Truly a classic episode, despite the lack of flappy hands! ;-) I gotta say, I think a part of me has been in love with Vikander since I first saw her with Mads in "A Royal Affair". She seems very well cast in Ex Machina, can't wait to see it! Nice one Kermy! Best regards, TGV
Forgot about him, but on thinking about it, technically does he constitute an artificial? To be nerdy he was more an enhanced human, he still kept his soul. BUT it was a brilliant portrayal by Peter Weller, on that note I think he should be included.
john leto I think if we include robocop, it would be unfair so many other 'real' robots. A personal favourite, and one kermode left out (kind of because he's an AI, and not a robot) is Gerty from Moon. I liked that guy. He was a real bro.
Even before he got to Lance Henricksen I knew why he chose "artificial people"! It's Bishop's line in Aliens - "I prefer the term 'artificial person'" after Burke refers to him as a synthetic ;)
While I love the list so far, I think it's missing something crucial in omitting Robert Patrick's T-1000 from Terminator 2. Watching the movie again recently, I noticed that like Osment in A.I., his robot character does not blink, going through long stretches with the stare. The only time he does blink is when talking to people, such as John's foster parents and other cops. The effect, all in Patrick's performance, is really creepy, as it captures a machine that's programmed to almost perfectly mimic human behaviour, but is very very clearly not human
Arun Athmanathan yeah Robert Patrick did such a good job in that movie. When he's talking to the parent, security guards etc. you can see how his programming is driving his behaviour and there's a slight delay and abruptness to his reactions that's subtle but gives an unnatural feeling. We're conditioned from the first film to expect the machine to be strong, unsmiling, a tank in human form. The T-1000s strength is that you WOULD be taken in by it for long enough that it would be too late.
Prometheus was not the classic I hoped it would be, but I thought Michael Fassbender's performance was fantastic and his character, David, has become my favourite portrayal of synthetic life to date.
Data is it for me, simply because the writers always knew how to handle his character, from beginning to end, and they had 7 years to develop it. On the big screen, not so much. I've always been a bit cheesed off that Cameron called The Terminator a cyborg; yes he has human components but fundamentally he's an android, and the only film creature I've ever had nightmares about. I would choose David over Bishop myself, simply because David felt more like a machine seemlessly mesching its own desires with those of its programmer.
I think the best way to approach AI is as a Kubrick movie, directed by Spielberg. Kubrick was suppoded to direct it, had the story and everything, but then he died. Spielberg took over. Also, and regardless of the possible changes Spielberg may have, the ending was definitely Kubrick's. Kubrick wanted the ending of A.I. specifically the way it was (though the direction, cinematography, etc. would have been Spielberg's changes) So the best way to put it as the darker and/or more fantastic elements of the movie are Kubricks, while the lighter elements are Spielberg's.
Some good choices, but some curious omissions; Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator, anyone? I would omit Lance Henriksen and include Ian holm, in his place, partly because in Alien the crew, and the audience, were never aware that Ian Holm is a robot, and they attributed his peculiar behaviour to his idiosyncratic tendencies. Whilst Rutger Hauer's performance is exemplary and worthy of acclaim, I think it would be churlish to overlook Sean Young's subtle yet paranoid performance as Rachael in Blade Runner Finally, I know it's not a movie, but I would include Summer Gau's depiction as Cameron in the TV series, Terminator, the Sarah Connors Chronicles. One is left vacillating as to whether Cameron's display of 'emotion' is sincere or a spurious and cynical attempt to influence and manipulate people...
I agree with the selection. But if it was a top 10, I'd include, though not necessarily in this order: HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey, Caprica Six (one of the cylons in Ron D Moore's Battlestar Galactica, I'm not distinguishing between tv and cinema in this list), the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in Terminator 2, Agent Smith in The Matrix, and Samantha (the OS AI) in Her.
I'm going to fly the flag for anime, and go with Major Motoko Kusanagi, from Ghost in the Shell. I know it's an animation, but I always think of GitS and Blade Runner as an inspiring, if a little downcast, double bill. The end of Ghost in the Shell - and what Kusanagi becomes - really pushes the boundaries of the natural I artificial debate that always permeates this sort of film. The prospect of Scarlett Johansson playing Kusanagi in the upcoming adaptation of the original GitS fills me with hope - in a way, Lucy is an artificial person herself. My other choice would be Robot, the first half of the undeservedly underrated Robot & Frank. Robot is a beautifully rounded character, overtly robotic but always leaving you wondering whether or not it would pass the Turing test. A great study in low-key artifice.
I love GitS too, but for this list i think Mark was only listing fully mechanised artificial humans. Major Kusanagi was a cyborg. Her body was artificial but she still had a human brain, so I don't think we can have her on this list unfortunately!
***** I think she's probably outside the scope of the discussion here, but somehow the Major always comes to mind when discussing these issues. It's like to Voight-Kampf her to make sure she's still human, and not the other way around!
Yes without a shadow of a doubt "Roy Batty" Rudger Hauer was genetically engineered to play that role, My number 2 is Brent Spiner for Data, technically TV but he was in the Star Trek movies. 3 would go to Ava and Alicia Vikander's portrayal of her, I was even falling in love with "her" err "it" which reminds of a quote in the film "she is not a naked woman, she's a robot" I know its early days, but I don't think any film this year will match what I got from Ex-machina, a week later and I am still thinking about it.
I don't know, given the number of snide comments he constantly makes on the podcast about the "American language" and spellings, maybe it's fair game ;).
Scarlett Johansson's thoroughly engaging performance as Samantha in 'Her' is also perhaps worth an honourable mention, despite being just a voice, it's still technically an artificial person!
However, are we referring to actual robot AI, circuits and chips here. I am pretty sure Roy Batty was essentially a genetically modifies organic being, skin & flesh. Constructed for sure, but from human flesh, blood & genes right? So does that count? I guess Artificial Person is a broader term.
What about pierce brosnan in the worlds end? I don't expect it to honestly make top 5 because it's more or less a cameo, but it was a gas. Also, I know bicentennial man is not a favorite movie for a lot of people including me but I thought Robin Williams performance was stellar.
Technically he's not an android, or is he? Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's creation. I do love Arnie in TheTerminator films (1 & 2) abs I think C-3PO and Data work well too.
I have to say I much preferred David in Prometheus to Bishop in Aliens. Probably because he wasn't evil like Ash but also wasn't good like Bishop either, he was a robot; indifferent, curious, loyal and inhuman. Such a shame that Prometheus didn't explore all it could about AI and genetic engineering and the origin of the human race, it had the potential to be better than 2001 but instead just meandered around the plot avoiding anything that sparked interest in the film.
Might actually be Michael Fassbender in Prometheus for me. I have to say that I never fully watched Aliens though (I think I just can't stand James Cameron). Rutger Hauer, no matter how great the character, I didn't think he seems that much of a robot. I'm really looking forward toward to Ex Machina, but it will take a while before it comes out here in the Netherlands.
May have to revisit AI when I first saw it I have to admit I HATED it. Or that is to say various aspects of it. Loved Teddy, Loved Gigolo Joe, absolutely HATED Daivd and the aliens at the end what was that all about?
They were not aliens. they were future robots. They were so advanced that they didn't look like robots anymore. However, they had long lost contact with their original creators, so David was their only link to the distant past.
Kurt Russell in Vanilla Sky. **SPOILER ALERT!** his portrayl of the psychologist who discovers hes just a figment of someones imagination when he realises he doesnt know his childrens names.... gets me every time! **END SPOILER**
Bit late but I was totally blown away by Johanssen in Her. I'm not sure it counts because she had no physical form, but it was possibly the most compelling voice-only performance I've ever seen/heard.
Nobody but me likes bicentennial man, I've only seen it once but it's left a long lasting memory, another film that works best on a grey Sunday afternoon when you can't be bothered to get off the sofa would be toys. I know what you're thinking I must love robin Williams, well, you're wrong, rubbish actor. But great in those funds
Truly a classic episode, despite the lack of flappy hands! ;-)
I gotta say, I think a part of me has been in love with Vikander since I first saw her with Mads in "A Royal Affair". She seems very well cast in Ex Machina, can't wait to see it!
Nice one Kermy!
Best regards,
TGV
Excellent, excellent top pick. Phenomenal performance and film.
Suprised Kermode didn't pick Peter Weller's performance in the original Robocop.
DexterTCN
I know, I just realised it didn't quite fit what Kermode meant. My mistake.
Forgot about him, but on thinking about it, technically does he constitute an artificial? To be nerdy he was more an enhanced human, he still kept his soul. BUT it was a brilliant portrayal by Peter Weller, on that note I think he should be included.
john leto I think if we include robocop, it would be unfair so many other 'real' robots.
A personal favourite, and one kermode left out (kind of because he's an AI, and not a robot) is Gerty from Moon. I liked that guy. He was a real bro.
Kristen Stewart's character in the Twilight movies; hands down!
CONFIRMED Kermode is an animatronic critic. That explains his perfect hair
Even before he got to Lance Henricksen I knew why he chose "artificial people"! It's Bishop's line in Aliens - "I prefer the term 'artificial person'" after Burke refers to him as a synthetic ;)
I think Hugo Weaving's Agent Smith in the first matrix is pretty unsettling, but I guess everyone's an artificial human in the matrix!
While I love the list so far, I think it's missing something crucial in omitting Robert Patrick's T-1000 from Terminator 2. Watching the movie again recently, I noticed that like Osment in A.I., his robot character does not blink, going through long stretches with the stare. The only time he does blink is when talking to people, such as John's foster parents and other cops. The effect, all in Patrick's performance, is really creepy, as it captures a machine that's programmed to almost perfectly mimic human behaviour, but is very very clearly not human
Arun Athmanathan yeah Robert Patrick did such a good job in that movie. When he's talking to the parent, security guards etc. you can see how his programming is driving his behaviour and there's a slight delay and abruptness to his reactions that's subtle but gives an unnatural feeling. We're conditioned from the first film to expect the machine to be strong, unsmiling, a tank in human form. The T-1000s strength is that you WOULD be taken in by it for long enough that it would be too late.
Kryten in Red Dwarf. "Well, twist my nipple nuts and call me Shirley!"
Marvin, the Paranoid Android. I'm also a fan of Buffy Bot.
I go for Warwick Davis version (2005). Movie was flawed but Marvin is delightful.
points for Buffy Bot.
i thumbed this up just for the "for you for you" ending
Dwight Schrute as the butler in Threat Level Midnight, the great lost film by Michael Scott
Prometheus was a pile of rotting dogmeat. Rutger as Roy Batty was a work of genius.
Does Brigitte Helm as "Maria" in Metropolis count? Unforgettable!
Prometheus was not the classic I hoped it would be, but I thought Michael Fassbender's performance was fantastic and his character, David, has become my favourite portrayal of synthetic life to date.
Kim Kardashian didn't make the list?
Just saw Ex Machina, fantastic film.
Data is it for me, simply because the writers always knew how to handle his character, from beginning to end, and they had 7 years to develop it. On the big screen, not so much.
I've always been a bit cheesed off that Cameron called The Terminator a cyborg; yes he has human components but fundamentally he's an android, and the only film creature I've ever had nightmares about.
I would choose David over Bishop myself, simply because David felt more like a machine seemlessly mesching its own desires with those of its programmer.
Ai was really unsettling in some places and like a disney film in others, not sure what I make of it
ditto that!
Well, it's inspired by Pinocchio.
I think the best way to approach AI is as a Kubrick movie, directed by Spielberg. Kubrick was suppoded to direct it, had the story and everything, but then he died. Spielberg took over.
Also, and regardless of the possible changes Spielberg may have, the ending was definitely Kubrick's. Kubrick wanted the ending of A.I. specifically the way it was (though the direction, cinematography, etc. would have been Spielberg's changes) So the best way to put it as the darker and/or more fantastic elements of the movie are Kubricks, while the lighter elements are Spielberg's.
Some good choices, but some curious omissions; Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator, anyone? I would omit Lance Henriksen and include Ian holm, in his place, partly because in Alien the crew, and the audience, were never aware that Ian Holm is a robot, and they attributed his peculiar behaviour to his idiosyncratic tendencies. Whilst Rutger Hauer's performance is exemplary and worthy of acclaim, I think it would be churlish to overlook Sean Young's subtle yet paranoid performance as Rachael in Blade Runner
Finally, I know it's not a movie, but I would include Summer Gau's depiction as Cameron in the TV series, Terminator, the Sarah Connors Chronicles. One is left vacillating as to whether Cameron's display of 'emotion' is sincere or a spurious and cynical attempt to influence and manipulate people...
does HAL count or does oit have to be a physical android
I agree with the selection. But if it was a top 10, I'd include, though not necessarily in this order: HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey, Caprica Six (one of the cylons in Ron D Moore's Battlestar Galactica, I'm not distinguishing between tv and cinema in this list), the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in Terminator 2, Agent Smith in The Matrix, and Samantha (the OS AI) in Her.
I'm going to fly the flag for anime, and go with Major Motoko Kusanagi, from Ghost in the Shell. I know it's an animation, but I always think of GitS and Blade Runner as an inspiring, if a little downcast, double bill. The end of Ghost in the Shell - and what Kusanagi becomes - really pushes the boundaries of the natural I artificial debate that always permeates this sort of film. The prospect of Scarlett Johansson playing Kusanagi in the upcoming adaptation of the original GitS fills me with hope - in a way, Lucy is an artificial person herself.
My other choice would be Robot, the first half of the undeservedly underrated Robot & Frank. Robot is a beautifully rounded character, overtly robotic but always leaving you wondering whether or not it would pass the Turing test. A great study in low-key artifice.
Have you seen Ex Machina?
I love GitS too, but for this list i think Mark was only listing fully mechanised artificial humans. Major Kusanagi was a cyborg. Her body was artificial but she still had a human brain, so I don't think we can have her on this list unfortunately!
T K Briggs Yeah, just last night. What a film! Have you seen it yet?
Rogan Miller Sure, I agree. It's clear she isn't artificial throughout the film, although it's difficult to explain what she becomes towards the end.
***** I think she's probably outside the scope of the discussion here, but somehow the Major always comes to mind when discussing these issues. It's like to Voight-Kampf her to make sure she's still human, and not the other way around!
They'll never be another film like blade runner again. That film captured something that's almost impossible to pin down yet utterly captivating!
I was just waiting for Roy Batty!
Yes without a shadow of a doubt "Roy Batty" Rudger Hauer was genetically engineered to play that role,
My number 2 is Brent Spiner for Data, technically TV but he was in the Star Trek movies.
3 would go to Ava and Alicia Vikander's portrayal of her, I was even falling in love with "her" err "it" which reminds of a quote in the film "she is not a naked woman, she's a robot"
I know its early days, but I don't think any film this year will match what I got from Ex-machina, a week later and I am still thinking about it.
Westworld is such a good film.
DevilMaskMedia I wouldn't like to predict haha.
Mah-kin-a- not Mack-in-uh. I grit my teeth through the whole podcast, Mark.
I don't know, given the number of snide comments he constantly makes on the podcast about the "American language" and spellings, maybe it's fair game ;).
Can you render those in International Phonetic Alphabet please?
Brent Spiner as Data. I don't care that it was 99% TV.
The android from The Questar Tapes was the inspiration for Data, and much better in my opinion.
Scarlett Johansson's thoroughly engaging performance as Samantha in 'Her' is also perhaps worth an honourable mention, despite being just a voice, it's still technically an artificial person!
However, are we referring to actual robot AI, circuits and chips here. I am pretty sure Roy Batty was essentially a genetically modifies organic being, skin & flesh. Constructed for sure, but from human flesh, blood & genes right? So does that count? I guess Artificial Person is a broader term.
Love this list and agree with a lot of it.
What about pierce brosnan in the worlds end? I don't expect it to honestly make top 5 because it's more or less a cameo, but it was a gas.
Also, I know bicentennial man is not a favorite movie for a lot of people including me but I thought Robin Williams performance was stellar.
The first android from one of the most influental films ever (Metropolis)?
What about Robin Williams performance in Bicentennial Man!
Can't believe he missed out the dog in Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave.
I agree with his number one choice and new it would be so. However, my second would be The Terminator. First film only, Arnie's finest hour.
Not a film, but Peep Peep from "The Boy from Space" is really good. We just need it adapted into a film
Commander Data from Star Trek TNG (more the TV show than the films though).
How could you talk over the 'I have seen things...' speach!? One of the great moments in cinematic history. Decent list though.
Surely GERTY from Moon? Or HAL from 2001? Arguably also people.
Peter Weller is amazing as Robocop!
Technically he's not an android, or is he? Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's creation. I do love Arnie in TheTerminator films (1 & 2) abs I think C-3PO and Data work well too.
I trace it back even further with things like the Jewish legends of the Golum or Pinocchio :)
"artificial people" - nice!! Bishop would be proud
I have to say I much preferred David in Prometheus to Bishop in Aliens. Probably because he wasn't evil like Ash but also wasn't good like Bishop either, he was a robot; indifferent, curious, loyal and inhuman. Such a shame that Prometheus didn't explore all it could about AI and genetic engineering and the origin of the human race, it had the potential to be better than 2001 but instead just meandered around the plot avoiding anything that sparked interest in the film.
From when I saw the video title I knew "Blade Runner" would be his #1.
But all the rest good choices.
Might actually be Michael Fassbender in Prometheus for me. I have to say that I never fully watched Aliens though (I think I just can't stand James Cameron).
Rutger Hauer, no matter how great the character, I didn't think he seems that much of a robot.
I'm really looking forward toward to Ex Machina, but it will take a while before it comes out here in the Netherlands.
Of course the No 1 is Roy Batty. Who else could it possibly be? The best film of all time in my not so humble opinion.
Deckard...
Controversial??
No Arnie?!
Karl Karlos Haha good one!
I would say my favorite is Rick Deckard...artificiality status pending.
What, no tom cruise for artificial person.
HAL, of course. How could you forget HAL?
so wheres the terminator not highbrow enough eh so called film critic
May have to revisit AI when I first saw it I have to admit I HATED it. Or that is to say various aspects of it. Loved Teddy, Loved Gigolo Joe, absolutely HATED Daivd and the aliens at the end what was that all about?
They were not aliens. they were future robots. They were so advanced that they didn't look like robots anymore. However, they had long lost contact with their original creators, so David was their only link to the distant past.
Roy Batty was always going to be #1.
Kurt Russell in Vanilla Sky. **SPOILER ALERT!** his portrayl of the psychologist who discovers hes just a figment of someones imagination when he realises he doesnt know his childrens names.... gets me every time! **END SPOILER**
Deckard isn't just "not the hero" of Blade Runner - he's the straight-up villain. And he's a rapist to boot.
JOI from Blade Runner 2049
Artificial Intelligence for me. 10 out of 10
I prefer the term 'artificial person' myself.
I myself prefer 'synthetic human being' it's more inoffensive.
Hal from 2001
I thumbed up the video but I vote JohnnyFive from Short Circuit for top spot
I knew his top choice would be Blade Runner!!
Scarlet J in Under the Skin. Just wow.
Bit late but I was totally blown away by Johanssen in Her. I'm not sure it counts because she had no physical form, but it was possibly the most compelling voice-only performance I've ever seen/heard.
Robin Williams... Wi.. Wi... Will I am Willam SSSS Williamsssss Robo Will Robeeeerrtt Robin Williams?
Since Rick Deckard is a replicant, he should be on this list. lol
But he's not as is apparent in the sequel.
no love for D.A.R.Y.L.? ok maybe not...
Nobody but me likes bicentennial man, I've only seen it once but it's left a long lasting memory, another film that works best on a grey Sunday afternoon when you can't be bothered to get off the sofa would be toys. I know what you're thinking I must love robin Williams, well, you're wrong, rubbish actor. But great in those funds
Agent Smith
HAL in 2001 doesn't qualify presumably?
This list is clearly about humanoid robots--androids. HAL was not humanoid, was he? So...no, he doesn't qualify.
Everyone knew #1
Boris Karloff FRANKENSTEIN
C3po
Hal 9000
You were right the first time!
+StevieAF Wrt AI