Don't let them do it God...

Some forty years ago there was this movie directed by Joseph Sargent called 'Colossus: The Forbin Project' and if you haven't had the chance to see this minor cult sci-fi classic you should track it down and check it out. 'Colossus' is a deliberately paced, well thought out, well crafted science picture film chronicling Dr. Forbin's (Eric Braden) missile defense machine arbitrarily deciding that man is not fit to handle his own fate and thus takes matters into its own hands. Simple enough. Now this is somewhat old news but we hear that the Hollywood powers that be are planning a remake of this film and we are here to say that this time they must be stopped. At all costs. I realize remakes and retreads and the like are the way to go but a 'remake' of this movie is a no-win situation. First off the movie was done right the first time and more so the Matrix series and the Terminator series have wrung the whole man vs. machine thing dry. Besides there is almost no discernable action in 'Colossus' since it's all dialog and theory with most of the destruction taking place off screen. There's a little violence as Colossus needs to prove a point here and there and there was a touch of sex as we observed how Dr. Forbin cleverly maneuvered Dr. Markahm (Susan Clarke) into the sack, but otherwise, without completely rewriting the movie, I don't know how this would fly with modern audiences.

But while are completely, totally and unshakably opposed to a remake, we do fully support a sequel. Imagine what the world would look like forty years under Colossus rule. There would now be an entire generation that know of nothing except rule under the thumb of Colossus. There are no more borders and thus there are no more wars and thus the world is at complete and total peace. Where as the machines in The Matrix were using the humans as a means to an end and the machines in the Terminator where doing everything in their power to get rid of us, Colossus works for what it feels is the best interest of humans. Thus it would be unlikely that Colossus would wipe us out since it feels we need its presence and with out it, it would probably believe that it would serve no purpose.

Now here's where a team of clever storytellers and script writers have to step in and make themselves a movie. Think of the world that a few creative types could create, one that is completely different from the world we know of now. The technology they could create or eliminate because now the focus is no longer profit driven. In fact I would imagine Colossus to be a glorified Communist since the machine would do everything for the good of the state and could care less about the individual. The conflict, of course, is that we are not free and that's not going to fly with a lot of folks. But there are probably even more people who see Colossus rule as a good thing. And we have seen what Colossus does to those who don't toe the line.

The rumor mill has it than Opie Cunningham would direct and the Fresh Prince would star. both those cats are plenty talented and no doubt could pull off this update with Will Smith working out exceptionally well because they could make him the infant son of the Georg Stanford Brown character who Colossus mercilessly dispatched of giving this character a vengeance motive in addition to the whole lack of freedom thing. As a bonus Eric Braden and Susan Clark are still very much alive to reprise their roles.

I know it probably won't happen and if they do decide to redo 'The Forbin Project' it will have car chases and bombs ticking down to triple zero and scenes in strip clubs and melodrama and a happy ending. But for once, powers that be, listen to that small voice in the back of your head... that being me... and take the path less traveled. Imagine the possibilities.