Gallery: Alt Text: Six Robot Movies — Without the Robots
01Wally
We can all agree that robots are indispensable. Without them, we'd have to assemble our own cars, vacuum our own floors, and adopt actual living dogs as pets. [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/tag/alt-text/)I think we can all agree, though, that the most important robotic contributions have been in the realm of popular fiction. For instance, without robots, *I, Robot* would just be called "I," and everyone would be wondering what happened to the sequel, *II*. Imagine the horror of a robot-free world: A world in which movies are about human beings rather than imaginary appliances; a world in which the only characters speaking entirely in monotone are played by Keanu Reeves. Or just view the horror as I present a gallery of robot-infused movies reimagined as character-driven Oscar contenders. Above: *Wally* (2008) --------------------- This romantic comedy follows junk store owner Wally Gates in his attempts to woo lovely but bookish botanist Eve Jobs. His earthy, cluttered ways repel her at first, but his persistent and imaginative attempt to win her love eventually convince her to take off her glasses, let down her hair, and show that she was beautiful all along. *Images: Lore Sjöberg* \- - - *Born helpless, naked and unable to provide for himself, Lore Sjöberg overcame these handicaps to become a mechanical man, a tin man, and a gingerbread man.*
02The Star Wars
*The Star Wars* (1977) ---------------------- Astronomers Trey Peoli and Art Tudor discover their comet research is being used by the Defense Department to develop a defense shield that would allow the U.S. to use nuclear weapons without fear of retaliation. A tense drama ensues, raising questions about the role of science and technology in world affairs and answering none of them.
03The Hitchhikers' Guide
*The Hitchhikers' Guide* (2005) ------------------------------- This movie, adapted from the best-selling novel and Tony-winning Broadway production, is framed as a conversation between aging on-again off-again friends Marvin M. and Marvin R., both of whom suffer from crippling mental illnesses including depression, social anxiety and paranoia. This gripping character study uses the pair as a stand in for the dark side of the seeming utopia of post-war America, and inspired the well-known tag line, "Talk to me about life."
04Forbidden Planet
*Forbidden Planet* (1956) ------------------------- In this early rock 'n' roll movie, a group of rock-loving teenagers set out to score tickets to the Bill Haley and the Comets concert at local dance hall "Party Planet." Tor Johnson earns the first of many Oscars for his touching portrayal of misunderstood "Robby the Bouncer."
05Black Hole
*Black Hole* (1979) ------------------- Martin Scorsese directs this tense, gritty look at Vegas's sleazy underbelly in this critically-acclaimed film about the Black Hole Casino and Resort, a thinly-veiled version of the Stardust Resort and Casino. The movie is narrated and told from the point of view of mob enforcer "Million Dollar" Max Milano.
06Transformers
*The Transformers* (1986) ------------------------- When Decepticon Industries attempts to drive poor farmers off their land to get at their rich oil reserves, two-fisted trucker O.P. Roller gathers a group of rogues, rebels and outlaws and convinces them to transform their lives into something better by stopping the bad guys.
