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The new Star Trek: 'Bad Astronomy' writer assesses its accuracy
If you haven't seen the new Star Trek movie, it's highly recommended — we just saw it last night and thought it was the best Star Trek movie yet. But was it scientifically accurate? Phil "Bad Astronomy" Plait is also a big Trek fan, and was crazy about the movie, writing that he "loved it."
He notes several scientific inaccuracies, and applauds parts of the movie that finally get space conditions right. Our favorite accuracy: a short sequence where a crew person is blown away from a starship, into the complete and utter silence of space. No whooshing, no explosions, just complete silence.
Haunting stuff. We haven't seen that kind of accuracy since 2001: A Space Odyssey. Take a look at Plait's other astute observations, but look out — if you haven't seen the movie, there are spoilers within.
Via TrekMovie
By tutru at 4:00 PM ON 05/11/09
The "silence of space" was used to great affect by Joss Weden in the "Firefly" TV Series and "Serenity" movie as well as the recent "Battlestar Galatica" series. I'm glad J.J. took that que from them.
By SonicRush at 7:07 PM ON 05/11/09
Yeah, Love the movie, but there were things that just shocked the hell out of me on this one:
- How does entering a Black Hole Take you back in time?
- I thought in Startrek they had a brig on the ship?
- Red Matter? Like Dark Matter?
- Interplanetary transporters?
Still love the film, but come on!
By IsoTek at 9:48 PM ON 05/11/09
tutru it could easily be attributed to other films like 2001 or thru thorough scientific study that J.J. took that approach., not necessarily from Firefly or BSG. Films often have science advisors and a space film would only make since to use this technique.
By Al at 12:05 AM ON 05/12/09
Nothing like a backhanded compliment on a movie making fans more thrilled to see the franchise continue.
By daveac at 5:48 AM ON 05/12/09
'Our favorite accuracy: a short sequence where a crew person is blown away from a starship, into the complete and utter silence of space'
Made this comment myself on our CIA: Cultdom in Audio podcast (episode 98 - on iTunes OR TAlkShoe)
Noticed it straight away - even though it was just foe a couple of second - excellent!
Cheers, Dave (daveac)
By PTRICKY at 7:39 AM ON 05/12/09
Firefly!
By sPITAN at 2:29 PM ON 05/12/09
I second the random cheer of firefly!
That show got a lot of good things right.
The fact that a show that only had one season and one full length film is is used, even as a reference to the long running Goliath of a franchise that is Star Trek, attests to how much effect it had within the genre.
But, seeing as firefly is officially dead I will gladly take a re-energized star trek as a another chapter in good scifi and hope that this upward trend of improvement continues.
(fingers crossed!)
By TJPaladin at 3:30 PM ON 05/12/09
Dropping from orbit - in a space suit - right along side of a spindle - into the atmosphere ?
What the heck were those suits made of that they didn't burn up ? How didn't they "black out" ? How did they manage to stay so close to the spindle the whole time ?
It was pretty cool though ...
By KZjarmo at 4:56 PM ON 05/22/09
I agree that the Movie was Awesome!!!!
What about the Re-Imagining of Battlestar Galactica. Was that series that best interpretation of space? I thought so, but I really loved the action of the new Star Trek movie and had not really thought about physical properties of space.Nor did I really care. I just wanted the movie to blow up on the silver screen for which it did!!
Thanks J.J. Abrams and the cast for bringing back something that was for sure to be lost forever by Paramount.
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