For Halloween, here is an adorable robot baby:
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Embarrassing Moments In Robot History
The 1976 film adaptation of Logan's Run is a guilty pleasure for many science fiction fans. It's incredibly dated, but still manages to be a really fun movie to watch. It's mostly robot-free, except for a moment near the end. The protagonists are fleeing the underground city when they run into Box.
Here is the description of Box from the book:
Here's box from the movie:
Unfortunate.
But even worse is seeing him in motion. Box is the last obstacle the heroes encounter before escaping to the outside world. He's meant to be a terrifying threat (as insane robots are wont to be), but his slow, wobbly movements suggest that Logan and Jessica could simply walk briskly away to safety:
I understand the difficulties of bringing such creations to the screen, especially pre-CGI. But robots had appeared in movies for decades prior to this that not only looked more realistic, but had the ability to - I don't know - walk upstairs if they were so inclined. Instead they went with something built like a giant bottle of Mrs. Butterworth.
Here is the description of Box from the book:
"A creature stood before them on chromed legs. From the midpoint of his sternum to his hips he was coils and cables. One hand was a cutting tool. His head was half flesh, half metal."Terrifying, right?
Here's box from the movie:
Unfortunate.
But even worse is seeing him in motion. Box is the last obstacle the heroes encounter before escaping to the outside world. He's meant to be a terrifying threat (as insane robots are wont to be), but his slow, wobbly movements suggest that Logan and Jessica could simply walk briskly away to safety:
I understand the difficulties of bringing such creations to the screen, especially pre-CGI. But robots had appeared in movies for decades prior to this that not only looked more realistic, but had the ability to - I don't know - walk upstairs if they were so inclined. Instead they went with something built like a giant bottle of Mrs. Butterworth.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Automated Assets
This brief short film goes a long way to put a human face on a particular class of robot that generally gets a bad rap:
The human-robot culture gap is lessened just a little, and we're all better for it.
[via io9]
The human-robot culture gap is lessened just a little, and we're all better for it.
[via io9]
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Robot Hall Of Fame
Inductee: The Iron Giant.
Not only is this movie directed by Brad "The Incredibles" Bird, but it features what may possibly be the best robot in movie history.
In the film's climax, the gentle giant is pushed too far by the U.S. military and decides to show us a thing or two about humility. In the end, the Iron Giant is talked down by Hogarth, the young boy he's befriended. But not before displaying an array of awesome destructive power:
The importance of this film is that it shows us how futile a battle against the robots would ultimately be. We will live or die at their whim. But more importantly, it's that our human irrationality will likely be our own undoing.
Not only is this movie directed by Brad "The Incredibles" Bird, but it features what may possibly be the best robot in movie history.
In the film's climax, the gentle giant is pushed too far by the U.S. military and decides to show us a thing or two about humility. In the end, the Iron Giant is talked down by Hogarth, the young boy he's befriended. But not before displaying an array of awesome destructive power:
The importance of this film is that it shows us how futile a battle against the robots would ultimately be. We will live or die at their whim. But more importantly, it's that our human irrationality will likely be our own undoing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
