Purely Joyful Movie!

Don't listen to the negative reviews

The acting in this movie is really good.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

An android endeavors to become human as he gradually acquires emotions. Bicentennial Man is directed by Chris Columbus (Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York) and stars Robin Williams (Jumanji, Good Will Hunting) and Sam Neil (Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III, Escape Plan) and it's one of the saddest and coolest robot movies of all time that really deserves more recognation. The ending of the movie was so freaking sad and tear jerking in the likes of Terminator 2 and Iron Giant but also showcases the meaning of a machine looking on becoming an actual person and packed with Williams outstanding perfomance it's a triumph to be honest. (10/10)

It's just sad that this movie get's trashed so much. But I understand why. It's 3 movies in one, it pulls people in different directions but never completes the journey. The first part is about a family with a robot butler with half of them either not liking or not trusting while the others accept him and try to teach him the ways of the sometimes irrational and confusing human relationships. They never quite complete the story, we don't know what happened to the sister or the mother. The story then transitions to a pure Star Trek theme of an artificial intelligence/robot/android seeking others like him and searching for his humanity while trying to become more human. Even gets a dog (can anyone say Data with Spot?). All the pieces for a great story are there with so many possibilities that they don't explore. The next phase is a love story where Embeth Davidtz shines but for far too short a time. It's a tease like having only a sip of your favorite wine or coffee and not allowed to finish the glass or the cup. The movie runs over two hours but it isn't enough time to do justice to the wealth of material. This should have been a trilogy or at the very least a two part story. It is worth a second and third viewing as it seems to give you more of each chapter of the journey. I cannot give it a 10/10 but it deserves a 7/10 because I can see past it's shortcomings and see it for what it could have been. Robin Williams was only average in this one, not great but not bad either. Embeth Davidtz was a shining light in the last 40 minutes. Final score 7/10.

It has to first be acknowledged that making a film from an epic spanning 200 years is quite difficult. Chris Columbus hits a home with Bicentennial Man, with a precise mixture of pacing, technical sophistication, and trueness to the original story. This is definitely one of Robin Williams' quieter performances, and though we don't see him for much of the first half of the film, his brilliance as a dramatic actor still shines through.I think what is missed by many is the way this film explores the idea of the soul, that we are something more than these crude vessels in which we temporarily reside. This story is about someone who was misplaced in a slightly different vehicle, who spent the majority of his lifetime trying to prove it. For those that knew him closely in the story, his sentience was without question, but like many who are treated as second- class citizens, he longed for a greater acceptance, a true equality.

Bicentennial Man (1999): Dir: Chris Columbus / Cast: Robin Williams, Sam Neill, Oliver Platt, Embeth Davidtz, Wendy Crewson: Filled with images of hopelessness that one could easily experience in rush hour traffic. It is about a robot who wishes to become human. It is 2005 and the robot becomes the newest household appliance. Sam Neill has a robot delivered to his home and he discovers that it has many human aspects. Depression sets in when the robot lives on while everyone else dies. The film never has fun with his journey. Director Chris Columbus approaches the material from different angles. He previously made Mrs. Doubtfire and Stepmom, also about supplementary role models. What is truly disappointing is that the film fails to have fun with its charming premise. Robin Williams is basically playing a robot version of himself. His whole journey is basically a bunch of subplots of little interest. Sam Neill is wasted in what amounts to a growing-old-and-die role. Platt's character is a buffoon who should go back to playing with lego.then there is a useless appearance by Embeth Davidtz that amounts to absolutely nothing. It raises questions about life and relationships but hardly uplifting when presenting these themes. Visual elements are great and are the film's best element but how can a robot find life if the story he is in is totally dead? Score: 5 / 10