Space Age Side-Kicks Welcome to movieland's IT crowd
Since Hollywood first crossed the threshold of space, its intrepid pioneers have had an uneasy relationship with the machines they've created to aid their journeys. Man has taken giant leaps, crossed final frontiers and spanned galaxies far, far away, but their 'helpers' have not always made it easy for them. Some are good, some bad and some just need serious rewiring. Here's our guide to the robotic right-hand men and technological terrors of our favourite sci-fis. WORDS PHIL DE SEMLYEN
Space Age Side-Kicks HAL 9000 2001: A Space Odyssey
Long before Google there was HAL - or 'Heuristically Programmed Algorithmic Computer' for long - a sentient machine with the brain power of a billion Stephen Hawkings and the self-awareness of Posh Spice. It's a fearful combination and spells disaster for the unwitting crew-members of the Discovery, who learn the hard way that there's never an I.T. man around when you need one. In the face of their dawning horror, HAL is all clinical, emotionless reason, pointing out that "no 9000 has ever made a mistake - the 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made." If that's true, throw your MacBook away now.
"…Law makes the most of his limited screen-time, SIGHTING Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire as inspiration…"?
I've seen 'em both too… so what? Oh, you mean CITING…
Anyway, pedantry aside, what about Arnie in full 'Uncle Bob' mode in T2? I know he's supposed to be a protector but he does morph into a (slightly grating) comic relief. Read More
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Posted on Tuesday July 21, 2009, 09:04 by bwaller
"…Law makes the most of his limited screen-time, SIGHTING Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire as inspiration…"?
I've seen 'em both too… so what? Oh, you mean CITING…
Anyway, pedantry aside, what about Arnie in full 'Uncle Bob' mode in T2? I know he's supposed to be a protector but he does morph into a (slightly grating) comic relief. Read More
9
Posted on Monday July 20, 2009, 21:38 by sftballgirl5
What about Otto from Wall-e? He's the cartoon version of Hal. Or, if you don't want to be derivative, what about Eve? Read More
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Robbie
Posted on Monday July 20, 2009, 19:40 by madxm
what about Robbie the Robot, from Forbidden Planet? Read More
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Posted on Monday July 20, 2009, 18:54 by Nalfeshnee
