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Colossus: "The Forbin" Project [1970] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Our Price: £2.73 (subject to change)
Great movie. Poor DVD Release
Review date: 2008-06-10 Rating: 2 out of 10
This is an excellent movie, but disappointing that it has only been released in the inferior 'pan-and-scan'release. The laser-disc version from a number of years ago was at least a widescreen version, so not worth buying in this 4:3 format.
Disappointing such an inferior release for such a cult movie.
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Reviews
Chilling tale of technology turning on its masters!
Review date: 2006-04-22 Rating: 10 out of 10
I cannot recommend this film enough. It is a gripping, well crafted and intelligent tale that is as relevant today as it was almost forty years ago.
The supercomputer 'Colossus' is activated, bringing all of the United States' nuclear arsenal under its control. Shortly after coming on line, Colossus detects the Russian's very own supercomputer, named Guardian.
As the two computers begin to 'communicate' and learn at an alarming rate, the American and Russian governments attempt to sever contact. As a result Colossus launches a missile attack against Russia and demands that its creator, Dr. Charles Forbin be put under its surveillance.
As Forbin plots to destroy his creation, Colossus makes its plans for the future of the human race...
The conclusion of "Colossus" is as chilling as it is unfogettable. I wonder if James Cameron was influenced by this movie (along with "Westworld") when he came up with the concept for "The Terminator"?
My only gripe is not with the film itself but with the DVD. For some incomprehensible reason, the pan and scan format is still popular with the American market. Although it doesn't ruin the viewing experience too much, it would have been great to have seen this in its proper widescreen format.
In the age of widescreen televisions and anamorphic widescreen DVD transfers there really is no excuse!
Regardless, I urge you to buy this film, it is simply too good to slip under the radar and thus it gets full marks.
Based on a novel by D.F. Jones
Review date: 2004-11-30 Rating: 10 out of 10
The Colossus movie scenario is sort of a combination of "War Games" in the sense of getting out of hand and the novel "This Perfect Day" in which all of society is regulated.
The use of good, but not over the top, actors gave an eerie feeling of reality to this film.
It is 1966 with the complexities of nuclear war we must turn to artificial intelligence to handle the multitude of factors in a reasonable time. We must keep in mind that this computer "Colossus" (named after the real life machine by Turing) can only do our bidding.
What is this? Colossus has discovered another entity in Russia (Guardian), and requests to converse with it. Well we can always pull the plug (yeah sure.) To counter the threat of being socially separated the computers threaten to launch nuclear missiles. At the U.S. and Russia. Getting increasingly pushier Colossus, after requesting voice recognition and voice synthesis (a spooky sixties version of voice synthesis), goes on to regulate the lives of the people who created it; of course it is for their own good.
One can put up with nuclear war if need be, but regulating lives is intolerable. Something must be done. Watch and see what unique solutions are planned. Will they succeed? Who are you rooting for?
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Gordon Pinsent
Susan Clark
Leonid Rostoff
William Schallert
Eric Braeden
Director(s):
Recording label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
EAN: 9781417026876
Binding: DVD
ISBN: 1417026871
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC,
Release date: 2004-11-23
Universal product code (UPC): 025192620423
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1970
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Russian (Original Language)