Module 11: Film Review...Big Hero 6

So for this week, I am doing a computer related film review. I was going to watch and review a Star-Trek or Stargate episode since I’m a huge fan. I decided to watch a full-length movie though because it would have an all-encompassing plot and an episode of Stargate might not include all of the examples of technology that it normally represents throughout the series. Plus, I couldn't decide which of 100’s of episodes to best pick from. I will mention a little bit at the end from my favorite show, Stargate Atlantis, because it has a similarity with the film I did choose, Big Hero 6. I know it initially looks like a stretch, analyzing a cartoon, but it ended up providing supple information for my three main points: the computer/network usage throughout, realistic or ridiculous, and any social/cultural implications.

This movie is science fiction and cartoon animation by Disney, so realism can only go so far. There is a basic realistic foundation to some areas though. Overall though, there was a great deal of technology usage in this movie and network instances. A main example and key to the movie, is the inflatable robot Baymax. He is designed by Tadashi, a robotics student at San Fransokyo Institute of Technology. Robots are a real invention, consisting of complex programming and computer integration. Even the robot fighting at the beginning of the film is modern day, like in the T.V. shows Robot Wars and Battle Bots. This robot takes on an almost artificial intelligence as new events and data can be integrated into his memory, but all the while, he obediently sticks to his initial programmed protocol and sole purpose as a Personal Health Care Companion. This was the social and cultural benefiting quality of the film that ultimately gave a great moral to not cause any harm, especially as revenge. The main character Hiro, who assumes ownership to Baymax after his brother’s death, is also very tech-savvy. He uses his advances computer programming to install new modifications to Baymax on a new chip for defense in conjunction with his healthcare chip, using data from a Karate video to help defend against a rising villain. At one climatic point though, Hiro took advantage of Baymax by removing his “good” microchip for an instance of revenge. There was a struggle to replace the chip by his team and then lesson was learned.

This robotic model offers an amazing futuristic idea for providing society with a comforting “nurse” if keep strict to the healthcare and no- harm programming. If not, it could arise in violence and power in the wrong hands, like he case in the film I, Robot  where robots where designed to serve humanity, but artificial intelligence and motives went rogue.  I also don’t know the realism with Baymax’s abilities to be able to lift 1,000 pounds, but I seem probable that his can store and integrate lots of data. An instance in the film when Baymax doesn't seem to comprehend emotional pain, he downloads all the data from the computer that would correspond and becomes immediately informed, adding to his 10,000 different medical procedures included in his programming. I think the technology is almost futuristic if we are comparing to realism, with his physical structure possibly limiting his ability to perform certain procedures, being vinyl and overly inflated. And the level of maintenance and physics would be almost ridiculous to include his extra features of defibrillator/ antibacterial spray equipped hands and heating system. One unrealistic factor, for film purposes was time; how designing and experimenting fell in a short time frame…but so do most movies.

A good example of networking was when Baymax tried to provide treatment for Hiro’s depression by contacting his friends spontaneously. He also performs automatic body scans and therefore can provide general information like blood type, temperature, brain activity and other demographics. Hiro used his computer to design and create body armor and gadgets with a 3-D printer of advanced quality. Especially when upgrading Baymax’s new chip, and finding a Karate video easily like we do every day with YouTube clips. Video camera evidence from their villain’s secret project was caught on computer and downloaded via flash drive, which is a common use of technology today. Basic communication devices were used when contacting the butler for a helicopter lift, or team conversation during the end battle scene. Since the movie still incorporated common technology today, it provided a semi-realistic approach and futuristic possibility. On the very unrealistic side, was the “villain’s” secret project having similar looks as a stargate in the Sci-Fi series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. The stargate has teleportation abilities, and both shows have similar imaginations of the idea. The stability in Big Hero 6 though, failed and caused catastrophe, as the technology was nowhere near perfected yet.