Bicentennial Man [DVD] [2000]

When I first saw it a few years back I admit that I didn't like it much, it seemed rather stupid to think that a robot could 'become' human, but on viewing it again years later, I can safely say that I missed the whole point of this film.

Andrew is a robot to begin with, but one with feelings and the ability to learn. He wants to learn, wants to talk, wants to create, and through some mistake when he was being created he can. His unique ability, mixed with his owners kindness and help allow him to grow up like a real human, by learning, having memories, caring about his family etc.

This film shows Andrew's aim to become human, and follows his life from when he first became the 'machine' of the Martin family, to when he finally fell in love with their youngest daughters grand child, and becomes human to die beside her on tehir death beds.

It is a sad movie, with a few tear jerking parts (especailly at the end) and it asks alot of questions which we don't often think about, like can robots have feelings, can they love, and can they become human? In the end, what does defy whether you are a human or not, is it being born with the right, or can you earn the title.

This is a definate 5 for me. true, it is a very long film and the start can drag on a bit, but it is a beautiful tale that I beleive everyone should watch atleast once.

But I was very wrong.

Somehow they managed to stick pretty close to the book, certainly to the very spirit of it.

A family take receipt of a domestic robot (Andrew) who starts showing signs of unusual skills, perceptions and insights. Encouraging Andrew, the robots 'personality' is developed and it soon becomes clear that he is capable of independent thought and emotion.

The manufacturers want him back to erase his mind and as society view robots with a mixture of contempt and deep-rooted fear, Andrew's development is kept strictly low profile.

As time passes, Andrew wants to be human. As electro-mechanical components are systematically replaced over time by organic parts and prosthetics, Andrew gradually becomes a living being. But is he human?

This is the big poser. If you are made like a human, think like a human, feel like a human and want to be a human, why aren't you human?

The film does an excellent job of showing the social prejudices and Andrew (played by Robin Williams) does well to portray this unique characters emotions, interactions, conflicts and struggles.

Constrained by the 3 Laws of Robotics, Andrew has his work cut out to be recognised as a human over a period of two hundred years. His reward is final acceptance and a right to die.

Asimov's fictional societies, that included robots, were analogous to the worst kind of racist societies that existed in America at the time of writing.

Williams is very good, but just a little too slushy at times. The rest of the cast are good and the sets are generally excellent.

This is a great film - buy it!