Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Rate the Robots IV

How bored am I?



Robot: Bomb #20 from the John Carpenter classic, "Dark Star"

Overview: In the middle of the 22nd century, humankind has reached a point in its technological advances to enable colonization of the far reaches of the universe. Armed with intelligent "Exponential Thermostellar Bombs", the scout ship Dark Star and its apathetic crew have been in space alone for twenty years on a mission to destroy "unstable planets" which might threaten future colonization. For whatever reason, Bomb#20 malfunctions, and fun ensues.

Pros: Besides packing quite a punch, Bomb# 20 is equipped with an artificial intelligence which allows for a reasoning process that would do Socrates proud. Spoiler Alert! Click HERE to see what I mean.

Cons: The bombs voice, which is an amalgamation of the Hal9000 and Linus from "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" detracts a bit from the above-mentioned philosophical discussion.

Reality Check: It's hard to fathom why, exactly, these bombs were equipped with artificial intelligence and that Bomb#20 would so quickly acquire a God complex. It isn't hard to fathom humanity bulldozing it's way through space.

Rating: 3.5 out of 10. If only for the Bomb philosophy lesson.

1 comment:

  1. Aaack, I don't remember this movie so I can't give honestly comment about the robot.

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