Traffic Light Gum Mission: Impossible (1996)
The Movie Invention: James Bond doesn’t get all the cool gadgets. Here, Ethan (Tom Cruise) uses a bit of chewing gum to change traffic lights then cause a massive explosion – just by chomping on it.
What We’d Do With It: One thing we won’t be doing is swallowing.
POV Gun The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy (2005)
The Movie Invention: Created by Deep Thought, this handy weapon looks like a killing machine, but actually lets the shootee see the shooter’s perspective on things. Handy.
What We’d Do With It: Finally fulfil our dream of world peace – this is surely the only thing that’d do it.
Breakfast-Making Machine Pee-Wees Big Adventure (1985)
The Movie Invention: Too lazy to make your own breakfast? So is Pee-Wee, who’s come up with this handy contraption, which cooks him eggs, toast and waffles every single morning – all just by lighting a candle. Superb.
What We’d Do With It: Never make breakfast ourselves again. Thanks Pee-Wee!
Cloaking Device Predator (1987)
The Movie Invention: A clever bit of kit that makes the wearer almost completely invisible – as used by the ET Predator that Arnie battles.
What We’d Do With It: There’s no end to the usefulness of this gadget – you could become a spy, a thief – or simply get five minutes peace from the kids by sitting invisible in a corner.
Golf Bag Caddyshack (1980)
The Movie Invention: Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield) drags around the kind of golf bag that any golfer would give their left leg for. It comes equipped with a stereo (that plays Journey), a remote-control club ejector and a beer keg. Yes, a beer keg.
What We’d Do With It: Make golf fun.
Fast Learning The Matrix (1999)
The Movie Invention: “I know kung fu.” Thanks to the power of The Matrix, it’s possible to plug knowledge direct into your brain without the annoying necessity of having to spend hours learning it.
What We’d Do With It: Enrich our lives by learning 20 languages, the square root of Pi and how to fly a jet. Plus kung fu, of course.
Dino Tech Jurassic Park (1993)
The Movie Invention: Dreamt up by Michael Crichton in his novel, this handy procedure resurrects dinosaurs in the modern day. (Sadly, it was disproved by clever scientists. Humph.)
What We’d Do With It: Make ourselves a raptor to protect our back garden from thieves.
Huey, Louie and Dewey Silent Running (1972)
The Movie Invention: Three service robots aboard an American Airline space freighter. They befriend botanist Freeman Lowell (Bruce Dern), who names them after animated ducks. They attempt to help him to save his precious, space-bound forest.
What We’d Do With Them: They’d be the friends we never had. Who needs humans when you’ve got Huey, Louie and Dewey?
Batpod The Dark Knight (2008)
The Movie Invention: Batman’s newest set of wheels, the Batpod ejects from the Tumbler when it’s rendered near useless, and is a nimble vehicle that can dodge and weave with the best of them.
What We’d Do With It: Ride it wearing our Batman costume.
Dejarik Star Wars (1977)
The Movie Invention: “Let the Wookie win!” Chewie doesn’t like losing at Dejarik, but even if you’re losing, this is one of the coolest board games ever, replete with animated holographic pieces.
What We’d Do With It: Uh, play Dejarik. But never with a Wookie.
