One year after
2001, a film presented a view of artificial intelligence with a far bleaker outlook on the future of the technology. Much like
WarGames would propose years later,
Colossus has us poor humans building a computer too smart for its own good. Turns out the Russians have one too -- both designed as peacekeepers that operate without human intervention, keeping check on the world without the need for our services. And the computers want to talk. When they develop their own language, humanity pulls the plug. And the computers get mad. Soon enough Colossus is giving orders, threatening nuclear annihilation if its demands are not met (much like
Dr. Strangelove's Doomsday Device).
Harrowing and truly gripping despite an obviously paltry budget, Eric Braeden's Forbin, the inventor of Colossus, paints a frightening and not unrealistic look at the bounds of A.I. Robotic boys be damned!