Great Science-based movies?

Question

Can anyone give me an idea of some good movies that have to do with engineering, science or the space program? Apollo 13 is my favorite movie, and The Right Stuff is good too. Any good ones you can point me to?

Answer 1

There aren't many that are both entertaining and realistic - most are science fiction with heavy emphasis on the fiction.

But, I'd recommend:

October Sky - It does a great job of showing how science can inspires someone and how determined you have to be to make a scientific breakthough.

EDIT - I'll put in a second for Andromeda Strain.

But "What the bleep do we know?" is hogwash mystic propaganda for some wacked out religions and NOT based on science. Look at the credits and they reference a lot of the "science" material coming from a 20,000 year old Indian spirit who talks though one of the people in the movie.

Answer 2

2001 was a little "far out", but Kubrick is great for making you feel like you are there. Those long scenes where nothing is happening, for instance. Probably exactly what a 3-year space voyage would be like. The sequel, 2010 is a lot more entertaining in movie form. It has a few interesting hard-science moments (the atmospheric braking, for example)

Personally, sci-fi is my favorite genre (book or film). I tend to gravitate towards sci-fi/comedy and "Space Opera", though.

There was a movie from the early '70's called "Marooned" which was pretty good. Sort of like Apollo 13 but there was an experimental space craft involved which was an option a cash-strapped NASA shelved. (It was like the X-15 in that it took off piggy-backed to a B-52 or something so it didn't require all the fuel. Looked like a small, sporty Space Shuttle. David Janssen piloted it. )

Answer 3

Check out Tom Hank's HBO mini-series that first aired in 1998 called, "From the Earth to the Moon." The first two episodes and the later ones devoted to the Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 missions are outstanding.

Answer 4

Marooned (1969)

After spending several months in an orbiting lab, three astronauts prepare to return to earth only to find their rockets wont fire. After initially thinking they might have to abandon them in orbit, NASA decides to launch a daring rescue. Their plans are complicated by a Hurricane headed towards the launch site and a shrinking air supply in the astronauts capsule.
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The Dam Busters (1954)
The British are desperate to shorten the length of WW2 and propose a daring raid to smash Germany's industrial heart. At first the objective looks impossible until a British scientist invents an ingenious weapon capable of destroying the planned target.
Brilliant piece of work...and one of my favorite 'based on a true story' movies.
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The Arrow (1997) (TV)
The true story of how Canada almost built one of the world's most advanced fighter planes, back in the 1950s. and how the project was dropped due to economic reasons.
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What the BLEEP Do We (K)now!? (2004)
WHAT THE #$*! DO WE KNOW?!" is a radical departure from convention. It demands a freedom of view and greatness of thought so far unknown, indeed, not even dreamed of since Copernicus. It's a documentary. It's a story. It's mind-blowing special effects. This film plunges you into a world where quantum uncertainty is demonstrated - where neurological processes, and perceptual shifts are engaged and lived by its protagonist - where everything is alive, and reality is changed by every thought.
MIndblowing...though provoking...

Answer 5

The Andromeda Strain
The Sphere

Answer 6

Two older movies (but goodies) that come to mind are:

"Capricorn One" ~ and ~ "2001 Space Odyssey"

Answer 7

go to peekvid and watch the movie the secret

Answer 8

inner space.