Top 10 Movie Robots - Jays Top 10

I started a top ten movie list at the end of last year, I thought I might copy some of the movie magazines and create my own top ten’s of movie things.

Add your own!

To start off:

July

My top ten Movie Robots (in honour of the upcoming Real Steel, starring Hugh Jackman – which I am a little excited about)

10:  Data ­– Star Trek: Generations Series

There’s smart, then there’s Star Trek Generations’ Data. He gets a nod for being the most useful, smart and enigmatic robot to ever want to be human. Data has seen it all as the USS Enterprise traverses through the universe captained by Jean-Luc. He was upgraded with an emotion chip and turned into a partial human by the Borg; an experience that only he and Picard would share. Oh, and he's always happy to help scan for life forms.

9: T1000  - The Terminator

THE MOST DANGEROUS robot to be sent back from the future, the T1000 is a silent, methodical killer intent of destroying John Connor, the revolutionary that will one day bring down Skynet. Built from liquid metal, barely saying a word, the T1000 is a revolution in special effects turning into all manner of objects and humans.

8: Iron Giant – Iron Giant

From the critically acclaimed (but under performing) film based on the classic Ted Hughes book and directed by Toy Story’s Brad Bird, The Iron Giant is a remarkable film with a touching, confronting anti-war message. The robot in question, falls from space and quickly gobbles up anything made of metal. Set at the height of the cold war, Giant is a war machine, capable of mass destruction, but through the heart of a young boy, discovers that he can be more than a killing machine.

7: Teddy – Artificial Intelligence

The wonder toy of the future, Teddy is the Teddy Ruxpin of the 21^st century on steroids. If David is “Pinocchio” then Teddy is certainly Jiminy Cricket. He is a bear that looks wonderfully soft to hold and looks remarkably real as a toy. He offers David all sorts of advice and caution and like Jiminy; he travels with David every step of the way. At the end of the film, we are left to ponder if he lives, or like David, dies.

6: Johnny 5 – Short Circuit

Number 5 is alive! The 80’s treated us to a robot intent to learning as much as he could about the world and humans in the little time he was free from the experimental lab. Struck by lightening, becoming self-aware, he discovers the joy of the Bee Gees, dancing and love and what it means to be a sacrifice.

5:  Pris – Blade Runner

No robot list would be complete without an entry from the iconic sci-fi film Blade Runner. With a list of robots as long as your arm to chose from, Pris (Darryl Hannah) has to be one of the most memorable replicants. She’s a replicant built for “basic pleasure”, but this robot has one mean gymnastic ability; she can kill you at 20 back flips!  

4: Bishop – Aliens

Could this synthetic human put right all the wrong things that his predecessor, Ash caused?  For Ripley, he needs to stay away from her, and she makes that terribly clear, but what makes Bishop different, (besides his behavioural inhibitor) is that he actually has a heart and right when Ripley thinks all is lost, he appears like a knight in flying armour to save the day!

3: Optimus Prime - Transformers Trilogy

Who’s going to save the world from the evil plans of Megatron and Co? Optimus Prime, that’s who. Not only does this robot have the ability to transform into the coolest looking Mack truck, he has the coolest arsenal of weapons. From a sword that cuts through metal like a hot knife to butter, to a transforming trailer that becomes a battle platform, Optimus is constantly there to save Sam, and humanity, just like Jesus..speaking of, did I mention he can also be raised from the dead? 

2: Wall-e – Wall-E

A Waste Allocation Load Lifter – Earth class; WALL-E is one of the most expressive robots to cross the silver-screen, yet, he barley says a word.

He collects junk, finding treasure in humanities waste and is the only resident on the planet earth after we polluted it. Although only a little square robot, he encompasses all that it great about humanity and gives us reason to hope again.

1: R2D2 – Star Wars saga

There is no other robot like R2D2! He is looks like a trashcan on wheels, but he is so, so, so much more. Communicating in a series of beeps and whistles, lights and spins, he is the veritable swiss army knife in robot form. He can talk to any computer, open doors, throw holograms, deliver important messages, carry your trusty light-saber, electrocute monkey-like aliens, serve beverages...and then, he saves your life when you’re about to be crushed in a trash compactor! HE IS THE ROBOT!

And the worst?

Skids and Mudflap – Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

They are Michael Bay’s equivalent of Jar Jar Binks. Offensive, pointless and racially stereotyped, not only are they the worse robots to grace the silver screen, but their alternate forms are just as ugly as when they are robots.

 (Not even worthy of a video link)

The Hobbit - 15 years too late?

Martin Freeman dons the Hobbit ears as Bilbo Baggins.

The movie adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is underway in the “new” Middle Earth, New Zealand.

Gratefully, after years of protracted talks, a failed movie company, a lengthy court battle, about 700 directors and a casting strike, Peter Jackson has returned to helm this epic movie monster. Also returning are Ian Mckellan as Gadalf, Ian Holm as the older Bilbo Baggins and recently confirmed, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins.

It’s been 8 years since the last film Return of the King premiered and 10 since Fellowship of the Ring graced our screens. It was way back in 1997 when it was announced that Peter would take on the mammoth task of recreating the much loved book as three movies; a 5 year journey that would see him make all three films at once, a feat never before accomplished, nor repeated.

Since then, Peter has only directed two features, King Kong and The Lovely Bones and now, he returns to directing duties on the Hobbit, filming both films at once. It has so far been a 15 year round journey for him and his team, one that makes me wonder if he can still be as focussed on the subject as he was before? He has been sleeping, reading, eating, filming, selling, writing, creating, JRR Tolkien for 15 years, could he be a tad stale?

Peter directs Martin in Bagend

By all accounts, I still think this man is the man for the job. When I met him in 2001 for the premiere of FOTR I was amazed by his passion and love. When he spoke about the films and about the source material, he did it with respect and appreciation. I don’t agree with all his choices for the films, but you cannot deny that he made some amazing films.

The snippets we are hearing (you can follow Ian Mckellen and Peter Jackson on Facebook and Twitter) reveal a positive return to Middle Earth from a man who is a perfectionist  with an almighty eye for detail.

I think its time to pick up my book again!

Do we need to return to The Dark Crystal?



The cast of the original Dark Crystal, Kira, Jen and Fizzgig



For years there has been speculation, confirmation and rumour that a sequel to Jim Henson’s, The Dark Crystal will be made. At last look, the film had the Aussie-based Spierig Bros (Daybreakers) attached to direct. That last update was more than 12 months ago and it seems that the production has stalled or will never get off the ground.

There has been a lot of talk about how good a sequel could be when it is void of the imagination of Jim Henson. Yet the sequel has a working title - The Power of the Dark Crystal; a release date of 2011 and a plot summary! (source: IMDB)

There have been all sorts of promises too follow; that artist Brian Froud would be returning (the original is based on his ideas, artwork and design), that as many of the original crew would be re-hired and that the film would be a mix of puppets and CGI.

The film for me is one of THE most pivotal movies that inspired my own imagination and love for film making. Had I the determination, I would have been a puppeteer, but I can watch this film now, as a 30+ adult and enjoy every single frame, every single line and every single moment.

For me, The Dark Crystal reigns as Jim Henson’s masterpiece and for me, it is his heart and an amazing gift he left for us.

I’m not sure I want see a sequel. I doubt it will have the same heart. I agree with what Frank Oz (legendary “muppet” partner-in-crime and co-director of the original) said when he was asked about the sequel.


“Why?"