Who's actually read "I, Robot"?

[Paragon]

I thought it was a originally a courtroom drama -- I seem to remember some version of it done long ago with Leonard Nimoy. Am I right?

[RebelOne]

1. I did, but it was so long ago that I don't

even remember what is was about.

[salib]

2. Dr. A wrote it.

And I never much liked his novels. I read it about 30 years ago, and do not remember anything much, except the three laws for robots:

1. Robots must never harm human beings or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. Robots must follow instructions from humans without violating rule 1.
3. Robots must protect themselves without violating the other rules.

(of course, I copied and pasted the full text here).

[ironflange]

22. This is what saved Homer's ass in the Robot Wars episode

Homer Simpson, of course.

[ClassWarrior]

3. It's a book of short stories.

One of them may well be a courtroom drama, but I don't remember either because it's been awhile since I read the book. And I'm not sure about the Leonard Nimoy part either. Try IMDB.com.

[librechik]

4. yeah, and the Robot was innocent all along! Nimoy on the "new"

"outer Limits" series kept it pretty much like the original.

For the movie, they're turning the Robot into some kind of Clone Wars sitch, where the robots really can't be trusted. That hurts MY VALUES!
AND the First Law of Robotics! (When did the Pukkkes repeal that?)


sigh, oh well--who can say who the villains are nowadays?

I hope the Robots decide to save us instead. In reality, I mean.

[Parche]

8. outer limits

It was the Original Outer Limits 2nd season episode
The first season was the best

[Paragon]

11. He was in both, I believe

Did a version for the "old" Outer Limits and then reprised it for a new version when the series came back sorta-recently.

[librechik]

21. yes, I think you're right!

what a career...

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

5. Read it years ago.. even found the old paperback copy

recently to re-read, but haven't yet... but it's a collection of short stories, not a novel, if I'm recalling correctly.

The Will Smith movie is BASED on the Asimov novel but takes no direct plot line from it.

[neuvocat]

6. I read it not too long ago

but there wasn't any court room drama in it. There were a bunch of different stories like robots who could read minds, robots who had strange behaviors and a computer that built its own spaceship and sent two men out to space (and back).

[Worst Username Ever]

7. I jsut finished it!

Not a courtroom drama. Isaac Asimov, written in the late 50's (if I remember right), deals with the thought of integrating robots into our lives. Pretty funny, too. NOTHING like the movie looks. My prediciton: The main character is names Susan Calvin. I bet Will Smith will be named Calvin in the movie.

[Paragon]

10. Actually, no

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343818/

Bridget Moynahan IS "Susan Calvin" -- Will Smith's character is called "Del Spooner".

[Blue-Jay]

12. Del Spooner?

Sounds like a star of a soft-core porno.

[Worst Username Ever]

15. Ah! Well at least they are keeping the main character intact n/t

[Liberal Classic]

26. Del Spooner? No Elijah Baley? No R. Daneel Olivaw?

I'm getting ready to be disappointed.

Maybe Dr. Calvin will be a narrator or something? What about Greg Powell and Mike Donovan? I kind of liked the troubleshooter guys.

[sir_captain]

32. Those are the robot novels

not "I, Robot"

Bailey and Olivaw aren't in any of the short stories, i don't think

[DrWeird]

9. I read it years ago.

It's about armies of murderous robots who are single-handedly defeated by a former rap-star turned air force pilot with one liners like "Awww, hell naw!", "hey HEY hey!", and "Oh no you dinit!"

[Kenneth ken]

30. LMAO

yeah - that's how I remember it too! :crazy:
:silly:

:thumbsup:

[sir_captain]

13. Read it several times

good stuff, unlike the upcoming movie

[Paragon]

14. Can you be more specific...

...as to how the novel actually goes?

[sir_captain]

19. Oh, sure

For one thing, it's not a novel. It's a collection of short stories. So there's no main character, per se, though probably the one who crops up the most is a female scientist named Susan Calvin who is sort of the "mother of robotics." (In the new movie, there's a character with that name who is played by some young attractive actress, something that just doesn't seem right for the role.)

The stories are about the development of robotics, primarily at the US Robotics company, and the development of robots' behavior. There *are* stories about robots who go crazy, etc, but still nothing close to the insipid robots take over story of the movie.

[Liberal Classic]

27. Won't be I, Robot for me without

Powell and Donovan!

[sir_captain]

28. Good call

[Gothmog]

16. Movie is not based on book

I read and loved the Robot series by Asimov. I understand that this movie is not really based on the books other than perhaps making reference to the three laws of robotics.

[Salviati]

17. I saw a screenplay for a I Robot movie in the bookstore the other day...

it was written by Harlan Ellison back when Asimov was around. I didn't do anything more than briefly flip through it, so it was really hard to get a feel for it. Has anyone out there read it, and if so does it look anything remotely like the movie coming out?

[sir_captain]

20. No

that's a classic screenplay that has nothing to do with the current one, sadly.

[Salviati]

23. That's what I had assumed...

[TrogL]

18. I've got a copy

From what I've seen on the preview, the movie has absolutely nothing to do with the book.

[shain from kane]

24. I saw the paperback at the bookstore with a

scene from the movie on the cover, but it was still the same short story collection by Asimov.

[Liberal Classic]

25. I speculate the movie is going to be The Caves of Steel

I, Robot was a collection of short stories.

[sir_captain]

33. Neh

it's based on a shitty screenplay that was floating around which they then slapped the I, Robot name onto. I think any resemblace to Caves of Steel will be purely coincidental.

[Az]

29. Have read most of Asimov's works

Can't say I am looking forward to the MIB treatment of I Robot. When I heard Smith was in it I thought at first he was going to be playing the robot. Shoulda known.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

31. As I recall...

Asimov hated that constant retelling of the Frankenstein story where robots go crazy and turn on their masters. If the trailer is anything like the movie itself (and that's not always a sure thing), I think Asimov would have hated this movie.

...but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to see it!

[Jack Rabbit]

34. Years and years ago

:hi:

[Khephra]

35. The movie isn't going to be like the short stories at all

BUT...

The director is Alex Proyas (Dark City and The Crow), so it still might be worth seeing. I just wish Will wasn't in it. He's now become a "Star" and is now just playing himself like many other "Stars". (Think Billy Crystal)