Autómata Preview and Trailer Released!

It took me by surprise this morning to discover that Antonio Banderas was starring in a Science Fiction movie. It is called Automata and from the trailer it seems to be a cross between Blade Runner and I, Robot. What surprised me even more is that the trailer was very good. Internet forums are full of trolls saying that a particular work is derived from another. I don’t care, I accept that artists can be inspired by other artists as long as they remain respectful. Without inspiration we would not have fantastic movies such as The Matrix and Star Wars. As for Autómata, the movie is a South African production directed by Spanish director Gabe Ibáñez. So far he has mostly experience in animation.

Before I have to suffer through internet trolls on this website I will acknowledge that Blade Runner is based on Phillips K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? And I, Robot is based on the short story collection of the same name from Isaac Asimov. The point is that if art is derived from others but is maintains its quality than it is better than poor quality originals. The I, Robot movie from 2004 is example of derivative work that wasn’t very good. It was popular because of it starred Will Smith and Bridget Moynahan but the subtleties of the plot were amidst all the explosions and chase scenes. The trailer of Autómata shows a much slower paced action thriller reminiscent of Blade Runner. While that movie wasn’t everybody’s cup of tea even fans will agree that a derived work such as Autómata is preferred over a Blade Runner sequel.

The synopsis for Autómata…

Jacq Vaucan, an insurance agent of ROC robotics corporation, routinely investigates the case of manipulating a robot. What he discovers will have profound consequences for the future of humanity.

I know it’s a rather short synopsis. From the trailer we can deduce that the story I set in a irradiated 2044 during a time in which humanoid robots have matured to help us doing chores. However, no one wants robots to grow beyond control and so a set of rules are in place. The first states that a robot cannot harm any form of life. The second states that a robot cannot alter itself or others. Bandera’s characters stumbles upon robots that have been altered yet have no owner. He is tasked with tracking them down, but finds himself doubting his own anti-robot stance. The task is complicated by Dylan McDermott’s characters who has no scrupled to kill anyone (robot or human). The odd thing about this movie is that robots are being shot for the way in which we want robots to develop. We want them to care form life and have emotions that would prevent them from being violent.

Below you can watch the trailer…

Autómata also stars Birgitte Hjort Sørensen (Borgen), Melanie Griffith (Working Girl), and Robert Forster (Breaking Bad). Just to inform those that don’t follow the tabloid newspapers. The movie will star the very same Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith that have recently divorced. At this moment Autómata has a scheduled release in September in Spain but that seems almost impossible. A limited release in the US is set for October. This was Autómata Preview.

Source; http://io9.com/automata-trailer-shows-off-a-robot-action-movie-that-ge-1624643662