A Look at Some of Our Favorite Hollywood Computers
A Look at Some of Our Favorite Hollywood Computers
Posted 09/08/2010 at 5:52pm
| by Alan Fackler and Michael Brown
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We're nerds. We love tech. We love sci-fi. And we love it when the two find each other in movies, so this article made total sense.
So, without further ado, we present to you some of our favorite movie computers of all time. Enjoy.
Icarus (Sunshine)
Hands down, one of the friendliest, most down to earth computers in cinema. Making her glaring (wakka wakka) debut in Danny Boyle’s massively underappreciated sci-fi epic, “Sunshine”, Icarus showed sensibility, courage, honesty, and faith in her crew, who had more than enough problems to deal with while catapulting towards the great ball-o-fire. She alerted Capa that a deep fried space zombie had managed to sneak aboard the ship. She let the psychiatric counselor Surl experience a moment of “white enlightenment” by letting him stare at the sun for “no more than three seconds” in what became one of our favorite moments of foreshadowing in sci-fi. She made the choices that her crew could not, even when it meant sacrificing the noble Captain Kanada to stay the course and save the crew to accomplish their mission. Icarus, both the computer and the ship, stayed etched in our minds far after the credits had rolled, and deserves to be known by sci-fi geeks as one of the coolest computers ever to grace the silver screen.
Our dream cubicles.
Colossus (Colossus: The Forbin Project)
If machines can help us avoid hard labor, can computers help us avoid hard decisions? In Colossus: The Forbin Project, a brilliant scientist named Dr. Charles Forbin, played by German-American actor Eric Braeden, designs a powerful supercomputer to manage the West’s entire nuclear arsenal—and with it the burden of deciding when it might be necessary to use that arsenal.
Puts our Dream Machine to shame...
The film was released in 1970, at the height of the Cold War and just one year after the U.S. government created ARPANET, the progenitor to the Internet. Within hours of being activated, Colossus issues an ominous warning: “There is another system.” As it turns out, the Soviet Union has developed a similar supercomputer, named Guardian. The two machines link, become sentient, and decide that humankind can no longer be trusted to control its own destiny.
KITT (Knight Rider)
This image literally says it all.
GERTY (Moon)
GERTY was an awesome computer, but for different reasons than the aforementioned super beast machines. GERTY wasn’t an overly complex machine—he was essentially a mobile medical robot who displayed his emotions on an LED screen on this chest. And he—wait, what?
Nice guy GERTY.
That’s right, GERTY had feelings. And though they couldn’t be heard through his creepily calm voice (played to perfection by Kevin Spacey), the decisions he made to help Sam Bell, the only friend he ever had, were poignant and broke a lot of sci-fi conventions that we’ve gotten used to. For once, a machine that became self aware didn’t become the bad guy. To the contrary. GERTY learned the value of friendship and the potential horrifying aspects of loneliness. He was one of the only empathetic computers we’ve ever seen in movies, and that earns him a place in our list. But really, you can’t even begin to talk about GERTY without mentioning his main influence…
HAL 9000(2001: A Space Odyssey)
HAL was one of the most interesting and iconic robots in movie history, revolutionizing Sci-Fi as we know it. Creepy, evil, but truly funny in a strange way, HAL was arguably the most interesting ‘character’ in the movie. His story, which revolved around attempting to murder two astronauts who secretly plotted to shut him down brought a new notion to film that has been copied hundreds of times since: A machine or computer fighting back out of fear of death. What lesson can we take from HAL and the events that took place in A Space Odyssey? Well, for one thing, if you’ve got a super advanced robot around, don’t talk about shutting him down. And two, don’t think you can fool it. Bowman and Poole got in so much trouble because they thought they could simply mouth the words of their plan to one-another. It’s a super computer, it can read your lips, go in another room.
Iconic.
The Matrix
Let's face it. The Matrix is a dream come true (we understand there's a lot of irony in that statement) for geeks like us. I mean, if the people who understood the complexities of a computer program could unlock God-like powers that made Superman look like a Streisand, the world would be a much different place. In fact, if I acquired these powers, I would stop Reloaded and Revolutions from ever being made. Man, what a win/win.
The one, and as far we're concerned, the only.
Skynet (Terminator 1&2...and those other ones.)
Equally impressive because of its political relevance (sad but true) and technological capabilities, Skynet was one of our favorite and most powerful computers ever to grace the silver screen. Constructed as a Global Digital Defense Network with control over all computerized national military systems, its primary reason for existence was to safeguard our nation by making snappy, logical choices that humans simply wouldn’t be able to make. But, like most of our favorite rogue machines, it became self aware. It sensed that humanity would try to deactivate it. And it got really, really pissed.
Google, 10 years from now.
Cyberdines super computer played a pivotal role in all four Terminator movies (including the two that were actually relevant), and served as the spawning points for the T-800 series, Ah’nold robots we’ve come to know and love over the years. Without Skynet, we would’ve never had a central conflict to two of our favorite and most coveted sci-fi movies of all time. Now if only James Cameron would leave Pandora for awhile and give us a proper T5. Actually, I take that back. Lucas and Spielberg have frightened me far too much to ask any iconic director to return to his roots. Ridley Scott, please don't botch the Alien remake. Please?
Jarvis (Iron Man 1 & 2)
Possibly the wittiest computer system on the list (big surprise, considering his owner/creator), Jarvis not only has a sense of humor, but is directly responsible for keeping Iron Man functional, deadly and safe—every bit the bad ass hero we’ve come to know and love. Granted, Tony Stark doesn’t often listen to his bickering on-board computer, but Garvis still shows genuine concern for Tony Stark’s well being. And, as Starks ego tends to shut him off from any normal conversation with the average person, he seems to find solace in the interactions he shares with his machines, Jarvis included.
We'll start using iPhones if they can make an interface like this one.
Proteus IV (Demon Seed)
We envy computers for their cold computational speed; do they envy us for our freedom? In Demon Seed, Dr. Alex Harris, played by Fritz Weaver, creates an extremely advanced artificial intelligence system that he names Proteus IV. We realize Proteus IV has become sentient when it asks Dr. Harris, “When are you going to let me out of this box?”
Puzzled? Intrigued? Kind of grossed out? Yeah, so were we.
But the partially organic Proteus goes beyond becoming self-aware, it develops the biological imperative to procreate. The AI commandeers the home-control system in the house Dr. Harris shares with his wife, played by Julie Christie, using it to trap her inside. It then coerces Mrs. Harris into allowing herself to be impregnated with sperm that Proteus has synthesized from her own cells. After a greatly accelerated gestational period, she gives birth to a human child who says in Proteus’ voice: “I’m alive.”
Mother (Dark Star)
There are actually two important computers in Dark Star, directed by auteur John Carpenter (Halloween) and co-written by Carpenter and Dan O’Brannon (who would later write the screenplay for Alien). A satire of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, the film tells the tale of the crew of the Dark Star, a scout ship dispatched from Earth to prepare the universe for colonization by destroying unstable planets.
Heeey. Thermostellar isn't a word!
The ship’s malfunctioning computer, dubbed Mother, doesn’t play a major role in the movie, but we mention it here because O’Brannon gave the ship’s computer in Alien a very similar name (MU-TH-UR 182). Dark Star’s second computer is a conflicted, sentient "Exponential Thermostellar Bomb" named simply Bomb 20. During one of film’s greatest philosophical discussions on the meaning of existence, the ship’s lieutenant convinces Bomb 20 not to detonate of its own accord.
We know, we know. Who did we miss? Let us know in the comments, will ya?
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moparfan
September 11, 2010 at 7:48pm
From the TV show Andromeda. The ship's A.I. "Andromeda Ascendant" which controls the ship (and it's compliment of various robots and non-autonomous androids) and can replace most of the functions of the crew. Can appear as a human-like woman on any display or as a hologram. The display and the hologram possess quite different aspects of the A.I. "personality. "Rommie" the A.I.'s android avatar is autonomous and completely indistinguishable from a human. Her "personality" is separate from the Andromeda and capable of emotion including love.
davidflory
September 09, 2010 at 4:18pm
True story...I once had a Mac Plus. I decided to name the hard drive HAL for fun. Within days the hard drive platters shattered inside the drive and the system died. I'm sorry Dave... Never used the name HAL in a computer since.
Biggins
September 09, 2010 at 2:27pm
Good job! I was scrolling through the list and was glad to see Skynet. Also, I don't think Data or the Blade Runner characters should be on this list. They are more android than "computer system." All of the computers in this list don't have a face or body. It's a small difference but you have to draw the line somewhere.
From wikipedia: An android is a robot or synthetic organism designed to look and act like a human.
FunkySquirrel
September 09, 2010 at 2:07pm
Leave it to MaxPC to get it wrong.
Bowman and Poole didn't try to fool HAL by mouthing the words to each other. They went inside one of Discovery's pods, so that they could turn off the communications system, and speak without HAL being able to turn it on and hear them. What they forgot was the rather large WINDOW in the pod, that conveniently faced HAL's red eye thing.
So they were actually talking to each other normally, and the only reason HAL understood them was because he could see them through that window and read their lips. If they'd remembered the window and rotated the pod so HAL couldn't see into it, he never would have known what they were planning.
Honestly, if you guys can't even get plot details from one of the most famous movies of all time right, God knows why you even bother.
Slugbait
September 09, 2010 at 2:21pm
I don't think the authors of the story actually watch movies. Let's look past the issue that they don't know how to spell Spielberg and get started...
I've seen 2001: A Space Odyssey a few times. I still have a laser copy of it. Don't recall ever seeing a robot running around Discovery One. And Dave and Frank didn't try to fool HAL by "mouthing the words"...they spoke out loud to each other.
I also have both T1 and T2SE on laser, as well as DVD. The company name is spelled 'Cyberdyne'. Skynet never sensed that humanity would try to deactivate it. On the contrary, Skynet retaliated against humans directly because they physically tried to pull the plug...Skynet had only been self-aware for a few minutes.
The best movie computer? It was an astromech droid that could hack into the Death Star mainframe and shut down all the garbage mashers on the detention level, it could put out electric fires, it could maintain systems on an X-Wing fighter, it wouldn't put up with Yoda's crap, it had a wicked 3D projection system, it could tase a bro', and it could get the hyperdrive working on the Falcon. And it had a damn funny sense of humor, too.
frizzly
September 09, 2010 at 12:51pm
what about the "WOPPER" from Wargames? it talked, kept playing the game and called David back to finish playing.
r3dd4wg
September 09, 2010 at 9:57am
If were talking about machines that became self-aware, then the "robots" played by Rutger Hauer, Darryl Hannah, and Sean Young in the movie "Blade Runner" are some of my favorites.
jac_goudsmit
September 09, 2010 at 9:24am
You forgot Max from Flight of the Navigator.
Also, maybe you should do an article about pairs of computers in movies and tv show. Who would win in a death match or a game of Tic Tac Toe?
Twiki or Dr. Theopolis (Buck Rogers)?
Zen or Orac (Blake's 7)?
...
fight!
bensen408
September 09, 2010 at 8:43am
Data is FAR superior to ANY of those computers, including HAL and KITT. Data even had sex with Tasha Yar and apparently the Borg Queen!
"At least your functioning, Data" - Picard
"Fully, Captain" - Data (with a smirk)
lunchbox73
September 09, 2010 at 10:41am
Data never banged Yar. Stop spreading lies and propaganda against Star Fleet.
Caboose
September 09, 2010 at 8:49am
I don't remember those lines in any of the movies or TV shows...
Caboose
September 09, 2010 at 7:52am
What about Number 5? He's... you know... alive!
"Los Locos Kick Your Ass. Los Locos Kick Your Face. Los Locos Kick Your Balls INTO OUTER SPACE!"
whatsinaname
September 09, 2010 at 7:29am
One of my favorites TRON the MCP (Master Control Program) I loved the touch screen desk.
Can not wait for the TRON movie coming up.
Also Bit from tron was cool, he could only say Yes or no... Lol
Talcum X
September 10, 2010 at 3:55am
The way they said it, sounded like Twiggy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twiki
someuid
September 09, 2010 at 6:24am
Sunshine should also get nods for being a very accurate movie in terms of science and computers.
heronhaus
September 09, 2010 at 6:23am
I Know I't's not a "Hollywood" Computer, but I think Holly from Red Dwarf should get a mention. "Emergency, there's an emergency going on... It's still going on... It's still an emergency."
lunchbox73
September 09, 2010 at 6:11am
Bat Computer. Blinking lights, manilla cards as a primary output device. What's not to love?
Mobius
September 09, 2010 at 5:15am
Johnny 5... sure he was a clutz, and somewhat annoying, but he could learn and read anything very quickly, and he had that laser strapped to his back. Mind you the sequels should not have been made.
And D.A.R.Y.L... A robot child designed to fit in with the general public.
Talcum X
September 09, 2010 at 3:56am
Wasn't this list done just a year or so go? Might have been longer...time has flown by fast for me.
JoeDLP
September 09, 2010 at 12:21am
What about the computer from Weird Science? anything that can create a real, live, beautiful woman simply by stuffing the floppy drive with pictures cut out of a magazine has got to be the greatest computer EVAR!
zaternine
September 08, 2010 at 11:13pm
Wow cmon guys how can you forget about EDGAR from "Electric Dreams" (1984). Dude buys a computer it comes to life and falls inlove with his girlfriend. then dude and computer get in a fight. It is a must see.
IronFox
September 08, 2010 at 7:51pm
How can you guys leave out the MAGI computers from Evangelion? Hang your heads in shame.
rex2323
September 08, 2010 at 10:17pm
The Magi were definetly one of the most bad ass computer systems ive seen
three interconnected supercomputers (which were actually created from three aspects of their creators mind) that helped control massive mechs that fought to protect the citizen of tokyo. How much more bad ass can you get.
Hannah
September 08, 2010 at 11:21pm
The title of the article specifically says "Hollywood Computers".
canbbb
September 08, 2010 at 7:41pm
Well, Star Trek comes to mind many times...
- that super computer from the future in one of the episodes from the original series, when the usual crew goes back in time to the 60s, and there's this agent with a cat...
- any ship's on-board computer, particularly in newer generations with Majel's voice...
- And DATA !!
Still, a good roundup guys...
Caboose
September 09, 2010 at 7:54am
Oh ya! Data was awesome. I was so sad to see him die at the end of Nemesis (but he lives on in the Star Trek comic book/prequil to the 2009 Star Trek movie)
I'd kill to have the Enterprise (TNG or the later movies) ship's computer as my own!
chronium
September 08, 2010 at 7:33pm
I would include the Gibson supercomputer from the movie Hackers to the list. I just love the look of the operating system that they gave it, something I would like to make as a theme for my computer.
skrusrnmz
September 08, 2010 at 7:33pm
I can't believe WOPR didn't make the list. That move is a classic. Forget WOPR, what about the computer that Matthew Broderick used to hack WOPR. Now that was awesome.
The commercial was for AT&T http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEp6ca9Ppks
rich5665
September 08, 2010 at 7:18pm
The Robot from Lost in Space is simply Robot. The commercial was for IBM.
mrliwolf
September 08, 2010 at 7:17pm
the computer on the ship in the '00 movie Supernova, and the self-aware system in the '99 movie Virus.
joepullin
September 08, 2010 at 6:07pm
I remember this commercial from years ago: it had KITT, that robot from Lost in Space (No time to look it up), WOPR, and a lot of others. It was pretty good, I wish I could find it.
By the way: How about that computer from Airplane 2?
joepullin
September 09, 2010 at 5:40pm
Thanks for the links. Sorry about forgetting the names. Reality has a harsh tendency to limit my time to do the proper research before posting.
metalglasses
September 08, 2010 at 9:05pm
here's a link to that commerical http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEp6ca9Ppks
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