Top 10 technology flaws in films

The Matrix: human beings make lousy batteries

With the economy worsening and layoffs hitting more and more tech firms, IT news can be a bit depressing these days.

One of the most tried-and-trusted methods for beating the blues has always been to curl up with a good movie or two and get whisked away into another world.

Unfortunately for those in the tech world, Hollywood's portrayal of geeks has always been spotty at best. The unrealistic and implausible depictions can set a tech-happy viewer off on an irritated, complaining rant faster than it takes the glasses-clad movie geek to 'hack the mainframe'.

So, if you do look to Hollywood to kick your recession blues this fall, here's a short list compiled by vnunet.com of movies for the easily-annoyed geek to steer clear of (or not, if you want a good laugh). If you want to add any of your own feel free to use the comments section below.

Johnny Mnemonic

Shaun Nichols: Great story in book form, awful movie. With all due respect to William Gibson, the continuation of Moore's ‘Law’ has made the line "I can store 320 gigabytes in my brain" a bit of a joke. (Gibson himself as much as admitted this; his latest novel has replaced brain-couriers with speedy iPod-toting teens.)

But that's not even the worst part. The fundamental underlying flaw which completely ruins the film version of Johnny Mnemomic for me is this: even in a futuristic high-tech ultra-capitalistic cyberpunk wasteland, who the hell is going to entrust any sort of important data to the brain of Keanu Reeves?

Iain Thomson: Couldn’t agree more on this one. There was some good use of technology, the passports spring to mind, but the way this film has dated has made it a stinker. And, as we’ll see below, Keanu Reeves is going to make regular appearances in this list.

Demolition Man

Shaun Nichols: This early-90s Sly Stallone shoot 'em up portrays a high-tech future in which a steady grid of ever-present consoles and kiosks ensure a squeaky-clean society in which everyone is happy, friendly and polite. Sort of like a Teletubby portrayal of Orwell's 1984.

The problem with this plot is that it assumes technology will make people more peaceful, polite and accommodating. Anyone who has ever spent more than five minutes on a message board, chat forum or YouTube knows that this is most definitely not the case.

Plus, I have little faith in any future in which Wesley Snipes has to dress like a five year-old.

Iain Thomson: You forgot that anyone who can hack a public internet terminal in seconds could bring out a lot more havoc than Snipes manages to. Add into that the apparent attraction of telepathic sex and it's thumbs down from me.