TV Times

TV Times

‘I Robot’ challenges Spider Man
By Harinda Vidanage
The web slinging hero bashed all records at Box office a very special movie is expected to oust him from his current ranking in time to come. Featuring the most realistic, emotionally complete, three-dimensional CGI character ever created film I Robot the Isaac Asimov adaptation to Silver Screen is tipped to at the top notch at boxoffice.

Featuring a ensemble of cast which includes the robot hating detective Will Smith the movie is a treat to watch. Director Alex Proyas’ film I robot as mentioned above was inspired by the most famous and justly admired robot stories in all of science fiction, Isaac Asimov’s ’40s series (later collected in his 1950 book “I, Robot”) about U.S. Robots, the company that produces these beings, and Asimov’s legendary Three Laws of Robotics, which govern their behavior, and where robot behavior is governed by Asimov’s Laws, which state that (1) robots may never intentionally harm a human, and (2) robots must always obey human orders unless they conflict with the first law, and (3) they must preserve themselves unless their actions conflict with the first or second law.

The story takes place on a technological and social precipice, as the number of robots in the U.S. is about to triple. With the release of U.S. Robotics’ latest model the NS-5 Automated Domestic Assistant there will now be one robot for every five humans. The first in the next generation of robots made from an ultra-strong alloy, the NS-5 is designed to do everything from babysitting your kids, to cooking your family dinner, to balancing your checkbook. The mass distribution of the NS-5 will solidify U.S. Robotics’ position as the most powerful company in the history of the planet.

The story line is based on Spooner’s investigation into a mysterious death of top robot scientist Lanning. Teamed with Dr. Susan Calvin (Bridget Moynahan). Spooner’s relationship with roboticist Dr. Susan Calvin is central to the story, and finding an actress who could be a credible partner and adversary to Will Smith – and bring emotional weight to a character created by Isaac Asimov – was a daunting task for the filmmakers.

“Bridget Moynahan best personified what we needed for the role – that real human spark buried beneath a colder exterior,” says the producer John Davis. Moynahan embraced the character’s complexities. Susan is a robot psychologist who is the polar opposite of Spooner; she’s very rational and focused. Everything makes sense to her and she has a very different perspective than Spooner. “Susan’s struggling to stay committed to logic, because that is what she has based her life on. But as the story progresses, she hits a scientific and emotional ‘wall’ that really changes her and her beliefs. So it’s fun to watch that journey.”

Spooner and Dr. Calvin are helped in their quest for the truth by a unique robot named Sonny, played by Alan Tudyk. Together, Tudyk and the visual effects team create a true digital star who possesses emotion, intelligence and even humor. The emotional connection between Sonny and Spooner is at the heart of the film. Academy Award-winning Visual Effects Supervisor John Nelson (“Gladiator”) supervised over 1,000 visual effects shots from pre-visualization through postproduction.

Nelson and his second-in-command, Digital Visual Effects Supervisor John Berton (“The Mummy,” “Men In Black 2”),has begun with a team of 20 at the start of production in Vancouver. Ultimately, the department swelled to thousands, occupying several effects houses for approximately eight months of post-production, a relatively short period for the volume and sophistication of the shots rendered. Digital Domain, WETA Digital, Image Engine, Rainmaker and Pixel Magic were among the visual effects houses on the film.

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