TV ad - Astar

This is for all my friends who saw this ad back in the 1980s... I think we all have been traumatised by Astar...

But I think what I find confusing now that I am watching the video years later is the question of Astar's existence in relation to the planet that it lives on. Is the planet habited by Astar and other robots? Do the spinning blades and saws and other dangerous items serve some sort of purpose? Are they a part of some factory that is producing something? Is Astar supposed to be playing in this area? It is understood that Astar cannot get hurt so is it acceptable for it and other robots to just come and go as they want in these dangerous areas? Or is Astar a rebel? We don't see any other robots or companions with Astar. Is Astar the only habitant of this planet? How does that planet fit into our universe? It would be great to have some more explanations...

The ad

The ad (in French)

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Wikipedia - Astar
The War Amps - Astar

Movie - Terminator

One of the best known robot, the T-800 (the Terminator) first appeared in The Terminator, a 1984 american film. The Terminator is a killing robot. In the first movie, his target was Sarah Connor, but in the sequels, he has been reprogrammed to protect Sarah Connor and John Connor (her son).

My favorite movie of the Terminator sequel is Terminator 2: Judgment Day from 1991. It's full of guns, death people, great special effects and memorable quotes. The T-800 quotes are still in use today and will be... FOREVER !

Famous Quotes

The Terminator: I need your clothes, boots and your motorcycle.

Cigar Biker: You forgot to say please...

The Terminator: Come with me if you want to live!

John Connor: No, no, no, no. You gotta listen to the way people talk. You don't say "affirmative," or some shit like that. You say "no problemo." And if someone comes on to you with an attitude you say "eat me." And if you want to shine them on it's "hasta la vista, baby."

The Terminator: Hasta la vista, baby.

John Connor: Yeah but later, dickwad. And if someone gets upset you say, "chill out"! Or you can do combinations.

The Terminator: Chill out, dickwad.

John Connor: Great! See, you're getting it!

The Terminator: No problemo.

The Terminator: Why do you cry?

John Connor: You mean people?

The Terminator: Yes.

John Connor: I dont' know. We just cry. You know, when it hurts.

The Terminator: Pain causes it?

John Connor: No, it's when there's nothing wrong with you, but you hurt anyway. You get it?

The Terminator: No.

John Connor: You just can't go around killing people.

The Terminator: Why?

John Connor: What do you mean why? 'Cause you can't.

The Terminator: Why?

John Connor: Because you just can't, OK? Trust me on this.

The Terminator: Stay here, I'll be back.

The Terminator: Hasta la vista, baby.

Trailer

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Wikipedia - Terminator (character)
IMDb - Terminator 2

Robot - Hypno-Disc (Robot Wars )

Hypno-Disc was a contestant in the Robot Wars TV series. The concept of the serie was simple : build an expensive robot, battle with other robots, see your expensive robot get destroyed or win the championship.

Hypno-Disc was one of the first robots to use the kinetic flywheel weapon - a highly damaging weapon that succeeded in heavily damaging and destroying a great many robots. Massive destruction I would say ! Even if Hypno-Disc never won, he made it several times to the Grand Final. I really enjoyed watching this robot battle !

Hypno-Disc in action

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Wikipedia - Hypno-Disc

Robot - AIBO

AIBO was one of several types of robotic pets designed and manufactured by Sony. There have been several different models since their introduction on May 11, 1999 although AIBO was discontinued in 2006. AIBO is able to walk, "see" its environment via camera and recognize spoken commands in Spanish and English. AIBO robotic pets are considered to be autonomous robots since they are able to learn and mature based on external stimuli from their owner, their environment and from other AIBOs.

source : Wikipedia

I'm really sad that AIBO was discontinued, I wanted one the first time that I saw it ! Well, seems that if I want a dog, I will have to get a real one and feed it, train it, go take a walk with it, clean it...

AIBO in action

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Wikipedia - AIBO

TV Show - Bender (Futurama)

Ahhhh Bender !

Bender is a fictional robot character in the animated television serie Futurama.It's the robot that you need to be friend with... He is a dysfunctional, drinking, smoking, gambling robot with a passion for pornography and prostitutes. To be able to function properly he needs alcohol, so excessive drinking is mandatory or he will become sober and unable to control his body.

Who wouldn't love this robot?


Enjoy Bender

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Wikipedia - Bender
IMDb - Futurama

Movie - RocoCop

Robocop is a 1987 American science fiction-action film.

Detroit - in the future - is crime ridden, and run by a massive company. The company have developed a huge crime fighting robot, which unfortunately develops a rather dangerous glitch. The company sees a way to get back in favour with the public when a cop called Alex Murphy is killed by a street gang. Murphys body is reconstructed within a steel shell and named Robocop. The Robocop is very successful against criminals, but still retains memories of his life as Murphy, including brief glimpses of his wife and son. Forgetting the guidelines of the OCP, Robocop goes in search of its past...
source : IMDb

That movie is full of violence, guns and bad guys, but it's also a well written movie exploring interesting themes. Rent it ! That's all !

Trailer

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Wikipedia - RoboCop
IMDb - RoboCop (1987)

Robot - Dancing Sony Robot (QRIO)

QRIO (aka the Dancing Sony Robot) was created in 2003 and developed until 2006 by Sony to follow up on the success of AIBO.

I saw QRIO for the first time on Youtube performing some dance routine. Their moves are so smooth, I'm really impressed ! QRIO was also the the first bipedal robot capable of running !  

Which they could trade their fans for brooms and clean my apartment while dancing... -_-

See QRIO in action

 

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Wikipedia - QRIO