Robots is a 2005 American CGI-animated comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox (the same companies behind the film Ice Age), and was released theatrically (both in normal theaters and in IMAX theaters) on March 11, 2005 (along with a teaser trailer for Ice Age: The Meltdown). The story was created by Chris Wedge and Bill Joyce, a well-known children's book author/illustrator. The two were trying to create a film version of Joyce's book Santa Calls but instead they came up with a movie about Robots. Joyce served as producer and production designer for the film. The DVD and VHS of Robots were released on September 27, 2005. Robots is the also the last 20th Century Fox animated film to recieve a VHS release. The MPAA rated the film PG; in most countries, it is suitable for all ages.
Plot
In the beginning of the movie, Herb Copperbottom races through the streets because he is elated that he is going to be a father. He and his wife, Lydia Copperbottom, after 12 hours of "labor", finally manage to construct the baby. His name is Rodney Copperbottom, who becomes a young inventor who dreams of making the world a better place for everyone. Rodney idolizes Bigweld, the master inventor and owner of Bigweld Industries. Rodney has invented a gadget that will help his father clean the dishes at the restaurant. Rodney takes his invention to Robot City to see Bigweld and get a job as an inventor at his company. Instead, Rodney gets to see Ratchet, the new head of the company. Ratchet sees to it that Rodney is removed from the premises. Cappy, a beautiful robot-executive of the company takes an interest in Rodney, and wants to help him. In the slums of Robot City, some old Robots known as the Rusties, led by a robot named Fender, befriend Rodney. Ratchet believes the company can make a bigger profit if it stops making spare parts for older Robots. Non-working Robots are picked up and sent to and melted down by Ratchet's mother, queen of the 'Chop-shop'. Rodney, who remembers Bigweld's 'See a need, fill a need', begins fixing old Robots. When Ratchet's mother orders him to stop Rodney, the fireworks begin.
Characters
Main
Supporting
- Paul Giamatti as Tim
- Chris Evans as Referee Voice Chip
- Dan Hedaya as Mr. Gunk
- Jay Leno as Fire Hydrant
- Lucille Bliss as Pigeon Lady
Cameos
- Ryan Seacrest as Watch
- Randy Jackson as Watch
- Paula Abdul as Watch
- Jacob Santiago as Tayler Micheal Jones the boy who owned Fender
- Jaden Smith as Five-year-old Rodney
- Macaulay Culkin as Teen Rodney
- Will Reeve as Teen Rodney
- John Mahoney as Ratchet's Robots
- James Earl Jones as Darth Vader Voice Chip
- John Leguizamo as Robot Sid
British voices
- Jonathan Roberts as Lug
- Chris Moyles as voice introduction to Big Weld Show
- Terry Wogan as Ratchet's father
Locations
Movie director Chris Wedge says New York City (his hometown), Toronto, London, and a little future-like city inspired him to make the city.
There are three parts of the city:
- High End District (based on a futuristic city): The part of the city where the rich and famous Robots live. Buildings and Robots are all shiny and nearly everything is futuristic. Everyone here has a metal covering that hides all their inner workings. Bigweld Industries is here.
- Combustion District (based on a hybrid of Toronto and London): Middle-class place. It has a few rust spots, and Robots have the internal workings similar to a 1950s car. Aunt Fanny's house is here, and the majority of the movie takes place here.
- Steam District (a parody of New York City ghettos):[citation needed] The lowest part of the city, and therefore the rustiest. Parts of the district resemble the inventions of the Industrial Revolution, and everywhere is filled with broken machines. Sweepers grab old Robots and bring them to Madame Gasket's Chop Shop, where mutant Robots then break and melt Robots, turning them into upgrades.
Another major location of the film is Rivet Town. It is home to the Copperbottom family. Two of the buildings there are Gunk's Greasy Spoon and Flathead Floyd's. Rivet Town is based on Watertown, New York, where movie director Chris Wedge lived during his teens.
Release
The film was the first to feature (in US screenings) the new trailer for Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The movie featured the exclusive trailer for Ice Age: The Meltdown, then called Ice Age 2.
Critical reception
The film received generally favorable reviews from critics. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 63% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 172 reviews.[1] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 64 out of 100, based on 33 reviews.[2]
Most critics liked the visual style and gags but panned the predictable story.[citation needed] The film was nominated for many awards in the category of best animated film, as well as awards for character design, best animated character, voice casting, and sound editing. However, it only won one, the MTV (Mexico) Movie Award for best song, "Un Héroe Real".[1].
Box office performance
The film was released March 11, 2005 in the United States and Canada and grossed $36 million in 3,776 theaters its opening weekend, ranking #1 at the box office.[3] It grossed a total of $260.7 million worldwide – $128.2 million in the United States and Canada and $132.5 million in other territories.[4]
Soundtrack
The Robots soundtrack was released in 2005 by Virgin Records.
- "From Zero To Hero" – Sarah Connor
- "Shine" – Ricky Fanté
- "Right Thurr" – Chingy
- "Tell me What You Already Did" – Fountains of Wayne
- "Wonderful Night" – Fatboy Slim
- "Get Up Offa That Thing" (All Dee Remix) – James Brown
- "(There's Gotta Be) More To Life" – Stacie Orrico
- "Love's Dance" – Earth, Wind and Fire
- "Low Rider" – War
- "I Like That" – Houston featuring Chingy, Nate Dogg and I-20
- "Silence" – Gomez
- "Walkie Talkie Man" – Steriogram
- "Un Héroe Real" – Aleks Syntek
- "Robot City" – John Powell featuring Blue Man Group
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well done animation for everyone
I enjoyed the movie a lot, especially the first half. May be I was
EchoMaRinE from Denmark - 21 June 2009attracted by all the machines moving around. There were very nicely
designed contraptions. Also there were some very good jokes. The best
ones from my point of view were, after they assemble the baby, the
mother says: "12 hours of labor". Right after the dad says: "He has got
your mums eyes and my dads nose. I knew it was smart to save those
parts". The story was enjoyable but the end was a bit childish so to
say. But the whole idea of a robot society that has human habits is
brilliant. If you are looking for a movie that the whole family can
enjoy, this movie is definitely for you.
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