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Favorite Film Scientists?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the that-wacky-bunch-from-real-genius dept.

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?"

16 of 546 comments (clear)

  1. Only one choice for me... by Mindwarp · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ..Cristopher Lloyd as Dr. Emmett Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy.

    --
    The gift of death metal does not smile on the good looking.
    1. Re:Only one choice for me... by El+Cubano · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Same here. Though, Brent Spiner as Dr. Okun in Independence Day was a close second for me as it showed his versatility. It was sort of like the stereotypical "mad scientist" and was quite entertaining to see him play. Too bad his part did not last longer.

  2. Easy by eronysis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Dr. Strangelove of course

  3. No contest by afree87 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Doc Brown:

    "If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits eighty-eight miles per hour, you're gonna see some serious shit."

    Let's hear another scientist top that quote.

  4. Come on! by AoT · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Jeff Goldblum, no contest.

    --
    A blog about stuff.
  5. My Favourite Movie Scientists by whitehatlurker · · Score: 4, Insightful
    From this film, it would be Dr Emilio Lizardo.

    Of course, the real heros are engineers.

    --
    .. paranoid crackpot leftover from the days of Amiga.
    1. Re:My Favourite Movie Scientists by MustardMan · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Do you have any idea how fucking annoying it is to read a post where the only way to understand what the fuck the poster is saying is to visit the links? It's a teenage blogger technique and I'd expect more out of slashdotters.

  6. Re:Favorite Scientists by captn+ecks · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Dr Strangelove, of course. Although he was more of a 'political' scientist... "Mein Furher! I can walk!"

  7. No Matter Where You Go, There You Are by Deanasc · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Dr Buckaroo Banzai and his arch nemesis Dr Emilio Lizardo

    --
    I've hit Karma 50 and gotten a Score:5, Troll... I win!
  8. Hard to pick just one... by rampant+mac · · Score: 5, Insightful
    So I have to pick three:

    Dr. Peter Venkman
    Dr. Raymond Stantz
    Dr. Egon Spengler

    :)

    --
    I like big butts and I cannot lie.
  9. Stargate SG-1 (TV) by rlp · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Samantha Carter

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    [Insert pithy quote here]
  10. Professor Indiana Jones by circletimessquare · · Score: 3, Insightful

    who knew archeology was so dramatic?

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  11. Dr. Ellie Arroway (Contact) by Flyboy+Connor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The problem with the way scientists are depicted in movies is that they are Hollywood stereotypes. They know little or nothing about what science really is. An exception is Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) in Contact. I cannot think of any other movies that depict scientists as people who love science - real science, not the glamorous or nefarious hobby that it is for Hollywood.

    1. Re:Dr. Ellie Arroway (Contact) by n0mad6 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well, it helps that the character (and the story) was written by an actual scientist.

  12. Re:Favorite Scientists by shawb · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They were about to reveal it to the world. You don't want to tell the world that you PLAN on making one, as then the other countries will bomb you back to the stone age to make sure you don't make it.

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    I'll never make that mistake again, reading the experts' opinions. - Feynman
  13. Remember Jaws? by wymarc · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper; one of the most realistic scientists I've seen portrayed in film.

    --
    "I keep hoping for an epiphany... but all I seem to get are conundrums."