Search - Bicentennial Man on DVD

Sharon F. (Shar) from AVON PARK, FL
Reviewed on 4/7/2022...

Loved this movie! Watched it several times. Robin Williams outdid himself in this role...so realistic. If you haven't seen it, please do yourself a favor and put it on your must watch list.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 10/31/2020...

Robin Williams at his best!

Ceic W. (Ceicwilson) from RIVERSIDE, CA
Reviewed on 5/21/2013...

This movie is so deep and i just love the growth! I adore this movie

2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

JEANIE M. from LYNNWOOD, WA
Reviewed on 12/15/2012...

i love this movie. Touching story line.

2 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

Film Gives a Heart to Asimov's Intellectual Robot Story

Austin C. Beeman | Waterville, Ohio United States | 12/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Based on the Isaac Asimov short story "The Bicentennial Man" which was later adapted by Robert Silverberg in "The Positronic Man," director Chris Columbus has managed to merge a powerful romantic epic with Asimov's intellectual story.The story was written to celebrate the 1976 Bicentennial of the USA and Asimov's story told about a robot that strives to be human. While this is a very prevalent idea nowadays, i.e. Data on Star Trek, it was pretty original at that time.Columbus shows wonderful respect for the source material, which he betters in every way. How often can you say that of a movie? Columbus understands that in the future everything will not be immediately different. The film portray this by slowly adding futuristic elements on top of real settings. In an era of CGI sets that don't look real, this sci-fi movie is all the better for it's matter of fact approach to the future.The performances are uniformly great with Williams giving such a strong performance beneath the costume that when his face is revealed it is a little startling. He also injects a sense of humor that makes more powerful the romance and pathos of the plot.This is a film that deserved better than it got. It is an epic, in the sense of Tolstoy and "Gone With the Wind", with a science fiction worldview.In this film of a robot's search to become more human, we feel more strongly the precious gift of our own humanity. That is all we can ask of any work of art."

One of Williams' best yet!

DANIEL J. ANTIL | Oregon, USA | 12/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have just seen Bicentennial Man (on cable) for the second time. I loved it even more than my first time seeing it in the theater, because I knew the story in advance and could relax and look forward to it, without being overwhelmed by the wonderful special effects and little tidbits of wonderment that pervade the movie. Quite simply, Robin Williams portrays a robot who becomes human. But, it's so much deeper than that. I must say it is one of Robin's best works... and I've seen them all. It has his delightful comedy, but moreover, his perfect portrayal with pathos and beguiling charm. The movie begins with the robot (dubbed Andrew) being introduced to the family (with Sam Neill as the father). One of the little girls in the family makes a quick connection with the new robot (Williams), and they become fast friends... for life, as it turns out. As time goes by, Andrew (Williams) becomes more and more a member of the family. But, Andrew also becomes more human, and eventually goes to search for his identity, and to seek out others like him. The film moves rather quickly from one time period to another, since they have to cover Andrew's lifespan of two-hundred years (hence the title). Throughout his life, he is constantly evolving, whether mechanically, thru technological improvements, or just by learning human qualities. The thrust of it is that he eventually becomes human, but is not recognized as such until the end of his life. (There is a very moving speech he gives to some delegation who will decide if he is human or not.) It is a landmark film of human emotions and human joy, all experienced and displayed by a robot. It is not the comic fluff of some earlier Williams' films, nor the hardhitting drama of some of his others. Rather, it is the compelling joyousness and heartwarming comedy of a machine who wants to be human... played expertly by Williams, of course. I plan to watch it again, very soon. It is a great movie."

Bicentennial Man

JedKnight73 | United States | 06/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For years I have been a great fan of Issac Asmov. Without a doubt, Bicentennial Man was my favorite of his stories because, although most of Asmov's robot novels have a more intellectual ending, this one had more real depth and feeling than anything I have ever read from him. The movie expands on this in a profound way and extends Asmov's novelette into a full feature in a way I have seen few books rendered to film. Although I have seen some bad press on this movie, (notably Robert Ebert) DON'T believe it, my fiancee loved it so much she had to see her favorite parts again after it was over, and she is NOT a science fiction fan (of a fan of Asmov for that matter.) I have also heard that the humor was also rather dry, and I don't believe that this is true either. Although Robin Williams was not the zany character he usually is, many of his jokes were extremely funny. (Ex. A buddhist walks up to a hotdog vender and says, "make me one with everything.") I believe that the more subdued tone he played worked with the tone of the character. His usual antics would have looked inappropiate for a robot who was not supposed to have a personality at all. Over time, his character does learn to be more expressive, but never to the extreme extent of Williams in other movies (Ex. The Fisher King.), however, my fiancee said that William's concept of phyisical and emotional love was one of the most romantic things she had ever heard. Other comments aside, I believe this is one of the best films I have seen in months, and I would HIGHLY recommend it. The DVD is well done with an excellent transfer, good Dolby Digital effects, and it DOES have a trailer and movie featurette. (a previous review made on this BBS before the DVD was even released, says it did not.)"