Comments on: What is the most compelling science movie?

By: Christopher Winter

Christopher Winter — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 23:14:23 +0000

A science movie, now... I haven't seen it, but I've got to think that Fat man and Little Boy would be quite compelling.

By: Der Bruno Stroszek

Der Bruno Stroszek — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:38:38 +0000

Tex - you're right, the Hot Zone movie was never made. There's a good chapter on its development in David Hughes's book Tales from Development Hell; it would have starred Robert Redford and Jodie Foster and been directed by Ridley Scott. The main reason for the plug being pulled was a rival studio putting Outbreak into production. Richard Preston did at least give the following deathlessly wonderful quote about that other movie:"I'm just sitting here laughing... It just wasn't scary. You have scabs that look like Gummi Bears. The blood was put on with an eyedropper. In a real Ebola outbreak, the men bleed out of their nipples. I would like to have seen Dustin Hoffman bleed out of his nipples."

By: Grammar RWA

Grammar RWA — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:41:33 +0000

Are you going to ban Napoleon Champagne, or are you going to let him drive away your regular readers?

By: Tex

Tex — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:01:58 +0000

The best movie about science that was never made was ‘Hot Zone.’ After reading the book, I was totally psyched about the movie when it was announced they would film it, but for some reason it was never made (completed/distributed/shown in my hick town).

By: Caveat

Caveat — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:02:40 +0000

Oops, I see from above that there are movies about scientists, I just haven't seen them. Should read the comments first, eh?I also liked The Right Stuff, but I'm not sure if that's science, per se.When the Wind Blows was a good one, post nuclear attack in England. I saw it years ago.

By: Caveat

Caveat — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:56:56 +0000

I liked Fantastic Voyage, although it’s also a Sci-fi flick.When I think about it, I’m not sure I’ve seen many films about science and scientists. Are there movies about Newton, Einstein, Pasteur, Banting, Darwin, etc?

By: Napoleon Champagne

Napoleon Champagne — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:42:57 +0000

Hey Stephanie: aren’t you supposed to be parsing through Gregs archives, looking for some dusty relic of a post that proves he has a”certified authentix wimins lovin’ feminiSS” card?

By: Stephanie Z

Stephanie Z — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:18:39 +0000

My favorite science movie is Real Genius. The science is generally appalling, but it’s one of the few films I’ve seen where people are having fun with it instead of being all staid and important. And I knew every one of those kids in my real life. I’m not saying which one I was.Then there’s the line, “I was pondering the immortal words of Socrates, who said, ‘I drank what?'”

By: uncle noel

uncle noel — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:46:04 +0000

Some science fiction actually teaches people real science. 2001: A Space Odyssey is a standout in this regard, suffering from almost none of the glaring physics errors that most sci fi movies display. (I think there are a few scenes where there seems to be gravity where there shouldn’t be, otherwise, it shows the dynamics of space travel magnificently.) I’d say that’s a “science movie” compared to, say, Star Wars.

By: justawriter

justawriter — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:56:40 +0000

A science (as opposed to science fiction) movie (well actually a miniseries) I really enjoyed was a Canadian production called Glory Enough For All, which was about the isolation of insulin. IMDB says it is available on DVD. Also, in the 30s and 40s, there was a rage in Hollywood for biopics, and I know ones on Louis Pastuer and Marie Curie were very well thought of at the time. Can’t attest to their quality personally.