Movie gadgets we wish were real

Neutralyzer from Men in Black

Gaze into the light of this handy little device and entire episodes can be erased from your memory, as if they'd never happened. Imagine you've managed to say something idiotic to your spouse and the storm clouds are gathering behind their furrowed brow. Easy fix: "Say honey, would you look at this for a second?" Boom, no more marital discord. And it doesn't end there; use on your boss, friends, and children as you see fit. Feeling a little guilty? Look here, into the light…

Lightsabre from Star Wars

The lightsabre is portable, pretty to look at, and will start your BBQ in a hurry. Just don't forget to engage the safety if you're carrying it in your pocket. No one has described its appeal better than Obi-Wan Kenobi who, on showing Luke Skywalker it for the first time, opined, "Not as clumsy or random as a blaster; an elegant weapon, from a more civilised age." Quite!

Omnipotent Remote Control from Click

The only thing the remote control featured in this Adam Sandler film couldn't do was elicit laughs in this dog of a movie. This isn't to say that the idea isn't useful, since we've all wanted to mute, fast forward, and rewind real life at some point or other. But best of all, this handy device would allow you to cheat death; just wait for a really great moment and hit pause - make sure you choose wisely.

Miniature Helicopter from You Only Live Twice

OK, I'm pretty sure this doesn't exist, but I'm not actually sure why since I never had to take physics. Needless to say, the possibilities are endless; I'd park one on the roof of my villa for a quick getaway when certain relatives come to visit. Additionally, there's an exclusivity to the mini-copter that I find appealing. "Oh sorry, I'd love to give you a lift, but my ride's just a one-seater."

Hover Board from Back to the Future 2

Conventional skateboards are great fun, and this writer has the scars and mended bones to prove it. The chief advantage of the hover board is that it never slams to the ground because, well, it never touches the ground. Oh, and it looks impossibly cool, although maybe not with the outfit Marty McFly is wearing; in 1989 they apparently thought high-top sneakers would just keep getting higher.