THE BEST ENGINEERING MOVIES

THE BEST ENGINEERING MOVIES

My wife and I love a good movie although we have some differences when defining the word “good”.  She generally leans towards spy vs. spy thrillers and light-hearted movies involving interpersonal relationships; i.e. “chick-flicks”.  I like more Si-Fi and action-filled yarns involving mechanical equipment and battlefield scenes.  I will purchase a ticket to a grade “B” movie just to see the animation and computer graphics.  I am absolutely amazed at the processes that must be involved in making a movie such as “Transformers”.  Hour upon hour of computer work necessary to bring about this type of movie to the “big screen”.  How the actors interact with the animation is truly fascinating to me.  With this being the case, what do you think are the very best “engineering” movies?  The ones that demonstrate equipment designs having come about due to significant engineering effort and program management planning.  Given below is my list.

• “Minority Report”
• “The Right Stuff”
• “October Sky”
• “Apollo 13”
• “Transformers”
• “Iron Man”
• “Terminator”
• “Star Wars”
• “Flight of the Phoenix”
• “Alien”
• “Mission Impossible”
• “2001-A Space Odyssey”
• “James Bond”
• “District 9”
• “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”
• “Back to the Future”
• “ET”
• “The Day the Earth Stood Still”
• “The Matrix”
• “Blade Runner”
• “Cowboys and Aliens”

I’m sure you can add several I have forgotten or probably not seen.  Having five grandchildren, I also get a generous “dose” of kid-type animated movies that are just as impressive as the ones listed above.   The hardware and software needed to provide content is tremendously impressive.  If you have the time, make your own list.

MOVIE REVIEW-INGLORIOUS BASTARDS

MOVIE REVIEW—INGLORIOUS BASTARDS

My wife and I love to see movies, although she usually falls asleep during the last half of even the best, most action-packed blockbuster.  Anyone you know who slept through “Mary Poppins”, “Independence Day”, “The Terminator”, etc? ( I think it’s genetic !!!!! ) Of course, when you think about it, it’s quiet, cool and dark; no phones, no screaming kids, etc etc.   A perfect place to take a nap.

This past Saturday we saw “Inglorious Bastards”, written and produced by Quentin Tarantino and staring:

Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Ray

Christopher Waltz as Col Hans Landa

Melanie Laurent as Shosanna Dreyfus

Of course there were others in the movie and they did an excellent job of acting and provided a great ensemble cast of characters.  Brad Pitt did a marvelous job with his southern accent and 15 nanoseconds after I saw Col. Hans Landa I really hated the guy.  His special assignment was hunting Jews for immediate execution or shipment to the gas chambers. 

The story occurred in France during the Second World War.  Our Department of Defense structured a special “band” of assins whose sole responsibility was to brutally execute German soldiers—any German soldiers.    They were not only killed but scalped and left to die.  Each American was charged with providing for Lt. Ray, 100 German scalps.  That was their quota for the duration of the war.  The object was to terrorize the Nazis and let them know that they could run but never hide.  Their exploits quickly became legend and with each engagement their deeds and exploits spread.  Those soldiers allowed to live had carved into their heads a swistka–just as a reminder.

The story climaxed when it was discovered that Hitler himself was to attend a showing at a small theater in a fairly remote village in France.  You guessed it; the owner of the theater was Shosanna Dreyfus.  Her entire family had been killed ( earlier in picture ) by Col. Hans Landa.  She was determined to kill Landa as well as Hitler and his band of demons.  Good plot but with no regard to history.  That’s Tarantino for you.

Good movie.  Will never win the Oscar but, a good way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon.  I recommend it to you.