NEON REVIEW: COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT (1970)

We get it. Sometimes you just can't make it out to the movies. So we'll be digging up some under appreciated gems that might be a rare find on streaming or strictly only on DVD. So in that case, we'll be presenting a weekly quick review for viewing suggestions...

COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT (1970)

Before google... sorry...Skynet went self aware and destroyed us all in Terminator 2, there was another defence program getting bossy and deciding on what's best for mankind. Colossus is a very, very under appreciated sci fi classic, and warning on our blind faith in technology, full of great disposition over effects, effects, effects. In the near future, America has handed over it's control of arsenals and intelligence to 'Colossus' a massive unmanned artificial intelligence facility deep beneath the Colorado rockies, in an effort for peace by removing the unpredictable nature of man's decision making. While Washington pats itself on the back, the program begins learning at an unfathomable rate, soon learning of another facility in Russia, and wanting to unite with it.

Wishing to maintain dominance, Colossus threatens humanity with it's own nukes if they interfere, while informing the leaders of America and Russia that it has essentially handed them world peace at the cost of it's loyalty to the machine. Central to this is Colossus' creator who maintains a cat and mouse scenario or words and deception in an attempt to outsmart the gargantuan facility and it's machine brain. More or less shot entirely within bunkers and situation rooms, Colossus is swift (just over an hour and a half), and full of that light oddly placed hearted music in 70s movies when we should be getting a big threatening crescendo of sound. Good for those that liked the era of Silent Running, Omega Man and The Andromeda Strain sci-fi films. Via Netflix DVD. Not available on streaming.

Directed by Joseph Sargent. Starring: Eric Braeden, Susan Clark and Gordon Pinsent