Computer Screens in Films
October 4, 2002 7:51 AM Subscribe
Computer Screens in Films are normally quite distinctive but can you indentify the films these are from?
[link from b3ta]
7 out of 12 is poor?
*whistles and starts walking backwards*
posted by MiguelCardoso at 7:59 AM on October 4, 2002
*whistles and starts walking backwards*
posted by MiguelCardoso at 7:59 AM on October 4, 2002
I got one. And oddly enough, it was from a movie I haven't actually seen (Wargames).
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 8:01 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 8:01 AM on October 4, 2002
It's always a laugh to see fake computer programs in movies and on TV. For instance, this week's "The West Wing" had one that simulated a Chinese nuclear missile attack on some midwestern state -- it was utterly pointless. Or the bizzare hybrid Mac/PC hybrid screens from "Office Space" -- Mac dialog boxes in conjunction with a C:\> prompt. Stuff like that cracks me up.
posted by dayvin at 8:02 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by dayvin at 8:02 AM on October 4, 2002
Yeah me too, using this prog. you can make your PC sound like a movie computer. Pointless but amusing for a few minites.
[hope its not a re-post!]
posted by bhell13 at 8:06 AM on October 4, 2002
[hope its not a re-post!]
posted by bhell13 at 8:06 AM on October 4, 2002
dayvin - speaking of mixups, a local library has a bunch of those "Read" posters with celebrities urging people (who are already in the library, mind you) to read. One features Bill Gates, surrounded by none other than a Macintosh desktop. Ha!
posted by madprops at 8:27 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by madprops at 8:27 AM on October 4, 2002
I was hoping that all the computers would have been infected with whatever that virus is in films that makes a skull and crossbones flash up, and then everything melts.
posted by robself at 8:31 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by robself at 8:31 AM on October 4, 2002
What about the Family Truckster being chased by Pac-Man (secret Friday Fun link) in "National Lampoon's Vacation.?"
posted by Frank Grimes at 8:34 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by Frank Grimes at 8:34 AM on October 4, 2002
Yeah me too, using this prog. you can make your PC sound like a movie computer.
How do you switch this damn thing off, bhell13? I sound like I'm underwater, surrounded by giggling, half-witted sea monkeys!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 8:34 AM on October 4, 2002
How do you switch this damn thing off, bhell13? I sound like I'm underwater, surrounded by giggling, half-witted sea monkeys!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 8:34 AM on October 4, 2002
I was hoping they'd have Ed Norton's office computer from Fight Club, so I could verify my suspicions of it running BeOS.
posted by Succa at 8:42 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by Succa at 8:42 AM on October 4, 2002
SPOILER
Big and Weird Science jump right out, for me. Where's the Matrix? Too obvious, I guess.
posted by Shane at 8:49 AM on October 4, 2002
Big and Weird Science jump right out, for me. Where's the Matrix? Too obvious, I guess.
posted by Shane at 8:49 AM on October 4, 2002
I'm curious why the pinnacle of Movie Computer Screens wasn't on the list.
And a note on the quiz: I like the Invisibles better, as you actually had the opportunity to type in the name of the movie, and check your score against the answers.
posted by thanotopsis at 8:49 AM on October 4, 2002
And a note on the quiz: I like the Invisibles better, as you actually had the opportunity to type in the name of the movie, and check your score against the answers.
posted by thanotopsis at 8:49 AM on October 4, 2002
We need to plan better next time, Shane.
posted by thanotopsis at 8:50 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by thanotopsis at 8:50 AM on October 4, 2002
I got only 3 - but it brought to mind how I really hate seeing people using computers in movies. You know, the protagonist is being chased through an office building and there are those tense moments when he has to frantically disable the bomb, recover vital info or whatever. And all you see is someone sitting in front of a monitor, with green lettering reflectively flashing across his face. (I've yet to see this happen to anyone in real life!) It sort of stops the movie for me. I think it's difficult to make computer use cinematically exciting.
posted by Wylie Kyoto at 8:58 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by Wylie Kyoto at 8:58 AM on October 4, 2002
2 out of 12 here. But how the hell was I supposed to recognize these two? Who has seen them? Or remembers them if they have? (mouseover links for spoilers)
posted by furiousthought at 9:03 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by furiousthought at 9:03 AM on October 4, 2002
How do you switch this damn thing off, bhell13? I sound like I'm underwater, surrounded by giggling, half-witted sea monkeys!
An icon (looks like one side of a rubix cube) should appear on the taskbar by the clock. Click that for controls. (Otherwise, of course, use the taskManager).
posted by originalname37 at 9:13 AM on October 4, 2002
An icon (looks like one side of a rubix cube) should appear on the taskbar by the clock. Click that for controls. (Otherwise, of course, use the taskManager).
posted by originalname37 at 9:13 AM on October 4, 2002
(The top line was supposed to be in italics. sorry)
posted by originalname37 at 9:14 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by originalname37 at 9:14 AM on October 4, 2002
And all you see is someone sitting in front of a monitor, with green lettering reflectively flashing across his face. (I've yet to see this happen to anyone in real life!) It sort of stops the movie for me.
The thing to remember is that lots of folks are baffled by and/or terrified of computers. Up until I got my first self-assembled PC working (uh, two nights ago actually), "building a computer" was this mystical thing done by crouching gnomes in clean suits. For some, it's nigh on super-heroic to make things happen via computer. Those flashing green letters get the pulse pounding.
Wylie Kyoto is an awesome'n'rad nick BTW.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 9:14 AM on October 4, 2002
The thing to remember is that lots of folks are baffled by and/or terrified of computers. Up until I got my first self-assembled PC working (uh, two nights ago actually), "building a computer" was this mystical thing done by crouching gnomes in clean suits. For some, it's nigh on super-heroic to make things happen via computer. Those flashing green letters get the pulse pounding.
Wylie Kyoto is an awesome'n'rad nick BTW.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 9:14 AM on October 4, 2002
Furious thought, the sad thing is I saw Miss Congeniality and still didn't get it. In fact I have to ditto PinkStainlessTai's first commentl. For whatever reason, computers in movies just don't register with me.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:17 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:17 AM on October 4, 2002
Ooops...added "first comment" after previewing but I didn't get it in exactly the right place! Sorry, PinkStainless"Tai".
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:19 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:19 AM on October 4, 2002
Hmm..no HAL..
posted by Orange Goblin at 9:27 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by Orange Goblin at 9:27 AM on October 4, 2002
what, no jurassic park? it's a unix system!
i miss my indigo2. sniff.
posted by lescour at 9:29 AM on October 4, 2002
i miss my indigo2. sniff.
posted by lescour at 9:29 AM on October 4, 2002
8 out of 12! I am Skelletor!
posted by inviolable at 9:35 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by inviolable at 9:35 AM on October 4, 2002
dayvin: The hybrid Mac/PC screens in Office Space were actually intentional (so as to fully genericize the company).
posted by abischof at 9:35 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by abischof at 9:35 AM on October 4, 2002
And all you see is someone sitting in front of a monitor, with green lettering reflectively flashing across his face.
That owes something to Kubrick's 2001, it does... Did Kubrick lift it, though?
Fun stuff!
posted by Shane at 10:05 AM on October 4, 2002
That owes something to Kubrick's 2001, it does... Did Kubrick lift it, though?
Fun stuff!
posted by Shane at 10:05 AM on October 4, 2002
I got 9 out of 12. Missed "Spaceballs" (thought it was "Stripes").
posted by drinkcoffee at 10:28 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by drinkcoffee at 10:28 AM on October 4, 2002
the best
couldn't find a shot from her dad's machine though...
posted by badstone at 10:29 AM on October 4, 2002
couldn't find a shot from her dad's machine though...
posted by badstone at 10:29 AM on October 4, 2002
I got one. And oddly enough, it was from a movie I haven't actually seen (Wargames).
Me too, Pink/Tail, exactly. Thought I'd at least get The Matrix, but it wasn't there. I must not be going to the movies any more, I'd only seen Spaceballs in all those -- and I thought that screen looked like it was from a Magic School Bus video.
posted by LeLiLo at 10:33 AM on October 4, 2002
Me too, Pink/Tail, exactly. Thought I'd at least get The Matrix, but it wasn't there. I must not be going to the movies any more, I'd only seen Spaceballs in all those -- and I thought that screen looked like it was from a Magic School Bus video.
posted by LeLiLo at 10:33 AM on October 4, 2002
8 out of 12-- but then, I'm a tech by nature and choice, so I tend to pay attention to those kinds of things.
My favorite "movie computers" were the Amigas in use in "Miami Vice," back in the day. They weren't plugged in (nor were the monitors attached to the CPU). Now if only we could get stuff like that for home use...
posted by Cerebus at 10:34 AM on October 4, 2002
My favorite "movie computers" were the Amigas in use in "Miami Vice," back in the day. They weren't plugged in (nor were the monitors attached to the CPU). Now if only we could get stuff like that for home use...
posted by Cerebus at 10:34 AM on October 4, 2002
drinkcoffee: Heh. I thought #2 was "Stripes" as well. The other three I missed (#3, #8, and #11) I think I can be excused since I've never seen the movies they hail from.
posted by Cerebus at 10:38 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by Cerebus at 10:38 AM on October 4, 2002
I'd seen all the movies, but only got 9/12, missing 9 thru 11.
posted by LionIndex at 11:06 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by LionIndex at 11:06 AM on October 4, 2002
7 out of 12. Would have thought there would have been something from Hackers in there.
posted by mindless progress at 11:14 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by mindless progress at 11:14 AM on October 4, 2002
7 here. I thought the "Revenge of the Nerds" one was "Electric Dreams". There's one movie that had a skewed take on technology...
posted by shecky57 at 11:43 AM on October 4, 2002
posted by shecky57 at 11:43 AM on October 4, 2002
what, no jurassic park? it's a unix system!
Hehee. "I know this... I know this..."
posted by Dirjy at 11:54 AM on October 4, 2002
Hehee. "I know this... I know this..."
posted by Dirjy at 11:54 AM on October 4, 2002
6 out of 12. I got better results with the 'Corey Test' (there's a link in the sidebar, under Visual Quizzes)...
My favorite 'computer hacking' scene ever was in a soap-opera from 1990 or 1991. Soap-operas are huge in my country (Brazil) and this one was from Globo Network (our classiest network, lots of dough).
There were 2 kids that worked at the IT department of the business company owned by the bad guy and they had to read some secret files to help the good guys. The files were in an area protected by password, so the two guys get into the IT office and start their attempt to crack the password.
Their method is: try random number sequences until we nail it. After some time showing the guys entering codes and hitting ENTER, the camera closes up on the computer screen and it is something like this...
C:\>12545
Bad command or file name
C:\>877845
Bad command or file name
C:\>6554
Bad command or file name
C:\>87546
Bad command or file name
posted by rexgregbr at 1:01 PM on October 4, 2002
My favorite 'computer hacking' scene ever was in a soap-opera from 1990 or 1991. Soap-operas are huge in my country (Brazil) and this one was from Globo Network (our classiest network, lots of dough).
There were 2 kids that worked at the IT department of the business company owned by the bad guy and they had to read some secret files to help the good guys. The files were in an area protected by password, so the two guys get into the IT office and start their attempt to crack the password.
Their method is: try random number sequences until we nail it. After some time showing the guys entering codes and hitting ENTER, the camera closes up on the computer screen and it is something like this...
C:\>12545
Bad command or file name
C:\>877845
Bad command or file name
C:\>6554
Bad command or file name
C:\>87546
Bad command or file name
posted by rexgregbr at 1:01 PM on October 4, 2002
The computer screens and interfaces in Mission:Impossible were pretty unusual. (Speaking of Mission:Impossible, it was the inspiration for my all-time favorite porn movie title parody of a real movie title, Position:Impossible)
And in print ads. I see a lot of ads with painfully recreated "browsers" based on old Mac versions of Netscape 4. And then I despair at my nerdiness for noticing.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:09 PM on October 4, 2002
It's always a laugh to see fake computer programs in movies and on TV.
And in print ads. I see a lot of ads with painfully recreated "browsers" based on old Mac versions of Netscape 4. And then I despair at my nerdiness for noticing.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:09 PM on October 4, 2002
I was hoping to see the graphic-based "virus" screen from The Net. YOU ARE DEAD YOU ARE DEAD YOU ARE DEAD. Cracked me up.
Ditto the WE WILL KILL YOU WE WILL KILL ALL OF YOU screen from The Insider, a brief giggle in an otherwise (IMO) extraordinary and amazing film.
posted by swerve at 1:59 PM on October 4, 2002
Ditto the WE WILL KILL YOU WE WILL KILL ALL OF YOU screen from The Insider, a brief giggle in an otherwise (IMO) extraordinary and amazing film.
posted by swerve at 1:59 PM on October 4, 2002
Got only one ("Twister", in case anyone wants to know). The most stupid screens I've seen in a movie must be the transparent screens in "Minority Report". Sure, they look so cool on screen, really futuristic, but who would ever want to read text against a transparent background?
posted by Termite at 2:11 PM on October 4, 2002
posted by Termite at 2:11 PM on October 4, 2002
Hmm..no HAL..
IBM your abc's. The letters before I, B and M compose HAL.
posted by thomcatspike at 2:33 PM on October 4, 2002
IBM your abc's. The letters before I, B and M compose HAL.
posted by thomcatspike at 2:33 PM on October 4, 2002
And where is Edgar? 'We'll always be together ... together in Electric Dreams ....'
posted by feelinglistless at 3:52 PM on October 4, 2002
posted by feelinglistless at 3:52 PM on October 4, 2002
10 out of 12. What can I say? I'm a computer nerd/film buff. And yes, I don't get out much ;)
The best computer bit in a movie has to be Independence Day. I wonder what OS those super-duper-advanced alien computers were running so that Jeff Goldblum with his wee iBook could take them all down in one fell swoop? Fear the iBook.
posted by Mossy at 4:23 PM on October 4, 2002
The best computer bit in a movie has to be Independence Day. I wonder what OS those super-duper-advanced alien computers were running so that Jeff Goldblum with his wee iBook could take them all down in one fell swoop? Fear the iBook.
posted by Mossy at 4:23 PM on October 4, 2002
What about Penny's "notebook" in Inspector Gadget? That show was really ahead of its time when you think about it. Most movies, as has been duly noted in this thread, show pretty antiquated forms of computer functionality. Penny's computer on the other hand had uber functionality.
Hell, look at Inspector Gadget's suits . . . just as bug ridden as todays hardware.
But maybe I'm digging too deeply into a simple cartoon.
posted by SimStupid at 4:24 PM on October 4, 2002
Hell, look at Inspector Gadget's suits . . . just as bug ridden as todays hardware.
But maybe I'm digging too deeply into a simple cartoon.
posted by SimStupid at 4:24 PM on October 4, 2002
I see a lot of ads with painfully recreated "browsers" based on old Mac versions of Netscape 4. And then I despair at my nerdiness for noticing.
You're not alone, Kirkaracha, I notice them too. I've always wondered why anyone would bother to recreate computer screens in print or in movies. Why not just use existing hardware and software?
My guess is that most of what movie-makers know about computers come from other movies. So once computers look a certain way in movies, that's the way they are always going to look. Kind of like how a car that goes over a cliff always explodes on impact in movies but seldom in real life. Most movie-makers have seen more cars go over cliffs in movies than in real life, so cars in future movies will explode as well after having gone over a cliff. It's self-reinforcement.
posted by Triplanetary at 4:26 PM on October 4, 2002
You're not alone, Kirkaracha, I notice them too. I've always wondered why anyone would bother to recreate computer screens in print or in movies. Why not just use existing hardware and software?
My guess is that most of what movie-makers know about computers come from other movies. So once computers look a certain way in movies, that's the way they are always going to look. Kind of like how a car that goes over a cliff always explodes on impact in movies but seldom in real life. Most movie-makers have seen more cars go over cliffs in movies than in real life, so cars in future movies will explode as well after having gone over a cliff. It's self-reinforcement.
posted by Triplanetary at 4:26 PM on October 4, 2002
Here's a bit of nerd trivia: the spaceships from Alien and the police spinner in Blade Runner run the same software -- or Ridley Scott was just too damn cheap to have a new sequence programmed.
posted by muckster at 7:03 PM on October 4, 2002
posted by muckster at 7:03 PM on October 4, 2002
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posted by bhell13 at 7:55 AM on October 4, 2002