Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics: Hollywood's Best Mistakes, Goofs and Flat-Out Destructions of the Basic Laws of the Universe

Hollywood writers and director would just love for audiences to "turn their brains off" when they're watching their movies. It makes for much less work on their part if they don't have to research things like the second law of thermodynamics, or even whether a cigarette can really light gasoline (hint: it can't). This book is written for both, the common man who is curious about how things work, and the physics enthusiast. It smashes giant gaping holes through Hollywood's poorly researched attacks on the laws of physics and shows in detail the facts to back up their claims. This is a definate blow against those who thumb their noses saying "it's just a movie" as they contribute to the dumbing-down of audiences everywhere. Most importantly, you can impress your friends and family with your newfound wisdom (while hopefully not ruining their favorite movie!).

Unlike a previous reviewer, I watch movies with a very critical eye. It's not just mindless escapism for me. What may be an innocuous or even undetectable detail for one is something that will illicit vitrol from me. One movie that would have fit very well into this book, along with the others the author picks on--including "Speed", "Independence Day", and "Armageddon"--is "The Astronaut Farmer". My disbelief was immediately shattered on Billy Bob Thornton's first attempt to fly into space. An Atlas missile would not have taken off horizontally after falling from a vertical position. Thornton, his wife (Virginia Madsden), his farm, and everything within about a thousand feet would have been blown away, and the movie would've ended right there. That being said, this is a fantastic book that vindicates those of us who note the details in film. If you really want to know whether or not the bus jump in "Speed" could've actually happened, this is the book for you.

A witty and well-written work that debunks many of the insultingly stupid stunts in modern American films. The author gets high marks for both creative and interesting prose as well as first-rate physics. The book is rigorous and meaty without dragging or rambling. I highly recommend this work for teachers, scientists and movie buffs alike. For even more fun, readers should also check out the author's website.

This book says what I've been saying most of my life. Typically I'll see a movie and say to my friends, "That's impossible" to which they vehemently insist it is possible. I've never been able to explain WHY certain movie scenes are impossible, but now I can use this book (and the website) as a handy reference. For example: Why the Italian Job could not have fit Mini Coopers down a 6-foot-wide hallway (because the car is too big to turn around corners). Great book. Well-written. I read the whole thing in a single day, because I couldn't put it down.

When people think of physics, they often think with horror about its more abstract sub-disciplines such as quantum mechanics, relativity, elementary particles, cosmology, etc. As a result, many people shy away from this most basic of sciences. But one thing that this book makes perfectly clear is that much of what we see in everyday life is easily explainable (or analyzable) using the elementary physics that one learns in late high school and perhaps early university courses. Using this most basic physics, the author has done an absolutely superb job of dissecting the scientific credibility of modern movies using the scalpel of Newtonian physics and the laws of thermodynamics. The movies discussed are action/adventure/science fiction/fantasy-type movies, i.e., movies that are more prone to stretching and outright breaking the basic laws of physics for the benefit of added spectacular effects. Equations are included throughout but in special boxes for those who are more technically inclined. The writing style is very clear, most engaging and very tongue-in-cheek (even hilarious) when discussing matters related to the scientific literacy of Hollywood movie makers. This book can be enjoyed by everyone; however, it will likely be most enjoyed by science buffs and movie aficionados alike. It could also be used as an exciting complement to any basic physics courses.