# I, Robot: Will not suck? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 24, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104 "2004-06-24T23:38:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/61 "2004-07-11T00:13:41Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > So what could the “twist” at the end be? The only thing that comes to mind would be the robots somehow deciding that they should frame themselves, and trick humanity into destroying them, because in the long run humans would be better off without them? That’s the first suggestion I’ve seen that actually isn’t bad. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/62 "2004-07-12T01:31:35Z")
Fox has been promoting the heck out of this of late, and is supposed to be having some kind of promotional tie-in tomorrow night on it’s show _Method & Redd_ (for those of you who’ve missed out, that’s a show about two rappers who move to a rich, up-tight white neighborhood). Why the hell people who’d be interested in such a show would find this movie to be interesting is beyond me. Anyway, one of the clips they’ve been showing during the commercial, features robots _attacking_ people, not simply Will Smith shooting at them. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/63 "2004-07-12T03:41:35Z")
I was down at the local mall last Saturday. Outside the movie theatre were two girls promoting _I, Robot_. One of them was wearing a shirt that had a flat-screen monitor built into it, and the monitor was showing (IIRC) a fictional infomercial advertizing the robots. The other girl was handing out promotional literature, describing the wonders of these robots, and how I could order one and customize its appearance. It was all really cool, but I’ve learned that when they create promotional gimmicks that are really clever and elaborate, this is usually a sign that the movie sucks. And, of course, the fact that the movie stars Will Smith leads me to expect something closer to _Men In Black_ than to _Blade Runner_. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/64 "2004-07-12T12:43:22Z")
Bad bots bad bots Watcha gonna do Watcha gonna do when they come for you? ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/65 "2004-07-12T15:26:44Z")
Well, I am going to go see it. The special effects look wild, the characters have humor(something they lack in the stories) and it looks exciting. Rereading the book is rather akin to watching grass grow in my opinion: stimulating on a scientific level but freaking boring on all other levels. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/66 "2004-07-12T15:43:23Z")
> [@Krisfer the Cat](#): > > Rereading the book is rather akin to watching grass grow in my opinion: stimulating on a scientific level but freaking boring on all other levels. Gasp! Anti-Asimov heresy! Robbie: Kill **Krisfer the Cat** immediately! First rule override, code C-A-A-S-I. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/67 "2004-07-12T16:23:22Z")
Not to hijack too much, but from a socio-cultural POV it 's interesting that the main headliners for two big action movies of the summer are both black actors. Society may be a long way from being non-race consciousness, but it says something (good I think) about the progression of American attitudes, that studios are willing to gamble hundreds of millions on the bankability and appeal of these actors. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/68 "2004-07-12T17:37:10Z")
You must have a completely different definition of “action movies” than I do, **astro** : Val Helsing - no black leads Troy - no black leads The Day After Tomorrow - no black leads The Chronicles of Riddick - mixed race lead Harry Potter - no black leads Around the World in 80 Days - Asian co-lead Spiderman 2 - no black leads King Arthur - no black leads upcoming: The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi - Asian leads I, Robot - black lead Catwoman - mixed race lead The Bourne Supremacy - no black leads Thunderbirds - no black leads Collateral - black co-lead Even if you disagree with including some of them, I can’t figure out what you are referring to by the “two big action movies of the summer.” And I apologize for using the term “mixed race.” We live in a weird period in which Vin Diesel and Halle Berry both have a white mother and a black (or perhaps “mixed race”) father but are treated very differently. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/69 "2004-07-12T18:25:15Z")
Ibleive **astro** was referring to _The Manchurian Candidate_ starring Denzel Washington (although I think it should probablybe characterized as a psychological thriller as opposed to action). ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/70 "2004-07-12T19:46:17Z")
I was assuming that the reference was to _Catwoman_, although from the buzz surrounding the film, I doubt that it will do anything to improve the prospects for black (or mixed-race) actors, Ms. Berry’s career, or Hollywood’s reputation for turning out huge, over-priced, steaming piles of crap. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/71 "2004-07-12T21:53:27Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > I think that it will be a decent summer action flick but that any resemblance to the works of Issac Asimov will be purely coincidental. I’m inclined to agree with this interpretation. And it won’t piss me off for the same reason that Millenium Man did: I’m not very race conscious, but egads, when there’s exactly ONE character in the whole bloody movie who wasn’t white, it says pretty bad things about the future of humanity. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/72 "2004-07-12T22:35:37Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Plus, the robots just look STUPID! > > Good grief! WHO would envision a robot like that!? When I saw them, I immediately assumed they were designed by the same folks who did the Bjork video [All Is Full Of Love](http://www.director-file.com/cunningham/521.html) No description or snapshot can describe how beautiful and unbelievably hot this video is. Two identical Bjorkbots wake up at the factory, and engage in lesbian sex with each other. But instead of puting two hours of that on the big screen, the studio gives us this! Re Method And Red I can only assume that some Fox executive thought ‘Smith is a black guy who raps, Method and Red arre black guys who wrap.’ Re Bicentenial Man I admit that I never got around to reading I, Robot. But, I liked this movie. I thought the main problem was the marketting.(I’ve ranted about this before) The ads had lines like “Let’s get loco, robo!” and made it seem like a fun kids’ flick. The film was much better summed up by “It’s not fair that you can cry and I can’t!” ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/73 "2004-07-13T04:13:56Z")
Well, I just saw MTV’s exclusive 15-minute preview, which included three long scenes, and I’ll say this – I think it will be a decent detective story. I am happy to report to **Larry Mudd** that the Dr. Calvin character is not just boobs; while Will’s character seems to be a near-clone of Tom Cruise’s character from _Minority Report_, she seems warm and gives the film a humanizing touch. As for the surprise twist, I guessed it after seeing the extended preview – actually in the first few minutes of it. Don’t read this spoiler box unless you like dissecting how well the director does foreshadowing. I’m 95% positive on this one. I’ll take my no prize now. Seriously, I’m that sure. Don’t read this box; it contains a spoiler, possibly The Big Spoiler, for this summer’s “I Robot” movie. Of course, I haven’t read the books, so this may be old news, but still – don’t say I didn’t warn you. [spoiler]If Dr. Calvin isn’t a robot, I’ll eat a bug. She’s a ROBOT. A machine. The twist is that she _turns out to be a ROBOT_. I figure she saves Smith’s character, and ends up convincing him that robots can be good after all. Then it’s a detective story, and a buddy picture – it’s _Minority Report_ meets _Demolition Man_ by way of _Terminator 2_.[/spoiler] Just remember: one **Jurph** saw it coming! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/74 "2004-07-13T04:25:20Z")
Shit! So Susan takes the role of Daneel Olivaw? A humaniform robot? Bah!!! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/75 "2004-07-13T04:46:13Z")
**NCB** , **Jurph** is only speculating. It’s possible he’s wrong. Knowing Hollywood, probably not, but still… ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/76 "2004-07-13T05:12:10Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > **NCB** , **Jurph** is only speculating. It’s possible he’s wrong. Knowing Hollywood, probably not, but still… If it is true…That is sooooo wrong! First off, I object, from the beginning to the idea of a warm and human Susan Calvin! She’s supposed to be cold, hard to get to like, and utterly rational. And if she’s like that… making her a [b][CENSORED]\*\* robot takes away from the whole irony of her character, which was part of Asimov’s motif. And, of course if she’s warm and human… and a robot… \ ---
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/77 "2004-07-13T08:27:23Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > …the Dr. Calvin character is not just boobs; while Will’s character seems to be a near-clone of Tom Cruise’s character from _Minority Report_, she seems warm and gives the film a humanizing touch… And that, my friends, is the problem in a nutshell. Dr Susan Calvin is _not_ warm and she’s barely human. Dr. Calvin could give frostbite to an iceburg. Porcupines think she’s prickly. Vogons feel she lacks charm. Making her “warm” for this movie is like portraying Fagin from _Oliver Twist_ as the kindly principal of a boys school. It’s completely contrary to the character and shows the contempt the producers have for the source material. If you want to make a “beware the robots” movie with a scientist babe, be my guest. If it’s well done, I might enjoy it. Just don’t call it _I Robot_. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/78 "2004-07-13T10:50:22Z")
I had read elsewhere that the screenplay for this new film had originally had nothing to do with Asimov and was titled _Hardwired_. The studio owned the rights to _I, Robot_ and decided that since, hey, this one was about robots too, they’d just slap some 3 Laws stuff in there and rename characters. IMDB says [no,](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343818/trivia) the original writer of Hardwired spent quite some time merging Asimov into his existing screenplay which was already fairly close to the source. Some other sites say [yes,](http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.html?id=2174) Asimov-speak was tacked onto a “fairly standard, run-of-the-mill Hollywood sci-fi shtick” film (NOTE: this link contains speculation about the “big twist” in the last paragraph, so beware if you’re avoiding it). I’m not very good at sleuthing for this kind of information. Then again, the _I Riot_ trailers (see that clever trick with the advertising? Riot for Robot? Wow, it’s subtle) may be part of a fantasy sequence not unlike in _The Nutty Professor_ (Murphy version) in which a Godzilla-sized NP destroys downtown Tokyo while having nothing to do with the plot. I doubt that, but it’s possible. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/79 "2004-07-13T13:28:43Z")
> [@Linus Van Pelt](#): > > And that, my friends, is the problem in a nutshell. Dr Susan Calvin is _not_ warm and she’s barely human. Dr. Calvin could give frostbite to an iceburg. Porcupines think she’s prickly. Vogons feel she lacks charm. Making her “warm” for this movie is like portraying Fagin from _Oliver Twist_ as the kindly principal of a boys school. It’s completely contrary to the character and shows the contempt the producers have for the source material. If you want to make a “beware the robots” movie with a scientist babe, be my guest. If it’s well done, I might enjoy it. Just don’t call it _I Robot_. To be fair, I was only comparing her to Will Smith, who was in “angry badass” mode the whole time. Now that you mention it, she was kind of stiff and cold – it was her humorous lines, read in a nearly-clinical voice (similar to the disarming naivete of Brent Spiner as LCDR Data) that made it work. But I couldn’t ignore one of her lines. She, Smith, and the robot suspected of murdering Tyrell – erm, whatever the creator is called in this one – are in a room, and Smith draws his gun, believing the robot to be cornered. She urges him to put the gun away, saying, “the only thing that’s dangerous in this room is you.” This comes close on the heels of her saying that she “makes the robots seem more human.” Throughout the clips, she also displays an emotional attachment to the robot that I felt was misplaced in a character who was otherwise so cold… _unless she turns out to be a robot herself._ Hence my speculation. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104/80 "2004-07-13T13:29:44Z")
AAARGH! Mods, can someone cover that up quick? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-robot-will-not-suck/252104.md?page=5)