Reply to Uncanny Valley

I think the reason why folks find very realistic robots off-putting is that the divergence between the simulacrum and a real person goes against expectations. When a robot is clearly a robot we have no expectation of anything more than a mechanical device so there can be no disappointment. When a robot is very much like a real person and we see signs that it is not, our expectation is thwarted. I think that accounts for the dip.

One of you guys expressed dislike for Spielberg's -AI-. I concur. I found that movie one of the most "down" motion pictures I have ever watched. There is not a scintilla of joy to it. It was positively depression with no socially redeeming compensations. I saw it once (that was more than enough!) and I never will see it again. The way Spielberg did was as a grim and awful version of -Pinnochio- which was bad enough in the original. Yucchhh! It was truly a feel-shitty motion picture.

Haley Joe Osmont, who I consider a very fine and intelligent actor could not save the story. I think Kubric would have made a better movie out of the story, had he lived.

Bob Kolker

Post 1

Sunday, April 6, 2008 - 5:19pm

I thought Spielberg' AI was depressing, too, but I thought it was a pretty good movie for that genre nonetheless. Perhaps that was simply because there are so few well-made sci-fi movies, and so very many dreaful ones, that I have set the bar for appreciating them pretty low.

Post 2

Sunday, April 6, 2008 - 5:39pm

I just hated the way human nature was portrayed in the film. I thought it was the sickest thing Spielberg has done so far. Really horrible. True compassion ended up not even coming from humans, but from aliens.

Awful movie, despite the clever effects.

I don't remember the name of it, but Robin Williams made an AI movie too, which was much better, IMO. Anyone remember the name of that movie?

Found it, nevermind. "Bicentennial Man" 1999 (is it really that old??)

No small coincidence that it was written by Asimov.

(Edited by Teresa Summerlee Isanhart on 4/06, 5:50pm)

Post 3

Sunday, April 6, 2008 - 5:53pm

It was bicentennial something. I saw it but can't say that I remember it very well.
AI was a really crumby one.

Oh, I see you found it.
(Edited by Steve on 4/06, 5:54pm)

Post 4

Monday, April 7, 2008 - 3:17am

reply to post 2.

T says:

I just hated the way human nature was portrayed in the film. I thought it was the sickest thing Spielberg has done so far. Really horrible. True compassion ended up not even coming from humans, but from aliens.

I reply:

In a war (in which we are currently engaged), misplaced compassion can get you killed. For the most part I consider it a weakness. I permit compassion (in myself) for my spouse and children (including the grands) and other close family. For non-hostile strangers I generally have little compassion. I substitute good manners. For my enemies I have neither compassion nor courtesy. I have instead: hatred, loathing, hostility, detestation, scorn, contempt, contumely and low regard. In addition, I dislike them a great deal.

Overall, compassion and $1.67 will get you a small coffee and an Old Fashioned donut at the local Dunkin' Donuts (tm). In general (with the above indicated exceptions) I consider compassion a weakness as a general inclination. Like charity it should begin at home and it should stay there. It is better to be just than to be compassionate.

The real "down" in Spielberg's AI is that there is a conscious intelligent being (the android boy) doomed to intelligent awareness and immortality. He is stuck in a box (as it were) with only the company of a blue graven image. Feh!

Bob Kolker

(Edited by Robert J. Kolker on 4/07, 3:18am)

Post 5

Monday, April 7, 2008 - 5:23am