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BICENTENNIAL MAN review
God I hate it when a studio’s marketing department
advertises a film as a complete piece of shit and it’s
actually a really really good movie.
The trailers for BICENTENNIAL MAN looked like a
trip to a dentist’s office that wasn’t run by Annette
Kellerman.... but instead by some fanged tooth
sadist.
I have been harboring hopes that this was the... new
Chris Columbus... I’d be seeing direct this movie.
You see.. I’ve had this theory about Chris Columbus.
There have been two Chris Columbus’ working in
Hollywood for the past decade. There’s been the
straight-forward... work for the studio... director of
Family films (HOME ALONE, HOME ALONE 2,
STEPMOM, NINE MONTHS, ETC).... And then
there is the Chris Columbus, the cool dude, that has
been writing and/or producing (DAREDEVIL,
FANTASTIC FOUR, MONKEYBONE,
GREMLINS, YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES,
LITTLE NEMO: ADVENTURES IN
SLUMBERLAND, THE GOONIES, etc).
I was hoping that cool Columbus was going to finally
emerge from his cocoon and be the geek director I’ve
been waiting for. I mean... when he chose
STEPMOM over FANTASTIC FOUR... I swear...
my heart nearly broke. It’s been my theory that
Columbus has been directing competent
entertainment for the studios to acheive a degree of
power in the industry with which he could then make
the cool movies he always wanted to make. Or at
least that was my belief.
Then the trailers for BICENTENNIAL MAN showed
up and it looked as if Columbus had turned Nicholas
Kazan’s wonderful screenplay that I had read into
MRS DOUBTFIRE: THE FOILED EDITION.
Being the optimist that I am, I begin recalling the
ocassions where idiotic marketing departments had
advertised Robin Williams films as pop-comedies
when in actuality they were... quite more (FISHER
KING, DEAD POETS SOCIETY, AWAKENINGS,
etc). Perhaps, the marketeers at Disney decided that
they could reach a larger market by putting out the
‘Comedy Beat’ trailer and suckering that mass
audience in with Robin Williams.
Who knows.. perhaps it’ll work. But the film I saw
today was not a Robin Williams comedy. There are
some comedic parts... But this movie is a film about
immortality vs mortality. A story about humanity. A
movie concerned with nobility, interracial romance,
existence and much more.
It isn’t “The Wild Adventures Of Robo-Robin And
The Pepsi Kid”.
For me, this is by far my favorite directoral effort
from Chris Columbus. Is it ‘Brilliant’ like one of our
earlier spy reviewers said?
Well, that depends on whether or not you realize that
DATA is a complete ripoff of Asimov’s writing and
that BICENTENNIAL MAN and THE
POSITRONIC MAN were written decades before
DATA was an inkling in Roddenberry or Berman’s
eye. Heck, if memory serves... those stories predate
the birth of Brent Spiner.
I liked this film quite a bit. It is... a very very good
movie. And when Columbus takes the next step in
his directing career... most likely SPIDER-MAN at
this point in time... then we will see his next best film.
Columbus for me has been a sleeping giant of future
cool movies. His scripts for Comic Book films have
been amazing collaborations with their respective
co-writers... and I’ve been dying for him to... come
out of the closet and be the geek director I have been
hoping he’d be.
It isn’t a literal adaptation of BICENTENNIAL
MAN, but it’s a damn good film of it’s own right.
One of the complaints I have heard has centered
around the design of the robot. Frankly... it’s a
Robot designed by a corporate entity that intended for
it to be a household appliance. Look at you blender...
pretty cool huh? That Microwave? It’s the Fonz
man, right? And that self-cleaning Fridge?
That’s the angle they took with designing Andrew in
this movie. He’s just supposed to be slick and clean
looking. To me... he looks about like something
some damn corporate robot company would come up
with. And... that’s kinda why Andrew wants to grow
and change. He isn’t cold and mechanical... Inside
him he has a soul, and wishes.
As for the world of the future? Well... it’s pretty
spiffy. Nice digital matte paintings, but what I like is
while time is moving on... while changes are being
made... There isn’t too much RADICAL change.
And that’s comforting. Yeah... there’s flying cars and
towers and holographic signs.... Actually in a way...
this film fits a bit into the BACK TO THE FUTURE
universe of the future.... though without that number
of corporate endorsements.
The problems with the film? Well... I was kinda
hoping for a John Williams score with this film, but
didn’t get it. And... well that’s about it for me. I’m
sure we’ll hear some kneejerk “Man, that’s like a
ripoff of MEASURE OF A MAN from ST:TNG!!!
This movie sucks!” stuff... but frankly this egg came
before that chicken.
Chris Columbus has some interesting project on his
platter next. Like I said earlier, he’s the current Front
Runner for SPIDER-MAN, and after this movie... I’m
totally ok with that. He’s also got a really wonderful
script by Michael B Valle called SHERLOCK
HOLMES AND THE VENGENCE OF DRACULA
that I’m in the midst of reading that he’s rumored to
be interested in. As well as those FANTASTIC
FOUR and DAREDEVIL projects.
He’s a director for us to begin watching very very
very closely. He’s about to wow a bunch of us I
think. We’ll see.
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but I don't want to reward crappy trailer making. I've read the original story, and while I like it, I don't think it's a story for today. Asimov's original story is rather sentimental and sappy, but it works...I'm not a big fan of sentimental movies anymore though...I'd rather have seen "Nightfall" as the Asimov movie to make it to the theaters, not "Bicent. Man" (which worked as a short story, but didn't work as a novelization, and I'm afraid won't work as a movie)...even though I now have Harry's qualified support for the film, I still am a little leary...I think I'll just save my money for Magnolia and Green Mile...or perhaps go see Being John Malkovich again. -Loki
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This is my first TB post too.
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I am about to cry.
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Why does it seem like studios are competeting for the shittiest trailer of the year? Is there some financial benefit for getting a Razzie (do they give Razzie's for trailers)? Is it just my memory, or is this a really shitty year for trailers, especially considering the abnormally good movies that have come out recently? Okay, shittiest trailers so far this year: Light It Up, Bicentenial Man, Three Kings, Bats...best trailers this year: Magnolia, American Beauty, Fight Club, Blair Witch Project, Sixth Sense, Matrix...okay, everyone, lock in your votes. -Loki
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Harry, the reason you will hear some people saying they've seen this before is simple. It does not matter to the average Joe who does not obsess over Asimov which character was written first. Whether Data was conceived before Bicentennial, on paper, makes no difference. The point is, on screen, Data existed first. In addition, since Data, there have been lots of clones of him, where either Robots or Aliens attempt to become more human. In general, this is a topic with which I could definitely do without any further exploration. Look at Robin try to tell a joke!! (It's ironic, you see, because he's really a very funny comedian.) Look at Robin take statements literally and inadvertently change their meaning. ("Open the window. Now Jump... no, out the window!") *wipes tears of laughter/joy off cheek* Oh, Robin. You're on quite the roll of late, what with Jakob, Patch Adams, and What Dreams may come all in the last 12 months. Wow. Could you be more out of touch with your audience? Ah, well. Good luck with the FD2K flick. --Renly
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Ok, so Columbus has been making movies for awhile, and successful ones at that, but he hasn't followed through on any of the really 'cool' things. I wonder why he passed on FF??? That would be the movie I would want him to make, not Spider-Man.
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And it's not like you had much to write...you've lost the great and only honor that can be bestowed upon you in Talkback...the joy of being first. (well, it's not the only honors...the other honors are being accused of being LaneMyers or Harry in disguise, but those are just kinda dumb). Sorry, but you will forever be branded with the shame of being SECOND...we all point and laugh at you right now....okay, now that that's over, welcome to the fold...next time, try to say something interesting...or if you can't say something interesting, call someone a fucking idiot and insult Spielberg/Lucas/Besson/Darabont/X-Men/LotR/etc, or recommend Norton/Depp/Fincher/Ron Jeremy/etc. for your pet project...then you're a real talkbacker. Right now, you're just hogging my bandwidth. -Loki
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I am so sorry. I read the review, clicked on talkback, and then I had a "moment" thinking about that Pepsi girl, and, well, things got "out of hand" (or maybe "in hand" if you know what I mean). I will work harder on being the annoying "FIRST!" guy in the future. Please forgive me everyone.
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I thought this was called "The Bisexual Man". My mistake! But who really cares I'll just save my money. Robin Williams in a robosuit. That's not what I want the most for christmas.
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by the way. How about starting to give your reviews stars. Oh, even better. How about giving the reviews little Harry heads! 3 Harry heads out of 5. That would be kinda cool.
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If you say so Harry... I usually agree with your opnions. If you say Columbus is to become the cool moviemaker you say he is... I trust you. And you better be damn right if he is to do Spiderman and the Sherloch vs. Dracula thing!
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Except, I too, was thinking about the Pepsi girl, except it just wasn't happening. Then I remembered that Natalie Portman was a Pepsi girl, err, woman too, and I felt much better. But then I remembered that Natalie Portman was on more than one can, and since I don't drink diet anything, it took me a little longer to find every can. Anyway, here I am, but I WAS first. Kneejerk reactions may be justified. Print versions may predate Trek, but Trek still predates Film version, and comparisons are not necessarily out of place. Does Film version claim to borrow only from Print version?
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Loki Trikster, good enough to graduate, but, the second trailer issued for Three Kings is textbook perfect on how to salvage a campaign and redirect in two plus minutes the unique qualities of a film and deliver something quite galvanizing. Worst trailer? Now everybody, repeat after me S-U-P-E-R-N-O-V-A
The best clearly, and at a huge risk of losing audience interest by running near 3minutes-and yet still delivered in tone, a compelling but not all too revealing whisper of the joys and potency that lay in AMERICAN BEAUTY. "Look closer" tag line integration even within the film will be taught for years to come. Oh yeah, where the hell am I and how do I get back... -
I think I blocked it out...I saw that attached to Being JM, which is about the worst crowd for it...the arthouse flick goer does not go see shitty fake sci-fi movies. But that film still doesn't entirely count...because from what I've heard, that piece of shit is absolutely unsalvagable...the thing is, Three Kings was a very good movie, and the original trailer made it look painful. I never would have seen it if not for the good reviews on sites like this (okay...only this site...I don't have enough time to skim every site). Oh, and Hotspur (Why Hotspur...why not Falstaff or even Hal?), please...no Harry heads...the last thing I want to think about is Harry giving head. -Loki
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ok, I know this has absolutely nothing to with this subject. I'm just so fucking happy. I just heard that Russell Crowe recieved the best actor award from The National Board of Review for "The Insider". If that doesn't make your day - nothing will.
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Gee, I dunno. I'd like to think that somewhere within Chris Columbus lurks a cool guy who could do these two great comics justice, but damned if he hasn't directed some of the crappiest films in recent years. My gut instinct is that of those two potential projects, I'd rather see him on the Fantastic Four. The FF are a family superhero team, and at the very least, Columbus knows family territory pretty well. Hard to get excited about it though. I need more evidence of Chris's alleged coolness before I start to get any hopes up...
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I certainly hope you bowed down low and genuflecked in the direction of wherever he is when you uttered the words "Data" and "Brent Spiner". I certainly hope you did...
With a Nod to Robbie, and "The Robot", and how course a bow to Hal (though technically I gues he wasn't a robot) where there ever any greater?
Perhaps R2. Maybe.
I am, Forever Milo -
Asimov's "The Bicentennial Man" was written in 1976, for the American bicentennial. I have no idea when "The Positronic Man" was written, but Asimov began writing positronic robot stories back in the 40s. The idea has been used by several writers besides the scriptwriters for this film, without Asimov (or anyone else) deciding that it was a "rip off."
Data in Star Trek (and what *he* has to do with a movie adaptation of the Asimov story) clearly was based in some ways on Asimov's robots, but was just as clearly original in others.
Finally, I cannot believe you're still lauding "Young Sherlock Holmes," one of the most ridiculous films of the 80s. It isn't even close to the Holmes canon (Holmes and Watson met as adults; the actor playing Holmes has brown eyes, not grey; Watson is actually a couple of years *older* than Holmes, not younger, and is nowhere described as a comical fat boy), and has the single dumbest plot element I've ever seen (is it even slightly credible that a several hundred person non-Caucasian cult could build this enormous pyramid in the middle of Victorian London without anyone realizing it?). Saying that Chris Columbus could turn into a good director based on movies like this is completely out in left field. Also, it's plenty ironic that you liked this desecration of Conan Doyle but criticize the scriptwriter for "rip offing" Isaac Asimov. Either you're a purist or you aren't. Which is it? -
Actually Harry..."Positronic Man" was a novel-sized expansion of Asimov's story, written by Robert Silverberg. I think he did an admirable job...his expansion of "The Ugly Little Boy" is well done, too.
As far as trailers go...the worst would have to be BATS ("It's a bat hair day!"...oh christ), IRON GIANT (if only for giving away the ending), and of course, BICENTENNIAL MAN. ..... Best? ANNA AND THE KING, DINOSAUR, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2, and lest we forget the killer trailer for EPISODE 1.... -
Dec 09, 1999 9:12:17 AM CST
Trailers: part of the reason Hollywood is not getting the messa
by r_dimitri22
The trailer for Bicentennial Man inspires me to stay as far away from the movie as I can. I was at a special program put together by the D.C. Film Society a couple of weeks ago. They showed us about twenty of the holiday season's movie trailers, and discussion about these trailers was led by some famous film critic (though I was not sure who his employer is). The discussion was mainly centered around which trailers were "good" and which were "bad." However, I thought most of the people in the audience missed the point, because they voted the trailer for The Hurricane as the best one that we saw! Personally, I think The Hurricane will be a good movie, and I look forward to seeing it. However, that trailer is horrible! It gives away every single plot point. This act is more forgivable with a historical drama, but I still find it to be very annoying. A trailer should be able to make the audience want to see the movie without spoonfeeding them everything ahead of time. The audience voted the Supernova trailer as the worst, but I think they did so more because the movie is obviously awful than for anything specifically wrong with the trailer. The film critic said that he would tell others about our input. I talked to him after the show about my problems with The Hurricane trailer and how I thought the audience was voting for the anticipated quality of the movies rather than the quality of the trailers, but I do not think it will help. The public has spoken, and they do not seem to care about spoilers. I love a good trailer (I nominate Hitchcock's The Birds as the best of all time), but maybe it is time for me to bring earplugs and a blindfold to every movie.
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the fact that we KNOW he's a good actor. That's what pisses us off when he plays it sugary-sweet. Take Good Will Hunting, for example. WOW.
I hope they play this one straight, at least the second & third act. -
Dec 09, 1999 9:26:53 AM CST
Is spiderman going to hold his face and scream "AHHHHHH"???
by funny ha ha
Two words: CANDY ASS. Maybe He'll revive McCauley's career and make him Peter Parker? Ugh. Or perhaps we'll have Hugh Grant stuttering around "Well, what I w-ww--was trying to say, actually, Is th-that w-with great power comes great responsibility, you see.." Where's the action credentials in this guy's background? Writing credits on the GOONIES? Brosnan catching an orange in the head in Doubtfire? Sheeesh! I see this as turning out like the lame Spidey Hour of the 80's, where neither Spiderman, Iceman, or "Firestar" (the Evil bastardization of a Galactus Herald) NEVER punched a villain! His movies are too sunny and feel good for Spiderman! Spiderman is ultimately a depressing character who only briefly wins in his life!
I'm not asking for another "Dark Knight," but I would like to see a director with some angst in his background. Of the movies I've seen of Columbus, his version of the hardship is Elizabeth Shue singing the babysitter blues... -
Don't feed us this line of horsepucky Harry. The last thing this world needs is another friggin Robin Williams movie where he feels the pain and realizes just how wonderful it is to walk outside and see the blue sky and the green grass and the warm friggin sunshine!!! Nononononono! Enough is enough.
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Wow, I thought I would never have to respond to some of the bullshit spin Knowle's puts on stduio choices, but this one takes the F*&KIN cake! Columbus is a Whorrible choice, and Harry knows it. but he also knows what the inside word is at Sony, and it's not like he divulges everything he finds out. To me, this reads like an AICN attempt at Fan-Control, so when the word comes out that Columbia has passed on Fincher for Columbus, Harry can say "well, I've had no problem with the choice since I saw Bi-Man", and not have to make a case as to why Fincher was the better candidate. This way, no feathers are ruffled at Sony, and face is saved with the fanbase. Don't want to step on anyone's toes, lest we lose a contact. Oh yeah, I can see how someone who wanted Scorcese to do this film, could be happy with Columbus. That's not a step down. It's more like a leap.
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I hate to say it but I actually agree with the Warrior. Isn't it stardard nowadays that an oldie always has to be stuck in a cute movie? Makes me sick. (actually I think we can blame Risky Business for starting that shit)
Hate williams, Good Morning Vietnam was his last good film for me. Everything else belongs on the Lifetime Channel.
Why o Lord o why are there so many GREAT sci-fi ideas out there in print..and they pick bullshit for the screen? Asimov's Nightfall or Hostess would have been a far greater movie..but its the "holiday" season so we need films to make us all feel good.
Humbug!
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Although I was not impressed with the mention of Columbus or Fincher, I'm beginning to change my mind.
Columbus can do this. And he would do the character justice. If you read his Daredevil script, the only problem with it is that he tried to fit too much of the character's history in it. But he was always true to the character.
I'd take that over anyone who could direct great action, but wouldn't stay true to the character. -
because I really don't wanna see Fincher do this. He has been mentioned for so many cool projects. The Black Dahlia, Rendezvous With Rama and The Sky is Falling are three movies I would pick every day and twice on Sunday in favour of Spider-Man. Why is it they always want to make comic books into movies? How many times has it turned out good? I don't remember one. Not even Batman. It was ok, but nothing to scream and jump around about.
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Well, I'll have to wait for some further reviews of BM (bowel movement?) - frankly while I love this site and check it daily, Harry's track record has been, shall we say, spotty over the past year. Two words: Wild Wild West.
As to Columbus on Spider-Man, this seems to come out of the blue. What is his front-runner status based upon. I agree with Doctor Doom (and if you recheck your calculations I think you'll find that you're off by a few decimal places there) that I would much rather see a FF movie by Columbus. By the way, over on the FF discussion group, there's talk of the script for the Fantastic Four movie involving Doctor Doom turning into the Statue of Liberty!!!??? Can this possibly be right? If so, then lets hope this film never gets made. Maybe they can get Arnold to play the Invisible Woman. -
Harry, one mild complaint, comment, reaction to your Data is a rip-off creation. Who cares! I'm a little tired of people like Lucas who act like they created a genre and no one is allowed to play. I'm tired of words & terms like "ripped-off," and "stolen." It's just like the Blair Witch Project and all the nimrods crying that two or three other movies did the live action cam stuff first. As I said before, who cares? They didn't invent witches or horror movies either. Star Wars wasn't the first sci-fi but even if it was, does that mean no one else can film spaceships shooting at each other? Everybody is suing everbody else screaming "my idea." Well, we're all influenced by what we have seen, read and experienced and this includes, Lucas, Spielberg and Asimov. There's nothing wrong with that, it's how we evolve and learn (much like Bicentenial Man). Now let me apologize for my tirade. I'm just tired of reading at the end of every movie "not based on any real events, people, etc." The world has just gotten to legal for me and I had to vent.
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Wild Wild West is available on DVD and video! Buy your copy today!
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...an expensive ripoff of Small Wonder, that ridiculous sitcom from the 80s that had a robot pose as a little girl in a typical American Family. Oh sure, they changed sexes for the robot, but the themes are still the same. Can a robot have a soul? Unfortunately for Bicentennial Man I think Small Wonder actually succeeded, where Robin Williams and CC probably didn't. And another thing, any episode of Small Wonder was 10 times funnier than anything Mr. Williams has done.
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... Dabney Coleman. No two ways about it.
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Today's Variety reports that the final two candidates to helm Spidey are Fincher and Columbus..."Fincher
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I was tricked into seeing bi-man recently and it blew! I'm getting the feeling Harry isn't giving us an honest review of this awful movie because he doesn't want to get put on Columbus' shit-list. Just incase Columbus does do spider-man. Bi man was awful not as bad as jakob the liar but close. Is the pic on the website true? Once upon a time a boy named Harry Sold Out!!
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Dec 09, 1999 12:39:31 PM CST
Nah...still not buying into it. It may not be a comedy, but I b
by dennis
I don't need to be force-fed sentiment. It's the same reason I refused to see Patch Adams. Until I read a whole lot of reviews, I'm going to give this and any other Robin Williams films a wide berth. He's become the American version of Roberto Bergnini.
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I don't think I will go near this one, it looks creepy, creepy in a 'OH MY GOD THE PUKE IS STUCK IN MY THROAT BECAUSE IT IS ANOTHER MOVIE WITH ROBIN DIE ALREADY WILLLIAMS!!!!
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I laughed out loud at your comment to scroob(sp?), that sums up a lot of posts to this site. As far as Chris Columbus, am I the only one that thinks that all the movies Chris had done sucks. I for one don't want to see him do Spiderman or FF. I'd rather see a more adult movie out of either of those. Between the two I'd rather see FF come to the screen, I don't see what the big deal is about Spiderman is anyways (**personal opinion folks**). As far as BM, it really doesn't look like there is going to be anything really original in that flick anyways. I agree with whoever said that Data came to the screen first, and I think that saying that BMan was first in print is bulls**t. If you haven't read those books, then it doesn't matter.
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also mentions a third possible director: Tim Burton. In fact, the article makes it seem like he's the frontrunner. As for Fincher, well last I heard he thought the script for Spiderman needed a lot of work and would rather concentrate on getting his dream project-- "The Black Dahlia"-- made. And by the way, I'd rather go down on Caren Manheim then pay to see Bicentennial Man.
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does anyone hear it? Anyway, I'm a big Asimov fan, and I don't think I'll be seeing this movie. Why? Because you don't mess with a classic. It's the same reason that I quickly gave up on the "novelization" of some of Asimov's short stories. Damn, that man could write. Every word has meaning. The stories fit together tightly and have a message. Why would you want to mess with something like that. Oh, and I agree with the folks up above (high up above) about Data. It doesn't really matter any more which came first, Data or Robbie. The fact is that millions of people have seen Brent Spiner expound, at length, on themes introduced by Asimov. Just because Asimov came up with those themes doesn't mean a movie based on an Asimov story will make them new again.
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I still say the robot looks like the robot from the "Mister Roboto" video, who in turn looked like a cross between Buddha and C-3PO. If they do have to throw in a dance number to an oldie in "Bicentennial Man," why not this one? Seeing Williams gyrate around shouting "Kilroy! Kilroy!" could actually be funny. As for Fincher directing 'Spider-Man,' didn't he already turn it down? I find it funny that Harry - and others - rightfully complain about soulless movies, are suggesting that Sony throw lots of money at Fincher so he'll direct Spidey. Wouldn't this result in another soulless movie? But then again, Fincher is a geek god, so I guess it wouldn't be, right? Maybe they could get Edward Norton to direct...
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So I guess we can look forward to more slightly-sadistic Home Alone-style action sequences, with Spidey yelling "yes!!!!!" after every bad guy he beats up and taunting his maimed victims with clever one-liners like "gosh, I'm really scared, better come get me before I call the cops!!!". And I'm sure we can look forward to the touching subplot of Peter's relationship to Aunt May, who turn out in the end to be actually his father in drag. I can see the posters now...Robin Williams as Doc Ock!!! What about Columbus makes anyone think he can be an action director, or barring that, make movies for an entirely different age bracket! He hasn't made any film geared towards the 20s-30s MALE crowd, all his films are geared towards the mother-daughter moviegoers, although he does have a penchant for the slightly disturbed....cross-dressing dad, anyone?
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1. Data was first on film. Literature is a completely different category. That is why books are never directly adapted to film (word for word dialogue, etc.,).
2. Columbus has sucked for a long time. He keeps getting worse as he gets more power. Sorry Harry, I don't see any hope for a transformation.
3. This review does not impact me at all. Too many others have seen it and consequentially emptied their intestinal contents to the floor. That Harry like it means nothing. I have a friend who liked WWW. Her and Harry are the only two people I know who didn't demand their money back on that one. One opinion out of a humdred does not motivate me to even want to rent it.
4. I will not see BM.....ever. -
Harry, I don't believe you.
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This is another case of the general public being SHEEP...LEMMINGS...what's up with all of these Talk Backs dissing Bicentennial Man on the basis of a badly-made trailer? Wait until you SEE the friggin movie to put it down, people. Or you could sling crap at it like an immature monkey mob. ...(my favorite line from this bunch of Talk Backs: "Two words: Wild Wild West.")
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I only have so much money and there are so many movies I want to see that I just cannot see risking my money and viewing time on this movie. Although, I refuse to diss on it before I see it; I hate doing that (though there are some movies where it is warrented like the afore mentioned Supernova...yikes). This movie looks like a pretty decent rental with a storyline I happen to have an interest in. I also want to see how they envision the future.***Is it me or do a lot of people seem to forget the performances of Williams in Good Morning Vietnam, Awakenings and Good Will Hunting? (He stole the show in Good Will Hunting, IMO.)
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Skroob, you are a complete idiot, you were not first as it turned out. BWHAHAHAHAHA you silly student who goes to Indiana. Been out back with the cows lately? Did the coach hit you on the head? Why don't you just leave and come later when you have your degree in hyper-stupidity.
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Teko, that was hilarious! Of course, that phrase is so funny that it makes me want to be part of the immature monkey mob.
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There is not one mention of Tim Burton in that article.
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I nearly blew chunks when I heard Robin Williams was doing this movie last year. Now, my worst fears are realized; another fine science fiction work given the "treatment" for the masses. The result? A somewhat goofy adaption that should be at your local video store next month. If you want some insight into how The Good Doctor felt about Hollywood and how they treated his works, find the back issue of Asimov's magazine with Harlan Ellison's ORIGINAL, OUTSTANDING, screenplay for "I, Robot" printed therein. NEWS FLASH. "Nightfall" HAS been made into a film. It went to video in 30 seconds, uniformly sucked rocks, and The Good Doctor was left with a bad taste over it. When he and Harlan pitched the screenplay for "I, Robot", they were so underwhelmed, I believe the thought was "not while I'm still alive". So, Columbus waits until The Good Doctor is taking the dirt nap and freely admits to the press that he only followed the 40 page source work "...for the first HALF of the movie..." and the rest basically came out of his ass. (It shows) Granted, BM is a short story that was NOT part of "I, Robot", but hey, it's still armed robbery whether it's a liquor store or a McDonald's.
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Today's Variety, page 5, Inside Moves, and I quote--
"David Fincher and Tim Burton have emerged as the top candidates to direct Sony Pictures Entertainment's epic "Spiderman", with Chris Columbus in the picture, too. -
Not sure if anyone mentioned this yet but both those directors are in the lead and are in final negotiations. Both directors sound good to me for Spider-Man.
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My mom has a cat named Teko.
Sorry buddy, but we've got more than a trailer to deal with. We've got crappy track records and the general appearance of an olestra packed, made for the mindless massses, big budget hot air production. I hated (sorry there is not a word strong enough, hate will have to do) Mrs. Doubtfire. This looks like Mrs. Doubtfire Gets a Lube Job. Williams sucks in these types of family feel good movies.
Granted, a film can be much better than its trailer, but I don't remember exactly staring in horror at the trailers for Awakenings, good Will Hunting, or Dead Poets. I am assuming that all of the footage used in the BM trailer will actually be in the film. Reason enough for me not to see it and watch while some of my more easily misguided friends to pay out $8.50. When I saw this trailer before Toy Story 2, no one even laughed. A theater full of the target audience and nothing but blank stares. I think I'll go ahead and make a judgement based on all of this. Since I can't spend my time going to see every film that comes out, I'm gong to pass. -
...BUT wasn't "Short Circuit" first? I mean before Data... That movie rules!
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However, my copy of Variety substitutes Tim Burton for Joe Dante. Strange, no?
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Dec 09, 1999 4:46:06 PM CST
Harry, you have given me hope, to loki, to GEC (and others calli
by proph je
Harry, Thank you so much for telling me this is a goodie! I wanted it to be, and now if it is, KICK ASS! -- -- -- -- -- - -- - - -- - -
Tiko, you go first. Positronic man was written by both Asimov and silverberg -- -- - - -- -- - -- - -- - - Loki, why didn't the novel work for you? Am curious. - - -- - -- - -- GEC (and others) Robots in science fiction are more than big explosions and strangling people. Don't like the depthness, then get in the shallow end of the pool (and the gene pool for that matter)- - -- - --- - - -- - - Elid, Data was a complete rip off of Asmivo's ideas. At least, where it mattered. The only thing that wasn't from asimov was the emotion issue (or lack of) but almost everything else was.- - -- - - - -- -- - There is a nightfall movie. DONT WATCH IT> IT SUCKS -
I think Columbus would do a fine job....better than the other mentioned directors...sure he has tackled some so called feel good films, (stepmom was a very depressing film so i don't know if you call that feel good) but what his films do have his heart. HEART!!! DAMN IT!! HEART!!! A quality that is rare in most films today...there isn't enough of them...Tim Burton i love...but this film isn't his style and i wouldn't want him trying to change it to a dark forboding film.....same with fincher who believes his films need to scar. also...this film doesn't need to be some action throw away summer popcorn flick that has no story...this is not a film i wanna forget about 10 minutes after walking out the cinema...it needs to be about the characters first, not the action...a chimp with the right tools can direct action...its the moments that are in between that carry the movie...and i think columbus can carry that with ease...do you think it all falls on his on the spot imagination for directing cool action scenes....with a good D.P.....solid storyboards.... a great cameraman....he will be able to pull it off...thats how films are done...with preparation...so what if he is not the flavor of the month director...screw being hip and trendy...i'll take a class film any day over that...i think columbus deserves his shot at it...i am tired of the whole gothic feel the fanboys or so called fan boys think every film needs...you can take that dark and brooding tone and cram it up your stuffy asses...the matrix has been made now....calm down and try and think of seeing something new...don't get me wrong....i like the matrix...but every film doesn't need that look....especially this one...people have become so jaded that the can't seem to handle more light-hearted fare...and as for his writing kiddi characters...he isn't writing it....david koepp is...but i think a polish from columbus would work fine...he can find a happy medium between his adult characters and the children...as another poster said earlier....he did write GREMLINS. my first choise like i said would have been joe johnston....he did a class comic adaptation....the rocketeer...i hope i come away from spider-man with the feeling i got from the rocketeer...the feeling of wonder and awe inspiring moments...i just see spidey on a bigger scale...then get either Ethan Embry or Tobey Mcguire as peter parker and were sorted.
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Dec 09, 1999 5:03:55 PM CST
kkrankk says: Columbus is the dull-but-safe choice for SPIDER-MA
by kkrankk
Based on his previous movies, I'm not holding my breath waiting for Columbus' inner fanboy to emerge.
I think Harry's doing some serious brown-nosing because he realizes what kind of director Sony wants for SPIDER-MAN and he wants a friendly source of information for what will be one of the biggest fanboy wetdream movies ever. And there's no way I'm wasting my cash on another Robin "I'm so human" Williams piece of crap. -
Good idea for story, not very dramatic, however. No climax is to be found here and genuine emotion is scarce. Give me more moments like Sam Neil watching he and his daugther dance on the pond via Andrew's "crannial cam" and I'd be along for the ride. The cheap humor of sassy robots and bodily function gags grew tiresome as did all of the surprisingly staid deathbed scenes that tried to be passed off as tender moments. I kept waiting for conflict, heroics, justice, and more "dance on the water" scenes; they never came.
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Dec 09, 1999 5:17:45 PM CST
You know, Burton might not be such a bad choice for Spiderman.
by dennis
Hear me out. First of all, not all his films are dark - Edward Scissorhands and Mars!Attacks had an entirely different look to them. Also, we know Burton always adds the misfit factor to all of his films, which is entirely appropriate for Spiderman. Now, if he can't make a faithful adaptation, I'd rather him not do it. He should've stuck to the source material for his Batman films. While I found his Batman's entertaining, they were not Batman. But, I'd rather have Burton over Columbus -- no question.
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Let me preface this by saying I am not familiar with the Spiderman comic books...I've watched every cartoon series, but I know that doesn't qualify me as a SM expert. I have a base knowledge of the character though, enough to say that this seems like a pretty angst-ridden guy. I would argue that this is what Fincher has specialized in for a while. And to say that his films have no heart, I would point to the Morgran Freeman/Gwyneth Paltrow scene in Seven, the ending reconciliation of Michael Douglas/Sean Penn, or even the relationship between Tyler Durden and Marla in Fight Club (which really becomes heartbreaking when you see it the second time). Fincher's films have heart, but he seems to be saying it's pretty hard to find that in our current society. Would he be able to capture the painful emotions of Peter Parker? Deinitely. Would he have been a better director for Batman? Definitely. Should David Fincher do Spiderman? Of course not. I would rather see Fincher do something where the subject matter doesn't overshadow the guy directing it. Fincher already experimented with Alien3 and did a credible job...but I think his future in film lies with daring original visions, not cool adaptions of comic heroes, no matter how interesting they may be. Give it to Columbus.
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A lot of Edward Scissorhands might have taken place during the daytime, but overall the film still have a dark feel to it.
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I was talking about the set design. The colors were bright for the daytime shots in Edward Scissorhands.
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...and it's fucking awsome!!!! It's on Drew's Script-o-rama sight!!!!
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Harry, an old Asimov fan here. "The Bicentennial Man" was a commission that Asimov took for a Robot story with that title, as I recall. It wasn't even specced - it was a story to be published in 1976, the Bicentennial. Asimov took the challege, wrote the story, and copped an award.
As for Data in STTNG being a ripoff, nah, not at all. It was a homage! Everyone knew where the positronic brain reference came from. The producers even mentioned it to interviewers. But it's cool you remember, Harry. -
...the chicken or the egg, it's about what tastes better. And that's all I'm going to say until I've actually seen this film and know the answer.
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Paddy, there is such a magical robot, and his name is Bender. "Kiss my shiney metal ass." My vote: Ed Furlong for PP. And out of those three directors... Burton: first, Fincher: second, Columbus: NEVER!
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I'm sorry to say this because every time I used to look at her I got an enormous woody... But ever since she started dorking Micheal Douglas, an old geriatric fart, I get sick to my stomach... I mean come on - she is younger than I am I think.
Sad waste.
ColdSun
P.S. I'll wait to see B-Man when it comes to video. Green Mile and some others are much better choices to see. -
"Hi, my name is Harry. I used to be cool and sometimes I still get cool stuff posted to my web site. But I also get free trips to LA (and once they sent me to New York to see Godzilla), private screenings, and free movies from the studios - so whenever you read a review of a new movie from me keep that in mind. Because, if I could get my head out of Chris Columbus' ass I would tell you this movie sucked. Thanks, that's it for now".
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Data = Pinocchio
anyhow, hollywoods goal isnt to faithfully bring good science fiction to the screen. Its to brin g in the bucks, thats it. Its an industry. Accept that, lower your standards for films, and then go read a book for the real deal. Every fanboy and his brother awaits for that one really cool movie that will hit it just right, but in an industry aimed at delivering a product aimed at the target audience which will bring in the most money, dont get all excited. Put your place in the shoes of a studio executive for a moment. You are investing MILLIONS of dollars into a movie. This accounts for the livelihood of thousands of people here. Art vs. Industry. -
i have been getting that feeling lately too. This movie sucked. Harry (Mr. I was in The Faculty)is selling out on this one.
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Dec 10, 1999 3:39:36 PM CST
SPIDER-MAN SCRIPT ON DREW'S SCRIPT-O-RAMA SIGHT!!! CHECK IT OUT!
by sexualchocolate1
All I gotta say is it is soooo great. But, whatever you do, DON'T
read the actual script version cuz it sucks within the first two pages. Instead, click on the SCRIPTMENT version, which is right above it! Enjoy! -
It has some good points, like the initial introduction of the character, a cute little joke about how Mary Jane finds spiders "icky", and Parker's nerdiness. And I don't mind changes, to a certain degree. If it makes sense, like the costumes, etc...fine. But Cameron makes inexplicably stupid changes, like changing Flash Thompson's name, making him a jock who's a tennis snob (WTF?!), turning the Mary Jane character into a Felicia rip-off, creating his own villian (who is just toooo cliche, by the way), and making Peter the boy from the wrong side of the tracks who goes to the rich kid's school. The organic web spinner idea is interesting, but faulted -- Parker's true strength is his mind, and to make his webbing come out of his wrists takes away from that.
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I saw two different versions, one with Doc Ock and Peter in college, and one with Sandman and a new villain with Peter in high school. I personally prefered the scriptment, the later version seemed a little bit too cheesy, although I can imagine some of the special effect shots would be pretty cool. Dennis, I thought the scriptment itself was actually pretty good, keeping in mind that when I view a superhero film, it almost becomes necessary to separate it from the comic as a different entity. Remember the majority of the audience has never picked up a Spidey comic book. As for the organic spinnerets, I posted a few things way back on how these would be untrue to the comic and would of course offend those who wanted the movie to be true to the original, but after reading the scriptment I think that the idea works. Cameron didn't just make these changes on a whim, he's using Parker's transformation into Spiderman as a metaphor for adolescene and puberty, and I think the spinnerets provide a wonderful internal conflict for Parker's continually changing self-image, a constant reminder of what he is and how he overcomes that to eventual self-acceptance. Basically, what I appreciated the most about the scriptment is that it actually had a point and the characters were developed, it wasn't just another mindless action fest. P.S. The Sandman scenes sound awesome!
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Again, the "selling out" accusation. Let's analyze this: Harry has a minority positive opinion on a film, so he's selling out. Gee- okay, so I'm selling out because I enjoyed THE AVENGERS, Harlan Ellison sold out when he gave DUNE a good review, and don't get me started on Roger Ebert and CONGO....
Harry's positive reviews have, as a rule, always outweighed his negative ones to a certain extent. He was never Leslie Halliwell or Pauline Kael. He's always been a hopeless movie buff. Nothing wrong with that, I say. Sure, he gets free stuff, but unless you can prove that the stuff is what makes him give positive reviews, you're making an unsupported accusation. -
Ya I think every one would like a little Harry Head now and then!!!
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I knew this was not gonna be a comedy thats why I wanted to see it in the first place. Man assuming too much sucks, the general public sucks too LOL.
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Now that makes sense!
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If you've came this far, I doubt spoiler warnings are neccesary.
I read the James Cameron last night, and all I can say is that the future films is based on this story I will surely be pleased. I can't tell everyone how pleased I was with it. Sure somethings could be fixed (Flash McCreary), but it would be the perfect start for Spiderman. It wasn't just an action movie. It actually had a purpose that easily worked within the Spiderman mythos. The idea that his webbing would be a natural part of his powers worked great for me, and I loved how he pretended to use the web shooters. I understand that Peter's intelligence is important to his character, but come on, its a huge stretch to imagine that this kid just decided to create a spider web like substance on a whim because his powers came from a spider. You know a company like DOW would kill to be able to come up with something like this. Besides, though it isn't exactly true to the original, I just think this idea works better in terms of the films overall themes. As to the villains, I like the way Cameron used such potentially lame characters as Sandman and Electro.(you have to admit Electro is a pathetic villain in the comics) The Electro character, in particular, makes for a perfect foil for this. He may have similarities to Kingpin, but his reasoning and methods are more than unique enough to substantiate him as a different. With the great plot and visuals that Cameron provided serving as the foundations for this film, I can only say that I hope the actual script is worthy of the treatment Cameron provided. -
My grammer isn't usually that poor. I wish there was a way to retract your own posts because, after perusing that message, I feel like an idiot.
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Your commenting on Robin and Chris' previous collaborations (MRS. DOUBTFIRE and BICENTENIAL MAN) made me ask what's next for them. Possibly a remake of THE ELECTRIC GRANDMOTHER? Just a thought.
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Try watching Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress. It stars (of course) Toshiro Mifune. It's really obvious Star Wars takes many elements from it, George Lucas even acknowledges it! A more blatant ripoff would be Reservoir Dogs. City on Fire, a Chow Yun-Fat and Danny Lee vehicle, is almost identical in plot line. Of course, the chronology is mixed in Reservoir Dogs. City on Fire is a bit better, especially in the action scenes. See it if you want to see Mr. Brown (not sure if that's him) shooting innocent people, rather then a description.
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...And check out both the 2nd draft of the script and a "scriptment" at http://simplyscripts.home.att.net
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...but that's BEYOND old news!
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Columbus is too safe and that is negative. There is no longer anything special about him. He isn't making films that do anything more than go through the motions.
The creativity is gone and directors like Chris Columbus need to retire off of the millions of dollars that they don't deserve until they can actually come up with an idea that will appeal to an audience. -
All of his movies hadve made me want to vomit, Stepmom made me cry, not because it was good, but becuase it was soooooo horribly horrible, it made a good actor like Ed Harris look like a theater reject, blah. Home Alone sucked, Mrs Doubtfire sucked, Home Alone 2 sucked, everything he touches is made for the studios, he has no balls, he makes Nora Ephron's movies look edgy, he makes me sick. He's the picture-esque corperate whore, in fact, I think I'll hang his picture on my wall to remind me what not to be like, to remind me that no matter how badly I sell out It won't even come close to his level, blech, ewww, to even asume that Bicentenial Man might not suck is impossible, the combination of a Commercial kid, Columbus, and the horribly pathetic Robins makes this possibly one of the worst movies ever, the premise sucks, the actors suck, the direct sucks, no no, saying the direct merely 'sucks' won't do it justice, Chris is the worst director ever, in the history of cimema, he is the worst, lest useful man to ever put a film in theaters, yet I'm willing to bet he has final cut, sadly, blech. Ewww, Saying Chris has potential is a disgrace to yourself and us and the film genre as a hole. Blech.
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Dispite me ripping off Triumph, Conan O's Insult Comic Dog, Columbus will kill Spidey.
I can just see Columbus saying, "No, no, Parker should say, 'Walloping websnappers!' here, he says that.".
Any director that makes shite like Step-Mom which had about as many cringe-inducing lines as Patch Adams, doesn't deserve to play with such an icon.
Too bad Pasolini is dead. He could've directed it. At least that would have guaranteed some actual shit-eating, rather than feeling you have after paying 9 bucks to watch a Columbus picture. -
Yossarian, I couldn't agree with you more...I don't have a problem with Robin Williams being in family films, but I think he really needs to mix it up more. He made a very strong showing as a serious dramatic actor when he did "Awakenings," "Fisher King" and "Good Morning Vietnam," but since then he's kind of given up on that. With the exception of "Good Will Hunting," all he seems to do anymore is schmaltzy, family or date-oriented stuff, and there have been some god-awful movies in the process ("Flubber" and "What Dreams May Come" were just painful to watch). I'm hoping for the best with this new movie, but I'm expecting the worst...TCM
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First off, i'd like to say, i love Fincher and his filming style. However, i'm not so eager to see him as directing the Web-Head simply due to the fact there isn't a screenplay or a plot i know of. If you take some stuff about hobgoblin, back in the day MacFarlane was doing Spidey, Fincher would be great for all the muck and darkness that Spidey wallowed in, but some of the plot lines surrounding his other villans are just not Fincher's style. Spidey is not classicaly a dark hero. He's not wolverine. He's a good guy who started his career on the idea that great power means great responsibility. I'm not saying he has no room for moodyness, or the shades of dark, but he's generally a light-side player who fights with bouts of remorse about a number of events in his past (uncle ben, etc.) i think both directors could do wonders, expecially with what i hear about bicentennial man. I suppose someone could script around each director, but who the hell is writing it anyway? I just forsee a bad screen interpretation of one of the greatest hero's of comic history, and it being due mostly to people's need to see darkened movies and anti-heroes.
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Asimov's first robot story, "Robbie" -- 1940
Brent Spiner born -- 19??
Asimov's I, ROBOT published -- 1950
FORBIDDEN PLANET's Robby the Robot -- 1956
Date of original story "The Bicentennial Man" -- 1976
ST:TNG's android Data -- 1987
Novelization by Robert Silverberg of Asimov's TBM as THE POSITRONIC MAN -- 1992
Two additional points:
1) Watch FORBIDDEN PLANET carefully, and you'll note that "Robby" obeys Asimov's laws of robotics, although they aren't stated explicitly -- and is it just coincidence that Asimov's first robot story was "Robbie"?
2) Data's "origin story" on ST:TNG explicitly states that Dr. Noonian Soong was inspired by Asimov's dream of positronic robots designed to serve mankind. Furthermore, Roddenberry KNEW Asimov and sought his blessing in creating Data as an homage to Asimov's stories.
In Summary: Just about ALL movie robots of the "good, helpful, or friendly" variety from the 1950s on, except for the expressly menacing ones like TERMINATOR, have been inspired, to one degree or another by Asimov's robot stories.
*For no particular reason, I just thought I'd mention in passing that the robot suit design used here in BICENTENNIAL MAN seems very similar to the robots portrayed by Andy Kaufman and Bernadette Peters in HEARTBEEPS.
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'Nuff said.
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Dec 17, 1999 6:42:33 AM CST
Is Bicentannial Man based on The Positronic Man by Aasimov?
by hobbithead
I haven't seen this movie yet, but it looks like it is based on The Positronic man, a book by Isaac Aasimov. Is that true?
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DATA is hardly a complete ripoff from Asimov's work. Many similar characters were in print long before Asimov took a crack at it. Of poarticular note was Adam Link, who embodied many of the Giant Robot/DATA/I, Robot themes prior to Asimov's work. And as far as Columbus is concerned, the films you list in his 'greats' are some of the worst ever. The Goonies? Gremlins ?@!#$ Garbage. If he ever gets involved with Fantastic Four or, God forbid, Spiderman, he will make us long for the days of Batman and Robin.
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Actually, Eando Binder wrote the first I, Robot, in 1939. I believe the Adam Link robot character was introduced here. Binder's robot stories greatly influenced Asimov's. They also were used for Star Trek and Outer Limits episodes. And are pretty similar to The Iron Giant.
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Well, friends, I have seen "Nightfall" at the movies and it REEKED! I loved the story but the film was damn near middle school grade fodder. It made "Fantastic Voyage" look good...and I'm not just talking about Raquel Welch and her squeezing antibodies. My point is...i liked "Bicentennial Man". Yes, it was sentimental and sappy. IT ALWAYS WAS. And I know the Good Doctor would have had his reservations................................BEWARE OF SPOILERS!.............................................................But I learned a long time that there ain't no Stana Claus, there ain't no Easter Bunny, and NO MOVIE, EVER will be as good as the novel, book, or short story. The worst part is the marketing. The theater I went was full of boring brats who were expecting a rat-it-tat-tat pop-comedy, Robin doing-the-hyperactive-thing again. Thank god, it was more than that. But as Susan Sarandon said on NPR, the suits that run Hollywood would just as soon design the poster first and then make the movie to match it. This movie was over the heads of half of the people in the theater because it is over the heads of the marketing droids that suit hire to fill the malls. But a Good Film sneaks through. I do have a program with the soundtrack. Celine Dion does one song and one song well and I saw "Titanic" enough (4 times) and NO more, Please! And James Horner, the music was great on "Titanic" but time to move on! Please don't keep recycling the same riffs, do something else!
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I went in really expecting to like this film...but it was awful. Sappy but yet non-sentimental, I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters. This makes my list of BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS OF THE YEAR....see Stuart Little instead, it's terrific!
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Sheesh, I think I see 1 review of this movie in the whole talkback. Everyone smashing it, yet no one seems to have seen it. Regardless, this movie was excellent. It had me bawlin' like a baby. This is not a science fiction movie, it has a sci fi wrapper on it, candy coated even, which I can understand getting in the way of the "purists", but this is as Knowles called it, its a movie about what it means to be human. It deals with serious issues. These are issues the american public rarely think about. I have issues with the movie it was far from perfect. Sometimes the candy coating got to the geek in me, my "corn" alarm would bleep every now and agian. But Ive learned to accept each movei for what it is, and not what I percieve it should be. A film is not a collaboration, it is a singular vision, and obviously you arent going to always please everyone. I think that society is going to be facing these issues sooner than they think. Cloning took us by surprise- who knows what the genetic research may give up- and who can really say when the first computer will "awaken"? Im happy to see this issue being raised and i hope it will appeal to those people who would never be reading these posts- those who are just beginning to realise big changes are happening. They are the other %85-95, and thats a huge number- get them thinking about things like this as often as possible. Then you geeks will be able to converse with a wider percent of the population, wont that be nice. My beautiful,sexy girlfreind bawled her eyes out and loved it (and she hates robin williams!)- good chick flick too guys!
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Sorry but this is one of the worst
pieces of shit in years. Harry,
your attempt to flatter Columbus
is ridiculous....the 'cool' projects you list, half of them
not even off the ground. He
directs (shitty) family entertainment because that is
what he is capable of, maybe
even what he WANTS to do. Please,
please don't let Chris Columbus
NEAR the Fantastic Four!!!!!!!!!
DOOM HAS SPOKEN -
I liked the movie,but it is, as usual,the cute and fuzzy,Chris Columbus movie.As for the comparison to Data,I was so glad to see that your reviewer knew that Data was the rip-off and not the other way around.Read the review on Cinescape.That reviewer was an idiot(still is-Yah,that's what I meant.)the sad thing is,he probably went to Harvard and is still an idiot.He probably just watched the really lame commercials.
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I don't understand how anyone, ANYONE, can think that this movie is anything but a sentimental, manipulative, unoriginal piece of cotton candy. Unispired directing and unfortunate choices seem to be the hallmark of Messrs. Columbus and Williams respectively and it is a shame that any reviewer would focus on this as a good, much less important or successful movie. I don't understand how a site called "ain't it cool" can give a measure of acceptance to this blatantly uncool crap. This movie was HORRIBLE. Robin williams doesn't care any more. Chris Columbus manipulates the audience so unskillfully that it is painful -- cue string section, close up on tear (digitally added?!?) running down face -- ugh! Who cares if this guy is directing Spider-Man, DareDevil, Fantastic Four, or anything else as I'm sure that it will SUCK! HARD!! This movie was violently bad. The people who spent money (120 million?!?) on this should be ashamed. Oh, I'm sure they think they've made something "important" -- you see it deals with mortality, and humanity and ISSUES!! Bullshit. I've read magazine articles that have had more depth. This is pre-fab emotion, ready-made, feel-good claptrap. DON'T SEE THIS...or do like I did and go and ridicule it. That alone is the entertainment value that this film brings to the table. Especially watch for the moment about 30 min. into the movie where you can see in Sam Neill's eyes just how bad he wants not to be in this movie...genius. Good luck.
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I wasn't gonna start this off by saying this, but, I loved this film.
Yup, it brought me to tears and I had to keep myself from totally bursting into tears. (Second time seeing Sixth Sense I sobbed my eyes out, crying for the first time in an entire year and more)
Heck, I'm 14 years old, and I'm a guy. It seems like most of you guys are majorly uptight unsentimental men who simply overlook the outstanding quality of a film like this because of an actor, or because it has very sappy overtones.
I don't understand why you are so intent on bashing the film. I, myself, am a huge Asimov fan, but I have not read the short or the novellization, but I know this film would make Asimov happy. The details are incredible, and Robin is surprisingly good in his role. I didn't expect much either, I wasn't even going to see the film, but I was dragged to it.
As for Fincher/Columbus/Burton... I didn't see Sleepy Hollow (Gave me bad vibes) but I know Burton's other work is really great, but I don't know how it'd work in Spiderman.
Fincher seems a little dark, but he could pull off the darker tones of spidey.
Columbus, well, I say go for it. But I am indifferent.
Oh well, Bi-man was strikingly good and it'll be a fave for quite a while.
Afext
http://www.electricbiscuit.com (Now hosting a Isaac Asimov site!) -
Overall it was a modestly entertaining movie on a superficial level. The problem I have is when a reviewer takes it to the next level and evaluates it for its message. The message was absolutely horrible from my perspective. A tree is not a person, an animal is not a person and only a person is a person. This far fetched example of an android taking on the characteristics of human is just another attempt to reduce the human condition to merely a happening, a statistical occurence or a freak of nature that should not be held any higher on the hierachy of the food chain than any other multi celled organism. The Hollywood mentality is constantly belittling the miracle of man and in the same breath minimizes our responsibility to rule all of natures gifts in a responsible manner. This is not the same as the knee jerk hug a tree mentality that is pervasive in the feel good, lets not take responsibility for the mental trash we spread calling it entertainment society called Hollywood. With authority comes the responsibility. If there ever comes a time when machines can think and feel it will be man's responsibility to treat them humanely.
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Let me say off the top that it took courage to do this film. B.M. seeems to take a lot of criticism for what it's not. It's not an action picture, there are no major explosions, no car chases, no scantilly clad nubile young females. These facts are going to divorce it from a large portion of the audience. It is likewise not a family picture, in that it will not hold the attention of a six year old, nor a Robin Williams comic vehicle. It instead a whisper in a world of shouts. It moves along with steady assurance and noble purpose. At it's heart is not only an examination of what it means to be human, but also the nature of prejudice. It is a gentle film which has, for lack of a better word, dignity. This may limit it's appeal to the "Terminator" set, but does not make it any less a good film.
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Uh...I havent the foggiest as to why all of you are slamming this film. I liked it. It wasn't a masterpiece to be sure, but it surprised me in a good way. I kinda felt like we, the audience, were the "immortal" robot Andrew...as he was immortal and unchanging throughout most of the movie - watching as his loved ones died off....we too were relatively unchanged though the movie, watching his loved ones die off. I dunno. That kind of struck me. Anyway, good film, but definately a mistake to take the 7 yr-old.
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Hello all...
I saw this movie last night, and it was excellent! I wish all science fiction movies could be made like this one. Minimal effects, but a fantastic story!
I have always been a huge fan of Isaac Asimov. His stories were not flowery or colorful like Shakespeare, but he always had fantastic ideas. One of his best ideas was the Positronic Robot, a robot with a brain similar to the human mind, and yet controlled by three laws: Do not harm humans. Obey humans. Protect its own existence.
He wrote many, many stories based upon these robots and various circumstances where the Three Laws might cause problems for the robots and their human operators. His most popular story from the series was the Bicentennial Man, a story about a "special" robot that did more than just follow the Three Laws: it showed creativity! It showed the rare spark necessary to grow and change and learn to be more than its original programming... just as a human being grows, changes, learns.
I am happy to say that Disney succeeded in translating this short story to the big screen with near-100% faith to Asimov's original vision. So, hurry up! Run to your car, get to the theater, and watch this movie!!!!! :) You won't regret it.
Troy :)
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A magnificent movie--unashamedly heavy in sentiment,but a great story,beautifully acted by all and about as low key a sci fi movie you are ever likely to see.I too am weary of Robin Williams discovering his humanity in another movie,but I think he does a great job here--a beautifully judged performance.A great supporting cast--Sam Neill,Embeth Davidtz,Oliver Platt among others--and not too many laughs:it would undermine the basic Asimov story and cheapen the premise of the whole movie.I saw the movie in a theatre full of people crying by the end of the picture:indeed,about 20 people were sitting in the lobby,bawling their eyes out 10 minutes after the picture ended! You would think that with this kind of word of mouth,you would have another "Titanic" on your hands,but it seems that the studio has inadvertedly seen to it that it will not happen.I'm saddened to see that the picture is on it's way out ,both in the US and here in Australia--no 'word of mouth' can save it now.I predict a long LONG life on home video--will it,in years to come be considered a classic with other overly sentimental fantasies like "It's A Wonderful Life"? To some,perhaps:like that film,it too was a financial disaster,now loved by all.Can history repeat itself? In this case,I would like to think so....it's no masterpiece,but it's better than you'd think.
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I thought this film was beautiful. Granted, in some places it was perhaps overly sentimental but on the whole the film was very moving. ITs sad to think that people will ignore the sparkling joy for life this film contains because of their cynical preconceptions about Robin Williams and/or Chris Colombus.
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