I, Robot 3D

 (2004)

I, Robot 3D Blu-ray offers solid video and reference-quality audio, but overall it's a mediocre Blu-ray release
In the year 2035, robots are an everyday household item, and everyone trusts them, except one, slightly paranoid detective (Will Smith) investigating what he alone believes is a crime perpetrated by a robot. The case leads him to discover a far more frightening threat to the human race. Inspired by the classic short story collection by Isaac Asimov.

For more about I, Robot 3D and the I, Robot 3D Blu-ray release, see the I, Robot 3D Blu-ray Review

Starring: Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, Chi McBride
Director: Alex Proyas

» See full cast & crew

I, Robot 3D Blu-ray Review

Conver(se)ted 3D brought to you by Audi, FedEx....

Reviewed by Martin Liebman, October 25, 2012

'I, Robot' has been re-issued to Blu-ray in an all-new converted 3D presentation, following in the footsteps of films like 'Titanic' and 'Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace,' all, oddly, with ties to 20th Century Fox. One can only wonder what the future holds for 3D re-releases of popular films; is 'I, Robot' a test case? What's to follow? 'Die Hard?' 'Predator?' 'The French Connection?' 'Planet of the Apes?' 'All About Eve?' If 'I, Robot' is indeed a test case, here's hoping future endeavors fare a bit better. The film appears ripe for a 3D conversion, but the end result largely disappoints, failing to create a dazzling and dizzying 3D world and instead offering what usually looks like a halfhearted effort rather than the labor of love the film deserves. Additionally, the film is presented in other than its original scope theatrical aspect ratio. A neutered grouping of extras are included on the 2D DVD disc, but the 3D Blu-ray disc retains a top-tier lossless soundtrack. It's a puzzling release, to say the least. For a more detailed overview of the film and the soundtrack, please click here.

I'm now somehow...different.

I, Robot 3D Blu-ray, Video Quality

 

I, Robot doesn't adhere very well to the three laws of post-conversion 3D releases: depth, dazzle, and value. OK, so those where made up on the spot, but truly, this release offers none of those. Fox has chosen to open the image to a 1.78:1 aspect ratio for this release rather than retaining the theatrical exhibition and Blu-ray home video ratio of 2.34:1. The result is a little information gained on the top and bottom and a bit lopped off on the sides. This review contains ten approximately corresponding screenshots that show the differences between this and the theatrical exhibition and original Blu-ray ratio from the previous high definition release (the 2.34 shots may be accessed through the link to the original release above; ten additional 1.78:1 screenshots are also included for viewing herein). The 2D attributes are otherwise fine. Light grain remans, and a few white speckles appear from time to time. The transfer displays the film's cold, sterile, overwhelmingly white and gray color shades nicely, capturing the film's tone with precision and presenting even subtle variations in shade with striking accuracy. Even better, the image remains bright even in 3D and doesn't look even slightly darker than its 2D-only counterpart. Fine detail is superb, from complex skin textures down to the smallest of the smooth robot intricacies. A hint of aliasing is visible in a couple of shots (notably a cityscape shot around the 6:25 mark), but this is otherwise a strong general presentation.

On the other hand, the benefits of the 3D conversion are largely negligible. To be sure, I, Robot almost cries out for a fabulous 3D presentation, but the results are lackluster, to be kind. Generally, the transfer produces a wishy-washy sense of depth. It's somewhat impressive here and not so impressive there, and the good comes and goes with what seems to be an arbitrary pattern. Some shots offer pronounced depth across a relatively short room, while other shots of sprawling lobbies or deep glimpses down the USR headquarters building look no more deep than they do in the 2D version. Some shots that cry out for stunning 3D don't get it, and other, random shots (sometimes, sort of) do. An early text overlay introducing the city and date looks quite nice as it hovers off the screen and well above the image, and is probably the single showcase 3D shot in the entire movie. Even various scenes featuring floating bubbles lack visual pizzaz; the bubbles never appear very shapely and only rarely seem to float about with any real sense of space. A shootout near the end of the film does fling some debris towards the audience for the most pronounced "wow" moment in the film. Otherwise, this one's disappointing. The movie does indeed seem ripe for a 3D conversion, but the end result doesn't really make for such a drastic 3D experience or value added over the already strong 2D presentation to warrant the cost in dollars and time.

I, Robot 3D Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 

I, Robot features what appears to be the same lossless soundtrack from the 2D-only release. See the link above for a full review.

I, Robot 3D Blu-ray, Special Features and Extras

 

No Blu-ray supplements are included. The included DVD disc contains an audio commentary with Director Alex Proyas and Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, The Making of 'I, Robot,' a still gallery, and a trailer for Arrested Development.

I, Robot 3D Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation

 

20th Century Fox's Blu-ray 3D release of I, Robot doesn't offer a strong enough conversion job to warrant a recommendation, and the failure to retain the theatrical exhibition aspect ratio is a disappointment. No extras are included on the Blu-ray disc, but the original 2D release's exceptional multichannel lossless soundtrack remains. The movie remains quite entertaining and thought-provoking. Still, there's no real benefit to upgrading unless potential buyers just have to see the movie in 3D or have cash burning holes in their pockets. Otherwise, skip it.