The Top 10 Coolest Mechas from Live-Action Movies
Mechas Are One of the Best Things About Sci-Fi.
I’m not sure if there’s a special license to drive mechas, but I want one. What geek out there didn’t dream of having a powerful robot suit, especially when bullies were beating them up for said dreams. Alas, most of the good mechas are animated. Though there are definitely a few that have made their way onto the big screen. Good ones are few and far between though. Don’t worry, because this geek has your back. I’ve scoured through an insane number of science fiction movies and managed to come up with a list of the best mechas I’ve seen so far. They might not all live up to their anime counterparts, but I still wouldn’t mind parking one of them in my driveway, especially when it comes to beating traffic. So, strap in because this list of the 10 Best Mechas from Live-Action Movies is going to be a bumpy ride!
10. Armored Personnel Units- The Matrix: Reloaded and Revolution
Not a lot of people were fans of The Matrix sequels. I’ll admit certain parts got out of hand, but when it comes to mechas, the Armored Personnel Units that the survivors wore were pretty hardcore. Sure, they didn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but then again the survivors were having raves in caves, so I don’t think they had a lot of options when it came to their mechas. Used mostly for heavy lifting, the APU’s also packed some pretty heavy firepower which definitely came in handy when Zion was under attack. Not my first choice when it comes to exosuits, but they’re better than the ones we currently have…
9. AMP (Amplified Mobility Platform)- Avatar
When you’re on a planet covered in 12 foot, blue, cat people, you’re going to need something a little bigger than an assault rifle. That’s where the Amplified Mobility Platform came in. Sure, it’s got a stupid name, but nothing says “colonialism” with more gusto than these mechas. They technically belonged to the bad guys in the film, but we can always use the same argument that gun-rights activist use, right? I mean, Mechas don’t kill Na’vi, Stephen Lang kills Na’vi. They’re a little bulky and cumbersome, but those things are tanks on legs and they can give as good as they can take. Plus, the fully encased cab gives the operator a sense of power and invulnerability, kinda like an internet troll.
8. Ranger Suits- Power Rangers
The new Power Ranger movie was very hit or miss. Awesome use of diversity for the rangers (and great job not making the Black Ranger black or the Yellow Ranger Asian), but not an awesome use of, well, a lot of other things. However, the suits the Rangers wore were pretty spiffy. Sure there’s the whole “boob armor” issue for some of them, but hey it helps their enemies know when a kick to the groin would be effective or not. Plus, the perks of wearing the Ranger Suits gives you a ton of perks, like leaping over ravines or developing uncontrollable chemistry when your fellow Rangers. Honestly, these versions of the suits were the first time I could really take the Rangers seriously. So, they did something right.
7. Silver Samurai- The Wolverine
This isn’t the last time a comic book movie is going to pop up on this mechas list. There are a lot to comb through in the Marvel Universe, but one that stood out was the Silver Samurai from The Wolverine. Sure, it’s a pretty far cry from the source material when it comes to the character, but look at that thing. It’s a giant samurai, covered with unbreakable armor, and a sword that heats up to the point where it can cut through Adamantium. It’s a pretty impressive mecha to be sure. Then again, it also exists in the same reality as Magneto, so it might not be the most practical weapon system. Of course, the plastic version of the suit wouldn’t be nearly as intimidating.
6. Exoskeleton- Elysium
I’m a big fan of Neil Blomkamp movies, even Elysium. He just has such a unique vision when it comes to science fiction, even when his social messages are a little too blunt. For me, the Exoskeleton was what made Elysium such an awesome film. Sure, it wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing mecha out there, but looks aren’t everything. Though the only real downside is that the damn thing is literally bolted into your bones. It certainly has a few benefits though, including letting you go up against androids and psychotic mercenaries. From what I’ve read, this is the mecha that closest resembles what we currently have developed. I’m down to sign up if they can get past the whole required surgery bit.