Connect the bots
Robots have whirred their way across the big screen since the early days of silent movies. They've fascinated us, frightened us, charmed us, and laser-burned their names into our humanoid memories. Or have they? Here are 10 of the top robots of film fame; see how many you can identify by the photos, quotes, and factoids that follow.
1. Growls like a jaguar and squeals like a pig.
2. "Hey Laserlips. Your mama was a snowblower."
3. The first computer-generated major character in a traditionally animated film.
4. Played by the actor Kenny Baker.
5. Can fire missiles from fingers, knees, and toes.
6. Body was based on the design of a Bell helicopter.
7. Was built by a 9-year-old from scraps and salvage.
8. Went on to further fame and fortune on the TV series circuit.
9. George Lucas has said this was a model for C3P0 in the "Star Wars" films.
10. "Souls don't die."
11. The Genie in Disney's "Aladdin and the King of Thieves" turns into a parody of this robot.
12. "Surrender is a perfectly acceptable alternative in extreme circumstances!"
13. The mother of all robots (OK, it's the only female).
14. Name derived from "heuristic algorithmic."
15. A.k.a. the Cosmic Monster, the Bionic Monster.
16. Comes from the peaceful world of Naboo.
17. Can read lips.
18. Weight ballooned from 44,000 tons in 1974-1975 to 150,000 tons in 1993.
19. "I am not a gun."
20. A favorite of Adolf Hitler.
21. "We're doomed!"
22. "Klaatu barada nikto."
Answers:
1,6,11: ED-209 "RoboCop" (1987)
2: Johnny 5 "Short Circuit" films (1986, 1988)
3, 10, 19: Iron Giant "The Iron Giant" (1999)
4, 16: R2D2 "Star Wars" franchise (1977- )
5, 15, 18: Mechagodzilla "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla" franchise (1974-continuing)
7, 12, 21: C3PO "Star Wars" franchise (1977-continuing)
8: Robby the Robot "Forbidden Planet (1956); various other films, TV
9,13, 20: Maria "Metropolis" (1927)
14, 17: HAL "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968)
22: Gort "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951)
SOURCES: IMDb, Starwars.com, godzilla.monstrous.com, techrepublic.com.
PHOTO CREDITS: WARNER BROTHERS (IRON GIANT); PHOTOFEST (ROBBY THE ROBOT); TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT (GORT); LUCASFILM LTD (R2D2 and C3P0); ASSOCIATED PRESS (MECHAGODZILLA) 