Eileen came to visit The KC this weekend, and we had a chance to partake in the Will Smith blockbuster I, Robot. As a fan of Asimov's robot short stories and novels, I had very low hopes for this movie. The novels were straight mysteries that lent themselves more to Agatha Christie-esuqe whodunits than shoot-first-and-think-later summer movies.

I was pleased to find that the film, which claimed to be "suggested by the stories of Isaac Asimov", stayed true to his vision while blowing up enough random things to satisfy the average moviegoer. Sure there were some differences -- Susan Calvin (played by Tom Brady's girlfriend) was young and hot rather than an older woman, and Asimov's stories didn't include car chases, demolitions, and hordes of killer robots -- but the heart of the movie was a mystery focused around a logical problem, as it should have been.

Will Smith plays the role he's best suited for once again: Will Smith. But he comes across as Enemy of the State Will Smith rather than Wild Wild West Will Smith, so the movie doesn't suffer because of it. The books are, of course, better, but the movie has a unique story that adds to Asimov's legacy instead of ripping off or cheapening it.