[net.space] Forbidden Planet explosion ; 2001 flaws

lew (12/06/82)

"Forbidden Planet" had a good planet explosion effect at the end.
To start with, the explosion was viewed from a great enough distance
that the planet appeared initially point-like. The explosion itself
appeared as a luminous circle which expanded rapidly in radius and
then faded (all in silence.) Not beyond criticism, I suppose, but infinitely
superior to the firecracker effects in Star Wars. It looked a lot like the
upper atmosphere dye explosions which were launched from Virginia in the
sixties. Remember them?

Also, a technical flaw in "2001" is the existence of "star drift" to indicate
the stately motion of the "Discovery". I would guess that they knew it was
wrong but left it in anyway. "2001" also had billowing gas and dust in 
the lunar vacuum.

Lew Mammel, Jr. ihuxr!lew

bstempleton (12/08/82)

2001 did have billowing gas and dust, but that was in the middle of
engine exhaust.   Aside from the straw, the major flaw in 2001 is that
they walk like they have gravity in the pod bay, when it is not part of
the rotating wheel and thus has none.