Robyn Asimov defends 'I, Robot' movie

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Clearly a person who knows which side her bread is buttered: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/a/2004/07/25/PKGG47P63L1.DTL&type=movies

 

[Foxbat]

I've only seen the trailer and it looks absolutely awful. I didn't see anything that related it to the actual work by Asimov. And, let's face it, if they put the best bits in the trailer then we could be looking at this year's Turkey.

 

[Hypes]

Touching article, and though the movie looks like rubbish, I suppose they tried (however silly that notion is).

 

[dwndrgn]

I have an advantage here in that I've not read the book. So I can enjoy the movie as a scifi adventure. Then later I can read the book and see for myself.

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Frankly I think the article over-simplified its case. But I suppose its her opinion.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Or is that the opinion of her wallet?

Sorry - cynical response - but somebody has to say it.

 

[nemogbr]

Well we do have to remember that Tolkien didn't want Disney to make Lord of the Rings. I liked the films, although it still lacked a few things in my imagination.
They also added a couple of things and omitted the Scouring of the Shire.
So not the perfect film.

I,Robot certainly will change the storyline, but may make Asimov popular with a new generation of fans who wouldn't read his books.

I guess I'm saying is that print is one thing, but films have to have escapism built into them and if it has a tiny part of the book involved.....I'll leave my brain at the door and enjoy for what it represents.

 

[Foxbat]

I guess I'm saying is that print is one thing, but films have to have escapism built into them and if it has a tiny part of the book involved.....I'll leave my brain at the door and enjoy for what it represents

Very true. But the problem for myself is that there has been a major dumbing down over the last few years from Hollywood. There are only so many times I'm willing to leave my brain outside the door - and somebody of Asimov's intellect, I don't believe, would appreciate this approach to his ideas - despite what his daughter says.

I'm afraid my cynicism stands shoulder to shoulder with Brian on this one. The New Bush And Blair??

 

[RZD]

They didn't dare aspire to Foundation. That, at least, is comforting.

 

[dwndrgn]

The really great thing about movie adaptations is that you get to see someone else's vision. It can be difficult at times - like when you are part of a forum and someone you've conversed with over a period of months turns out to be a woman when you thought she was a man...a little startling but fun nonetheless. Of course then the converse is also true, that books are written not for the screen. They are written to inspire the imagination, create a world in your own mind and once they've been boiled down into something that will fit into the time and size they need - they sort of take that magic away. When I went to see the LOTR I knew ahead of time that many things would be different, so I wasn't too startled and expected to see a new adventure on the screen. I wasn't disappointed. It's like having the author write another book - it is similar but different. Just an extension of your enjoyment of the story. What I hate is when they change the actual meanings of the stories like for mysteries when the wrong people die and the ending has someone else as the killer. That sort of annoys me. Why adapt if you didn't like the original? I think LOTR was acceptable because we could tell that Jackson did enjoy the story so stayed faithful to its meaning, if not every nuance.

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Foxbat, you'll have to make that a triumvirate of cynicism in this case. Ms Asimov says there was no greater fan of Star Trek than her father, among other things. His autobiography shows that he was rather lukewarm and initially inclined to be scornful of its scientific absurdities, but moderated his views because his second wife was a fan, and because the producers tacked his name on as 'scientific adviser', apparently. Just another instance where Ms Asimov's arguments do not hold water on closer inspection.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I guess, in the end, is the film any good in itself, regardless of the title? Or is it just another throwaway popcorn movie?

 

[pnerd]

WOW! I had no idea (until now) that Asimov's daughter is so pretty. Here's a pic of Isaac and Robyn Asimov:

 

[AE35Unit]

Yes she is a looker,tho i suspect that photo is from a good few years ago,possibly in the 80s. BTW as for the movie. It is nothing like Asimov but still an enjoyable film.