Bicentennial Man (UK)
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One robot`s 200 year journey to become an ordinary man
Certificate: PG
Running Time: 127 mins
Retail Price: £12.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie
Synopsis:
From director Chris Columbus comes this original, funny and heart-warming film. When Richard Martin (Sam Neill) introduced a robot named Andrew (Robin Williams) to the family, nobody expects anything more than an ordinary household appliance. But this is no ordinary robot! Andrew is a unique machine with real emotions, a sense of humour and a burning curiosity to discover what it means to be human. Over the course of his service with the Martins, spanning two hundred years and several generations, Andrew discovers much about the intricacies of life and love, and finds there are many things he can teach as well as learn. Will Andrew ever achieve his goal to become human and possess the freedom to pursue a life of his own? And will he be prepared to pay the cost?
Special Features:
Trailer. Featurette. Filmographies. Isolated score.
Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1
Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Subtitle Tracks:
Hebrew
Icelandic
Polish
Czech
Hindi
Swedish
Finnish
Turkish
English
German
Greek
Croatian
Hungarian
Dutch
Arabic
Danish
Norwegian
Directed By:
Chris Columbus
Written By:
Isaac Asimov
Robert Silverberg
Nicholas Kazan
Starring:
Robin Williams
Sam Neill
Embeth Davidtz
Oliver Platt
Wendy Crewson
Casting By:
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins
Soundtrack By:
James Horner
Director of Photography:
Phil Meheux
Editor:
Nicolas De Toth
Neil Travis
Costume Designer:
Joseph G. Aulisi
Production Designer:
Norman Reynolds
Producer:
Michael Barnathan
Chris Columbus
Paula DuPré
Gail Katz
Laurence Mark
Neal Miller
Wolfgang Petersen
Mark Radcliffe
Executive Producer:
Dan Kolsrud
Distributor:
Columbia / Tristar
Your Opinions and Comments
I read a lot of science fiction in my youth, I think I must have read nearly everything the great Isaac Asimov has written (well nearly anyway - he did write something like 400+ books).
The robot stories are probably what he is best known for, followed probably the foundation series. He was also a great writer of non-fiction science essays which are incredibly readable.
He wrote a lot of robot novels and short stories, but I think the bicentennial man was one of my favourites. I must have read and reread it a dozen times over the years.
The Plot
The Martin family, being of suitable income status, order a household robot to help out with the running of things. Sort of like a butler-come-maid, all in one. Everyone else is doing it. It takes time for the family to come to terms with the new member, and for Andrew the robot to get to know them.
Of course the thing about robots is, that with regular maintenance they can outlast humans.
In the original story we follow Andrews life as he gradually becomes more confident and makes some money, and even starts to shape the society around him. Some of this comes over in this film, but to my eye, he is not the same character at all as in the book.
Somehow too confident too soon, and in the book his destiny is driven completely within, using his own inventiveness.
The one thing I can`t forgive is the three-laws scene. I mean, I know its background which has to be got over to the audience, but there surely must have been a better way of doing that.
Robin Williams - well I`d rather have seen a different actor in. Its quite a touching original story with not much humour in. Would probably have suited another actor better. You kind of expect humour with Robin and wait for the next gag.
The Visuals/Audio
Visuals and audio are fine, another dialog based film.
The Extras
Not that much really, a trailer and a small featurette.
Summary
Overall disappointed. Its probably a good film, but its not got the essence of the book I so admired.
I just think there is a GREAT film to made from this material, and this wasn`t it.
Partially based on one of Asimov`s books, there won`t be a dry eye in the room during this movie.
The video transfer is good. There are no compression signs and the special effects are nice, though subtle.
The DD 5.1 soundtrack is OK. The surrounds are used occasionally, but nothing too impressive.
The menus are still and silent.
The extras include a short behind the scenes featurette. That`s it.
Bottom line - a great thought-of movie, which should`ve got a better disc.