The Film: Short Circuit (1986)
What It Predicted: War-bots that can think for themselves on the battlefield.
Why We Wish It Hadn't Been Right: They may not yet be conscious enough to call anyone’s mother a snow-blower (leave the mothers out of this!), but military tech is advancing in leaps and bounds. Well, whatever leaps and bounds are in terms of tank treads.
That's all very well when the bots are dismantling unexploded bombs, but it’s a short trundle from that to gutting us all with cold, mechanical proficiency.
And, as the Transformers fiasco has proven, our military just aren't up to fighting back.
Oh, wait. That's a film... Fantasy/reality, fantasy/reality...
The Film: Forbidden Planet (1956)
What It Predicted: The crew of United Planets Cruiser C-57D all came equipped with tiny communicators and cameras on their belt buckles.
Why We Wish It Hadn't Been Right: iPhones and Blackberries are wonderful, chirruping, touchy-feely little companions. But we often get nostalgic for the days of downtime - the era before mobile communication, when you had to go into a shop and buy some chewing-gum to get change for the phone.
And remember Polaroid cameras? They were great. Like mobile/digital cameras, they had the immediacy, but you only got one shot each time - you had to take care over your pictures, which made them feel more special.
Also, this modern 'music'...
Comments
Bulletproof_animal
Feb 18th 2009, 14:28
"Problem: the film was complete and utter c**k." Thanks for that stunning incite. When I figure out what your juvenile (and completely subjective) opinion on the film has to do with the point of this feature I'll be sure to tell you so that you might stop being a sad, little child, who so desperately wants his opinion to be heard. Idiot.
Alert a moderator
alowe
Feb 18th 2009, 16:21
Thanks for that stunning insight (spelling!). When I figure out what your juvenile (and completely subjective) opinion on my final, obviously throwaway comment has to do with the rest of the feature I'll be sure to tell you so that you might stop being a sad little child, who so desperately wants his opinion to be heard. Idiot.
Alert a moderator
ashley.russell
Feb 18th 2009, 17:36
I didn't really understand that comment either. TF gave Hitchhikers' 4 stars anyway so I'm wondering what that was all about?
Alert a moderator
squirebrown
Feb 19th 2009, 20:31
Hitchhikers... was pretty damn good - among the highlights of the last great summer - 2005. Batman Begins, War of the Worlds, The Descent.
Alert a moderator