I, Robot

The story is set in Chicago in 2035, at a time when robots are an everyday household item, and are trusted by everyone, expect Will Smith - who plays Del Spooner, a slightly paranoid detective.

It is very obvious that Spooner hates robot. When robot pioneer Dr. Alfred Lanning dies in a suspicious fall in the lobby of the U.S. Robotics office tower, Spooner assumes the death was not a suicide but a murder perpetrated by a robot named Sonny.

Executives from U.S. Robotics, his own police chief, and even the mayor insisted that robots are safe, especially Susan Calvin, a robot expert thinks that Spooner is crazy. She reminds Spooner that every robot is programmed according to the Three Laws of Robotics:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

In the book of Asimov, it ends with a very ideal thought. As technology and machines assume more and more control over the world and begin to manipulate things in a way that will prevent the human race from harming itself. For an atheist like Asimov, it seems benevolent machines were a substitute for God--who are powerful and would not allow evil if they could help it, and who would use their supremely logical minds to save humans. However, the film suggests that it would be a nightmare if humanity ever lost control of its fate like that.

Obviously, there are big differences between humans and robots. In the movie there is a scene that before Lanning died, he suggested that random bits of programming will coalesce within the robots' brains and eventually cause robots to have free will, creativity, and even dreams, just as humans do.

In the creation of God, Freewill is given to humans. In the film, the robot Sonny tells Detective Spooner that we all have a purpose. That's true, God created us with the purpose of Love, and true love must be based on Freewill. Human are not programmed to obey all commandments from the master because we have freedom. God has given human such a precious gift, but it is sorrowful that man used this freedom to sin.

In the book, robots existed as a mere technology, even if the robot did kill Lanning, says U.S. Robotics executive Lawrence Robertson, "It would be nothing more than an industrial accident." There is no hesitatation to destroy machines that got out of line immediately. However, humans are different. God could not destroy all man at once because of that they are out of order.

I, Robot has been turned into a regular Smith action movie, with former music-video auteur Alex Proyas, emphasises shoot-outs and car chases. For those who like action, the film is worth to watch. Apart from this, it is also good to think about how should human use the freedom which has given to us through faith.