Poll #3
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OK, everyone ready for another big discussion and poll?
I meant to drop this last week for the holiday Friday, but forgot and used another editorial that I had already written. As you might have guessed during a holiday, spending time on the newsletter wasn't something I had as a top priority.
So this week I was wondering this:
What's the Best Computer Geek Movie?
It's technology related, but it a lighter side. I think I've seen lots of them, but I was curious. With Christmas coming, maybe someone will mention a neat one that you'll add to your list or get for your favorite geek.
My answer isn't short (as usual) and I had to think about it a bit. Because of recent times, The Matrix comes to mind first. It was really a twist on technology that I enjoyed and have seen many times. The first one, not the two silly sequels.
But then I thought a little more to be sure I wasn't forgetting something. Sneakers came to mind quickly as did Star Wars, though that was less of a "computer" movie. There's Hackers (Blah!), Swordfish (slightly less blah), Mission Impossible (not as good as the sequel), and many more.
As I dug back through some web searches and into my childhood, however, there was another one that stood out from a (relatively) long time ago. Wargames, the little kid hacking into the DOD. Always enjoyed that in high school when I dreamed of being able to crack into computers. There are older ones, Tron, 2001, as well as newer computer related ones like Johnny Mnemomic.
But I think I have to pick ....
The Matrix
It was just too cool in an era where I'd seen so many movies. I still remember hearing all about it while living alone in Denver and driving through a snowstorm to go see it. I couldn't imagine how it would turn out and was amazed when Neo "woke up".
So what's your favorite? Join in the fun and let us know.
Steve Jones
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I, Robot. The Asimov original story is better than the movie, but the questions are one's my grandkids will probably have to answer. What is 'life' anyway? And maybe 'if my PC has a soul, is control-alt-delete a form of euthanasia'?
And then again, I might be wrong ...
David Webb -
Steve,
I agree The Matrix, got it as a freebee with a VHS order, ran out and bought a DVD player just to see it, best thing I have done for ME in years...
Andy
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Hi,
Have you watched "Office Space"?
Cenk
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I love the Matrix and it is still my movie of choice when testing out sound and video systems (the lobby fight scene works great for this), but I would have to say that my favourite geek movie of all time is War Games.
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Hi David,
Are you not confusing "I, Robot" (a very intriguing robot whodunnit, based on one of Asimov's many books in which he explores the weaknesses of his own three laws of robotics) with "the Bicentennial Man" (based on another Asimov book, where he explores the thin dividing line between humans and a robot who, through a fabrication error, developed creativity and self-awareness?
Both books are great, BTW. And "the Bicentennial Man" is also a good movie. I didn't see the "I, Robot" movie.
Best, Hugo
Hugo Kornelis, SQL Server/Data Platform MVP (2006-2016)
Visit my SQL Server blog: https://sqlserverfast.com/blog/
SQL Server Execution Plan Reference: https://sqlserverfast.com/epr/ -
The moment you asked the question I immediately thought "War Games". And whilst I acknowledge the brilliance of "The Matrix" it has to be War Games for me.
Not sure if it qualifies but how about Firefox? Clint Eastwood in a cold war plane nicking caper - a plane that you can talk to no less (hence the geek aspect)!!! I actually saw it later in life and it was rubbish - but I've got fond memories of loving it as a kid!
-Jamie
Jamie Thomson
http://sqlblog.com/blogs/jamie_thomson -
Hi Steve,
Showing my age, I'll say that for me, there can only be one: Tron. (The 1982 original, not the recent re-make).
Is it the best? No, probably not. But for me, it's the movie I'll always think of first when you talk about computer related movies. I've seen it when I was a teenager who had just become interested in "them new-fangled computer thingies". I've lost track of the number of hours and the amount of pocket money I burnt afterwards in the Tron video-game. And I still have a weak spot for light-cycle based games, even though I'll be the first to admit that when viewed objectively, they suck. (And I suck at playing them to boot <g>
.Other movies that come to mind are "War Games" (the end scene with the computer playing tic-tac-toe is simply hilarious) and "The Net". Like Tron, they might not be the greates games, but they did bring some new ideas to the genre (or else I missed the movies they stole their ideas from <g>
.Best, Hugo
Hugo Kornelis, SQL Server/Data Platform MVP (2006-2016)
Visit my SQL Server blog: https://sqlserverfast.com/blog/
SQL Server Execution Plan Reference: https://sqlserverfast.com/epr/ -
I would have to nominate Equilibrium (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238380/) as my favourite along with The Matrix. If you loved the lobby scene in The Matrix, you'll like this. Same mindset, great film, well worth checking out....
Jon -
Wargames. A high-school geek, a modem that the phone properly plugs in to, and a girl to lust over (when I was a young 'un anyway).
Great topic 🙂
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Two films do it for me everytime, Bladerunner is an absolute classic, very dark but very very good, I have to agree that the matrix is brilliant but I recently discovered something similar which I think was made before the matrix but I am not sure, it is called the 13th floor which I presonally rate up there too.
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Damn that one is tricky. Can I vote for 'All of the Above'. My Top three tied would be: Matrix, Sneakers, and WarGames. Tron is the most _Classic_ geek movie of all time.
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When I first saw the question, first movie I thought of was WarGames.
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Wargames has to win over The Matrix, simply becuase The Matrix is way too cool to be classed as geeky
Tron will always hold a special place in my heart, and the remastered DVD (not a remake) is awesome.
Nobody's mentioned Electric Dreams though - boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy builds computer, computer falls in love with girl, girl falls in love with computer thinking it's boy.... how many times have we heard that story
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With the combination of the genius of Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick, I would have to say that 2001 is my favorite computer movie with 2010 following close behind.
I often think of HAL when my PC refuses to cooperate and often thougth it to be humerous if my PC tried to negotiate with me when I shut it down.
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