Re: rec.arts.sf.movies Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Thanks for the updates.

J. Clarke wrote:

I have a few of comments.

Evelyn C. Leeper wrote:

<snip>


4. Exposure to vacuum

"In OUTLAND and TOTAL RECALL, people exposed to vacuum promptly
explode. In 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, a few seconds' exposure to vacuum
doesn't bother one at all. Which is right?"

This hasn't occurred in real life, but there have been experiments
where animals, or parts of a person's body, were exposed to vacuum;
these experiments happened before any of these films were made. 2001
was right; OUTLAND and TOTAL RECALL ignored the known facts. A full
discussion of this can be found in the sci.space FAQL. (Someone also
mentioned that in OUTLAND Connery wears a spacesuit that leaves some
parts of his arm uncovered. Somone else mentioned that the lights on
Connery's spacesuit are *inside* the glass faceplate, making it
extremely unclear how he was able to see where he was going.)


I recall a discussion of this on a voice over on the DVD set of one of the
'50s Hollywood SF movies, but I forget which--an ongoing problem with
movies involving space suits is getting adequate lighting on the actor's
face. One solution to the problem is to put lights inside the helmet--this
method was also used on the original Battlestar Galactica TV series IIRC. There are apparently other ways to deal with this problem, so I guess it
gets down to what the lighting director and the costume designer decide is
the best way to go for the problem at hand. Personally I chalk it up to
"artistic license"--sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to get the
shot--but I'm sure others will disagree.

<snip>

d. "I, Robot"

"I, Robot" was never filmed, although Harlan Ellison did write
a famous script, available in book form. There are no plans
to film this script. There is a film due to be released in the
summer of 2004, but rumor has it that it bears little or no
relation to Asimov's book other than the title.


I think it's perhaps time to mention that the film was in fact released. Further discussion I think someone other than me would be better qualified
to write.

<snip>

q. Virtual Reality

EXISTENZ, LAWNMOWER MAN, THE MATRIX, THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR,
TRON, VIRTUOSITY


Might want to add "Avalon" to this list.

<snip>


3. ALIEN, ALIENS, etc.

a. Alien v. Predator

There is a movie of this title due out in 2004. (Note:
there was an alien skull in the Predator ship in PREDATOR 2.


Might want to mention that this one has also been released on schedule.

<snip>

24. STARSHIP TROOPERS


Might want to mention that there was a 2004 sequel, "Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation" released direct to video.

<snip>



--
Evelyn C. Leeper
God grant me the company of those who seek the truth,
and God deliver me from those who have found it. -Isaac Newton

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Aether is the empty space in which the Universe sits
    ... they don't propagate in a vacuum. ... > cannot move through empty space unless that space is already occupied by ... or Elephanterons, for short. ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Aether is the empty space in which the Universe sits
    ... they don't propagate in a vacuum. ... > cannot move through empty space unless that space is already occupied by ... or Elephanterons, for short. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: M-body road trip success
    ... run manifold vacuum to a distributor that doesn't have a vacuum fitting ... Noodles probably has never seen one. ... sees a ground from the carburetor switch. ...
    (rec.autos.makers.chrysler)
  • Re: New improved facts v0131
    ... > Please read the end before the begining as it may make more sense to you. ... I think your definition of a room full of vacuum is close to everyone elses' ... if you want to make so much ado about literally... ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)