Universal Truths

[Alexko]

Just read the synopsis on Wikipedia, and actually I'm not so offended any more by the notion of gravity that only works on matter from one world.

But reading the synopsis didn't make me think the film was any better: apparently the main character goes to Up (a name which I still have severe problems with) by packing his pockets with matter from Up. That's not a crazy idea: what's crazy is that in order to do this, he'd have to pack his pockets with enough matter to make up more than his own mass. I don't see any reasonable way for him to inconspicuously carry over 200 lbs worth of matter in his pockets.

Also, the fact that the matter burns after a while is a little bit strange...considering the two worlds clearly exchange air.

In the trailer he has a belt on which he straps what looks like large pieces of lead or something like that.

But that's the problem with the movie. I could be OK with twin planets. I could even accept that for some weird reason, things and people are only affected by the gravity of their "native" planet. The problem is that after watching the trailer, it seems that a lot of the plot elements of the movie revolve around this weird gravity stuff, which would require the spectator to frequently think about it, how it works, etc. in order to figure out what the characters are doing and why.

Which would be fine, if it made any sense at all. But it doesn't, and the movie keeps calling attention to that. This is like shooting yourself in the foot and then pouring vinegar on the wound every 5 minutes.

 

[Davros]

The Film is a bit nutty

 

[KimB]

In the trailer he has a belt on which he straps what looks like large pieces of lead or something like that.

200lbs of lead would be a little more than the volume of two gallons. And with 200lbs, he would be exceedingly light on the other world. 300lbs would probably be a safer bet.

But that's the problem with the movie. I could be OK with twin planets. I could even accept that for some weird reason, things and people are only affected by the gravity of their "native" planet. The problem is that after watching the trailer, it seems that a lot of the plot elements of the movie revolve around this weird gravity stuff, which would require the spectator to frequently think about it, how it works, etc. in order to figure out what the characters are doing and why.

Which would be fine, if it made any sense at all. But it doesn't, and the movie keeps calling attention to that. This is like shooting yourself in the foot and then pouring vinegar on the wound every 5 minutes.

Right, that's really sad.

And why I absolutely boggled that she was able to walk on Down because she was pregnant. Apparently gravity sensitivity is transmitted through DNA, and the much, much lighter weight of the babies was enough to keep her grounded on Down. Also, neither she nor her fetus burned up.

If you're going to make up interesting laws, at least keep things consistent. Holy crap this movie sounds terrible.

 

[Davros]

And with 200lbs, he would be exceedingly light on the other world.

Eh, I'd be not that far off twice as heavy

 

[Grall]

What friggin movie are you guys talking about? I really haven't the faintest idea what's going on here.

 

[digitalwanderer]

I think "Upside Down".

 

[cjo]

Just curious to know...

Why did they need 180 sols in order to "achieve" this?

Because mars is currently almost 18 light-minutes from earth, so it isn't just a case of piloting the rover like a UAV. What they actually do (or at least did with previous mars rovers) is upload a set of commands for the day, let them run, assess the state the rover ended up in and then plan the next days movements. When they first land, they need to run tests on each of the tools in turn to make sure they are operating as expected - if something isn't quite working properly they need to find work arounds before using the tool properly. Its not as if they can go and change parts if they break something. As they get more confident with commanding the rover, the length and complexity of the sequences is extended, and what took a whole days commands at the start gets condensed down to only be a part of later command sets. I think during the early days, driving 1 meter was an achievement, whereas later on 10's of meters were easily achievable.

This blog was a very interesting read: http://marsandme.blogspot.co.uk - it is the blog of a spirit/opportunity driver, written in 'real time' + 5 years.

 

[UniversalTruth]

 

[Davros]

When are you going to start

 

[KimB]

Not a bad stance, but the people being mad at you for talking doesn't mean you were saying the truth. Furthermore, people being rather vicious and mean doesn't necessarily indicate that they're upset. It could (and often does) mean that they think you said something abysmally idiotic that deserves to be ridiculed.

 

[UniversalTruth]

Guys, I am not speaking about myself. Relax.

 

[homerdog]

Just read the synopsis on Wikipedia, and actually I'm not so offended any more by the notion of gravity that only works on matter from one world.

But reading the synopsis didn't make me think the film was any better: apparently the main character goes to Up (a name which I still have severe problems with) by packing his pockets with matter from Up. That's not a crazy idea: what's crazy is that in order to do this, he'd have to pack his pockets with enough matter to make up more than his own mass. I don't see any reasonable way for him to inconspicuously carry over 200 lbs worth of matter in his pockets.

Also, the fact that the matter burns after a while is a little bit strange...considering the two worlds clearly exchange air.

Sooo even if he loaded up with 300lbs of lead, wouldn't he look strange walking around with his hair sticking straight up and all the blood rushing to his head? Or am I not understanding this? Maybe it is not possible to understand?

 

[WhiningKhan]

No-one still has brought up the meteor incident at Russia - are you people getting old or something?

Seriously, once per 100 years meteor explosion happens the same afternoon as an unrelated, once per 40 years asteroid flyby. If this doesn't smell like setup, what does?

The Illuminati are now living in moon, and they have read Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, too.

 

[KimB]

Sooo even if he loaded up with 300lbs of lead, wouldn't he look strange walking around with his hair sticking straight up and all the blood rushing to his head? Or am I not understanding this? Maybe it is not possible to understand?

That too, though copious amounts of hair gel or a short cut should moderate the hair issue. And he would pretty much always look rather flushed, wouldn't he?

 

[UniversalTruth]

No-one still has brought up the meteor incident at Russia - are you people getting old or something?

Seriously, once per 100 years meteor explosion happens the same afternoon as an unrelated, once per 40 years asteroid flyby. If this doesn't smell like setup, what does

I am afraid that we can not rely on NASA and they will miss a big asteroid potentially on a collision course with Earth. The thing is that there is a theory that in the Tunguska event, we were helped my alien force which saved us by destroying the object before impact with Earth.

And no, the incident in Russia was brought here but in the other thread.

 

[Mariner]

The thing is that there is a theory that in the Tunguska event, we were helped my alien force which saved us by destroying the object before impact with Earth.

Which is a mind-bogglingly bizarre and whacky theory. Yeesh. What do these people use for brains?

 

[Grall]

The thing is that there is a theory that in the Tunguska event, we were helped my alien force which saved us by destroying the object before impact with Earth.

That's not a theory, that's a drug (or possibly dementia)-induced fantasy. You might just as well say there's a theory that sentient siberian ants with laser-equipped eyes, living in a telepathic hive mind used their collective vision as a giant telescope and detected the meteor, then blew it up before it destroyed their colony...that'd be just as "likely"...

Actually, I think my "theory" is more likely, as it doesn't require the existence of extraterrestial life with interstellar travel capability, advanced weapons technology and the knowledge of our tiny tiny planet (and not to mention the goodwill to want to save us from...not being annihilated at all, as the meteor would have hit nothing except desolate woodlands.)

...Yeah. That alien theory of yours makes A LOT of sense...

 

[Grall]

What do these people use for brains?

Isn't it obvious? Excrement.

 

[Alexko]

That too, though copious amounts of hair gel or a short cut should moderate the hair issue. And he would pretty much always look rather flushed, wouldn't he?

The constant flushness could easily be explained by his being in the early, passionate stages of a torrid love affair.

The thing is that there is a theory that in the Tunguska event, we were helped my alien force which saved us by destroying the object before impact with Earth.

True story.

 

[KimB]

The constant flushness could easily be explained by his being in the early, passionate stages of a torrid love affair.

His clothes would certainly hang weird on him, though. He'd continually look like he was shrugging his shoulders...