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I remember a story on the Twilight Zone:

There was the one about the Zephers baseball team, & the android pitcher who did not have the heart to strike out those poor batters. This is a robot with kokoro (heart), perhaps we might say, empathy.

The robotic grandma, also addressed issues. The little girl initially rejected her, just as Jump initially rejected Atom.

Then there was the scariest show I remember from childhood: The Outer Limits. There was an Asimov robot story in one episode, called I, Robot. L. Nimoy played reporter covering the trial of Adam, a robot accused of killing his creator. The issue of the trial was supposed to be guilt or innocence, but quickly became one of whether robots had rights (as I remember). Once it was established that they did not, Adam was 'sentenced' to destruction. If you have not seen this, I reccomend it highly. Nimoy took part in a modern remake, but played the defense attorney.

Originally posted by jeffbert@May 15 2004, 01:36 PM
I remember a story on the Twilight Zone:

There was the one about the Zephers baseball team, & the android pitcher who did not have the heart to strike out those poor batters.  This is a robot with kokoro (heart), perhaps we might say, empathy.

The robotic grandma, also addressed issues.  The little girl initially rejected her, just as Jump initially rejected Atom.

Then there was the scariest show I remember from childhood: [b]The Outer Limits. There was an Asimov robot story in one episode, called I, Robot. L. Nimoy played reporter covering the trial of Adam, a robot accused of killing his creator. The issue of the trial was supposed to be guilt or innocence, but quickly became one of whether robots had rights (as I remember). Once it was established that they did not, Adam was 'sentenced' to destruction. If you have not seen this, I reccomend it highly. Nimoy took part in a modern remake, but played the defense attorney. [/b]

The best outer limits episode with a robot is the Harlan Elllison penned, "Demon with the glass hand" I should think.

Synopsis

This episode is being remade into a feature film
Some info
Cyber Ninja strike h34r: h34r: h34r:

I am sure that I saw all the episodes that the SCIFI channel showed, but have no memory of that one.

The three that most frightened me were the one in which they turned this same actor into an alien, the one with the creature in the box that could capture people & bring them inside the box, and the one on Mars or was it the moon with Adam West and the creature that lived under the sand. Cannot find an emoticon for terrified! But, anyway, have you got anything to say about the theme of this thread? Please respond about robot issues in scifi.

Hmm...I cannot say I've watched Outer Limits, but I have seen some of the Twilight Zone (which was so long ago I've forgotten all about it). Another sci-fi with a similar theme comes to mind though, and I'm sure you've all heard of it: Bladerunner.

I liked the questionning on 'what it is to be human' and 'the soul'. It seems a lot of science fiction likes to elaborate on these aspects of human nature (but then again, there's always been great scientific debate about the origins of human behaviour...think sociobiology, dawkins etc). My favourite metaphor from the film was the concentration on eyes...which goes with the 'eyes are the window to the soul' saying. I thought it was put rather nicely. I always find themes of what it is to be human, what is lacking, and even the idea that only a robot could discover the true ideal meaning of humanity interesting...no matter how many times I come across it.

Well, sorry to say my experience with science fiction is very broad :huh:

Blade Runner is one of my all time favorite Sci-Fi Movies. Rutger Hauer in that film was simply astounding. It was based on a book titled "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" written by the best Sci-Fi Writer so far, Philip K Dick. He also wrote the books that the movies Total Recall and Minority Report were based on. As you can see, he is seriously into the cerebral side of things. Soem of the stuff he wrote could turn your brain to porridge.

The best work he ever did was the movie "Screamers" which, altho virtually unknown by sci-fi standards is an amazing look into the machine conscience. Its not really something I would like to elaborate on here as its sort of like a 'mystery' movie, but I strongly suggest anyone who can appreciate 'measure of man' type sci-fi stories try and track this one down and see it.

Things like Twilight Zone, outer limits, etc are some of my favorite TV shows but to start talking about them I would go WAY off topic of Androids etc so best just leave it be.

Two other movies that might be worth looking into more just for fun than any deep introspective or sociological viewpoint would be "Short Circuit" and "Electric Dreams". Both of these deal with machines that accidently gain self awareness. They are 'fluff' movies, but I can't help but like them.

For you oldies out there, does anyone remember "P1" (P one) the Mini-series? That was a FANTASTIC example of machine rights etc. For those not born in time to see it, P1 was a computer program written by a young kid (I think it was originally a security program?) that for some reason became self aware. Of course, as it was mostly software, it could go anywhere on the internet, so due to this the government had to have it stopped because it was too dangerous. Now of course it did not WANT to be 'stopped' and was NOT a threat of any sort.. it was only the 'uncontrolled possibilities' that P1 suggested that it was considered a threat. Fantastic telling of this sort of tale, and not bad for something over 20 years old, either.

There was a sequel produced later called "the adolescense of P1", but it never was aired in Australia, altho I did manage to get the book adaption of it. It would be near impossible to find now, but I would highly recommend at least a look.

I have more. I have MUCH more but I will leave it there for now.

I saw Blade Runner a few years ago, but only remember the ending.

Screamers, is that the one about --er, that had a buzz saw 'living' in the sand, that would rip apart anybody who ventured outside? I remember other things from the film, overall, it was quite intense. I gotta check NETFLIX & see if it is available.



Anyway, these last two responses are more like what I sought when I started this thread.

Thanks!

Originally posted by Danny@May 17 2004, 11:51 PM
The best work he ever did was the movie "Screamers" which, altho virtually unknown by sci-fi standards is an amazing look into the machine conscience. Its not really something I would like to elaborate on here as its sort of like a 'mystery' movie, but I strongly suggest anyone who can appreciate 'measure of man' type sci-fi stories try and track this one down and see it.

Screamers is great, very underrated. Perhaps because it's borderline horror. But it really made me think - what was going on under the sand in the robot factories?
And did you spot the main character played Robocop? To paraphrase Astroboy:
"There's irony in there somewhere, but I don't know where it is!"

The lead actor from Screamers is PETER WELLER. The man is one of my all time favorite 'b list' actors. Screamers, Robocop 1 and 2, and also the greatest 'bad' movie of all time..

BUCKAROO BANZAI AND THE HONG KONG CAVALEERS ACCROSS THE 8TH DIMENTION

Look this movie up. The 80s has a lot to answer for.
You wil be surprized at the people in this movie who later 'were someone' haha..
I watch this movie 20 times a year at least.

How come no one has mentioned Asimov yet? or have they and i am too stupid to notice? oh! I Robot.. ok. My bad haha! Anyway I Robot is being remade into a major motion picture starring Wil Smith isnt it? I seem to remember seeing something about it on ET recently.

Another Asimov Movie that was wonderful was "Bicentennial Man" with Robin Williams in the lead role (with the always remarkable Oliver Platt in support).

Anyone recall the movie "Incubus"?? About (once again) a home security system that became self aware and essentially kept the lady of the house prisoner in her own home intil she agreed to 'mate' with the security system? It was really rather long and boring so if no one recalls it I would not be surprized. The Simpsons did a rather funny remake of this movie in one of the haloween eps where they had Pierce Brosnan play the security system that was in love with Marge.

Hehe, Danny you sound like a sci-fi nut! Not bad :3

>>>BUCKAROO BANZAI AND THE HONG KONG CAVALEERS ACCROSS THE 8TH DIMENTION<<<

Now that sounds ....weird. It can't be as bad as He-man right?

Say, have you seen Barbarella? It's such a very, very bizarre film o_o

As for asimov! Hey I remember the guy! I thought about some sci-fi while on the bus to uni...and I remembered Bicentennial Man. I haven't seen the movie, but I've read the story and I thought it was pretty neat.

I cannot say I've heard of Incubus before....it sorta sounds like a B-grade horror flick...but what can I say?

Looks like I need to watch Screamers too! The name rings a bell o_o'

Hehe...talking about androids and replicants...I see your point of it sounding off-track. I always thought of it as top of the ladder robotics. Um yes...confused? I definitely am.

Short Circuit! Oh my! How could I ever forget that movie? It was just so cute and fuzzy and stuff....and when the robot goes off wearing his bandana with the failing battery (I think?) and does that whole commando action scene over the bridge/river/mass of water was heart wrenching! I won't be surprised if I got half of the sequence wrong, I haven't seen it since I was about 10 years old. I remember there was a sequel to it though.

Thanks for enlightening me on other good sci-fi I should watch! I shall eventually view it all! :3 It's interesting how themes from such vintage sci-fi are still relevant today.

I have found two films bearing that name, neither one dealing with machines

Incubus (1965)
The Incubus (1982).

Your description of Incubus reminds me of Demon Seed.