Wasted effects and set-design on a DULL lead-actor

Rating: 1/10 (20 December 2004)

First off, the special effects in this movie are amazing, the set design and overall look of this movie are great. The robots look great, and there's some great set-pieces. Unfortunately this technology is wasted on it's lead actor, WILL SMITH. When he's not acting all (fake)'thug', he's irritating as a 'serious' actor, and has zero personality to carry a picture (He is what ruined ID4, as well) He seems to want to flex his pecs, wear stupid 'thug-like' clothes, and throw that stupid 'lazy-slack-jawed-jamaican' twang to his voice. Once it's makers got it into their heads to cast (the unfunny) WILL SMITH, the movie then becomes a vehicle for his low-rent 'EDDIE MURPHY-isms'. All imagery takes a back set to it's star. With these effects, there's no way the imagery should. But intelligent sci-fi is abandoned, in favour of a WILL SMITH comeback movie.
Not the best.
Although, this movie didn't flop, i don't think it made the expected 'gross', it was hoping on. When it's makers are finished, tying up it's (supposedly) fail-safe, audience-demographic, will they realise (that despite being not too bothered, above and beyond the call of money) that they've taken an intelligent novel, and turned it into a happy-meal tie-in. This is what was done with MINORITY REPORT (but at least, that was rightfully humour-free) All in all, a very visual movie, but it's many designers have put more work into this project, than the casting director. Everyone involved(except Mr SMITH) has been shortchanged, including it's audience, who want, and deserve better, than a kiddie movie, dressed up as a......kiddie movie.
Technically superior, yet emotionally dead
10 out of 10 (for the effects) 1 out of 10 (For the casting of THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR)
Making this movie a shallow 3 out of 10