I, Robot

We looked forward to this one for a long time!  I think I read Isaac Isamov's book when I was a teenager, but this movie is only 'based upon' that work.  It uses the concepts, but is a whole different animal.
 
I wish Philip L. Dick had written this one - there were so many things that would have been so much more if it had been on of his stories.  If you saw Minority Report, you know what I mean - those peripheral things that convince you you're actually IN the future.  
 
The animations in this movie are gorgeous.  The robots are gorgeous.  The story is good.  Robert especially does not like SciFi but he said this one bordered on a horror story (his favorite) and he liked that.  
 
My only critique is Will Smith (Men in Black).  I like Will Smith well enough, but in every movie he is Will Smith.   Independence Day, Men in Black I and II, Bad Boys, Wild Wild West, etc he is the same character.  He saunters, he is bored looking most of the time.  He's the same old detective who read the script already and is not IN the movie.
 
Jackie Chan is invested - he looks scared but somehow overcomes these huge odds.  We feel his concern, or fear, and we tense up right along with him.  And because he does his own stunts and has actually been hurt many times, he does really feel what he's doing!   When the lead character doesn't show the appropriate level of concern or fear, why should we care?  It kept pulling me OUT of the movie because of his expressions.   It was so clear that he was playing to a green screen and everything around him was CG.  
 
The work that went into this movie, the gorgeous effects, it all really deserved so much more from his performance.  I think he short changed them with what he gave.  
 
Bridget Moynahan (Serendipity) plays a robot shrink who was much more invested and believable than Smith.   Heck, the robot - Sonny - was much more invested and believable than Smith! 
 
Overall we really enjoyed the movie.  We gave it a 4 for originality and beautiful effects.
 
The popcorn was great and fresh - new faces at the concession stand and taking tickets (Pueblo Tinseltown) but it was a very good movie day!