tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post7644186473196140408..comments2024-03-29T00:13:46.845-07:00Comments on Antediluvian Salad: Calm Down, Breathe, ... OK Repeat: It Is Only a Movie, It Is Only A Movie.....Duane Nashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14467779935085970909noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-68235982360337758442014-12-06T08:50:22.364-08:002014-12-06T08:50:22.364-08:00I've just been busy with other stuff, Duane.
...I've just been busy with other stuff, Duane.<br /><br />As for movies, I like ones like American Hustle, where even though they tell something's a con, you forget halfway through and only notice it again when they finish conning you. That's the good part about paying attention to detail, because it makes you realize just how thoroughly you got sucked in and how good the movie is. <br /><br />My problem with Hollywood SFF is simply that there's this common cycle of:<br />(movie types) "Hey nerds and fanboys, this one's got real science. See all the puff pieces we put in your favorite mags about all the real science we put in the movies? We're speaking your language."<br />(me): "Really, how about all the..." (fill in the details)<br />(them):"Oh, you're the only one who noticed that, and no one cares about you."<br />(Me): "well, that's a good reason not to go to the sequel of that movie now, isn't it?"<br /><br />Most recently, this went on with Interstellar, which was a good enough retro 1970s film. Problem is, part of the PR campaign is how they spent a lot of money working with physicist Kip Thorne to create a realistic black hole for Gargantua. And that particular effect was pretty. Then they've spammed places like Wired and Scientific American with "The Science of Interstellar," articles which only cover the physics, and the whole thing ignores all the rote Hollywood silliness of that movie, including all the biology and physics they got wrong before and after Gargantua. We saw that with Jurassic Park, we saw it with Avatar, and I'm sure we'll see it again soon enough. <br /><br />Thing is, I'm not interested in a dreadfully earnest science movie. I miss silly films like Buckaroo Banzai, where it was fun to watch it again simply because there is so much comedy hiding in the details. The more you watch, the more fun it is. The first Men in Black did it well too.<br /><br />I'm not convinced something like Avatar, JP, or Interstellar rewards a repeat view, because the problems become more apparent and the joys diminish. But then, to each his own. I'm just enjoy observing things.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-66693981590144186302014-12-06T07:07:37.493-08:002014-12-06T07:07:37.493-08:00Thanks for commenting Heteromeles I was worried so...Thanks for commenting Heteromeles I was worried something happened to you as I have not heard from you here in a bit...<br /><br />The ironic thing is that I will most definitely see this movie, probably more than once!! I am able to distance myself from the whole science/non-science thing more than most. And I have no shame in enjoying BIG, DUMB stuff. Like "pro" wrestling or slap stick comedy. I find it very refreshing to get away from over-analytical, intellectual thought. (One reason I did not want to go to grad school and immerse in academia culture). Agree with you about the landscape shifts!!Duane Nashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14467779935085970909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-36720074375931522582014-12-05T15:37:50.027-08:002014-12-05T15:37:50.027-08:00By the way, if you want a more scientifically accu...By the way, if you want a more scientifically accurate take on the whole dinosaur reconstruction thing, I'd suggest reading Charles Stross' "A Bird in Hand" (http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/a-bird-in-hand.html). Note that this contains adult themes, and might be NSFW, depending on who's reading over your shoulder.<br /><br />I don't think Hollywood will ever film this one. Perhaps a smaller production company in the San Fernando Valley might take it on, though...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-59048261208562386962014-12-05T15:33:28.302-08:002014-12-05T15:33:28.302-08:00My personal take is that, if you're not happy ...My personal take is that, if you're not happy with the way Hollywood routinely abuses biology, don't bother to see the movie. Here I'm thinking of Interstellar, where the problem of abandoning science for woo (in this case, it started with biology and environmental science, not physics) started in the first act and never let up. As a 1970s retro fantasy, it was fun. As cutting edge SFF, it was a joke.<br /><br />My take is that Hollywood isn't that far from the creationists in their treatment of biology, and theydeserve about as much respect and financial support if it's a subject that matters to you. You can, of course, say that in a fun movie who cares, but nothing drives Hollywood to improve like a boycott that actually hurts them.<br /><br />That said, I'm not planning on seeing JP4, just as I didn't see JP3. <br /><br />I did see JP2 up in Humboldt with a bunch of biology grad students, and the derisive hoots of laughter were the best part of the movie. The fun part was how they sailed to an island off of Costa Rica, walked 100 meters and were at Patrick's Point State Park in Humboldt, a few minutes later were up in Redwood National Park, then off to New Zealand, then Kauai, etc. etc. etc. We local nerds caught the changes and thought it was all very silly indeed. I'm sure the next movie will be precisely no improvement. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-88638792054310240522014-11-30T22:47:30.004-08:002014-11-30T22:47:30.004-08:00Ohh Ok, no problem , was looking forward to that. ...Ohh Ok, no problem , was looking forward to that. I'm pretty much neutral when it comes to the whole JW FiascoRobert Haannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-23602263162976002042014-11-30T22:17:14.467-08:002014-11-30T22:17:14.467-08:00Got caught up in Jurassic World politics... hopefu...Got caught up in Jurassic World politics... hopefully middle of next week or so.Duane Nashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14467779935085970909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-42275361713610108112014-11-30T20:40:24.432-08:002014-11-30T20:40:24.432-08:00So... What about them plesiosaurs ?So... What about them plesiosaurs ?Robert Haannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-906704696394960952014-11-29T19:33:43.374-08:002014-11-29T19:33:43.374-08:00oh dn't worry, the accuracy arguing commences ...oh dn't worry, the accuracy arguing commences after the movie. But really, I think it's best to just enjoy the movie until then.<br /><br />As a side note, I've seen the point thrown out that nobody seems to be taking note of any of the other innacuracies in the trailer then continuing the no feather thing... which isn't even new. At best the size of the mosasaur is getting attention.Sean McCabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01638487125675179642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-55773867929494174932014-11-29T12:32:38.364-08:002014-11-29T12:32:38.364-08:00@Sean McCabe I am not entirely in the "say no...@Sean McCabe I am not entirely in the "say nothing" camp and I am not entirely in the "go on an expletive filled rant" camp. What I am suggesting, to build upon point 3, is that there are more useful ways to get your point across i.e. not come across as pompous, know-it-all douche bag, which I suggest might turn people off from you or your argument or sciente entirely. But yeah, to your point, the paleo-community as a whole needs to get a little perspective and chill a bit. And not be afraid to poke fun at ourselves once in a while.<br /><br />@Sammy Allouba But fat, tail dragging dimwits is not what we have being portrayed here. And the JP franchise would be unwise to do that because they already set the precedent for hyper intelligent uber athletic dinos (arguably to too high a degree). As I have pointed out this franchise has picked and choosen what science to use, ignore, or simply make up from the get-go. So why the huge backlash now? <br /><br />As I argue in point 3, the whole paleo community would be better served if we framed our argument as such: " Ok JP franchise we can't do too much about how you bastardize the science. But since this franchise is indebted to the hard work, often upaid, of paleontologists kick a little cash down to fund research." The JP franchise is a multi-billion dollar franchise and paleontology is notoriously underfunded. <br /><br />That is the ultimate point of my post and maybe it went over your head or you simply did not read it all.<br /><br />I can't fathom how anyone who is seriously passionate about paleo would be adverse to more money to fund the science. Duane Nashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14467779935085970909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-17466017017419934972014-11-29T09:54:37.573-08:002014-11-29T09:54:37.573-08:00So I guess if the dinosaurs were fat, tail-draggin...So I guess if the dinosaurs were fat, tail-dragging dimwits that would be OK too because "it's just a movie"?Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16489274493878595708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-48981816676291604522014-11-29T07:17:14.349-08:002014-11-29T07:17:14.349-08:00I've always been in the "JP should have f...I've always been in the "JP should have feathers" band, but after seeing the trailer, I honestly think we should just look past that and see it as a good movie, and not focus on the accuracy of the dinosaurs.Sean McCabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01638487125675179642noreply@blogger.com