I, Ro-bud
They say a friend in need is a friend indeed. Infographic journalist BILLY KER rounds up Hollywood's best-known android allies and rates how useful they'll be if you get into a tough spot.
CHAPPIE
CHAPPIE (2015)
Chappie is the first robot of its kind, with a consciousness and the ability to learn on his own. Created by Deon Wilson, his consciousness is installed into a decommissioned police droid. Imagine having a perfectly-behaved kid who does not need to be fed. His enhanced intelligence and creativity surpasses even that of his maker and comes in handy when preventing disasters.
3/5
BAYMAX
Big Hero 6 (2014)
Baymax is an inflatable health-care companion built by Tadashi, protagonist Hiro's brother. Baymax has built-in medication, which he can dispense to treat afflictions ranging from abrasions to heartaches. As an added bonus, he charges amazingly fast for a robot his size. Following Tadashi's death, Baymax was upgraded to a crime-fighting, Iron Man-looking robot who (spoiler alert!) sacrifices himself to ensure Hiro's survival at the end. In my book, he gets top marks for the "Robotic Friend I Want By My Side" rating.
5/5
C3PO (& R2D2)
Star Wars series (1977-2005)
Okay, this isn't exactly fair since I'm reviewing two robots instead of one, but these droids basically take ro-bromance to a new level. C3PO and R2D2 are two totally different droids, one made for linguistic purposes and the other for repairing starships. They are thrown into a space opera together with Anakin, Obi-Wan and eventually Luke, Leia and Han. C3PO is often just fumbling along, whereas R2D2 comes packed with handy abilities from lock picking to setting other droids on fire. R2D2 alone saved the lives of his friends several times throughout the series.
3/5
TARS
Interstellar (2014)
Tars is one of the crew members on board the spacecraft Endurance on a mission to find possible alternative planets for human survival. Seemingly awkward due to his stark, monolith-looking appearance, Tars shocked everyone when he began to "roll" to rescue a crew member. His witty and sarcastically humorous personality helped calm and entertain the crew members through many strenuous ordeals. Tars also somehow survived getting sucked into a black hole while trying to collect quantum data from said black hole. Just saying.
3/5
ATOM
Real Steel (2011)
Atom is an obsolete sparring robot who was discarded until he was salvaged by Charlie, a kid who happened to be in need of a boxing robot. Atom can take plenty of hits and has a rare feature that allows him to mimic any action its human partner dishes out. Throw in some training from Charlie's ex-boxer father and you have an underdog boxing robot that almost defeats the 'undefeatable' champion, Zeus. He lost in the end, but Atom's the only robot ever to have fought Zeus and left the ring standing. With Charlie's help, he can even dance.
2/5
BUMBLEBEE
Transformers series (2007-2014)
Bumblebee is probably one of the more recognisable Transformers, a loyal friend to his buddy Sam and formidable warrior alongside Optimus Prime. His alternate forms (various Camaro models) also serve as a sweet ride when they're not being chased by alien robots trying to destroy earth. Bumblebee is as playful as a giant 5m robot can get, often using radio clips as a way to communicate with his human partner. But I have to deduct points for going off on a new adventure in Age Of Extinction instead of sticking with Sam. Where's Sam, Bee? Where's Sam?
3/5
T-800
Terminator series
(1984-2015)
T-800 is a Terminator built for human destruction, reprogrammed by the future John Connor to go back in time to protect the young John Connor from another Terminator sent to kill him. Armed with his trademark shotgun and shades, as well as an encyclopaedic knowledge on how to kill (or in this case, prevent a human from getting killed), T-800 is the ideal bodyguard. Made from a metal endoskeleton laced with living skin, T-800 blends in because it looks no different from any Schwarzenegger-esque bodybuilder.
4/5
SONNY
I, Robot (2004)
Sonny is unlike any of the other humanoid robots created by Dr Lanning. He has the ability to dream, emote and ignore certain robot-centric laws. Will Smith's Spooner received a lot of help from Sonny when defeating the main antagonist. In retrospect, though, Sonny was given many specific upgrades by Dr Lanning in order for that to happen. I mean, how will a denser alloy body help with a human's everyday life? If you ask me, it probably won't.
1/5
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