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Asimov's "I, Robot" Gets Movie Treatment

sdimbert writes "Isaac Asimov's classic collection of short stories about the role robots play in humankind's future is being made into a movie set to release on July 16, 2004, starring Wil Smith. The most notable part of the release build-up is the fact that the movie's trailer, most often seen before screenings of The Returnn of the King plays more like a product commercial (like Apple's flat-panel iMac ads) than a movie trailer. Suffice it to say that most of the audence that saw it with me had no idea they had just seen a movie trailer; they actually believed that someone was going to start selling a "fully automated domestic assistant" some time next year."

10 of 522 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Actually Believed? by mazesoft · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Actually, in the 2 different theatres I went to, the typical Green screen before every trailer was not shown with this one. It simply went from the end of 1 trailer into what appeared to be another commercial.

  2. The real I, Robot by tb3 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Unfortunately, this looks like it will be as bad as The Bicentennial Man adaptation that was made a few years ago with Robin Williams.
    The best movie that will never get made is Harlan Ellison's I, Robot.
    Get the book, read the script. It's the greatest movie you'll never see.

    --

    www.lucernesys.comHorizon: Calendar-based personal finance

    1. Re:The real I, Robot by IPFreely · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Isaac Asimovs' I, Robot in title only.

      I heard that the store and action are not at all related to Asimovs Robot novels. It was written from something else. At the last minute, they wanted to attach to something famous to get more publicity for the movie, so they bought the rights to the name "I, Robot".

      If you are expecting anything at all related to Asimov's stories, be prepared to be dissapointed.

      --
      There is nothing so silly as other peoples traditions, and nothing so sacred as our own.
  3. I'd much rather see a Foundation movie! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I think the Foundation series of books is much better than I, Robot.

    Everyone I know who picked up and read Foundation went on and read the rest of the series in less than a week.

  4. Very clever marketing, in fact by fruey · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Suffice it to say that most of the audence that saw it with me had no idea they had just seen a movie trailer; they actually believed that someone was going to start selling a "fully automated domestic assistant" some time next year...

    That's the whole point. What better way to get everyone to talk about your movie? The site does not give a single indication that this is a joke, it drops a few hints though... if you read it all, it's far too exaggerated and heavy on technobabble, but I bet people are trying to contact them and call them in order to have demos on their TV shows and all sorts. I wonder how long they can keep it up?

    --
    Conversion Rate Optimisation French / English consultant
  5. Wil Wheaton by mraymer · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Wil Wheaton was up for a role in this, and the casting people seemed to think he was perfect for the part. However, the directory apparently didn't.

    I would have loved to have seen him in something new. Star Trek would have you believe all he can do is say, "Yes, sir!" and push buttons, but after reading his site you sort of get to know the guy...

    --

    "To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit." -Stephen Hawking

  6. Re:Shitty Trailers and shittier commercials by A55M0NKEY · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I got it immediately, but then, I grew up reading Asimov books including I, Robot. However, my wife ( not a big sf fan ) had no idea what it was even after the 3 laws safe part. The trailer isn't going to mean a thing to anyone that has never read Isaac Asimov which is pretty dumb IMHO for a marketing campaign targeted at the general public. Big budget movies based on books reach a broader audience than the books do. Something like 50 million copies of Lord Of the Rings have been sold, but many more than 50 million people have seen the first two movies and will see the third one. I, Robot was a book of short stories. I wonder which one ( if any ) this movie will be actually be based on.. They used to have good books of short stories, I really don't see that format in the bookstore anymore... I wonder what happened?

    --

    Eat at Joe's.

  7. Re:Apple ads? by AtaruMoroboshi · · Score: 4, Interesting

    See the movie Six Degrees of Separation and discover for yourself that Will Smith is an incredibly talented actor. He just usually uses his talent to make very mainstream movies.

    .

  8. Re:Actually Believed? by Polyphemis · · Score: 4, Interesting

    But, it looks like it'll be a mess. It'll turn into a Will Smith and CG robot cheesefest.

    Don't be so hasty... the director is Alex Proyas, who did The Crow and Dark City, two terrific movies, imo. Proyas has had a pretty good track record so far, so at least give him a chance at a real trailer before writing the movie off completely.

  9. Re:Battery debacle by Avihson · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You are mistaking entrepreneurship with the Mega corp. The majority of corporations in America are small, less than 100 employees. And the owner is a successful entrepreneur.

    My family is full of successful self-employed or small business owners. None started out with a silver spoon, or a rich daddy. Children or grandchildren of immigrants - maybe we are misfits in today's society, but we seem to do better as our own boss instead of being a cog in the giant corporate machine. I control my own destiny, I'll never fear economic downturns or corporate downsizing.

    The immigrants have an unfair advantage over the average American: They are not afraid to work hard; to try, fail and get up and try again. They also know what it is to do without, and know how to delay their gratification until they can afford to pay for it.

    Not sure where you come from, but Class is a myth in middle America. If you believe that someone is better than you, well then maybe you are right. I, however, know I am better than most and equal to the rest. Now having said that - I do understand your perception that there is a pseudo upper class in America. I am not impressed by the Nuevo-rich that are in debt up to their eyebrows. I am impressed by abilities, what you personally can do, not what you can buy. I watched my father make a good living repairing the vehicles of the people who drove cars that the bank owned. I make 6 figures fixing the computers of the rich and indolent

    My depression era parents taught me the virtues of hard work and self restraint; and that is what made them, and me, a success. I would like to find out how you plan on being a success without working for it. You seem to equate work with servitude, birth with riches. I wish you luck.

    Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur; most people are followers, not leaders. I wasn't born to follow!