MovieChat Forums > Bicentennial Man (1999) Discussion > Completely useless premise and plot line...

Completely useless premise and plot line...


This movie is so stupid, it's hard to know where to begin...

1. Robots are NOT humans. This worn-out notion that somehow metal and wire put together in the shape of a person can somehow have feelings, which come solely from BEING ALIVE. If you're NOT ALIVE, you can't feel anything... Feelings of sadness, loneliness, joy, etc. come from actual chemical reactions in the body and are impossible to create in another setting. I realize it's just a movie, but come on...

2. Robots can NOT have erections or be sexually excited. This is the dumbest part of the film- when the robot gets a penis attached to his metal and wire, which somehow can get engorged with blood (which he doesn't have) and semen (which he doesn't have). The movie doesn't even try to explain this, even in the usual BS way they do normally.

3. The robot has a serious complex- he hates who he is and wants as much science and surgery as possible to try and be something different. And when he gets close enough, he deludes himself into thinking that he is normal. But of course, he's still just metal and wire- only now he has a magic fake penis. Then, he essentially commits suicide by having the scientists WIRE him (admitting at least once that he's not real) to 'die'.

4. Worst of all is when he 'dies'. He somehow implies that he'll be in heaven or the afterlife. This is crap, because he HAS NO SOUL and is NOT REAL. A factory can't make something out of metal and wire, and then later demand that God give it a soul. The only place he's going is to the scrap yard to be recycled- where at least he'll finally be put to some use, since he became so selfish and lazy, and stopped doing what he was made to do (serve humans) 100 years earlier. But, I'm sure the 'World Court', which has obviously replaced the US and all nation-states, has the god-like power to determine who has a soul and who doesn't it.

I could go on, but it's just too painful.

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The robot has a serious complex- he hates who he is and wants as much science and surgery as possible to try and be something different. And when he gets close enough, he deludes himself into thinking that he is normal.


Hey, it's Hollywood!

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You're just a bath of chemicals, mostly carbon and water, interacting together via electric signals, does this mean that you're not human and are incapable of doing all those things?

And how do you define "being alive"?

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I agree with you and since you couldn't go on, I'll add some additional stuff I think was stupid.

Just because you "look" human doesn't mean you are human. In addition, I thought it would have made an interesting story if Andrew used his considerable knowledge to turn the "simple-minded" robot girl he met into a more compatible companion for himself. Also interesting was the fact that besides the family he worked for and the scientist he later met, Andrew never made any real friends. His single-minded focus on human females was kind of creepy.

Also, the part where Andrew is made to actually eat and drink was total BS. I can't imagine what kind of mechanical parts allow food to pass through the system without leaving any residue and come out completely digested or whatever. If any food is left in his system it would rot. No way science could create or would want to create a robot that can consume food and drink.

I grew up reading books where small animals or children wanted to be something they were not and in the end they realized that they were made who they were for a reason and eventually they happily accepted themselves. Nowadays, the trend is if you don't like how you were born, or in this case created, then it's okay to correct the "mistake." I'm not saying one shouldn't strive to improve oneself but should we be trying to turn Buicks into a jets? Fortunately, dogs and cats who live with humans all the time have no such desires and are totally fulfilled by the love and attention they receive for what they are.

In addition, I couldn't help but notice how quickly Andrew dismissed his beloved Little Miss after he found out she was old for the younger Portia. For me, that was a total turn-off.

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While I think that you are forgetting that this movie is set in the 'future' and you may be lacking a bit in the imagination department. Perhaps this will help a bit

you say:

Also, the part where Andrew is made to actually eat and drink was total BS. I can't imagine what kind of mechanical parts allow food to pass through the system without leaving any residue and come out completely digested or whatever. If any food is left in his system it would rot. No way science could create or would want to create a robot that can consume food and drink.


Well welcome to the far off future of 'The Year 2000' when a Belgian artist created a machine that... get this... eats, digests, and then poops. You can see some pictures and videos http://we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/2008/01/wim-delvoye-cloaca-2 0002007.php

"What it means to think", "Why are we here", and "Man's inhumanity to man" are not new themes in Philosophy or Art. This movie might not be groundbreaking, but it's not "Complete BS". But that's just my opinion. You know what they say about those... Even machines have them now.

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There is no foundation for a belief in an afterlife. If you are willing to believe in an afterlife, then you have no grounds to dismiss similar ludicrous beliefs. The most ludicrous part of a story about robots that can have complex emotions, sexual intercourse and go to heaven is the 'heaven' part. By a long, long, LONG way.

PM me if you believe in the story of Noah's ark. I'm at a loose end, and I need an easy target.

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You have a lot to learn about life...

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There is no foundation for a belief in an afterlife. If you are willing to believe in an afterlife, then you have no grounds to dismiss similar ludicrous beliefs.


Sure thing I do.

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Hey, lighten up.
Yes, all your points are valid but so what, it's a movie.

You could pick a million holes in almost every movie out there (try Avater), but sometimes it's nice to just sit back, suspend belief and enjoy yourself.

BTW, I thought Bicentennial Man was great.

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I think the OP should probably stick with documentaries or stories based on real events from now on as he obviously doesn't get the point in science fiction and fantasy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR3tTf7zdws

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Nah, he looks like the type that denies dinosaurs and evolution. Reality scares his poor little mind.

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You may have valid points but here are some other points to easily contradict you

1. Ok... there are so many ways to express what are emotions, how can you explain what emotions are better than Andrew could? He didn’t necessarily have emotions but simply began a free will. What is love? Hate, envy, rage, happiness sadness, it’s all hard to explain; even us who experience immense emotions have hard time explaining them.
2. Right you are they didn’t explain it, but they didn’t give him semen, he was told that all he could do was have sex not reproduce, and how would you know what they had used to allow him to have an erection? Of course they should have explained it but, oh well doesn´t matter that much
3. What? You know there are a lot of HUMANS who have that complex don’t criticize this character for having the same problem.
4. Ok, actually that is the most endearing part of the film, which made me cry, how do you define being alive? in a nonscientific way, Andrew was alive in all senses, implying that he wouldn’t go to heaven is actually pretty dumb, you believe the son of god could walk on water, but you can’t believe that god might have given this machine a soul? You say god works in mysterious ways but you deny this? I know believing in god doesn’t mean that anything can happen, but seriously.

This actually focuses on many social subjects plastic surgery, homosexuality (i know Andrew wasn’t gay, I’m implying that need or desire for social acceptance).
This film is actually very good

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You are forgetting one simple thing... The movie is based on a short tale, written by the best SciFi author of all times, Isaac Asimov. But what your are forgetting the most, is that Asimov is himself a scientist. An aknowledged one. His writings about Artifitial Intelligence has no match and all his work has been a starter point for many researchers in that field. I suggest you to read something about Asimov, and then we can debate at (perhaps) the same level

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