If we are in the Matrix, or another virtual world, then you'd only need a Santa machine to alter the "program" and make all the presents appear. Presumably that could happen instantly, or could be put on a schedule once a year to happen at, say 3:00am local time in each location.
If (kid believes in Santa) AND (stocking exists)
Make (0.5 * presents that kid wants) appear
If you want to see how bad a movie can really be, you'd be better off going to see "I Dreamed of Africa". It has my vote for worst direction, and thus worst acting of 2001 by far (Mission to Mars still wins for worst editing).
I was pleasantly surprised by Battlefield Earth actually. I was prepared to see the worst creation ever put to screen, but actually came out quite satisfied. Would I see it twice? No chance. But it's wasn't bad.
Critisism of goodness (or "how they could have made it worse"):
1. Special effects were pretty seamless. Big no-no. If you're going to have special effects, they'd better be Flesh Gordon quality.
2. Acting. Although plagued with a horrible script, the acting was consistently bearable. They could have deteriorated this by bringing in a silly side-kick for Barry Pepper. Jake Lloyd or Rob Schneider would have fit.
3. Cheezyness. Besides a few cuts of Gouda, the movie wasn't that cheezy in general. Jar Jar Binks or an old crazy scientist would have helped. Also, none of the bad guys melted from the radiation. Bad... bad.
4. The Harrier battle. This was pretty cool. Since it was so believable that they taught themselves how to fly a harrier in 10 days (or whatever it was), they should have stuck some Apache helicopters in there too. A sub coming down the river would have added that special touch.
Slashdot Mirror
If (kid believes in Santa) AND (stocking exists)
Make (0.5 * presents that kid wants) appear
If you want to see how bad a movie can really be, you'd be better off going to see "I Dreamed of Africa". It has my vote for worst direction, and thus worst acting of 2001 by far (Mission to Mars still wins for worst editing).
I was pleasantly surprised by Battlefield Earth actually. I was prepared to see the worst creation ever put to screen, but actually came out quite satisfied. Would I see it twice? No chance. But it's wasn't bad.
Critisism of goodness (or "how they could have made it worse"):
1. Special effects were pretty seamless. Big no-no. If you're going to have special effects, they'd better be Flesh Gordon quality.
2. Acting. Although plagued with a horrible script, the acting was consistently bearable. They could have deteriorated this by bringing in a silly side-kick for Barry Pepper. Jake Lloyd or Rob Schneider would have fit.
3. Cheezyness. Besides a few cuts of Gouda, the movie wasn't that cheezy in general. Jar Jar Binks or an old crazy scientist would have helped. Also, none of the bad guys melted from the radiation. Bad... bad.
4. The Harrier battle. This was pretty cool. Since it was so believable that they taught themselves how to fly a harrier in 10 days (or whatever it was), they should have stuck some Apache helicopters in there too. A sub coming down the river would have added that special touch.