I, Robot. She, angry.

While watching the trailer for I, Robot before Kill Bill Volume 2, I could feel my wife tense up. Christina is a devout Isaac Asimov fan, and though it's been several years at least since I read the original collection of short stories, it was fairly obvious that the tone of the film is considerably different from the author's deliberate set of mental exercises with the Three Laws of Robotics. From the trailer I could see why she was upset -- the robots in the trailer seem to actively revolt against their human masters, a concept almost unthinkable in the controlled landscape of robotics in Asimov's world. I was inclined to agree -- it doesn't feel right, somehow.

Then I discovered that Alex Proyas directed the film. Proyas directed the mysterious (if somewhat plodding) Dark City, one of the most cerebral science fiction films of the last decade. How could this champion of ideas turn a science fiction masterwork into a big dumb action movie? The answer, I hope, is that he didn't. This short featurette includes a few interview answers from Proyas himself, who points out that in the Robot books that one or more of the Laws may appear to have been broken, but it always turns out that they haven't been. Bent? Yes. Interpreted in a skewed fashion? Perhaps. But broken outright? No.

There's never been any doubt that I was going to go see this film. Too many flashing lights. Too many cool robot effects. And Will Smith! But I will try harder to get Christina to go with me. Since Proyas displays an understanding of the "Three Laws" narrative concept, and since he did such an incredible job with Dark City, I'm going to put my trust in him and try to maintain an optimistic approach to this film. I don't think he has betrayed Asimov's vision. Bent it a bit to fit cinematic needs? Yes. Interpreted it in a skewed fashion? Perhaps. But betrayed it outright? No.