Jurassic Park and the Responsibility of Good Scientists


This post is part of the Movie Scientist Blogathon, hosted by Christina Wehner and Silver Screenings. Day 1 is all about good scientists, day 2 is for mad scientists, and day 3 covers lonely scientists. 

What makes a scientist “good”? Some scientists cure diseases, other scientists research new technologies that help people, while others fight to protect the planet, and we’d probably call all of these “good” scientists. But what makes a movie scientist “good”? In many films about scientists, they’re often using science to overcome impossible odds, or trying to uncover the truth when those in power would rather keep it quiet, but for me the defining “goodness” of a movie scientist is measured by their devotion to scientific ethics, to using science for the betterment of society rather than for personal gain or glory, and to understanding the consequences of science. And in my book, there’s no better example (outside of Star Trek, of course) than the scientists in Jurassic Park. And the qualities that make them good scientists are all on display in one key scene in the film.

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Tonight’s Movie: Avengers: Age of Ultron

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Quote of the Day

‘Stephen,’ he cried, with a meretricious affectation of gaiety, ‘just toss this off, will you, and we will get under way. Is your great-coat warming?’

‘I will not,’ said Stephen. ‘It is another of your damned possets. Am I in childbed, for all love, that I should be plagued, smothered, destroyed with caudle?’

‘Just a sip,’ said Jack. ‘It will set you up for the journey. Mrs Moss does not quite like your travelling; and I must say I agree with her. However, I have brought you a bottle of Dr Mead’s Instant Invigorator; it contains iron. Now just a drop, mixed with the posset.’

‘Mrs Moss – Mrs Moss – Dr Mead – iron, forsooth,’ cried Stephen. ‘There is a very vicious inclination in the present age, to –’

‘Great-coat, sir,’ said Killick. ‘Warm as toast. Now step into it before it gets cold.’

They buttoned him up, tweaked him into shape, and carried him downstairs, one at each elbow, so that his feet skimmed the steps, to where Bonden was waiting by the chaise. They packed him into the stifling warmth with understanding smiles over his head as he cried out that they were stifling him with their God-damned rugs and sheepskins – did they mean to bury him alive? Enough damned straw underfoot for a regiment of horse.

HMS Surprise – Patrick O’Brian

Quote of the Day

 

Atherton: I accept.

Mal: That’s great! What?

Gentleman: There has been a challenge.

Atherton: I hope you’re prepared, Captain.

Mal: What? You all talking about a fight? That’s fine. Let’s get out of here.

Inara: It’s not a fist fight, Mal.

Gentleman: The duel will be met tomorrow morning at Cadrie Pond.

Mal: Well, why wait? Where’s that guard? He collected a whole mess of pistols.

Gentleman: If you require it, any gentleman here can give you use of a sword.

Mal: Use of a sw—what?

Firefly – Episode 4 – “Shindig”

Quote of the Day

McCoy: Well, I had to see it to believe it.

Spock: Explain.

McCoy: They’re about to lop off the captain’s professional head, and you’re playing chess with the computer.

Spock: That is true.

McCoy: Mr. Spock, you’re the most cold-blooded man I’ve ever known.

Spock: Why, thank you, Doctor.

Star Trek – Season 1: Episode 14 – “Court Martial”

Quote of the Day

 

Giles: He’s lying! Hit him!

Buffy: I don’t think he is, and shut up. 

Giles: You’re *my* slayer, go knock his teeth down his…

Buffy: Giles! (to Ethan) What demon?

Ethan: I don’t remember.

(Buffy punches Ethan)

Giles: Yes!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 3: Episode 6 – “Band Candy”

Cinderella’s Castle Cross-Stitch, day 160

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Tonight’s Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

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City Lights – “You must remember this…” Blogathon

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When I stumbled upon the “You must remember this… a kiss is just a kiss” Blogathon for Valentine’s Day, I knew exactly what cinematic kiss I wanted to write about. Too bad it was past the blogathon’s cutoff year. Since I was late to the party, a lot of my favorite film kisses had been claimed, and I struggled to find a top romantic moment to write about. But I was intrigued by Second Sight Cinema‘s suggestion of a “phantom kiss,” a kiss that we the audience long for but which never happens, and I knew the perfect example of a phantom kiss is in City Lights, long considered one of the greatest romances of the silver screen but which contains not one kiss.

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Today’s Movie: The Princess Bride

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