Hollywood Science: Movies, Science, and the End of the World

by Sidney Perkowitz

Whether depicting humans battling aliens or a brave geologist saving lives as a volcano erupts, science-fiction films are an exciting visual and sensuous introduction to the workings of science and technology. These films explore a range of complex topics in vivid and accessible ways, from space travel and laser technology to genetic engineering, global warming, and the consequences of nuclear weaponry. Though actual scientific lab work might not be as exciting, science fiction is an engaging yet powerful way for a wide audience to explore some of the most pressing issues and ideas of our time.

In this book, a scientist and dedicated film enthusiast discusses the portrayal of science in more than one hundred films, including science fiction, scientific biographies, and documentaries. Beginning with early films like Voyage to the Moon and Metropolis and concluding with more recent offerings like The Matrix , War of the Worlds , A Beautiful Mind , and An Inconvenient Truth , Sidney Perkowitz questions how much faith we can put into Hollywood's depiction of scientists and their work; how accurately these films capture scientific fact and theory; whether cataclysms like our collision with a comet can actually happen; and to what extent these films influence public opinion about science and the future.

Movies, especially science-fiction films, temporarily remove viewers from the world as they know it and show them the world as it might be, providing special perspective on human nature and society. Yet "Hollywood science" can be erroneous, distorting fact for dramatic effect and stereotyping scientists as remote and nerdy, evil, or noble, doing little to improve the relationship between science and society. Bringing together history, scientific theory, and humorous observation, Hollywood Science features dozens of film stills and a list of the all-time best and worst science-fiction movies. Just as this genre appeals to all types of viewers, this book will resonate with anyone who has been inspired by science-fiction films and would like to learn how fantasy compares to fact.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Film

255 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Sidney Perkowitz is Candler Professor of Physics at Emory University. Author of many research papers and books, hes also written the popular science books Empire of Light, Universal Foam, Digital People and Hollywood Science which have been translated into six languages and Braille; articles for the LA Times, Washington Post, and other outlets; the stage works Albert & Isadora, Friedmann's Balloon and Glory Enough, presented in Atlanta, New York, and Chicago; and the screenplay The Second Obsession. He has appeared on CNN, NPR, the BBC, and elsewhere. Sidney Perkowitz is Candler Professor of Physics at Emory University. Author of many research papers and books, hes also written the popular science books Empire of Light, Universal Foam, Digital People and Hollywood Science which have been translated into six languages and Braille; articles for the LA Times, Washington Post, and other outlets; the stage works Albert & Isadora, Friedmann's Balloon and Glory Enough, presented in Atlanta, New York, and Chicago; and the screenplay The Second Obsession. He has appeared on CNN, NPR, the BBC, and elsewhere. Sidney Perkowitz is Candler Professor of Physics at Emory University. Author of many research papers and books, hes also written the popular science books Empire of Light, Universal Foam, Digital People and Hollywood Science which have been translated into six languages and Braille; articles for the LA Times, Washington Post, and other outlets; the stage works Albert & Isadora, Friedmann's Balloon and Glory Enough, presented in Atlanta, New York, and Chicago; and the screenplay The Second Obsession. He has appeared on CNN, NPR, the BBC, and elsewhere. "

Reviews

[Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very entertaining. Nice conversational style.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good idea to see most of the movies discussed in this book before reading it. Like a good scientist, the author succinctly lays out the entire plot of each movie he references: while somewhat tedious, this proves to be a refreshing (and necessary) departure from typical pop-culture/cinematic writing. It's also nice to read about movies from the perspective of someone who isn't professionally inclined to wax poetic in incomprehensible riffs of purple, jargon-filled prose.

On the downside, the more interesting promises of the book were essentially unfulfilled. The introduction and dust jacket both hint at explorations of how the general public's attitudes and understanding of scientific principles (and of science generally) are enhanced and/or undercut by popular culture. The almost exclusive focus on the content of certain films, while interesting, meant that the links between art, audience and culture were unexplored.

[Krishna Venkitachalam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an interesting read for fans of sci-fi in general, especially that in movies. It analyses science themes depicted in movies and has chapters dedicated to the themes.

The best resources from books are the filmography at the end and the short list of films that have the best best and worsted representations of science in film.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book on how Hollywood handles science.

[David Rosen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Hollywood Science" book catalogues movies' influence on scientific beliefs

The table of contents tells 99% of the story. Part I: "Dangers from Nature." Part II: "Dangers from Ourselves." So does Sidney Perkowitz, physics professor at Emory University, begin his tour of science's portrayal in the movies in his book, "Hollywood Science."

Why is this topic important? Well, as Perkowitz point out, "only about one in 300 Americans is a scientist." So your chances of running into one, as opposed to a Dr. Brackish Okun-like stereotype, are pretty slim. Couple that with the fact that "nearly one-third of American adults believe that astrology and fortune telling are 'very scientific' or 'sort of scientific,'" and we quickly see why movies are doing a better job of framing science than highschools.

All of which is to say (and Perkowitz says it best) "When new, little-understood possibilities and threats appear, science fiction films can inform, predict, and warn."

[Sofía Flores Fuentes]

Hated it.

[The Poor Person's Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anybody who loves sci fi movies should read this book just so you can go down memory lane

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is largely a list of science fiction works that measures them up against real-life science. I was reading it as research for an article about the portrayal of scientists in science fiction literature and there is virtually no analysis in here at all so it was essentially useless to me for those purposes. That said, the examples listed and the scientific topics explored were interesting. Each chapter is basically a presentation of quotes and plots from movies followed by how realistic the science is or is not. It's honestly a bit repetitive, especially if you've seen the movies in question because just presenting the plots does no actual mental work. However, near the end of each chapter when the author gets into the real world science, it's a bit like reading a pop-sci article. All told: this book is flat, but not a travesty.

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad — actually, pretty good. It was more a "what specific movies get wrong and right" than a "things movies generally get wrong." I was slightly disappointed that the section where the author mentioned women scientists didn't mention the one from Them! Especially since the movie was mentioned earlier — surely a female scientist in a movie made in 1954 is comment-worthy? But that's a minor nitpick, and the section about what scientists are like was good and insightful enough to make up for it. (Not surprising, given the author's credentials, but nonetheless.)

[Rod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good treatment of the relationship between Hollywood's description of science and the real thing. Amusing discussion on the "mad scientist" meme.

Warning: book contains spoilers, but most of these movies are well know anyway.

[Darla Stokes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay, as far as it goes. It basically takes a handful of movies and discusses how well actual science and scientists are portrayed. I think I've been spoiled by Nerdist.com's "Because Science."

[whit · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few interesting tidbits of movie history and science. Not as fun a read as I'd hoped, but worth re-reading someday.