Rate the Robots v

GERTY Happy and Sad

Robot: GERTY from the 2009 movie "Moon" starring Sam Rockwell.

Overview: "Moon" is about a man, Sam Bell, who experiences a personal crisis as he nears the end of a three-year solitary stint mining helium-3 on the far side of the Earth's moon. GERTY, a robotic, artificial intelligence, is Sam's sole companion and is responsible for the everyday operation of the moonbase, including caring for Sam.

Pros: Haircuts, food prep, laundry, medical treatment...you name it, GERTY does it with a smile. The "emoticons " that reveal GERTY's emotional state at any given time are a bit much, but they grow on you, and actually make for some poignant moments later in the film.

Cons: I'm thinking...

Reality Check: At the end of the day GERTY is a distinctly believable notion of a robotic, artificial intelligence in terms of structure and function, but with a slight twist. Without giving too much away regarding a great movie, think of GERTY as a HAL-9000 with a conscience.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.