The critical reaction to Luc Besson’s long-in-the-works sci-fi epic Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets is pretty consistent: gorgeous to look at, but dumb as a rock. That’s pretty much our assessment, as well as that of astronomer Andy Howell, who, in his latest episode of Science Vs. Cinema, offers the perspective of someone who actually understands how outer space works. Along the way, he also chats with several members of the film’s cast and crew about what it was like working within a world that was more digital than actual.
Not that Besson or his crew were all that concerned with reflecting reality in a movie where characters can see across time by sticking their heads in a jellyfish’s anus, but it’s still neat to hear how his vision of environmentally diverse space stations and virtual cities stacks up to science.
Howell...
Not that Besson or his crew were all that concerned with reflecting reality in a movie where characters can see across time by sticking their heads in a jellyfish’s anus, but it’s still neat to hear how his vision of environmentally diverse space stations and virtual cities stacks up to science.
Howell...
- 7/26/2017
- by Randall Colburn
- avclub.com
The first contact drama “Arrival” continues to shake up sci-fi with its rejection of the action-packed alien antics the genre is so often known for. Denis Villeneuve’s brainy feature has been building awards season buzz since its debut at the Venice Film Festival in September, and was recently listed as one of the best films of the year by the National Board of Review (with Adams’ performance landing Best Actress to boot). But did the movie get the science right? Andy Howell of Science vs. Cinema investigates.
Read More: National Board of Review Names ‘Manchester By the Sea’ Best Film of 2016, Other Winners Include ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Arrival’
Interspersed between scenes from the film’s trailer are interviews Howell conducts with the cast and crew, as well as conversations he had with linguists and scientists about the film’s accuracy. Howell covers several different facets of the film, from the...
Read More: National Board of Review Names ‘Manchester By the Sea’ Best Film of 2016, Other Winners Include ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Arrival’
Interspersed between scenes from the film’s trailer are interviews Howell conducts with the cast and crew, as well as conversations he had with linguists and scientists about the film’s accuracy. Howell covers several different facets of the film, from the...
- 11/29/2016
- by Mark Burger
- Indiewire
The average moviegoer will probably not give too much thought to the plausibility or accuracy of a science-fiction film. Then again, the average moviegoer probably isn’t a professional astrophysicist like Andy Howell, host of the web series Science Vs. Cinema. To Howell, it matters whether Hollywood gets the science right—or as close to right as the plot will allow. In its latest episode, Science Vs. Cinema examines Denis Villeneuve’s critically acclaimed Arrival to determine just how well the new film portrays physicists, linguists, and possible alien life.
The answer turns out to be: pretty darned well. It seems that the filmmakers behind Arrival did what they could to ground their movie in reality. Not every movie bothers to do this, Howell explains, and a cringe-inducing clip from Independence Day is shown as example of what not to do.
Arrival involves human beings coming into contact with and...
The answer turns out to be: pretty darned well. It seems that the filmmakers behind Arrival did what they could to ground their movie in reality. Not every movie bothers to do this, Howell explains, and a cringe-inducing clip from Independence Day is shown as example of what not to do.
Arrival involves human beings coming into contact with and...
- 11/28/2016
- by Joe Blevins
- avclub.com
Science! Outer space! Realism! One of my favourite ongoing series of articles comes to us care of Dr. Andy Howell over at Ain't It Cool News, wherein he analyzes the science behind various science fiction blockbusters - always tongue-in-cheek, but sometimes (as, for example, with Star Trek Into Darkness) with surprisingly accurate critical commentary extending from the scientific perspective. It's fun to spitball the plausibility of the hard science in, say, Avatar; and in a lot of cases, it's a useful teaching tool, too. That might have been what Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson was trying to do this weekend with regard to Gravity (watch Willem and Miranda's review here). Tyson received media attention on Monday morning after posting a series of tweets regarding the "Mysteries...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 10/9/2013
- Screen Anarchy
One of the biggest events of Fantastic Fest are the Knuckle Fantastic Debates. Knuckle Fantastic Debates "are where the burning questions facing the fan community are resolved once and for all." In honor of the bare-knuckle boxing documentary Knuckle, Knuckle star and pro brawler James Quinn McDonagh stepped into the ring with Fantastic Fest co-founder Tim League. Also on hand to throw both verbal and physical punches were Elijah Wood, Nasa astrophysicist Andy Howell, Dominic Monaghan, Nathan and David Zellner, Check out more on the debates here. Genre icon Rick Baker was on hand for the 30th anniversary of An American Werewolf in London, the film which brought him his first of many Oscar...
- 9/26/2011
- FEARnet
One of the many ways Fantastic Fest sets itself apart from other film festivals is by organizing events that don’t necessarily involve watching movies. One of the highlights every year at what the festival likes to call Fantastic Debates, features feuds between filmmakers, critics, and festival runners, settled during a night of public debates, alcohol and boxing.
Last year’s Fantastic Debates main highlight involved Alamo Drafthouse president and Fantastic Fest co-founder Tim League squaring off against Michelle Rodriguez, star of Girlfight, and not to mention a professionally trained boxer.
This year, in honour of the regional premiere of the acclaimed Irish bare-knuckle boxing documentary Knuckle, the debates will culminate in a fight-to-the-pain featuring Knuckle star and undefeated bare-knuckle brawler James Quinn McDonagh versus Fantastic Fest Co-Founder Tim League. Also added to the line up is Elijah Wood (one of my favourite actors and star of The Lord Of The Rings...
Last year’s Fantastic Debates main highlight involved Alamo Drafthouse president and Fantastic Fest co-founder Tim League squaring off against Michelle Rodriguez, star of Girlfight, and not to mention a professionally trained boxer.
This year, in honour of the regional premiere of the acclaimed Irish bare-knuckle boxing documentary Knuckle, the debates will culminate in a fight-to-the-pain featuring Knuckle star and undefeated bare-knuckle brawler James Quinn McDonagh versus Fantastic Fest Co-Founder Tim League. Also added to the line up is Elijah Wood (one of my favourite actors and star of The Lord Of The Rings...
- 9/24/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Every year at Fantastic Fest, festival organizers pit country vs country in an nerdtastic intellectual showdown they like to refer to as ‘Fantastic Debates’. The event usually just consists of a podium style battle of wits, but this year, Fantastic Fest has a little something extra up it’s sleeve.
In celebration of the regional premiere of the Irish bare-knuckle brawling documentary ‘Knuckle’, a second round of competition has now been added to the notorious Debates ceremony. Now, after finishing an intense battle of the brains, Debates contestants will then be thrown into the boxing ring to once and for all settle age old nerd disputes.
The event is set to take place on Saturday here in Austin, TX where everyone from Astrophysicist Andy Howell to Fantastic Fest co-founder Tim League will be squaring off face to face. However, the highlight of the night will undoubtedly come when friend must...
In celebration of the regional premiere of the Irish bare-knuckle brawling documentary ‘Knuckle’, a second round of competition has now been added to the notorious Debates ceremony. Now, after finishing an intense battle of the brains, Debates contestants will then be thrown into the boxing ring to once and for all settle age old nerd disputes.
The event is set to take place on Saturday here in Austin, TX where everyone from Astrophysicist Andy Howell to Fantastic Fest co-founder Tim League will be squaring off face to face. However, the highlight of the night will undoubtedly come when friend must...
- 9/23/2011
- by Ty Cooper
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Fantastic Fest kicks off today and one of the many highlights of the week-long genre fest is the Knuckle Fantastic Debates! When words can’t settle a debate, use fists! Let’s check out the exclusive pre-fight videos and poster debut to see who will go toe-to-toe in the boxing ring this time… Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League vs. Bare-knuckle Boxing Champion and Knuckle star Jame Quinn McDonagh Topic of Debate: An Irishman is tougher than a Texan. Elijah Wood vs. Dominic Monaghan Debate Topic: World of Warcraft. The Lord of the Rings cast mates reunite to debate about the famous Rp game. Astrophysicist Andy Howell vs. Nasa Hater Hunter Debate Topic: The Honor of Nasa. Andy...
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- 9/22/2011
- by affiliates@fandango.com
- Fandango
Fantastic Fest kicks off today and one of the many highlights of the week-long genre fest is the Knuckle Fantastic Debates! When words can’t settle a debate, use fists! Let’s check out the exclusive pre-fight videos and poster debut to see who will go toe-to-toe in the boxing ring this time… Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League vs. Bare-knuckle Boxing Champion and Knuckle star Jame Quinn McDonagh Topic of Debate: An Irishman is tougher than a Texan. Elijah Wood vs. Dominic Monaghan Debate Topic: World of Warcraft. The Lord of the Rings cast mates reunite to debate about the famous Rp game. Astrophysicist Andy Howell vs. Nasa Hater Hunter Debate Topic: The Honor of Nasa. Andy...
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- 9/22/2011
- by affiliates@fandango.com
- Fandango
On-demand manufacturer Zazzle wants to make your product dreams come true -- and eventually become the Amazon of custom goods.
#project-list { background:transparent width:100%; list-style-type: none; } #project-list li { font-size:16px; margin:15px 0 20px; padding:0 0 0 20px; list-style-type: none; } #project-list li ul li { font-size:16px; margin:4px 0 4px 5px; padding:0 0 0 20px; } #project-list li ul li ul { margin-bottom:10px; } #project-list li ul li ul li { margin-left:16px; padding-left:10px; }
Four-and-a-half-feet wide seemed so much smaller a few hours ago when I created a poster on Zazzle.com using a photo taken by my friend Jenny. I wasn't thinking just how big it would look as it rolled off the printer in the company's San Jose facility. So far I've seen Zazzle produce my T-shirts, embroidered jacket, and skateboard before my eyes. It feels like shopping -- and that's exactly the point. "Anything you can imagine buying in a mall, Zazzle wants to enable through customization,...
#project-list { background:transparent width:100%; list-style-type: none; } #project-list li { font-size:16px; margin:15px 0 20px; padding:0 0 0 20px; list-style-type: none; } #project-list li ul li { font-size:16px; margin:4px 0 4px 5px; padding:0 0 0 20px; } #project-list li ul li ul { margin-bottom:10px; } #project-list li ul li ul li { margin-left:16px; padding-left:10px; }
Four-and-a-half-feet wide seemed so much smaller a few hours ago when I created a poster on Zazzle.com using a photo taken by my friend Jenny. I wasn't thinking just how big it would look as it rolled off the printer in the company's San Jose facility. So far I've seen Zazzle produce my T-shirts, embroidered jacket, and skateboard before my eyes. It feels like shopping -- and that's exactly the point. "Anything you can imagine buying in a mall, Zazzle wants to enable through customization,...
- 10/13/2009
- by Zachary Wilson
- Fast Company
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