Review: Chappie

starring         Sigourney Weaver  

    Hugh Jackman
    Sharlto Copley
    Dev Patel
    Ninja
    Yolandi Visser
    Jose Pablo Cantillo

Budget  $49 million
Box office  $102.1 million

This movie has the feel of Section Nine, but instead of aliens we
have robots.  Also consider Terminator.  But instead of an all seeing malevolent AI, we are treated to a child-like Chappie who wants nothing more than to simply fit in.

Check out wikipedia's impression of Chappie here  Wikipedia-chappie

Chappie was a devilishly difficult film to get into, but once you have a handle on the motivation you start building affinity for the main characters, though Weaver and Jackman seem to be on remote control, little more than caricatures.  You are left contemplating the movie's namesake and it's small cadre of people whom he calls family.  By this time the film has picked back up, but you are emotionally vested.

I would give this film an 8 or maybe 7.5 because it takes so long to get into the movie.



  

Discovery Channel's Incredible Robots

CrystalWizard sent me a note saying"I ran across a very cool video on robots...when ....hunting stuff to watch"  and "this" is would seem is an in-depth look at the early evolution of robots et-all as well as a critical look at the various systems that would constitute a "robot" or an autonomous device that can overcome its own physical short comings to complete its' mission.   

The 47 minute program ( the equivalent of an hour program on US television ) is slightly dated as some of our most sophisticated probes in the form of NASA's Cassini–Huygens or the latest NASA Mars  Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover are not mentioned, though some of the earlier tests on Curiosity's suspension was in evidence.

My conclusion is, that after watching, not only will you find it entertaining, but very likely informative, especially if you are not as familiar as some when it comes to Robots in science fiction text or possibly some of the earlier efforts into learning an movement.

This is most definitely a check it out.

Thanks CW!


 

A Man...Two Bots....oh and A Charity.

Like Kim Komando's newsletter says, tongue firmly in cheek....Shave and a Haircut....Two Bots.

All kidding aside, the video is of the Multi-Arm UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) demonstrates its dexterity by shaving a volunteer's head to raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, a charity committed in funding research for finding a cure for childhood cancer.

But after seeing this bot's dexterity, there is no way I would let it anywhere near me with a sharp blade....cyberdyne just may be in the mix somewhere...one never knows.



For more visit HERE

AI Robotics hoax claims robot is ‘Perfect Woman’

I just started hearing about this, but what is out there is very strange indeed. What is truly strange though is that given a decade or so and this "hoax" is likely to be reality. The gist is that AI Robotics has produced a prototype female companion and is rushing it into production with a start up in June. As Dvice puts it:

...the “Perfect Woman” publicity stunt is in full swing, claiming a planned release of its first model on June 11. Said to be able to go shopping, clean up the house, cook dinner, give you a massage and understand you, this “perfect” woman is allegedly the product of two robotics students at Kobe University in Japan. According to the hype accompanying the launch, the blonde, brunette and redhead robots use “a technology called RKS, ‘Recognition Krax System,’ which allows for vocal, tactile and visual recognition.” They can even “satisfy your desires in the bedroom.”

Perfectly creepy is my take. Deliberate or not, the "robot's" expression is of someone numbly aware that they are in the middle of some Machiavellian nightmare. Check out the "promo"