Argos
2002-Jul-05, 08:27 PM
I went to see Star Wars episode II. Visually, a gorgeous movie. Magnificent scenarios (The capital of the Jedi republic makes New York look like a province burg).
The problem is with the way they treat reality. In the initial scene we see spaceships in “orbit” of an Earth-like planet. They zigzag, move back and forth, like butterflies around a flower, in complete disregard with orbital mechanics, gravity, momentum, etc. They fly at will, to any direction they want to. Nothing of the disciplined straight orbital flight of our today’s spaceships. The massive planet bellow is just a mere detail. Of course they have energy sources beyond imagination, as well as a perfect way to withstand G-forces.
In another scene, a spaceship comes at relativistic speed, from the background, approaching a planet, just to decelerate to, say, 10 km/sec, in less than 1 second. And they reenter the atmosphere directly, without a stand-by orbit, and without a lesser hint of heating. Maybe one day we’ll have spaceships like that.
The space ships move as though gravity did not exist. Their flight suggests anti-gravitational propulsion.
Obi-Wan-Kenobi has got a fancy personal spaceship. The problem is that it is not clear where they store the propellant in such a small vehicle. He crossed half the galaxy in one of the scenes. And, of course, it has wings. And it squeals at breaking!
The transmission of messages occurs instantly, Newtonian-style. A Hollywood version of Asimov’s hyperspace. Don’t talk about Einstein to those guys. The good professor must be hated by the kids at LucasFilm. Light goes so slow!!
There are other major blunders in the film, and I don’t have patience (and memory) enough to describe all of them. See by yourself. It’s worthwhile. It’s a great movie.
But how I wanted to see all the talent and technique of George Lucas dedicated to a real depiction of space. Imagine to use the Industrial Light and Magic Co. to produce educational material for the young. How dramatically it would change our perception of the universe. Instead, they cooperate to broadcast an erroneous view of space and physics. Ok, I admit it’s only entertainment. Reality don’t make bucks.
But how I wished…
The problem is with the way they treat reality. In the initial scene we see spaceships in “orbit” of an Earth-like planet. They zigzag, move back and forth, like butterflies around a flower, in complete disregard with orbital mechanics, gravity, momentum, etc. They fly at will, to any direction they want to. Nothing of the disciplined straight orbital flight of our today’s spaceships. The massive planet bellow is just a mere detail. Of course they have energy sources beyond imagination, as well as a perfect way to withstand G-forces.
In another scene, a spaceship comes at relativistic speed, from the background, approaching a planet, just to decelerate to, say, 10 km/sec, in less than 1 second. And they reenter the atmosphere directly, without a stand-by orbit, and without a lesser hint of heating. Maybe one day we’ll have spaceships like that.
The space ships move as though gravity did not exist. Their flight suggests anti-gravitational propulsion.
Obi-Wan-Kenobi has got a fancy personal spaceship. The problem is that it is not clear where they store the propellant in such a small vehicle. He crossed half the galaxy in one of the scenes. And, of course, it has wings. And it squeals at breaking!
The transmission of messages occurs instantly, Newtonian-style. A Hollywood version of Asimov’s hyperspace. Don’t talk about Einstein to those guys. The good professor must be hated by the kids at LucasFilm. Light goes so slow!!
There are other major blunders in the film, and I don’t have patience (and memory) enough to describe all of them. See by yourself. It’s worthwhile. It’s a great movie.
But how I wanted to see all the talent and technique of George Lucas dedicated to a real depiction of space. Imagine to use the Industrial Light and Magic Co. to produce educational material for the young. How dramatically it would change our perception of the universe. Instead, they cooperate to broadcast an erroneous view of space and physics. Ok, I admit it’s only entertainment. Reality don’t make bucks.
But how I wished…