Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2011 June 12

= June 12 =

Probability Of Destruction In "Super 8"
Hey everybody. I've been wondering something about some of the special effects in the newly-released movie Super 8, which came out in theaters on June 10th, 2011. In it, there is a horrible train crash that involves a mid-sized pickup truck (think mid-90's F-150) driving head-on at full speed into a diesel freight train travelling at well over 50 mph. The collision immediately results in an explosion and the locomotive grinds to a halt. But the filled freight cars behind it continue to shoot forward under their own momentum an end up flying everywhere. This continues to occur as the rear of the train continues moving forward. What makes me think that this is unlikely is the immense speed at which the rear of the train continues to move. I mean, of course the effects of inertia would cause the cars to continue moving, but would they really move at such speed? If you have not already seen the movie, here is a link to that particular scene on the Internet Movie Database: Clip 1, and here is another that is longer, but shows a more complete view of the crash: Clip 2. If anybody could help explain or describe this better to me, it would be much appreciated. Basically, all I want to know is, is this scene probable, or is it simply "movie magic" that looks realistic, but defies the laws of physics. Thanks! Stripey the crab (talk) 02:33, 12 June 2011 (UTC)


 * The pickup truck was not driving at full speed. It was on the tracks, bouncing up and down, and that would have been unlikely. But more importantly, the genre for this movie is science fiction. I thought the extraterrestrial's starship defied physics too, but I managed to deal with that. HiLo48 (talk) 02:44, 12 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Several things wrong with this scene: (1) the pickup truck could not be driving at full speed, as HiLo already said; (2) even if it was, there would be NO explosion, unless the truck was carrying a full load of nitroglycerin (in which case it would be more likely to blow up just from bouncing on the crossties); (3) the train would not come to a stop OR derail, because it's so much more massive than the truck. What would happen in real life is that the truck would end up flying through the air (possibly in several pieces, or if not then mangled beyond recognition) and maybe catch on fire (but NOT explode) if the fuel tank ruptures, while the train would just get a few dings and dents on its front hood (or bonnet, if it's a streamlined unit like the EMD F-unit).  I write disaster novels for a living, and I tell you, I'd be ashamed to write a scene like this one.  67.169.177.176 (talk) 02:38, 13 June 2011 (UTC)

'Miracle on the Hudson' notable passenger
I saw some YouTube videos. They were of The Late Show with David Letterman. Steve Martin was a guest. He was telling his story about being a passenger aboard US Airways Flight 1549. Why wasn't there any information about that type of thing mentioned in the article about Steve Martin?24.90.204.234 (talk) 05:32, 12 June 2011 (UTC)


 * He was joking. Adam Bishop (talk) 08:09, 12 June 2011 (UTC)


 * This same routine was done in the 1980s on Late Night with David Letterman by comedy writer Emily Prager a few days after a news story about an airplane that shook up passengers when it dropped thousands of feet. Prager was introduced as a journalist who was on the plane and was writing a book about the experience. The humor derived from her emotional intensity contrasted with an inability to describe the event other than a few adjectives about how upsetting it was to her. Pepso2 (talk) 11:18, 12 June 2011 (UTC)

Video Game Epics
Are any video games considered to be Epics. If so what are a few? I normally only play platformers which usually lack in plot so other than Ocarina of Time I can't think of any that might qualify.--ChromeWire (talk) 05:33, 12 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Most high-budget RPGs try to be epic, e.g. various Final Fantasy games. There's also Epic (video game), which from the description doesn't sound very epic. Staecker (talk) 11:51, 12 June 2011 (UTC)


 * The problem is that the genre of epic is rather vague. Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri certainly conveys a sense of "enormity" in its plot-like elements, though the gameplay is pretty run of the mill strategy, for example. The Starcraft series cutscenes try to convey the sense of epic dramas, but again, the gameplay is pretty standard RTS. --Mr.98 (talk) 23:32, 12 June 2011 (UTC)


 * I came here to say exactly the same thing (darnit). If one judges "epic" by the broad plot then Starcraft (with mighty empires smashing one another asunder on a battlefield that stretches across the galaxy) makes the Ramayana read like Emmerdale Farm. But the actuality of the game, which is blocky aliens shooting blocky robots, is as parochial as a game of chess. Most RTS games are like this. If "epic" means the great struggle of a hero, like Beowulf, then many FPS games, from Doom to Half Life to Halo to God of War are squarely epic, even though you're mostly running down a corridor bashing some goblins with a crowbar (until the end, where you meet a galactic emperor or evil god and bash him with a crowbar).  Some games take their pretensions to momentousness to the point of epic-ness fatigue; it seems every castle or temple or tomb in Warcraftland contains yet another ancient mystic artefact that's even older and more mystical than the last, and every villain's power and evil is, like the children of Lake Wobegon, above average. So what game isn't epic? Viva Piñata, I guess. -- Finlay McWalter ☻ Talk 16:03, 13 June 2011 (UTC)


 * As noted, Square Enix strives to produce epic games, but not just in the Final Fantasy lines. It also produced the Kingdom Hearts line, which is different than Final Fantasy in that it expands the epic with each release. The problem is that all of the games are still in the genre of: Get a sword. Kill a monster. Get a bigger sword. Kill a bigger monster. Get a bigger sword. Kill a bigger monster. Repeat. -- k a i n a w &trade; 15:22, 13 June 2011 (UTC)

I said Ocarina of Time was an epic because it "emphasizes human drama on a grand scale". The game takes place over seven years (kinda) and the different characters in the game change and evolve over that time. The game does feel dated though and some of the dialogue does sound like the game is trying to hard to be an Epic.--ChromeWire (talk) 04:56, 14 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Another decent series of video game epics was the PC series The Elder Scrolls. -- Jayron  32  05:07, 14 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Almost seems strange to add, but I think it fits the bill well - Grand Theft Auto? I have only played the fourth, but it seems to fit the description... 99.53.115.125 (talk) 02:48, 15 June 2011 (UTC)

Unknown comedy
I was just chatting with someone and they recalled a comedy from several years ago. All he could remember is a recurring gag was a paper boy returning to a house to ask for his $2 from the man at the house, who was going through comedic turmoil throughout the movie and thus unable to pay the fee. What movie is this? Finalius ( Say what? ) 15:37, 12 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Better Off Dead (film). --Onorem♠Dil 15:43, 12 June 2011 (UTC)

Who is the oldest American working actor in flims or television?


Who is the oldest American working actor in films or television? Who is the oldest working actor that works as of 2011 or 2012? Neptunekh2 (talk) 22:31, 12 June 2011 (UTC)
 * First thought without researching it is Betty White. Looking for more. --Onorem♠Dil 22:42, 12 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Looks like at least Eli Wallach has her beat...still looking. --Onorem♠Dil 22:48, 12 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Wallach may be older but his career's almost two decades shorter and there's no evidence oh him working past 2010.


 * All hail Betty White. μηδείς (talk) 23:40, 12 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Norman Lloyd is slightly older than Wallach and has a 2010 credit. Clarityfiend (talk) 23:43, 12 June 2011 (UTC)


 * 2012? Miss Cleo is thataway. Clarityfiend (talk) 23:49, 12 June 2011 (UTC)

Lloyd's filmography begins in 1942, White's in 1939.

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Betty Cthulhu White R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn

μηδείς (talk) 01:52, 13 June 2011 (UTC)


 * Uh, no. Lloyd appeared in the movie The Streets of New York, released in 1939. (The section title "Filmography" was inaccurate and has been corrected.) Besides, the OP didn't ask who had the longest career. Clarityfiend (talk) 02:32, 13 June 2011 (UTC)


 * If you've got a ref for the credit, then don't tell me, update Lloyd's article. μηδείς (talk) 02:36, 13 June 2011 (UTC)


 * IMDb says it's so, but I see no particular reason to add every single credit to an actor's article. Clarityfiend (talk) 03:48, 13 June 2011 (UTC)

Why are most speculating that the OP had any intention of asking about timespan of actor activity? It doesn't matter when an actor began working, it just matters who's the oldest person still acting. If we find someone who's 103 and he's acting as his debuting character this season, he would win.  DRosenbach  ( Talk 03:53, 13 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Yes, the OP's question was strictly who is the oldest working actor. Norman Lloyd may be the answer, although I'm not sure it's the same answer that came up a couple of months ago when the same question was asked (and which I can't seem to find now). One interesting thing about Lloyd is that he's been married to the same woman since 1936, which by itself might be a Hollywood record. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 05:27, 13 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Worldwide, the German actor Johannes Heesters appears to be the oldest performer, at 107. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 05:32, 13 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Carla Laemmle beats all the previously listed American actors; her IMDb profile lists one recent and two upcoming films in which she appears. She also wins the longest career prize, making her debut in 1925 - beating Mickey Rooney by a year. Warofdreams talk 14:57, 13 June 2011 (UTC)
 * And slightly older than Laemmle is Mae Laborde. She doesn't have any credits since 2009, although her article claims she was still active at least last year.  Much in line with DRosenbach' idea, she is 102 and began acting aged 93. Warofdreams talk 15:24, 13 June 2011 (UTC)