W.I.S.O.R. (2001) Reviews

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The ancient insulated steam pipes that lie under the streets and buildings of New York City are in need of constant repair. They also are very dangerous when they blow, causing injuries, damage, and inconvenience. The steam is vital to the success of the city -- it powers everything from clothes presses to elevators -- as well as the survival of the citizens, who rely on it for heat even in the most modern skyscrapers. The only way to repair the 16-inch pipes is to close off the street and dig up the road to get to the break -- at a cost of about 35,000 dollars at each break. But wait, what's that thing crawling along inside the pipe with a blow torch? A pyromaniacal snake? A fire-breathing dragon? No, it's W.I.S.O.R., the robo-welder to the rescue. ~ Buzz McClain, Rovi

Director(s):: Michel Negroponte

Format(s):: DVD
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(1 member review)

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	Collon S.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

I expected a straightforward documentary, like some things I've seen on Frontline, The History Channel or the Discovery Channel. Instead, the director seemed less interested in the science and technology behind the creation of a remarkable robot and more involved in the creative aspects of filmmaking. The most distracting aspect of the film is the excessive use of a "robotic" voiceover that intrusively narrates throughout. A human voice would have been much better but of course less creative. We never do find out how long the project took or how much it cost, nor do we get to see a real world job being performed by the robot. How successful is it? What we do get is irrelevelant banter amongst the engineers. I would have liked infomation on their backgrounds, previous successes, education and training and some insight into what it takes to create such a complex and one of a kind piece of equipment.

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