Robots
© James C. Hess
Two unique things for consideration, resulting in singular revelation:
First, a few days ago, movie director George Lucas announced the final installment in the "Star Wars" series might not be appropriate for young children, which goes to almost perfect irony, given this franchise and Lucas' reputation as the heir apparent to Walt Disney have long been based on children-friendly cinematic fare.
Second, on February 12 of this year my friend Brad and his lovely wife became parents for the first time. The day his daughter was born he brought around some digital pictures of her. At the time he was in shock over the fact he was now and forever a father. But it wasn't until I heard George Lucas' announcement that the reality, truth, and fact of his situation actually caught up with him: I went by to see how all were doing, and found Brad running around the now-crowded apartment, scooping up video tapes, DVDs, books, magazines, and other things that could prove hazardous to his daughter. As I watched him streak here and there, looking very much like Wile E. Coyote, I had to laugh. Loudly.
He stopped, and turned to face me, his armload of potential dangers partially falling to the floor.
What, he asked.
I have a question, I said.
What?
What are you going to do for entertainment? Now that Rachel has joined the family?
He looked at me for a moment, then thought about the question seriously.
I dunno, he finally replied. Are there movies I can actually take my kid to?
Actually, yes. One of which is entitled "Robots".
Now, admittedly, taking a one-month old to the movies may not be the wisest move one can make. But at a future, more appropriate, date and time this movie is a kid's movie.
For kids of all ages.
"Robots" is a keeper. The sort of movie one can get on DVD or home video, knowing that doing so will result in hours and hours of fun, delight, joy, and entertainment. But until it does appear on DVD and home video more than one trip to the movie theater is worth the price of admission.
The reason for this is simple: "Robots" is not so much about story as it is about imagery and pictorial beauty: It echoes consistently of Golden Age Science Fiction publications such as "Thriller Wonder Stories", but at the same time reaches even further back to slapstick comedy, to go forward into the future, to a time when towers, skyscrapers, and other buildings look like retro-Erector sets (who remembers that toy?).
