John Hargrave 128,751 73
04/09/2008 11:37 PM

So hilarious, we had to repost it (this time, with pictures).

One thing Chi-Chi forgot: most Hollywood computers display type in inch-high letters.

Anh 11,158 14
04/09/2008 11:41 PM

I've had this same thought for many years. There are actually Hollywood movies with slightly lower budgets that actually show computers in a true light, although they're so bad that I don't remember their names.

Thud 68,506 19
04/09/2008 11:44 PM

I have a similar issue with guns and Hollywood.

Bean 8,602 19
04/10/2008 01:34 AM

Every punch or hit of any sort makes an insanely loud noise also. By the sounds of it, any normal person would have been down for the count after punch number 2.

Jeenetic Mutation 47,792 51
04/10/2008 01:37 AM

I always marvel at the "photo enhancement" software they use that distinguishes a detailed, high resolution version of a license plate number that began at 8 by 4 pixels.

Tweak 18,881 12
04/10/2008 01:42 AM

That's an unfair accusation, Thud. I know whenever I shoot someone in real life, my high-tech gun from the future has an electronic display which announces "VILLAIN DEFEATED" in big flashing letters while playing the victory song from the end of every level of Sonic the Hedgehog.

My life also has a perpetual countdown timer in big red digital numbers in the bottom corner of my vision. It flashes dramatically every time I complete a mediocre task, like cutting wires or taking things out of the toastie-maker before the cheese drips all over the bench. Then it resets until I do something else.

Jelly tipped Neep 35,066 15
04/10/2008 05:18 AM

I like to let the cheese drip out onto the surface of the sandwich press so it cooks and goes kind of nummy.

Phuc 237,919 21
04/10/2008 06:22 AM

There are neither pee tubes nor orbs for posts, so I just went out in the street and pee'd Neep's name.

A winnar is Undies! 101,398 77
04/10/2008 09:33 AM

I like to let the cheese drip out onto the surface...

This could have gone in a completely different direction.

ionymous 17 6
04/10/2008 12:08 PM

In an episode of Smallville, a computer was being used to transfer money. There was a progress bar on the screen that was taking several minutes.

As if the money was being transferred in $100 increments or something, instead of one single transfer request to the bank.

Sometimes being an engineer ruins tv/movies for me. Oh well.

Two weeks of Phla 131,068 34
04/10/2008 12:12 PM

I bet being an engineer kinda ruins your life too.

Nachos - Sociopaths of the world unite! 57,521 23
04/10/2008 12:50 PM

The only film that springs to mind as being even halfway realistic is AntiTrust.

Although to be quite honest it could feature computers projecting solid light interfaces as the UI and I'd still rate it if it starred Claire Forlani.

roadsidepossum 0 5
04/11/2008 09:12 PM

How about in TV shows and movies when the characters are using an Instant Messaging system and the words are streamed letter by letter.

Phuc 237,919 21
04/11/2008 09:30 PM

Swiper no swiping!

Swiper no swiping!

SWIPER NOOOOOOO SWIPING!!!

Whistler P. McManus 186,130 44
04/11/2008 10:28 PM

In every movie or t.v. show about every industry, mistakes are made that are obvious to people with rudimentary knowledge of that industry.

Years ago there was a movie about these treasury agents who were tracking down a counterfeiter (who I think was played by Willem Dafoe). They showed the guy with engraved rotogravure plates for the bills, and then showed him printing them on an offset press.

Then the Mel Gibson joke movie The Patriot came out, and they showed a bunch of fifers and drummers marching along playing their instruments. On the soundtrack, I clearly heard piccolos and not fifes.

I realize, though, that when I sit down to watch a movie, I have agreed to suspend disbelief.

I nearly choked my wife on several occasions for pointing out medical errors on Scrubs. It's a Frost-ing sitcom, not a documentary! I'm not trying to learn to heal the sick, I'm just desperately seeking a few laughs.

And Al has tried to ruin CSI for me by pointing out how unrealistic it is. I. Don't. Care. I want to see Melina Kananaranadideides running around with a gun in a low-cut blouse, dammit!

And P.S. - take it to IMDB.

Declan McManus as Jeremiah T. Frogge 131,887 36
04/11/2008 10:53 PM

Why would a gun in a ,low cut blouse be all that interesting to you, brother mine?

Whistler P. McManus 186,130 44
04/11/2008 10:54 PM

You are helplessly homosexual.

Whistler P. McManus 186,130 44
04/11/2008 11:06 PM

Or was that hopelessly helpmosexual?

loofgal 0 5
04/13/2008 04:53 AM

Dan akyroyd is good- looking?

Dogs Akimbo 211,594 32
04/13/2008 03:03 PM

In every movie or t.v. show about every industry, mistakes are made that are obvious to people with rudimentary knowledge of that industry


In one of Carl Sagan' books, he was commenting on Erich von Dniken's work. He said something like "I knew that his statements on astronomy were wrong, but I found his points about geology compelling."

Later, he was at a scientific conference of some sort, and a geologist said something to him like, "von Dniken's statements concerning geology are complete bullShakespeare, but I found his comments about astronomy to be very compelling."


It was funny because, at the time, the geologist had some feldspar crammed up his ass.

Phuc 237,919 21
04/14/2008 06:42 AM

In every movie or t.v. show about every industry, mistakes are made that are obvious to people with rudimentary knowledge of that industry

My wife used to be a forensic interviewer, and I'm a trial consultant, so when we watch Law & Odor: SBD, she's yelling at the screen through the first half, and I'm yelling through the second half.

I also yell a little at the first half, mostly telling Maruschka Hargitgay to be less ugly.

23sailfish 0 5
04/17/2008 12:00 PM

You know, for a computer genius, one would speculate that you would be able to enable the "embed" feature from youtube so that a brother could see and hear what you were talking about..... I'm just saying.

Love your stuff though. Keep em coming....