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It was in reruns, at least when I was a kid. I can't say that I remember any of it though. :)

    some shows stick with us though, but some more my speed and still haunt my dreams. :)

For those who may not be aware, this subthread references an amusing exchange from the movie "Idiocracy"

Did I?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133152/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096895/

I like a lot of his work but his Planet of the Apes reboot was absolutely horrible. "Batman" wasn't great, but it wasn't nearly as good as it could have been - "Dark Knight" showed a much better take on the comic book character.

Did I?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133152/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096895/

I like a lot of his work but his Planet of the Apes reboot was absolutely horrible. "Batman" wasn't great, but it wasn't nearly as good as it could have been - "Dark Knight" showed a much better take on the comic book character.

Did I?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133152/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096895/

I like a lot of his work but his Planet of the Apes reboot was absolutely horrible. "Batman" wasn't great, but it wasn't nearly as good as it could have been - "Dark Knight" showed a much better take on the comic book character.

Also, you may not realize that they did make Hamlet 2, and it was awesome.

Actually, no. It's a Dude, Where's My Car? reference.

That's essentially true, but I don't think movies are simply about story telling -- movies are more about story immersion.

If there is no story, or the story seems like something you have heard twice before, or it seriously breaks your suspension of disbelief (too many movies to link to), then it doesn't matter how good the effects are, the immersion will be broken.

That's essentially true, but I don't think movies are simply about story telling -- movies are more about story immersion.

If there is no story, or the story seems like something you have heard twice before, or it seriously breaks your suspension of disbelief (too many movies to link to), then it doesn't matter how good the effects are, the immersion will be broken.

That's essentially true, but I don't think movies are simply about story telling -- movies are more about story immersion.

If there is no story, or the story seems like something you have heard twice before, or it seriously breaks your suspension of disbelief (too many movies to link to), then it doesn't matter how good the effects are, the immersion will be broken.

That's essentially true, but I don't think movies are simply about story telling -- movies are more about story immersion.

If there is no story, or the story seems like something you have heard twice before, or it seriously breaks your suspension of disbelief (too many movies to link to), then it doesn't matter how good the effects are, the immersion will be broken.

This is so sad it doesn't even deserve a "whoosh". Just go out and rent 2010. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086837/

Frankly, 3D does make a bad movie better. If I have to watch a bad movie (some of us on slashdot have girlfriends/wifes), I rather watch it in 3D so at least I get kick out of the 3D immersion.

There was a 3D version of "When In Rome"?

Let's talk about some voice acting we liked.

My favorite example of voice acting is Bioshock. Withing that my favorite is Armin Shimerman.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001734/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1094581/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEjqY3_bCDk

His speech at the beginning of the game gave me chills.

Let's talk about some voice acting we liked.

My favorite example of voice acting is Bioshock. Withing that my favorite is Armin Shimerman.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001734/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1094581/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEjqY3_bCDk

His speech at the beginning of the game gave me chills.

Troll??!!

Yeah maybe.. It was said by an Irishman. I really doubt he was serious. In fact, I think he was just reading a quote. I think you people should lighten up a bit.

Unfortunately that's just before the time period released, so that material isn't up yet, but apparently it will be soon -- yes, I read the FA:

C-Span was established in 1979, but there are few recordings of its earliest years. Those “sort of went down the drain,” Mr. Browning said. But he does have about 10,000 hours of tapes from before 1987, and he will begin reformatting them for the Web soon. Those tapes include Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign speeches and the Iran-Contra hearings.

In the meantime, check out the film Coverup, which covers the scandal and has some great scenes from those hearings, including that particular exchange (among others) with Oliver North.

You forgot one of the more esoteric ones.

For that matter, it isn't possible for you or I to know if we are real biological beings or if we're some simulation in some gigantic computer somewhere. Indeed, even our perception of the nature of space and time could be nothing more than the result of a bunch of 14-dimensional beings saying "gee, what would life be like if there were only three dimensions of space - what if we go ahead and create a 3D world and stick a bunch of AIs in it?"

Seems like you've been reading Descartes or watching eXistenZ or The Thirteenth Floor.

For that matter, it isn't possible for you or I to know if we are real biological beings or if we're some simulation in some gigantic computer somewhere. Indeed, even our perception of the nature of space and time could be nothing more than the result of a bunch of 14-dimensional beings saying "gee, what would life be like if there were only three dimensions of space - what if we go ahead and create a 3D world and stick a bunch of AIs in it?"

Seems like you've been reading Descartes or watching eXistenZ or The Thirteenth Floor.

It is not a documentary.
Once again, the error in the summary has managed to misinform and confuse thousands of Slashdotters.

From TFA:

A new German TV movie tells the story of a man whose family life was destroyed after joining the Church of Scientology.
The drama, which is based on a true story, was filmed in secret to prevent the organization taking legal action against the project.
.
.
The drama will air on March 31 under the title "Until Nothing Is Left."
This will be the first German feature film about Scientology, the first drama to use the controversial belief system as evening entertainment.

So, they are not EXACTLY "just being candid".
On the other hand, just because something is a documentary, that does not mean that it is true.
See Operation Lune (Dark Side of the Moon) for an excellent example of how to twist actual events and interviews out of a contest in order to present "your version of the truth".

>What if we come in contact with aliens, only to find out they're even worse?

This was the point of the TV show Roswell.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0201391/

Also Battlestar Galactica, if I'm following it properly (never easy).

This movie is from the 80s... The Abyss. It even had a ship the Benthic Explorer, no doubt what this one was named after.

even if you log-on and just do it for a few hours, get bored and never touch it again it's all really useful

Oblig Pi quote (Darren Aronofsky, 1998).

Oblig Pi quote (Darren Aronofsky, 1998).

Well, then the answer is obvious....WWJD

I suggest we drop all four goals and just aim for entertainment.
With everyone's favorite game show, "The Running Man." http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093894/

so the movie 2012 was off by a year.

First, this is slashdot, a website for nerds. Posting a question like:

What's the interest in Star Wars movies anyway?

...is likely to get you flogged and/or hung.

Randal, is that you?

I was about to suggest "Outland" as another "James Bond in space" movie -- hey, it even has Sean Connery! Then I remembered that it was actually more like "High Noon in space."

I was about to suggest "Outland" as another "James Bond in space" movie -- hey, it even has Sean Connery! Then I remembered that it was actually more like "High Noon in space."

I got one, but instead of a picture of a fan, it was a picture of Patrick Swayze. However, I did think it would have been bigger.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098206/

Great buy. A++++

Oh, wait... so we must blame xkcd for this?

I sseem to have heard this before somewhere

Tyrell: [Tyrell explains to Roy why he can't extend his lifespan] The facts of life... to make an alteration in the evolvement of an organic life system is fatal. A coding sequence cannot be revised once it's been established.
Batty: Why not?
Tyrell: Because by the second day of incubation, any cells that have undergone reversion mutation give rise to revertant colonies, like rats leaving a sinking ship; then the ship... sinks.
Batty: What about EMS-3 recombination?
Tyrell: We've already tried it - ethyl, methane, sulfinate as an alkylating agent and potent mutagen; it created a virus so lethal the subject was dead before it even left the table.
Batty: Then a repressor protein, that would block the operating cells.
Tyrell: Wouldn't obstruct replication; but it does give rise to an error in replication, so that the newly formed DNA strand carries with it a mutation - and you've got a virus again... but this, all of this is academic. You were made as well as we could make you.
Batty: But not to last.
Tyrell: The light that burns twice as bright burns for half as long - and you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy. Look at you: you're the Prodigal Son; you're quite a prize!
Batty: I've done... questionable things.
Tyrell: Also extraordinary things; revel in your time.
Batty: Nothing the God of biomechanics wouldn't let you into heaven for.

Really? a the general paddled his desk chair eh? you sure that was you? Because sounds like the 1984 movie "Teachers" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088242/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080391/

I can see any intelligent Martian life running for the hills :)

I wonder if they scared the crap out of anyone in Greenland

LOL

Nuuuuuuuuuuu!

It's a trap, Felisa Wolfe-Simon just wants to sell you Head and Shoulders!

Captain Grebnedlog? Is that you?

So was Children of Men (remember Bexhill?)

Funny, when I think about controlling people with music, I think of a different movie. This wasn't about aversion, though, just straight up mind control! And beer. And hockey. And a dog named Hosehead.

You are aware that A Clockwork Orange was fiction, aren't you? It was a movie and not a documentary.

And you realize that Aversion Therapy, (what was portrayed in the film), was real, and that it was becoming quite popular at the time. They were using it to "cure homosexuality," among other things.

Good fiction often has a social meaning, and one shouldn't draw the line between "fiction" and "documentary" quite as thick and dark as you seem to be doing.

Don't worry, if you're still have those problems, I know a great movie that will help you with those wet dreams.

Actually there is more to this myth than that movie, see Wikipedia for a start, and read Freud for a complete analysis.

You are aware that A Clockwork Orange was fiction, aren't you? It was a movie and not a documentary.

Yes, but it was based on the real life documentry Transistorized Carrot

You are aware that A Clockwork Orange was fiction, aren't you? It was a movie and not a documentary.

Don't forget that Alex DeLarge actually liked Ludwig Von. He was appalled by what was done in order to let people dislike his music.

You are aware that A Clockwork Orange was fiction, aren't you? It was a movie and not a documentary.

And third dream about some brazilian I had sex with (a sex dream ...

A sex dream about sex?! Now I've heard everything!

and I accidentally cummed on side of my girlfriend back then).

!? Did you mean to say, "it's personal"? Don't worry, if you're still have those problems, I know a great movie that will help you with those wet dreams.

The video shows letters on a computer screen. That's it! They have to think hard about each letter for a lengthy amount of time. Young Pamela Anderson didn't pop up stripping on the computer monitor when they did the demo! For the love of all things spaghetti, read the fucking article next time!!!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401383/

But probably more useful for locked in syndrome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locked_in_syndrome

Easier than splitting the beer atom I guess!

"Visual Effects Artists, if you measure by the number of man-hours worked, are a relatively small portion of the labor that goes into a movie, even one like Avatar or Titanic."

A movie like Transformers or Avatar can have hundreds to just under a thousand people working on the VFX for anywhere from 6 months to year (for the main portion- R&D will occur during and before principle photography).

More people will work on the VFX side will appear onscreen, or during principle photography.

Don't believe me? It's the best example (and one you cited) but take a look at the Avatar imdb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/fullcredits#cast

Probably over a thousand people on that full cast and crew list, and the VFX division starts at 20-25% down and continues until you're 85% down the page- and that's not taking into account that the post production processes (especially on a movie like Avatar) go on for much longer than principle photography.

So, more people for more time equals more man hours- thats the mathematical point of the argument, but it wasn't the point I was trying to make.

The point I was trying to make is that no one went to see Shia Lebouf in Transformers or Zoe Saldana in Avatar- they went to see the Visual Effects- and in this day and age that's becoming pretty common.

I am not trying to argue that VFX workers are more important than grips, teamsters, actors, DPs or Directors; all I'm trying to say is that when Hollywood begins to rely on VFX for it's blockbusters, VFX workers deserve the same deal everyone else in the business is getting- wage guarantees, contract abuse protection, healthcare, residuals that pay into benefits, etc.

Take a look at the worldwide box office list,
http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/
and ask yourself how many of those movies relied heavily on VFX. As far as I can see, in the top 10 only 2, Titanic and Dark Knight, aren't "VFX Movies" but they still had incredibly amounts of VFX work in them- every movie made today (even romantic comedies) will usually have hundreds of shots that go into VFX (if for nothing more than zit fixes).

I actually posted my comment because I agree with you about video game developers needing a union.

As for people being against it, there are plenty- movie producers will scream bloody murder when the movement gets stronger; other unions will be worried that their benefits will be eroded (a Visual Effects credit cannot currently come before a 1st Unit Director credit; which is usually in the credit roll- I think VFX supervisor deserves an intro credit right there along with Director of Photography), and some VFX workers themselves are strongly against it.

It's a long hard road, and because of pressure from China and ease of entry into the industry, it might not make it.