Technology in movies and my return

[Evan3]

Hell all,
I hope some of you older veterans remember me, I was a regular for about a year, but college just overwhelmed me as did personal life. Got wrecked over a girl and that took a lot of effort to heal, and then whoo, college is almost done and the responsibilities keep coming. I don't know how all of you keep up, but it is good to be back.

However, while in school, I am in this class called Technology in America. In it, we watched a couple of clips of the Animatrix (which looked fantastic, unlike the Matrix 3, however, Matrix 2 was JUST as good as the first one). In any case, my professor asked us if there were any movies that actually supported technology, instead of having a cynical destructive view.

One person suggested the new movies Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and that genetic cloning one with Robert DeNiro (which I sincerely doubt takes a good view of technology.) All the classics such as the Matrix, T2, Minority Report, 1984, etc. Often look at technology as a boon.


I did think of one movie, an anime film called Ghost in the Shell.
Someone else suggested the movie Metropolis which I have never seen, and a third said Bicentennial Man.
Does A.I. as much as it sucked endorse tech. ? I think so.

Anyways, let the discussions begin..... Maybe I will get some extra credit.

[The Burgomaster]

How about INDEPENDENCE DAY, when Jeff Goldblum uploads the virus from his laptop into the aliens' high-tech, thousands of years ahead of humanity computer and . . . oh . . . never mind . . . I guess the aliens never developed a virus shield . . .

[raj]

In Outland, the only negative was the drug they gave the miners.  And in Forbidden Planet, it wasn't technology but our and the Krells') own dark side which caused the problems.

What I'd like to see is movies where business and businesspeople were not viewed as the villian.

[Andrew]

Welcome back!

Some movies that may fit your class agenda:
Millenium
Inframan (and it's various versions - Ultraman, Power Rangers, etc)
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai
Men In Black
Star Blazers (Season I, actually a whole series)

The problem is, usually technology is not, in and of itself, evil.  It is a tool and one that can be used by us for bad or good.  Granted, a technology that sucks all the blood out of a person takes more creative talent to use for good than other examples which come to mind.

[Evan3]

Hey Andrew et al,
thanks a lot. We def. studied that tech. itself is not evil, but why is it that most movie makers feel that humans would only use it for evil aims. Granted movies are not as interesting if it is all bad. Do you think Star Trek looks at technology with full praise?

[JohnL]

Back to the Future II - No bad technology here.

[Brother Ragnarok]

I don't know about Metropolis saying good things about technology.  I mean, the giant supercomputer transforms into Moloch the Sun God, and starts devouring workers, and there's an eight-foot pentagram on the wall of the mad scientist's lab, for Chrissakes.  Not  exactly frolicking with bunnies in a field of pretty flowers.
Fitting that this, your triumphant return (I remember you, by the way, and welcome back, brother) will signal my (temporary) departure.  I'm leaving for England tomorrow morning at 10:00, and won't be back until the 19th.  Someone will have to fill me in on all the insanity and debauchery that I missed.

Cheers,
Brother R

[Deej]

Good to have you back, Evan! You have been missed. Now if we can lure Paquita back...happy days!

[Flangepart]

> but why is it that most movie makers feel that humans would
> only use it for evil aims.

Oh, i donno....experiance?