Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13232 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-07-03
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Hindi, Turkish, Danish, Icelandic, Swedish, Hungarian, Polish, Arabic, Dutch, Finnish, Croatian, Czech, Greek
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 127 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Bicentennial Man was stung at the 1999 box office, due no doubt in part to poor timing during a backlash against Robin Williams and his treacly performances in two other, then-recent, releases, Jakob the Liar and Patch Adams. But this near-approximation of a science-fiction epic, based on works by Isaac Asimov and directed, with uncharacteristic seriousness of purpose, by Chris Columbus (Mrs Doubtfire), is much better than one would have known from the knee-jerk negativity and box-office indifference.

Williams plays Andrew, a robot programmed for domestic chores and sold to an upper-middle-class family, the Martins, in the year 2005. The family patriarch (Sam Neill) recognizes and encourages Andrew's uncommon characteristics, particularly his artistic streak, sensitivity to beauty, humour and independence of spirit. In so doing, he sets Williams's tin man on a two-century journey to become more human than most human beings.

As adapted by screenwriter Nicholas Kazan, the movie's scale is novelistic, though Columbus isn't the man to embrace with Spielbergian confidence its sweeping possibilities. Instead, the Home Alone director shakes off his familiar tendencies to pander and matures, finally, as a captivating storyteller. But what really makes this film matter is its undercurrent of deep yearning, the passion of Andrew as a convert to the human race and his willingness to sacrifice all to give and take love. Williams rises to an atypical challenge here as a futuristic Everyman, relying, perhaps for the first time, on his considerable iconic value to make the point that becoming human means becoming more like Robin Williams. Nothing wrong with that. -- Tom Keogh, Amazon.com

Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
DVD 9
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Original Theatrical Trailer
Filmographies
Behind The Scenes Featurette
Hook And Jumanji Trailers
Isolated Music Score
Arabic\Croatian\Czech\Danish\Dutch\English\Finnish\German\Greek\Hebrew\Hindi\Hungarian\Icelandic\Norwegian\Polish\Portuguese\Swedish\Turkish

Synopsis
Andrew Martin (Williams) is a household android whose intended function is thrown for a loop when he begins to feel genuine human emotions. Over the next two centuries the resulting dealings with his adopted family and new acquaintances provide the film with ample opportunities to raise important questions about individual human existence, as Andrew seeks to become human. Based on the Isaac Asimov story of the same name.

Customer Reviews

Simply Amazing
Bicentennial Man is a film which follows a unique and extraordinary robot over a period of approximately two hundred years in his attempt to "...be acknowledged," and become more human. It becomes obvious early after his activation by Richard Martin (Sam Neill) in the family home that `Andrew' is more that just another NDR robot. He develops an interest in classical music, builds a friendship with `little miss' and becomes a skilled craftsman... or craftsbot? The passage of time in Bicentennial Man is handled well and perfectly paced with a two hundred year journey compressed into a film just over two hours in duration. As time continues the cityscape becomes more futuristic and evolved (you may notice the change in Rupert Burns Enterprises which by the end of the film is a large state of the art facility.) You also witness several sets of characters age and in most cases die while Andrew (despite changes in external appearance) remains the same. Bicentennial man is simply a heart warming masterpiece that has been beautifully scripted and thought out. It questions what it is to be human and the morals of love, perfection and immortality. Robin Williams plays the part of Andrew, and is most likley the perfect actor for the part. The film is also quite comical in places. For example after the subject of sex is explained to Andrew, he states that "It all sounds so very... messy." Andrew also develops a fear of heights shown by his reaction when he is brought back to the manufactures and Richard Martin tells him how high they are. His phobia is understandable as early in the film he is ordered to (and obeys) to jump out a second story window. The ending of Bicentennial Man is tear jerking so I will not spoil it for you. But look out for Galatea (another NDR robot introduced in the film) who has been upgraded in time for the ending. The price of the DVD is ridiculously cheap considering the quality of the movie so I would strongly recommend this film to you.

In search of Humanity
I was surprised that this was billed as a comedy, instead of a drama. I would also think that most children watching this film will be bored and confused with the subject matter. Although it is a clean family movie, the topics covered (i.e. euthanasia, discrimination, immortality, etc.) are most definitely adult.

I very much enjoyed the human story about a robot's search for meaning and humanity. This is a thought provoking and touching drama which contemplates very complex issues in a highly entertaining manner. It is not a real comedy nor is it for the very young. This is a good film and I recommend it.

wow! what a film
this film is one of the best robin williams films there is.it is a great gripping film that will keep you glued to the screen.plus its on for a great length of time which makes it great for a night with with a pizza.the film is very different and very funny in its own way.i would buy it if i were you!!