50 Greatest Human Robot Friendships
Man and machine, together in electric dreams
Robot And Frank (2012)
The Robot: āThe latest in mod cons, Robot (voiced by Peter Sarsgaard), is the perfect servant for anybody who needs full-time care.
The Human: Frank (Frank Langellź§a), an elderly cat burglar suffering from dementia who is givą¼en Robot as his carer.
The Friendship: Unorthodox - this is one robot unversed in the ethical codšes of Asimov, allowing Frank to train him up as the perfect accomplice in a string of jewellery thefts.
Robot And Frank is released this week, but as you're about to read, iš°t isn't the first time robot and human have forged a friendship.
Meet The Robinsons (2007)
The Robot: š¼ Carl, a gold-plated robot built by the mystšerious Cornelius Robinson.
The Human: Cornelius' son Wilbur, a time cop from the year 2037 for whom Carl acts as assistant, cook and pā¤rotectš or.
The Friendship: Short-lived, given that Carl is soonš¦ destroyed. But check out the presence of Lewis, a kid from the present day who - thanks to the film's timey-wimey shenanigans - will one day become Cornelius and build Carl for his friend Wilbur.
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Iron Man (2008)
The Robot: A robotic arm in the research laboratories of Stark Industriesš, designed to provide assistance for heavy-ļ·½duty handling.
The Human: Tony Stark, inventor and billionaire playboy, who is in the processź§ ofļ·½ switching from amoral arms dealer to metal suited Avenger.
The Friendship: The arm is so crap that Stark calls it 'Butterfingers,' but it's more of an affectionate nickname than an insult. Clearly, TšÆony has enough cash to repair or replace the arm if he wanted to.
Clash Of The Titans (1981)
The Robot: Bubo, šŗa mechanical replica of the owl owned by Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom.
The Human: Zeus' human son Perseus (Harry Hamlin), on a perilous mission to capture the ź§severed headā of the Medusa in order to defeat the Kraken.
The Friendship: It's amazing how useful an annoying owl can be in helping a mortal defeat a ginormous sea monster and a stone-faced, serpent-hź§aired she-beast.
The Stepford Wives (2004)
The Robot: Mike Wellington (Christopher Walken), the supposed leadš¦©er of an all-male cult who turn their wives into characterless drones. But if Mike is the robot, who's the power behind the throne?
The Human: Claire Wellington (Glenn Close), the only human amongst the Stepford Wiveās, who killed the real Mike after discovering he was having an affair.
The Friendship: Whatever happened to feminism? Claire willingly cedes authority to her robotš¦ hubbie, in the misguided šbelief that she's created an ideal community.
Sleeper (1973)
The Robot: Rags The Dog, a cybernetic pet who just wants to be your friend. "Woof, wošof!"
The Human: Jazz musician (Woody Allen), cryogenically frozen for 200 years and forced to contļ·ŗend with a dystšopian future.
The Friendship: Fleeting - Miles has too much to do to throw the dog a bone. But we like to think that Rags is ą²out there somewhere, looking for him.
Saturn 3 (1980)
The Robot: Hector, a "demigāØod" robot who has bš³een built with living brain tissue in order to allow him to be programmed by a human.
The Human: Benson (Hašrvey Keitel), a psychopathic killer masquerading as a space captain in orderš² to cheat his way aboard the Saturn 3 space station.
The Friendship: Well, you could call it that. Certainlyš, after Benson has programmed Hector, the latter takšÆes on the nutter's homicidal longings and his lust for Farrah Fawcett.
Bill And Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)
The Robot: Good' replicas of William 'Bill' S. Preston (Alex Winter) and Theodore 'Ted' Logan (Keanu Reeves), createdź§ šby the alien Station to fight their 'evil' counterparts.
The Human: The real Bill and Ted, wandering aroundź¦ in a stoned surf-dude daze as they contemplate all of these Doppeš¼lgangers.
The Friendship: Stricštly utilitarian; once the good robots have defeated the bad guys, there is no longer any šneed for them.
SpaceCamp (1986)
The Robot: Jinx, a hapless NASA robot with a bad š habit of taking things literallyš.
The Human: Max (Joaquin Phoenix), a wannabe astronaut whose wish to be in oušter space is made possible byš Jinx.
The Friendship: As they put it, they are "friends forever," so Jinx has š§øhis work cut out at Ground Control trying to get Max safely back to Earth.
Rocky IV (1985)
The Robot: SICO, a robot helper given as a ź¦gift by Rocky Balboa to his brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young).
The Human: Paulie, whšo doesn't really need any encouragement to be waiteš±d on hand and foot.
The Friendship: Close. Too close, according to some Internet scholars who have interpreted the film as implying that SICš§O is Paulie'sš§ sex-bot.