Boycotting I, Robot??
07-08-04 | 01:46 AM
#76
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From: City of the lakers.. riots.. and drug dealing cops.. los(t) Angel(e)s. ca.
Originally posted by DonnachaOne
Which Oz book?
Which Oz book?
Seems like you are getting anal about this simply because you enjoyed the book and do not like the treatment they are giving it in film. that's fair enough, but it's clear to see that a boycott will do nothing. the film is already in the can and ready to screen in theaters. Will a boycott do anything to stop future book adaptations? no.
Last edited by Jackskeleton; 07-08-04 at 01:49 AM.
07-08-04 | 06:28 AM
#77
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I still don't see all the hoopla. I have never once seen or heard it mentioned that this is based on Asimov's work in promotional materials. They aren't marketing it that way.
07-08-04 | 07:19 AM
#78
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From: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Originally posted by DonnachaOne
Which Oz book?
Which Oz book?
The one where Tin man gets raped by the lion while in solitary confinement.
07-08-04 | 08:37 AM
#79
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From: Sitting on a beach, earning 20%
Originally posted by Jackskeleton
Seems like you are getting anal about this simply because you enjoyed the book and do not like the treatment they are giving it in film.
Seems like you are getting anal about this simply because you enjoyed the book and do not like the treatment they are giving it in film.
07-08-04 | 08:53 AM
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Originally posted by Groucho
I'm not sure why people are suprised that the film isn't a slavish adaptation of the book, considering it's an anthology of short stories!
I'm not sure why people are suprised that the film isn't a slavish adaptation of the book, considering it's an anthology of short stories!
07-08-04 | 09:02 AM
#83
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Originally posted by Michael Corvin
I still don't see all the hoopla. I have never once seen or heard it mentioned that this is based on Asimov's work in promotional materials. They aren't marketing it that way.
I still don't see all the hoopla. I have never once seen or heard it mentioned that this is based on Asimov's work in promotional materials. They aren't marketing it that way.
Originally posted by Groucho
I'm not sure why people are suprised that the film isn't a slavish adaptation of the book, considering it's an anthology of short stories!
I'm not sure why people are suprised that the film isn't a slavish adaptation of the book, considering it's an anthology of short stories!
I finally went to the official site to see what they have said and, in the "Synopsis" section it says:
"Will Smith stars in this sci-fi action thriller suggested by the classic short story collection by Isaac Asimov . . . "
07-08-04 | 09:02 AM
#84
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Re: Boycotting I, Robot??
Originally posted by IMRICKJAMES
I've heard of people trying to boycott the new I, Robot movie, but why?
I've heard of people trying to boycott the new I, Robot movie, but why?
07-08-04 | 09:11 AM
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Fair point Groucho; I was going on Amazon's description of "The Green mile" as a series of monthly novellas.
As for Different Seasons, I think you're splitting hairs with the "they're novellas, not short stories" bit. The set difference between the two is that one is less than 20,000 words and the other is more, a standard which is more of a salesman's pigeonhole.
As for Different Seasons, I think you're splitting hairs with the "they're novellas, not short stories" bit. The set difference between the two is that one is less than 20,000 words and the other is more, a standard which is more of a salesman's pigeonhole.
07-08-04 | 09:17 AM
#86
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Generally, novellas have plotlines that are more extended and suitable to movie adaptation than do short stories. I would argue that novellas are the best medium from which to derive a faithful film adaptation, more so than full-length novels or short stories.
It's not splitting hairs at all. Compare the short stories in "I, Robot" to the novellas found in "Different Seasons" and it's day and night in terms of length and content.
It's not splitting hairs at all. Compare the short stories in "I, Robot" to the novellas found in "Different Seasons" and it's day and night in terms of length and content.
07-08-04 | 01:23 PM
#88
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Plain stupid. Who care's if it's not faithful to the book? It's not like a crappy movie lowers the quality of the source material .
If one doesn't want to see it, don't see it. I see no point in starting a boycott.
If one doesn't want to see it, don't see it. I see no point in starting a boycott.
07-08-04 | 01:26 PM
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I'm not "boycotting" the movie. On the other hand, I'm not going to go see it either. Why? Because the trailer was awful, and nothing I've heard about the movie since has changed that impression.
07-08-04 | 03:13 PM
#90
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I'm not sure why people are suprised that the film isn't a slavish adaptation of the book
How about a LOTR movie where the hobbits aren't hobbits, but they're all ass-kicking Aragorn wannabes? And they build giant industrial factories to produce weapons and armor, tear down the nature in the shire, and kick Sauron's ass that way. Who needs trees and grass and stuff??
It's the OPPOSITE. It's not just not a "slavish adaption". It's the antithesis of all Asimov's robots were all about.
Here's a blip I typed out from Asimov's Introduction in "The Caves of Steel" (Del Rey 1983 paperback edition) about how he first started writing about robots (which I just happened to be reading - it's been a couple of years). With a couple of ... edits:
Following these examples, it became very common, in the 1920s and 1930s, to picture robots as dangerous devices that invariably destoryed their creators. The moral was pointed out again and again that "there were some things that Man was not meant to know."
Even as a youngster, though, I could not bring myself to believe that if knowledge presented danger, the solution was ignorance. To me, it always seemed that the solution had to be wisdom. You did not refuse to look at danger, rather you learned how to handle it safely.
After all, this has been the human challenge since a certain group of primates became human in the first place. Any technological advance can be dangerous. Fire was dangerous from the start, and so (even more so) was speech - but human beings would not be human without them.
At any rate, without quite knowing what dissatisfied me about the stories I read, I waited for something better, and I found it....a story in which a robot was portrayed sympathetically...
Dimly, I began to feel hat I wanted to write a story in which a robot would be portrayed lovingly...
Even as a youngster, though, I could not bring myself to believe that if knowledge presented danger, the solution was ignorance. To me, it always seemed that the solution had to be wisdom. You did not refuse to look at danger, rather you learned how to handle it safely.
After all, this has been the human challenge since a certain group of primates became human in the first place. Any technological advance can be dangerous. Fire was dangerous from the start, and so (even more so) was speech - but human beings would not be human without them.
At any rate, without quite knowing what dissatisfied me about the stories I read, I waited for something better, and I found it....a story in which a robot was portrayed sympathetically...
Dimly, I began to feel hat I wanted to write a story in which a robot would be portrayed lovingly...
Last edited by GreenMonkey; 07-08-04 at 03:19 PM.
07-08-04 | 05:04 PM
#92
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Asimov is one of my favorite authors ever (definitely in my Top 5). His "Robot" stories are my favorite of all his fiction.
It saddens me to see that so much of the hype and marketing has been slanted in the "Will Smith battles a bunch of bloodthirsty robots" vein. It flies in the face of everything Asimov's stories were all about.
That having been said... I'm going to see the movie because (1) I've enjoyed everything I've seen Alex Proyas do so far (I like "The Crow", I love "Dark City"), and (2) the trailers might be hyping up the action scenes because, assuming the film has serious science-fiction elements, displaying them as part of the film's marketing strategy might not sell to Joe and Jane Q. Publicano.
And sue me, I like Will Smith. I think he's a good actor with great screen presence. But if I find him releasing a hip-hop recitation of the "Three Laws of Robotics", I might have kick myself in the face. Repeatedly.
It saddens me to see that so much of the hype and marketing has been slanted in the "Will Smith battles a bunch of bloodthirsty robots" vein. It flies in the face of everything Asimov's stories were all about.
That having been said... I'm going to see the movie because (1) I've enjoyed everything I've seen Alex Proyas do so far (I like "The Crow", I love "Dark City"), and (2) the trailers might be hyping up the action scenes because, assuming the film has serious science-fiction elements, displaying them as part of the film's marketing strategy might not sell to Joe and Jane Q. Publicano.
And sue me, I like Will Smith. I think he's a good actor with great screen presence. But if I find him releasing a hip-hop recitation of the "Three Laws of Robotics", I might have kick myself in the face. Repeatedly.
07-08-04 | 05:21 PM
#93
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Originally posted by GreenMonkey
There's a difference between adapting something, and making something that flies in the face of the core concept. How about a patriotic, flag-waving war movie from a book that is all about avoiding war at all cost?
There's a difference between adapting something, and making something that flies in the face of the core concept. How about a patriotic, flag-waving war movie from a book that is all about avoiding war at all cost?
Again, it's certainly good reason to not see the film, but it's pretty stupid to try to organize a boycott.
07-08-04 | 05:29 PM
#94
Originally posted by Jackskeleton
sounds like you are looking to deep into it all.
sounds like you are looking to deep into it all.
07-08-04 | 05:43 PM
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From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
John Hammond isn't alive and I'm damn_angry over that! 
07-08-04 | 06:31 PM
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From: City of the lakers.. riots.. and drug dealing cops.. los(t) Angel(e)s. ca.
Originally posted by PopcornTreeCt
I think everyone else on here is looking too deep into it. I'm just making a general statement based on the trailers. There's nothing I can say that will dissuade your love affair with the movie so I'll just be quiet.
I think everyone else on here is looking too deep into it. I'm just making a general statement based on the trailers. There's nothing I can say that will dissuade your love affair with the movie so I'll just be quiet.
My love affair with the film? I'm not for I, Robot. Sure it pays the bills in some sort of way and if it flops I'm sure I'll be effected in some way or another on the lot but in the end I really don't care. What bothers me is that people would go to an extreme to boycott a film for no other reason other than they believe it is not faithful to a short story and they have no seen reviews or seen it first hand. Boycotting anything is very rarely useful for anything if you ask me. Boycotting a film is beyond stupid. Just don't watch it. don't orginize a PTA meeting around how you will do it. I'm not into watching King Aurther. Will I go around saying I boycott it? No. I just don't watch it and be quiet about it.
07-08-04 | 06:43 PM
#97
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Well, there's other Asimov robot-related films in the works (Caves of Steel comes to mind). It's gonna be hard to back up the Asimov's 3 Laws, and the "Robots can't hurt people" idea, when I, Robot has blown it all to hell. I guess what I don't like the most is the side effect it'll have on any other Asimov film (there are quite a few in production).
07-08-04 | 09:23 PM
#98
DVD Talk Legend
After posting to this thread I picked up my copy of "I, Robot" and reread a few stories. Asimov's tales were basically scientific/philosophical "mysteries" set around tweaking the parameters of his Three Laws of Robotics. Lessening the "1st law" potential, harming humans, versus the 2nd and 3rd, defining "harm" an an objective scale, how throwaway phrases like "get lost" can have disastrous consequences, etc..
I'm willing to hope that they utilize some of these possibilities in explaining why, in these trailers, we see nothing Robots attacking humans like hopheads at a Shoney's buffet.
I'm willing to hope that they utilize some of these possibilities in explaining why, in these trailers, we see nothing Robots attacking humans like hopheads at a Shoney's buffet.
Last edited by Hokeyboy; 07-08-04 at 11:08 PM.
07-08-04 | 10:29 PM
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You know I'm still waiting to hear whether this movie really does butcher everything Asimov stood for. Granted, the robot rampage isn't really what Asimov had in mind, but I haven't heard from one person who's actually seen the movie. We don't even know what happens in it, how the ideas of Asimov fit in, nothing. We have a couple crappy trailers which have gotten better, and lots of internet hatred for Smith.
I just find it silly to boycott a movie because we THINK it's raping Asimov. Hell, I find it silly to boycott a movie period.
Now...has anyone actually SEEN the movie, and can that person comment on how faithful it is to Asimov's three laws and story ideas? This could be a good sci-fi movie, who knows.
I just find it silly to boycott a movie because we THINK it's raping Asimov. Hell, I find it silly to boycott a movie period.
Now...has anyone actually SEEN the movie, and can that person comment on how faithful it is to Asimov's three laws and story ideas? This could be a good sci-fi movie, who knows.
07-09-04 | 12:02 AM
#100
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Well, I don't always agree with Mr. Poland's reviews, but this makes me more hopeful (and I really would love to love this movie):
http://www.thehotbutton.com/today/ho...40708_thu.html
http://www.thehotbutton.com/today/ho...40708_thu.html