Robots

 

Release Date: March 11, 2005

Watch Date: March 25 - March 26, 2023

"For the first time ever, an animated feature presents a totally imagined world - a wondrously clanky universe populated solely by mechanical beings."

    Bob loves this movie, I mean really loves it, it's one of his childhood favorites, another one he used to watch often with his father. If it's got Robin Williams in it there's a really strong chance he watched it, obsessed over it, and it's become an extremely influential film in his life.

    Now, usually, I can see the beauty in these movies that he loves so much, really I can. But this movie was...a little bit harder. If I squint at it, I can see it. Robin Williams' character obviously steals the show, and his one liners and interactions are probably the main draw of this film because otherwise...it's really not doing that much for me.

    The villains, a mother and son duo, are pretty weak. The son is unintimidating, and the mother is...well she exists, but barely, and she's supposed to be our main baddie. Their plot makes sense, once you wrap your head around it, make it so that everyone has to upgrade themselves, the poor become unable to fix themselves, get turned into scrap metal and become the new upgrades, but eventually you'd run out of robots. Wouldn't you? I dunno, maybe the cycle makes sense long term but...

    Also, the villains are not only manipulating the economy, their manipulating life. When robots can no longer afford parts, they get taken away by the most terrifying street sweepers alive to scrapyards where they are taken apart and melted down while they're alive. This is the "circle of life" in this universe, and maybe I shouldn't expect a less callous life cycle from a world populated by robots, but I did. This one is harsh.

    Bob thinks it's hilarious but I have a huge problem with this blurb. "For the first time ever, an animated feature presents a totally imagined world". Pretty sure that's not true. Actually, fairly positive that's one-hundred percent not the case. Not only is it not true in a conceptual sense, but this world isn't totally imagined. Dishwashers exist, toasters, restaurants, jobs, upgrades. The world still functions in a very similar way to our own, only it's populated only by robotics. It's an annoying statement. Bob thinks I'm a dork, but words mean something. They just do.

    Do I think this is the best film I've ever watched? No. I think it's confusing, and at times it feels a little forced. It feels like a studio that's taking it's first foray into an animated movie, and it's quite sure of it's sea legs. But we've all got to start somewhere, and it's an admirable attempt.