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Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970): Colossus

2001's HAL became a cultural touchstone almost overnight, and the computer bent on world domination became a science-fiction cliché with equal dispatch. However, though this film came out after 2001,this story of a gigantic machine put in charge of America's nuclear program was in fact based on a novel that predated HAL's story. Entrusting apocalyptic technology to the decision-making capabilities of a cold, automated entity was also a theme of nuclear-age cinematic ruminations such as Fail Safe and Kubrick's own Dr. Strangelove.



In Colossus, the title machine predictably decides to override its programming, teams up with a similar Soviet supercomputer, and finally decides that it's going to rule humanity. This will be better for everyone involved, the machine announces. In a way, the movie's vision of a globe-girdling computer network was definitely prophetic. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) for us, the actual Internet is a much messier realm than the voice of World Control that ultimately pulls down the curtain on this story.



