Fairly enjoyable sci-fi romp

Rating: Null/10 (12 December 2004)

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs
The year is 2035.Robots have not eradicated mankind as the next race,but have instead learned to co-exist with them in relative harmony.They live by three simple rules:1.)A robot must never harm a human.2.)A robot must obey any order given to it by a human (unless that order contradicts the other rule.3.)A robot must protect it's own existence at any cost (unless that order contradicts the other two.Det. Spooner (Will Smith),however,maintains a prejudiced attitude towards them.When the renowned Dr Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell,in what is practically a cameo role) is found dead at his workplace,the victim of an apparent suicide,the finger of suspicion points at Sonny (Alan Tidyk) a robot found never the crime scene.But as events unravel,they start to reveal a much bigger conspiracy...
I decided to give this film another go,as for some reason I was rather tired when I went to see it at the cinema and found myself nodding off towards the end.It plays on a familiar theme of whether machines can display emotions and feelings and learn to be human.As the technological age dawns further over us,however,it maintains a certain relevance unlike any other film of it's sort.It also puts questions in our minds whether,as we took over the dinosaurs,so machines will take over us,and ends up serving as a sort of unwitting premonition of things to come (or may have,to a certain extent,happened already.)In the lead role,Smith is his typical wise-cracking self and is on good form.The robot design of Sonny is impressive but ultimately destined for parody in the same way Gollum out of Lord of the Rings was.
However,Alex Proyas's direction is meandering and wavey.After 10 years as a mainstream director,his best effort remains his debut feature The Crow.The action sequences are impressive,but not brilliant.
Overall,this is certainly a very watchable and enjoyable film,and one with a grim premonition for the future of mankind like Blade Runner 20 years before it.It just fails to seem to come together and really be the sum of it's parts.***