07-27-2004, 11:16 PM
USR is US Robotics, like any other big company like US Steel. USR has been around since before Communism was a threat. Note Asimov got his first story Robbie published 1940, his collection I, Robot 1950 and other stories in that anthology were published in-between those dates.
Besides that, the movie totally screws up attitude-wise. It does the established "fear the evil robot" tripe. No relation to USSR and communism.
Your friend needs to look for hidden meanings elsewhere. This movie's all about hitting you over the head. The only hidden part is how much you *should* trust robots. Robots save Will Smith's life countless times. He's just paranoid, blind, and stupid--and chases after the 'wrong guy' for half the movie. He's also pissed that a robot made a judgement call that wasn't his, saving his life and not someone else, and blames it on being robot instead of his own helplessness. He didn't do anything to help the situation, and he then blames the robot for saving him over someone else while he doesn't even try to save himself! Illogical? Irrational? Yes.
Asimov's main beef is that given knowledge that is dangerous, we use wisdom and reason to safely. We don't just give into fear and witchhunt shunning. Instead, we get a main character and movie that very much panders to people's fears. Oh no! The robots have gone crazy! Ahhhhh! Frankenstein fear.
On a side note, I got the freebie glow pen! In spite of putting the address in the wrong slots! =)
Besides that, the movie totally screws up attitude-wise. It does the established "fear the evil robot" tripe. No relation to USSR and communism.
Your friend needs to look for hidden meanings elsewhere. This movie's all about hitting you over the head. The only hidden part is how much you *should* trust robots. Robots save Will Smith's life countless times. He's just paranoid, blind, and stupid--and chases after the 'wrong guy' for half the movie. He's also pissed that a robot made a judgement call that wasn't his, saving his life and not someone else, and blames it on being robot instead of his own helplessness. He didn't do anything to help the situation, and he then blames the robot for saving him over someone else while he doesn't even try to save himself! Illogical? Irrational? Yes.
Asimov's main beef is that given knowledge that is dangerous, we use wisdom and reason to safely. We don't just give into fear and witchhunt shunning. Instead, we get a main character and movie that very much panders to people's fears. Oh no! The robots have gone crazy! Ahhhhh! Frankenstein fear.
On a side note, I got the freebie glow pen! In spite of putting the address in the wrong slots! =)