Best, Worst Movie Robots: Electric Entertainers or Metal Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Robots are major contributors to cinema. Whether they're enslaving mankind, entertaining children, or learning to love, robots always make an impact on viewers. "Real Steel" is the latest film to utilize our metal companions, this time in the form of boxers. Androids, cyborgs, and automatons have led to some of the most memorable films of all time. Of course we all know "memorable" doesn't always have a positive connotation. For every T-1000 there is a "Robot Monster."

This is the first mark of shame to poor, poor robots in film. The titular character of "Robot Monster" is a robot so imaginative, so unbelievable ... a toddler could have come up with him. It has the body of a gorilla, a diver's helmet as a head, and a bubble machine is his signature technology. Terrifying stuff, right? Did I mention it lives in a cave, talks to a mirror image of itself, and has a speech impediment? Let's pray "Real Steel" doesn't base its robots off this monstrosity.

On the opposite end of the spectrum you'll find Mechagodzilla. Immensely popular and considered to be Godzilla's greatest rival, Mechagodzilla is a credit to his metallic brethren. There have been three major versions of Mechagodzilla and the bot has appeared in a grand total of five Godzilla films. These laser-firing, missile-launching beasts have come closer to killing Godzilla than any other.

"Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla" and "Godzilla Versus The Cosmic Monster" are considered to be two of his greatest films. You can also find Mechagodzilla in over a dozen Godzilla video games, from fighting games to side-scrollers.

The big screen is also home to famous smaller robots. "Small Soldiers" is a strange case that divides audiences. The robots of the film are toys developed with military-grade AI chips -- effectively bringing them to life without the need of whimsical Disney magic. Some find it to be an enjoyable sci-fi thriller that successfully combines the toys coming to life premise with science fiction and social commentary. Then you have a number of people who find it to be a dark film that forgoes plot and character development in exchange for special effects. The jury is split down the very middle on this one.

In the realm of robotic disappointments you'll likely come across "A.I. Artificial Intelligence." This overly long, dull film shows us a future in which androids exist to serve mankind as babysitters, escorts, and surrogate children. The film tries extremely hard to be profound and soaks itself in social commentary. In the end it achieves little more than sucking up two and a half hours and making you hate Haley Joel Osment.

"A.I." tries to be a modern fairy tale by having the android child desperately want to be human but fall short. "Bicentennial Man" and Robin Williams did a much better job with this premise. It makes you wonder where "Real Steel" will fall on the spectrum. Will it be remembered as a mark of pride, like of "The Terminator" or "Wall-E?" Or will it inspire nothing but shame on the scale of "The Matrix Revolutions" and "The Robot Vs. the Aztec Mummy?"

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