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 We're smart, but lazy. Science fiction says so.
Robots we can build, but only because we want them to walk the dog.
Occasionally they turn to evil, but good or not, movie robots are
always super cool. Sometimes I wonder what kind of robot I'd make.
Would I live to give or solely exist to crush, kill and destroy?
Invariably I settle on the second option, especially when I'm
liquored up, as there's nothing more appealing than smashing things.
I'm a bloke, after all. That's what we do. We're also prone to
making lists, which is why I've prepared a personal top ten of my
favourite movie robots, from Robby to RoboCop and all the mechanical
marvels in between.
The Iron Giant
(1999)
A boy's best friend is his robot, no
question. No dog could compete with a flying metal colossus. Not
even Chewbacca. Armed to the teeth but surprisingly friendly with a
cool retro look and mysterious alien origin, the Iron Giant (as
voiced by Vin Diesel) is too cool for school.
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here for more information
 Data (Star Trek: First Contact,
1996)
A pasty know-it-all android with an emotion
chip and a Pinocchio complex, Data (Brent Spiner) wants nothing more
than to become human, even though in his present form he's
infallible, indestructible and great in bed. Some people are never
happy.
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here for more information
RoboCop
(1987)
From the greatest movie of the 1980s came a
half-human cyborg (Peter Weller) who blasted his way into our
hearts, a modern-day Frankenstein's Monster boasting "...the fastest
reflexes modern technology has to offer, onboard computer-assisted
memory, and a lifetime of on-the-street law enforcement." Go Robo!
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here for more information
Bishop (Aliens,
1986)
Honest, dependable, smart and brave, synthetic
geezer Bishop (Lance Henriksen) may not be a barrel of laughs, but
if it's a fix you're in, he'll work his gears off to help you, be he
solid and tidy or ripped in half and covered in milky goo. Good help
like that's not easy to find.
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here for more information
 The Terminator (1984)
A stone cold
killer from the future with humanity in its sights, The Terminator
(Arnold Schwarzenegger) "...can't be bargained with. It doesn't feel
pity, or remorse, or fear and it absolutely will not stop - ever -
until you are dead." Charming.
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information
R2-D2 (Star Wars, 1977)
A
winning combination of dustbin, dog and Swiss Army Knife, R2-D2
(Kenny Baker) is a spaceman's best friend. Loyal, plucky and handy
to have around when something breaks, he enjoys whistling, the
company of ewoks and criticising poncey sidekick C-3PO.
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here for more information
Robot
Gunslinger (Westworld, 1973)
A steely-eyed
chrome dome dressed in black, an android gunfighter (Yul Brynner)
programmed for Wild West adventure goes postal in a fancy futuristic
theme park. Sick of being shot by tourists, he cheers himself up by blowing holes in
humans.
The Daleks (Dr Who and the Daleks,
1965)
Aggressive pepper pot-shaped time travelers from
the planet Skaro, the Daleks want nothing less than total galactic
domination. Years ago all it took to defeat them was a flight of
stairs, but as fans of the new series already know, it's no longer
easy to outrun a Dalek. Submit or die!
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here for more information
Robby
the Robot (Forbidden Planet, 1956)
Built by a
mad scientist on a strange planet, Robby is your handy robot pal.
Faithful and strong, with a chunky retro style, he speaks 188
languages and sports an abdominal chemical lab that produces
everything from diamonds to
whisky.
The Tin Man (The Wizard of Oz,
1939)
What robot (Jack Haley) in its right mind would
choose to acquire a heart over even the most basic electronic
components? Where are wires? Where are the gears? All he seems to
need is moral support and the odd squirt of oil.
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for more information
See you next week!
Marshall
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