Movie Physics Reviews: Check Out Intuitor.com

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the portrayal of physics in movies, particularly focusing on a website that critiques and rates the scientific accuracy of various films. Participants explore examples of bad physics in specific movies and express their thoughts on the implications of such portrayals.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants appreciate the effort of the website in analyzing movie physics and find it humorous.
  • Others argue that films should be enjoyed for their entertainment value rather than scrutinized for scientific accuracy.
  • A participant critiques the physics of a specific scene in "The Two Towers," questioning the acceleration of Gandalf compared to a sword and suggesting the possibility of magical influences on his fall.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that "Wizics" should be applied to the physics of wizards, rather than conventional physics.
  • Concerns are raised about the portrayal of science in films when characters are depicted as scientists, leading to frustration when inaccuracies are presented as fact.
  • A participant shares a personal anecdote related to the physics of gasoline and electrical systems, reflecting on safety considerations in real-life scenarios.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the importance of scientific accuracy in films. While some find humor and enjoyment in the inaccuracies, others feel strongly about the need for a more realistic portrayal, especially when science is involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific films and scenes, indicating that their critiques are based on personal interpretations and experiences. The discussion includes speculative elements regarding the nature of magic in fantasy settings and its impact on physical laws.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in film analysis, physics in popular media, and discussions on the intersection of science and entertainment may find this thread engaging.

Crumbles
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I found a brilliant site that picks out the bad physics portrayed in many movies. It even has ratings like, GP (good physics), XP (physics from an unknown universe), ...

http://www.intuitor.com/moviephysics/

Enjoy!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Although I have not read all of it, i found it funny. Cheers for that. Bright lights from bullets, I thought something was up. :biggrin:

The Bob (2004 ©)
 
Yeah and quite nice how they went into the effort of doing all the maths to proove it too! :smile:
 
Thats the reason why most films are non-fiction, stop picking holes in them and enjoy them.
 
My favourite: Unobtanium! :D
 
Andy said:
Thats the reason why most films are non-fiction, stop picking holes in them and enjoy them.

Maybe you could still enjoy them and later deal with the physics of it and learn something useful! :wink:
 
When Gandalf plummeted down the abyss in Moria at the beginning of TT, I was disgusted by the bad physics there.
Seemingly, a wizard in flowing robes experience a greater acceleration of gravity (or less air resistance?) than a sword!
Possibly, terminal velocities are reached faster in Middle-Earth, and thus, being more massive, Gandalf is able to overtake his sword.

However, even though the Balrog's wings seemed largely ineffectual, they're still huge, creating a lot of air resistance, and the sword ought to have passed beyond the
balrog prior to Gandalf overtaking it.

There does, of course, exist the slim possibility of Gandalf being able to manipulate the local gravitational fields a bit (him being a wizard and all), but if that were the case, PJ
really should have shown him chanting as he fell..(or perhaps not :biggrin:)
 
Oh, he was chanting - didn't you notice :wink:. What's the matter with you; applying 'normal' physics to wizards ? You've got to use Wizics ! :biggrin:
 
He was?? Damn, I have to see that film again..
 
  • #10
i would really like to see an action movie where not only do they apply good physics but also justification for shooting off all the machine guns. i just saw alien vs. predator and couldn’t get over bringing assault rifles to an archeological expedition in Antarctica. and what’s with everyone getting airtime after being punched/kicked and not getting disgustingly wounded lately?
 
  • #11
Wow...you actually saw AVP ? Boy, you must have an appetite for torture. :biggrin:
 
  • #12
I got dragged to see AVP by a friend of mine.

Oh, it was awful.

I have no problem with making up imaginary physics/science for movies, so long as it's set in a fantasy environment (Star Wars or LoTR, for example). What bothers me to no end is when they make up history or science and it's a (supposed) scientist relaying the garbage in the film.

Whenever one of the characters is a scientist, I know I'm going to hate the film.
 
  • #13
Interesting site. :smile:

I liked the article about the cigarettes and gasoline. Struck a special place with me since I replaced a Jeep's fuel pump for the first time this summer.

When you've assembled all the pump's wiring back together and insert the entire contraption back into a gasoline filled confined space and think how in just a few minutes (well, no more than a few hours, even for the home mechanic), you're going to turn the key in the ignition and send electricity through those very same wires while they're immersed in gasoline and ... Um, maybe I want to check that wiring just one more time, just in case.

One of those things I just never realized - and I'll never start my car with the quite the same confidence, again.
 
  • #14
When Gandalf plummeted down the abyss in Moria at the beginning of TT, I was disgusted by the bad physics there.
Seemingly, a wizard in flowing robes experience a greater acceleration of gravity (or less air resistance?) than a sword!
Possibly, terminal velocities are reached faster in Middle-Earth, and thus, being more massive, Gandalf is able to overtake his sword.

Ummm, isn't it obvious that Gandalf used his super wizard magic to make himself fall faster? Duh! :-p
 
  • #15
Entropy said:
Ummm, isn't it obvious that Gandalf used his super wizard magic to make himself fall faster? Duh! :-p

I DID make allowance for that fact!
 

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