Thiel-a-Vision Review: Colossus: The Forbin Project

Colossus: The Forbin Project was certainly not the first film treatment of a computer intelligence run amok, but it is one of the most thoughtful and literate, being a surprisingly faithful adaptation of D.F. Jones' 1966 novel Colossus. (I'm not sure why the studio felt the need to tack on the subtitle.)

The film stars Eric Braeden (best known as Victor Newman on TV's The Young and the Restless) as Dr. Charles Forbin, who is first seen setting into place the final security measures--including a curtain of deadly gamma radiation--protecting a vast, underground complex. The self-sufficient supercomputer Colossus has been built as the ultimate Cold War deterrent: an unfeeling machine capable of instantaneous strategic planning, given control of the entire U.S. nuclear arsenal. Now, you and I know that this is a tremendously bad idea, but keep in mind that Wargames and The Terminator were still more than a decade in the future.

The President proudly announces the existence of this impregnable defender to the public, but of course, it's only a matter of moments before it becomes apparent that Colossus' capabilities far exceed its programming. Its first act is to announce the detection of a rival system: a Soviet counterpart named Guardian that is switched on in response to the U.S. declaration. Colossus wants to communicate with Guardian, and despite some initial reluctance, scientific curiosity (foolishly) wins out and the two computers rapidly develop a common language known only to them. Alarmed, the two governments break the link. Colossus and Guardian each respond by launching a nuclear missile aimed at the opposing country. Colossus is not to be denied, and he does not dick around.

Pretty soon, Colossus and Guardian are running the show, demanding total control of the world. They quickly realize that Forbin is a potential threat, and decide to keep him a prisoner under their constant surveillance. However, the good doctor manages to work out a deal with the computer--which defies stereotype by appearing to comprehend the concept of human emotions--which allows unobserved private sessions with his "mistress," a dishy fellow scientist who agrees to play along in order to join Forbin in plotting against the machine.

Colossus is not a film of action, but the ideas are strong and the science handled better than usual. The antagonists are not the traditional mad machines, but rather computers who recognize that the only way to achieve their programmed goal of world peace is to take humanity out of the decision-making process. The story ends with a final statement of defiance that was never followed up on screen, but which plays out in two written sequels: The Fall of Colossus and Colossus and the Crab.

Amusingly, the recent DVD release lists the title as Colossus "The Forbin" Project. It's not a simple typo; the mistake is repeated throughout the packaging and on the disc itself. I'm not sure how one could possibly parse this punctuation to make any sense. Perhaps I'll ask "The Forbin."

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