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If movies were completely scientifically accurate, they’d probably be as interesting as a Physics 101 lecture.
In real life, there are no explosions in space, gas usually doesn’t explode from a lit cigarette.
Some movies, though, put science front and center in the story and more often than not the science proves to be head-slappingly bad. Here are the top 10 offenders:
Armageddon
We could put together a long list of all the things wrong with Michael Bay’s feel-good ode to global destruction, but NASA has already and they counted at least 168 mistakes. But perhaps the biggest problem is that the plot itself — splitting a Texas-sized rock in two with a single nuke — has a Texas-sized hole in it. We don’t have a nuclear bomb anywhere near powerful enough to do the job. As strange as it might seem, this is a case of a Michael Bay movie not having a big enough explosion.
Independence Day
That mammoth mothership hovering over the earth in geostationary orbit would be doing more than just freaking out the world’s population. Because of its close proximity and mass — 1/4th that of the moon, according to the film — the flying saucer’s gravitational pull would cause massive tidal waves, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The aliens wouldn’t even have to roll out their anti-matter ray to blow up the White House — it would already be underwater.
Starship Troopers
Could a band of cave-dwelling, preverbal giant insects really have the sophisticated mathematics and technology to hurl a rock millions of miles through space to crash into Earth? Plus, 70% of the planet’s surface is covered in water, so they only had a 3 out of 10 chance at even hitting solid ground, let alone a major city like Buenos Aires.
The Day After Tomorrow
Roland Emmerich brought his trademark academic rigor to the realm of climatology and the result proved to be so silly that NASA refused to help with the filming of the movie. For one thing, it would require most of Antarctica to melt in order to submerge New York City to the level it is in the movie. If all the rays of the sun were directed at the South Pole, its ice would melt in about two and half years. This ridiculousness drove Duke University paleoclimatologist William Hyde to publicly state, “This movie is to climate science as Frankenstein is to heart transplant surgery.”
The Core
In the movie, the Earth’s inner core — a nickel-iron mass about 1500 miles in diameter — stops rotating, causing the planet’s magnetic field to collapse and microwave radiation from space to blast through the atmosphere. But microwaves aren’t affected by magnetism, and the radiation that comes from space is too weak to damage anything here. What’s more, if the core did stop rotating for whatever reason, we’d have more to worry about than that. The energy stored in the core would have to go somewhere, and the effect on the planet would be equivalent to five trillion nuclear bombs going off at once.
The Matrix
Much in the way of physics in the Matrix — like dodging bullets and running up walls — gets a pass because it’s all within a massive virtual world. But in reality, our supposed robot overlords are a bit dim. Humans are a remarkably inefficient energy source. Instead of turning the human race into Duracells, the machines would probably get more energy just setting those goopy people pods on fire.
Jurassic Park
Having a wildlife park full of dinosaurs would be a really cool idea if it weren’t for a few problems. No, not imperfect security or the possibility of spontaneous lizard sex changes. The problem is that it would be almost impossible to clone the dinosaurs based on DNA pulled from the guts of a 25 million-year-old mosquito. The dinosaur DNA’s double helix most certainly would have been broken down into individual chunks, mixing together with whatever else the mosquitoes might have eaten along with some of the insect’s own genetic material. Any creature constructed from that mess might be the stuff of nightmares, but probably wouldn’t look like a T. Rex.
Total Recall
The red planet’s gravitational pull is roughly 1/3rd that of the Earth’s. So if, for example, an Austrian bodybuilder were to visit Mars, he would be bounding across the room like Michael Jordan. Another problem: when exposed to the thin atmosphere of Mars, like bad guy Cohaagen at the end of the movie, you would likely suffer from a raging case of the bends and you would asphyxiate — both of which are plenty lethal — but your head wouldn’t bulge out and explode like an overused stress toy.
Outbreak
A monkey threatens a small town with a virus that kills everybody in less time than your average DMV visit, and only Dustin Hoffman can stop it. The trouble with a disease that virulent is it kills the host too fast to spread. Otherwise, we would be dead from the Ebola virus. Also, it generally takes longer to make a cure from monkey serum than it does to make a latte. Dustin Hoffman does look great in a hazmat suit, though.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indiana Jones has survived a lot of improbable adventures, be it fleeing ancient spherical boulders or fighting off cult members while dangling off a rope bridge. But few scrapes have tested the bounds of believability more than Indy’s escape from a nuclear bomb blast thanks to a lead-lined fridge. The problem is that, even if he didn’t get flattened, horribly burned or suffocated (kids, don’t hide in refrigerators), Indy almost certainly would have gotten a lethal dose of radiation from the fallout. And that’s a lot scarier than snakes.
source: [yahoo movies]
Tom Hanks came to a bride’s rescue, when filming of his new movie delayed her arrival for the wedding services.
A girl’s wedding day is arguably the most nerve-wracking of her life, and she certainly goes to sleep the night before hoping everything will run smoothly. Of all the things that could throw a spanner in the works, however, a Hollywood movie star blocking the way to the church with his latest production is not usually top of her list of worries.
That’s exactly what happened to one Rome bride-to-be this week, however, when the path to the church was blocked by Tom Hanks and the crew of Angels And Demons, who were busy lensing scenes from the latest adaptation of the The Da Vinci Code author’s work outside the Pantheon.
The cameras stopped rolling momentarily, though, allowing Tom to help the young lady and her father on their way. The movie heavyweight chivalrously offered the bride his arm and even helped keep her long veil from trailing on the ground.
His good deed done, Tom got back to work on set with Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer – last seen opposite Dennis Quaid in Vantage Point. In the new flick the raven-haired beauty’s character Vittoria joins forces with Tom’s brooding symbologist Robert Langdon on a mission to unlock the secret world of the deadly ancient brotherhood known as the Illuminati, before they can kill again
All hope is not lost — Tom Hanks is living proof of that.
source: Tom comes to bride’s rescue after mystery filming delays wedding [hello magazine]
A slew of lawsuits involving a celebrity have surfaced this week. Our justice system will be working overtime as the complaints of the high powered suing or being sued.
Dennis Quaid Suing Heparin Makers
After he and his wife Kimberly Buffington welcomed their newborn twins to the world the were overdosed with a blood thinner. Zoe Grace and Thomas Boone were almost killed by a lethal amount of Heparin being administered. The babies were given adult sized doses from a 10,000 unit vial two times before they started to bleed out. They were originally set to receive just 10 units. A technician at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles put the wrong vials in the storage cabinet used for infants.
Three other infants were killed from the same overdose in Indiana this year. Six other babies and two adult patients were also overdosed since 2001. The makers of Heparin, Baxter Healthcare issued a warning memo nearly a year ago of the overdosing. Cedars-Sinai had gotten the memo.
So why is Dennis suing Baxter Healthcare instead of the hospital? The suit sites poor labeling and failing to recall the drug despite the deaths. The couple is seeking $50,000 is damages. That is a modest sum being that their children almost died.
Source: [Boston Globe]
Scarlett Johansson Suing Us Weekly
Us Weekly is feeling the wrath of Scarlett Johansson. The magazine ran a celebrity plastic surgery based issue. It contained side by side photo comparisons and a headline reading, “A-List Nip/Tuck. Did they or didn’t they? The best before and after photos that prove not all stars were born beautiful.” The cover featured Scarlett Johansson and insinuated that she had a nose job.
After seeing the copy of Us Magazine Johansson and her attorney issued statements calling their accusations of surgery defamatory and outrageous. She assured the press that she “will be taking legal action.” No word on what grounds she will be suing or for how much, but I foresee a settlement out of court.
Source: [Allie is Wired] and [Page Six]
Hydroderm Suing Teri Hatcher
Teri Hatcher and Hyrdoderm signed a contract in 2005 with a $2.4 million dollar price tag. Under the obligations, Teri was not allowed to support, back, represent or promote any other beauty products. The suit accused her of associating herself, name and image with at least 17 other beauty related products or companies. CityLips was one of the named products Hydroderm seemed to have the biggest problem. She gave the lip plumper from the competition credit for her red carpet glamour.
The skin care company is seeking the full $2.4 million in their suit. Meanwhile Hatcher and her lawyer are fighting the suit and seeking the full payment promised to her.
Source: [Allie is Wired]
Kylie Minogue Suing Strip Joint
A New Zealand strip club is being served. Kylie Minogue sent her attorney team after the establishment after an image feature Kylie in a wet t-shirt was used to attract customers. The lawyers sent a letter asking them to remove the poster and stated that the image gave the idication that Minogue “endorsed” the club.
The owner of the strip club said that the image on the photo was not Kylie. A local paper quoted him as defending that he simply downloaded the image from the net over three months ago. He also felt it looked nothing like Kylie. After throwing a fit, he took it down due to a lawsuit threat. He is still trying to post the image and sent it to her attorney team to see if they would reconsider.
Source: [The Cheers]
Scratch Sues Pink
A rapper is trying to score some funds from a song he supposedly was a part of. Kyle Jones, aka Scratch, has filled a suit against Pink, aka Alecia Moore, for copyright infringement and breach of contract. Kyle claims he recorded a performance in November 2001 for the track “Respect” on her album “Missundaztood” and was never paid for his “work.” The legal papers state that they verbally spoke of payments but never came to an agreement. He is seeking at least $717, 600 in damages.
Why he waited six years to sue is probably one giant sign the guy is desperate and seeking some cash he doesn’t deserve. Pinks reps brushed off the suit saying it was “unjustified.”
Source: [TMZ]
Dennis Quaid’s newborn twins are fighting for their lives after being inadvertently overdosed at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
TMZ reports,
 Sources tell us the twins — Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace — were accidentally given a massive dose of Heparin, an anti-coagulant. Babies typically get 10 units.  Our sources say they were each mistakenly given 10,000 units. The drug is used to flush out IV lines and prevent blood clots. We’re told one dose was given on Sunday morning, another on Sunday evening.
We’re told late Sunday night, both babies started to “bleed out.” Both babies are now at Cedars in the neo-natal intensive care unit where we’re told they are stable.
The twins were born to Quaid and wife Kimberly Buffington November 8 via surrogate.
A rep for Quaid did not immediately return our call for comment and there was no immediate comment from Cedars.
We’re told a technician stored the Heparin in the wrong place, and when a nurse grabbed the medicine for the babies without looking — it was the wrong dosage.
A source says the babies are now being given Protamine, which reverses the effects of Heparin.
It’s been discovered that THIRTEEN (13) patients at Cedars were mistakenly given the overdose of Heparin, but the effects are more critical because of the age and weight of the twins.
Dennis Quaid’s rep has issued the following statement:
Dennis and Kimberly appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers and hope they can maintain their privacy during this difficult time.
Every parents worse possible nightmare. My heart and prayers go out to the Quaid’s.
What others said:
- Dlisted says, “Good thoughts to the Quaid babies.”
- The Superficial says, “When I have a kid the last thing I want to hear are the words “bleed out” in relation to my child. I want to hear things like “My God, it’s the size of a buick. Nurse, fetch my sketch book.” “
source: Dennis Quaid’s Newborn Twins in Medical Nightmare [tmz]
Isn’t it great when celebrities grab a guitar and all of a sudden they’re in a band - a bad band at that. Below is a list of the Top 10 worst celebrity bands. I think the best discovery is Jada Pinkett-Smith’s group. Who knew?
10. Juliette and the Licks with Juliette Lewis
9. The Bacon Brothers with Kevin Bacon
8. Billy Bob Thornton starring Billy Bob Thornton
7. Wicked Wisdom with Jada Pinkett-Smith
6. The Sharks with Dennis Quaid
5. 30 Seconds to Mars with Jared Leto
4. 30 Odd Foot of Grunts with Russell Crow
3. (tie) Dogstar with Keanu Reeves
3. (tie) The Bruce Willis Band with Bruce Willis
2. Minnie Driver starring Minnie Driver
1. Honky Tonk Confidential with Bob Schieffer
Source: cracked.com
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