arriving at Robertson's office from the service area where they entered the building.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Detective Del Spooner: [singing along with Stevie Wonder's "Superstition"] Seven years of bad luck.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Sentient Machines: Robotic Behavior (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Top Floor, Por Favor

Could have been the next "Blade Runner"

"I, Robot" was this year's most entertaining Blockbuster: a lot of action, witty dialog and a fine plot. In fact, I thought the plot was so good that it was a waste to turn this project into a Will Smith vehicle. Not that he ruined the movie or anything but his funnyman performance - and the witty dialog - just kept the story from getting deep. So many other recent Blockbusters were unnecessarily lofty (*cough*SPIDER-MAN2*cough*MATRIX2&3*cough*cough*) and could have used some irony. With "I, Robot", however, it would have been a great idea to go for a more philosophical approach. The direction is very spectacular and fast paced, which isn't a bad thing, but it doesn't help to create an intriguing atmosphere, either. The special effects look great for the most parts, except when they are used to create landscapes. Sometimes a location looks like it was taken directly out of a video game. Anyway, "I, Robot" is a fantastic way to spend 90 minutes, but it's no masterpiece and won't be remembered among classics who deal with similar topics ("Blade Runner", "The Terminator", "The Matrix 1"). Pity. The potential was there.