MPAA Rating: PG-13
Original Review Date: July 21, 2004
Reviewed by: Erin, Movie Muse
In a Nutshell: Surprisingly good! After my other summer
disappointments, I wasn't expecting much from it, and I came
away really enjoying it. Not the greatest film ever, but really
quite good. Definitely worth seeing, and definitely on the big
screen!
Quick Plot: On the eve of the largest robot roll out in history,
the "father of robotics" commits suicide, leaving his friend,
the robot-phobic police officer, to investigate if it really was
suicide, or if he was murdered by one of his own creations.
In Detail: (Note: I have never read, nor am I familiar with, the
Asimov stories that "suggested" this film, and I am an admitted
sci-fi junkie. Take this review with those particular grains of
salt in mind.) Unlike Spider-Man 2, this film was *beautifully*
paced. It flowed smoothly between story elements, and you
really ride the adrenaline waves. Unlike King Arthur, the humor
here was not only surprising (all the previews I had seen made
it seem really serious), but it was perfectly timed and
executed, bringing in huge laughs. That's not to say that the
movie isn't serious and/or doesn't have serious points to make.
It is and it does, and it does indeed make them, but it doesn't
do it in a preachy or heavy-handed manner. It just makes you go
hmmm. The humor is well-placed for effect, usually tension
release, which you need after some of the intense action
sequences. Much of the film is CG, but I did not find it
distracting. Every once in a while, the thought of "wow, that
was amazing; too bad none of it was real" crossed my mind, but
that's it, and I don't mean that in a bad way. It's not an
overly deep movie, though it does have its moments. But I
greatly enjoyed it nonetheless.
Will I Buy It? Not sure. That may seem strange after the above
review, but I think I need to see it again (rented, most likely)
to decide if there is enough to keep me interested on repeat
viewings. Definitely worth seeing, though!
