Welcome to CNET Top 5, where each time we meet we count down another hot
CNET list. I'm Tom Merritt.
Whether you consider the automota of Hephaestus workshop the original robot or
side with the automatic flute player of the ninth century Persian Book of Ingenious
Devices, you know robots play a great role in our literature.
But movies made the idea of robots come alive in a way never seen before. So I
trawled the Internets looking for your ideas about the coolest robots from the
movies...ever.
Let's count down the Top 5 coolest movie robots...and yes, we're including androids.
Kicking it off at No. 5 is the classic Maria from "Metropolis" in 1927. Probably the
first movie robot ever. She was a debased version of the real Maria who fought for
the cause of the workers. Unlike the real Maria, the robot was quite the dancer.
Coming in at No. 4, Marvin the Paranoid Android with Genuine People Personality
from the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation. Brain the size of a planet and he's No. 4?
Depressing.
Up to No. 3, Robby the robot. Something of a movie star was Robby. He premiered in
1956 alongside Leslie Nielsen in the epic "Forbidden Planet." He went on to many
more appearances including The "Twilight Zone," "Columbo," "Mork and Mindy,"
"Charmin commercials," and "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace." Geek
points for knowing where he appeared in "Star Wars."
Sliding in at No. 2. Johnny-5. Officially, his name is Strategic Artificially Intelligent
Nuclear Transport Number 5. After a lightning strike, hungry for input, he was saved
by Stephanie, yet doomed to be hunted by El Debarge's Who's Johnny for the rest of
his days.
Who could possibly beat Johnny-5?
Before we get to No. 1, here's the rest of the top 10 movie robots. Remember some
robots like Rosie from "The Jetsons" are more TV than movie. So maybe another list
will be in order.
All right. Let's get to our No. 1. The coolest movie robot. Based on your opinions on
Twitter as well as our board of impartial judges.
At No. 1, it's...R2-D2
How could you not have R2 at No. 1! In fact, it almost has to be a pair here, because
we all know R2 is not half as cool without his pal C-3P0. The little astromech droid
has a strange relationship to Darth Vader, but he's always there to mouth off,
disobey and save the day. Plus I had a remote control R2-D2 as a kid. So he wins.
Thanks to everyone on Twitter and Facebook who posted their suggestions for the
list. We had more than 50 robots suggested. Some I had totally forgotten about or
never even knew! I will post the full list at our blog, blog.cnettv.com. You can make
further suggestions if you wish.
That's it for this edition of CNET Top 5.
I'm Tom Merritt. See you next time.
