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Favorite Film Scientists?
theodp asks: "From Rotwang in Fritz Lang's Metropolis to Wallace the Engineer in last year's Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Slate notes that scientists have long been a staple of the movies. So who are some of the more memorable scientist characters from your movie-going?"
The guy from Back to the Future without a doubt. They can safely archive this discussion right now, I think.
"I thought Christmush only comesh onesh a yeaar." Oh wait. That's the wrong James Bond.
There are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we're downriver from the bread factory.
Tom Cruise... oh wait... Scientist. Nevermind.
Immediately coming to mind is Dr. Carrington, the misguided scientist in the 1951 version of "The Thing." (AKA The Thing From Another World).
He was the prototype for the scientist who, in the face of mortal danger, insists -- "Don't harm it! It is of a higher intelligence than us! We must REASON with it!" Then gets skewered/dismembered/eaten/all of the above.
- Alaska Jack
Dr Frankenstein
/Cue Gene Wilder
That's Fronken-steen!
Exactly what I was thinking.
General "Buck" Turgidson: Doctor, you mentioned the ratio of ten women to each man. Now, wouldn't that necessitate the abandonment of the so-called monogamous sexual relationship, I mean, as far as men were concerned?
Dr. Strangelove: Regrettably, yes. But it is, you know, a sacrifice required for the future of the human race. I hasten to add that since each man will be required to do prodigious... service along these lines, the women will have to be selected for their sexual characteristics which will have to be of a highly stimulating nature.
Ambassador de Sadesky: I must confess, you have an astonishingly good idea there, Doctor. (via imdb, what else)
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Or another one of my faves: "Don't tug on that. You never know what it might be attached to."
B. Banzai
Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
Dr Bunsen's assistant. They must have appeared in at least one of the muppet movies.
Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.
Definitely Kate Beckinsale as the brilliant nymphomaniac physicist who can't willingly keep her clothes on in... oh wait, that's my fantasy ... Probably make one hell of a movie though.
Okay then, I guess it's gotta be Doctor Emmett Brown and his sidekick, Dr. Delorian.
"09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0"
Why? For one of my favorite lines in all of film: "Sorry, Venkman, I'm terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought."
See, like a true scientist, even when a epic global disaster is about to take place in front of him and his death is imminent, he says something coherent and explanatory. He even apologizes!
mahlen
And the ever popular...
President Merkin Muffley: Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room!
+1
Of course, the whole point of a Doomsday Machine is lost, if you *keep* it a *secret*! Why didn't you tell the world, EH?
Sarah Connor: Dyson listened while the Terminator laid it all down: Skynet, Judgment Day, the history of things to come. It's not everyday you hear that you're responsible for 3 billion deaths. He took it pretty well.
Miles Dyson: I feel like I'm gonna throw up.
Peter is indeed a scientist. He even says so.
I'm just surprised that it took this long in the discussion to bring these guys up.
I'll never make that mistake again, reading the experts' opinions. - Feynman
From 'The Incredibles'
"This is a hobo suit, darling. You can't be seen in this. I won't allow it. "
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I humbly submit:
Hell, you could probably take half a dozen other quotes from The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.
Of course, Real Genius had some great lines too.
Not Dr. Frank-n-furter? Or the rival scientist Dr. Scott?
-os
It's not like he had a choice. What women weren't younger than him? He's a bloody timelord!
For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled - R Feynman
Well, not quite a movie, but I don't think anyone can top the professor in Futurama. Who could forget classic lines like:
Movie scientists got nothin' on him.
Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.
Hump? What hump?
...
...
Wow! What knockers!
So which brain did you get?
Abby.
Abby who?
Abby normal.
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty.
Ben
"Let's hear another scientist top that quote"
Dr. Nash: I find you very attractive. Your assertiveness tells me that you feel the same way about me. But ritual remains that we must do a series of platonic actions before we can have intercourse. But all I really want to do is have sex with you as soon as possible.
WERNSTROM!!!
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Peter: "Back off, man. I'm a scientist."
I don't know, anyone who can use a mac to write a virus that will take down the energy shields of a previously unknown alien race counts as a damn fine computer scientist to me.
A blog about stuff.
Few things in that movie crack me up as much as how he says "Und Animals could be bread und SLAUGHTERED"
Finkployd
Man, are you trying to start a holy war?
A blog about stuff.
If you were trapped on a tropical island with Ginger and Mary Ann, would you be in a real hurry to escape?
Technoli
Seriously? *sigh* (I'm too damn old...) Peter Sellars
;)
Erm. Peter Sellers.... Love the irony of someone who can't spell an actors name picking up a "youngster" who just can't remember it. You may be "too damn old" but you're probably also old enough to know better, smart arse
Try NetBSD... safe,straightforward,useful.
Back off man. I'm a scientist.
-- Dr. Peter Venkman
"Ghostbusters"
That's OK, I like the irony of someone who can't spell "actor's" picking on an old guy picking on a young guy for not being able to spell. It's Friday night and I'm so alone....
When I saw the original Fly movie I had the feeling that I had met him as a post-doc at somewhere.
Bill Murray from ghostbusters. Favorite line.
"Back off man, I'm a scientist"
evil is as evil does
I mean practically the whole script is mad scientist-y, a few of the classics...
Winston Zeddemore: Hey, wait a minute. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hold it. Now, are we actually gonna go before a federal judge, and tell him that some moldy Babylonian God is going to drop in on Central Park West, and start tearing up the city?
Dr. Egon Spengler: Sumerian, not Babylonian.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Yeah. Big difference.
Winston Zeddemore: No offense, guys, but I've gotta get my own lawyer.
Dr Ray Stantz: You know, it just occurred to me that we really haven't had a successful test of this equipment.
Dr. Egon Spengler: I blame myself.
Dr. Peter Venkman: So do I.
Dr Ray Stantz: Well, no sense in worrying about it now.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Why worry? Each one of us is carrying an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.
Dana Barrett: You know, you don't act like a scientist.
Dr. Peter Venkman: They're usually pretty stiff.
Dana Barrett: You're more like a game show host.
Dana Barrett: Are you the Keymaster?
Dr. Peter Venkman: Not that I know of.
[She slams the door in his face. Venkman knocks again]
Dana Barrett: Are you the Keymaster?
Dr. Peter Venkman: Yes. Actually I'm a friend of his, he asked me to meet him here.
Dr. Peter Venkman: What do you think, Egon?
Dr. Egon Spengler: I think this building should be condemned. There's serious metal fatigue in all the load-bearing members, the wiring is substandard, it's completely inadequate for our power needs, and the neighborhood is like a demilitarized zone.
Dr Ray Stantz: Hey. Does this pole still work?
[slides down a fireman's pole]
Dr Ray Stantz: Wow. This place is great. When can we move in? You gotta try this pole. I'm gonna get my stuff. Hey. We should stay here. Tonight. Sleep here. You know, to try it out.
[Venkman looks at Spengler. Spengler slowly shakes his head. Venkman turns to the real estate agent]
Dr. Peter Venkman: I think we'll take it.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Ray has gone bye-bye, Egon... what've you got left?
Dr. Egon Spengler: Sorry, Venkman, I'm terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought.
Dr. Egon Spengler: There's something very important I forgot to tell you.
Dr. Peter Venkman: What?
Dr. Egon Spengler: Don't cross the streams.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Why?
Dr. Egon Spengler: It would be bad.
Dr. Peter Venkman: I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, "bad?"
Dr. Egon Spengler: Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
Dr Ray Stantz: Total protonic reversal.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Right. That's bad. Okay. All right. Important safety tip. Thanks, Egon.
Dr. Egon Spengler: Oh good, you're here!
Dr. Peter Venkman: Yeah, what have you got?
Dr. Egon Spengler: This is big, Peter, this is very big. There is definitely something here.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Egon, this reminds me of the time you tried to drill a hole through your head. Remember that one?
Dr. Egon Spengler: That would have worked if you hadn't stopped me.
What he can't kill, he has sex on. Trent.
Yep, that's what my PhD is like. At least once a week the janitor comes in to empty the trashcan in my closet/lab, and I think to myself what a wonderful social environment I get to work in as a scientist!
No "mad" scientistYou obviously have never had a PhD supervisor.
Intense personal relationships... That's very strange for a movie scientist, who usually remains single to avoid confusing audiences who do not view scientists are normal human beings.As opposed to real-life scientists, who remain single because of their total lack of socialization.
Problems with upper managementOf course, real-world scientists rarely stop fighting among themselves long enough to develop meaningful problems with outsiders.
yp.