Let’s explore films that perfectly encapsulate the raw power and thought-provoking nature of this world-changing technological breakthrough from the years 2000 to 2010.
Part I explored films crafted from the 30s to the 60s. Part II explores films made during the 70s. Part III takes a look at the 80s and 90s, Part IV looks at feature films from the years 2000 to 2010, Part V explores films from the years 2011 to 2017, and Part VI looks at films from 2018 / 2019, Part VII takes a look at films from 2020 to the present.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (or simply A.I.) 2001)
Steven Spielberg was inspired by notes left by Stanley Kubrick, crafting a masterful Pinocchio-style fairytale about a robot boy who desperately wants to be human. The tragedy at the heart of the film, though, is his immortality. He was designed as a child, but outlives everyone he ever loves.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, the screenplay by Spielberg and screen story by Ian Watson were based on the 1969 short story “Supertoys Last All Summer Long” by Brian Aldiss.
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
The sequel to The Phantom Menace (1999), it is the fifth film in the Star Wars film series and second chronological chapter of the “Skywalker Saga“.
On Geonosis, Obi-Wan discovers a Separatist gathering led by Count Dooku, who is developing a droid army with Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray, who ordered the assassination attempts on Padmé. Obi-Wan transmits his findings to the Jedi Council but is captured by Separatist droids.
Resident Evil (2002)
Underneath Raccoon City exists a genetic research facility called the Hive, owned by the Umbrella Corporation. A thief steals the genetically engineered T-virus and contaminates the Hive with it. In response, the facility’s artificial intelligence, the Red Queen, seals the Hive and kills everyone inside.
This action horror film was written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. It is the first installment in the Resident Evil film series, which is loosely based on the video game series of the same name. Borrowing elements from the video games Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2,
Simone (stylized as S1M0̸NE) (2002)
A satirical science fiction film written, produced, and directed by Andrew Niccol. The story follows a fading director creating a virtual actress to star in his films and the attempts he makes to keep her non-presence a secret as she becomes more famous.
The Matrix Reloaded / The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
Six months after the events of The Matrix, Morpheus receives a message from Captain Niobe of the Logos calling an emergency meeting of all ships of Zion. An army of Sentinels is tunneling towards Zion and will reach it within 72 hours. Sentinels attack them in the real world. Neo realizes he is able to sense the machines in the real world, and telepathically destroys them.
In The Matrix Revolutions Neo, humanity’s only hope of stopping the war and saving Zion, attempts to broker peace between the machines and humans. However, he must first confront his arch-nemesis, the rogue Agent Smith.
Written and directed by the Wachowskis, it is the sequel to The Matrix (1999) and the second installment in the Matrix film series.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
In its plot, the malevolent artificial intelligence Skynet sends a T-X (Loken)—a highly advanced Terminator—back in time to ensure the rise of machines by killing top members of the future human resistance.
Third installment in the Terminator franchise and a sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). A sequel, Terminator Salvation, was released in 2009.
Set in Chicago in 2035, highly intelligent robots fill public service positions throughout the world, operating under three laws to keep humans safe. Detective Woody Spooner investigates the alleged suicide of U.S. Robotics founder Alfred Lanning and believes that a human-like robot called Sonny murdered him
Directed by Alex Proyas. The screenplay by Jeff Vintar and Akiva Goldsman is from a screen story by Vintar, based on his original screenplay Hardwired, and named after Isaac Asimov‘s 1950 short-story collection.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
Zaphod Beeblebrox, the newly elected president of the Galaxy seeks the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything to match the disappointing answer given by the supercomputer Deep Thought: “42“. He believes that the answer lies on the planet Magrathea, only accessible using the Heart of Gold‘s improbability drives through trial and error.
Directed by Garth Jennings, based upon previous works in the media franchise of the same name, created by Douglas Adams. Adams co-wrote the screenplay with Karey Kirkpatrick but died in 2001.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Orbiting above Coruscant, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker lead a mission to rescue Supreme Chancellor Palpatine from the cyborg Separatist commander General Grievous. It features C-3PO, Anakin and Padmé’s personal protocol droid that Anakin created as a child, and R2-D2, Anakin’s astromech droid.
The sequel to The Phantom Menace (1999) and Attack of the Clones (2002), it is the sixth film in the Star Wars film series, the final installment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and third chronological chapter of the “Skywalker Saga“.
Stealth (2005)
In the near future, the U.S. Navy develops the F/A-37 Talon, a single-seat fighter-bomber with advanced payload, range, speed, and stealth capabilities. The film follows three top fighter pilots as they join a project to develop an automated robotic stealth aircraft.
Directed by Rob Cohen and written by W. D. Richter
Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
Alice wanders the wasteland that was once the Southwestern U.S. and meets a holograph of the Red Queen’s “sister” AI, the White Queen. She informs Alice that her blood can cure the T-virus, defends the Red Queen’s prior actions, and reveals what happened to Dr. Isaacs. On her way to the lab’s lower levels, Alice encounters one of her clones.
Directed by Russell Mulcahy and written by Paul W. S. Anderson. A direct sequel to Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), it is the third installment in the Resident Evil film series, which is loosely based on the Capcom survival horror video game series of the same name.
Eagle Eye (2008)
The lives of two strangers hunted by authorities are thrown into peril when an unseen caller uses technology to monitor and control their every move.
Directed by D. J. Caruso and with a screenplay by John Glenn, Travis Adam Wright, Hillary Seitz and Dan McDermott from a story by McDermott.
Iron Man (2008)
Following his escape from captivity by a terrorist group, world-famous industrialist and master engineer Tony Stark builds a mechanized suit of armor and becomes the superhero Iron Man.
It is the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by Jon Favreau from a screenplay by the writing teams of Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, and Art Marcum and Matt Holloway
WALL-E (2008)
It follows a solitary robot named WALL-E on a future, uninhabitable, deserted Earth in 2805, left to clean up garbage. He is visited by a robot called EVE sent from the starship Axiom, with whom he falls in love and pursues across the galaxy.
The film was directed by Andrew Stanton, produced by Jim Morris, and written by Stanton and Jim Reardon.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
An alien sent to try to change human behavior in an effort to save Earth from environmental degradation; this version replaces the Cold War-era theme of nuclear warfare with the contemporary issue of negative human impact on the environment. The military launches a drone attack on a robot, soon nicknamed “GORT”, a robot that transforms into a swarm of winged insect-like nano-machines that self-replicate as they consume every man-made object in their path.
An adaptation of the 1951 film of the same name (which itself was based on the 1940 short story “Farewell to the Master“). Directed by Scott Derrickson from a screenplay by David Scarpa.
Terminator Salvation (2009)
This post-apocalyptic film set in the year 2018. It focuses on the war between Skynet’s machine network and humanity, as the remnants of the world’s militaries have united to form the Resistance to fight against Skynet.
The fourth installment of the Terminator franchise, serving as sequel to Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), but also as a soft reboot. It is directed by McG and written by John Brancato and Michael Ferris.
Enthiran (transl. Robot) (2010)
The story revolves around the struggle of a scientist K. Vaseegaran to control his android humanoid robot named Chitti, after Chitti’s software is upgraded to give it the ability to comprehend and exhibit human emotions. The project backfires when Chitti falls in love with Vaseegaran’s girlfriend, Sana, and is manipulated by Bohra, Vaseegaran’s teacher, into becoming homicidal.
Written and directed by Shankar. It is the first instalment in the Enthiran film series.
Tron: Legacy (2010)
The story follows Flynn’s adult son Sam, who responds to a message from his long-lost father and is transported into a virtual reality called “the Grid”, where Sam, his father, and the algorithm Quorra must stop the malevolent program Clu from invading the real world.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, from a story by Horowitz, Kitsis, Brian Klugman, and Lee Sternthal. It serves as a sequel to Tron (1982).
PART I /PART II / PART III /PART IV / PART V / PART VI / PART VII
