back to article How Hollywood film-makers wove proper physics into Interstellar

Youtube Video Having a theoretical physicist attached to a Hollywood sci-fi film proved to be a pretty slick move for Interstellar director Christopher Nolan, who worked with Kip Thorne from the start of the project. "What the algorithms gave us was extremely spectacular," Nolan explained in this short, neat vid about the …

  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    so 'Lost in Space' gets a reboot.

    roll on star wars 7

    1. Rick Brasche

      Re: so 'Lost in Space' gets a reboot.

      I was thinking more "Farscape"

      science, wormholes, strange aliens, but without the surfer bro-scientist and alien parties.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: so 'Lost in Space' gets a reboot.

      The best we can hope for is 'Wrath of Khan', but what we'll end up with is Star Trek The Motion Picture.

      Lets face it, the Prometheus trailers looked good, but even Ridley dropped the ball.

      1. Destroy All Monsters Silver badge
        WTF?

        Re: so 'Lost in Space' gets a reboot.

        Spoilers: here.

        Actually it's FAIL at physics because it involves copying quantum data via classical channel.

        sadfrog.jpg

  2. Lionel Baden
    Paris Hilton

    yes i am being a cynic.

    so they had no idea how to artistically convey the idea.

    1. detritus

      Re: yes i am being a cynic.

      I'm not wholly sure you understand what art is.

      1. Lionel Baden

        Re: yes i am being a cynic.

        Its a way of presenting an idea, or a thought to another person.

        I am all for the use of proper physics in film's, but alas I do believe that it is not for science that they chose to do it in this manner, it was lack of (good/better) options. Most likely they didn't know how to portray it.

  3. dogged

    Is that Christopher Nolan or Tim Nice-But-Dim? I can never tell.

  4. Vince Lewis 1

    though i feel there will chronic oversights still

    maybe they'll fix the ships computer with a iPhone from outside the ships hull , while a solar storm ravages the hapless astronaut..

    1. Dave 126 Silver badge

      Re: though i feel there will chronic oversights still

      >maybe they'll fix the ships computer with a iPhone from outside the ships hull

      From the director who doesn't use email, writes his drafts on his fathers typewriter, and even used 35mm film for the 'Skype'-like video-chatting in the film?

      Whatever you say.

  5. Ralph B

    3hrs in IMAX?

    A 3 hour movie in an IMAX? I can't imagine the ticket price for that, considering the price they charge for the standard 20 minute IMAX film. (Well, I can imagine 9x the price, but I can't imagine many being willing or able to afford it.)

    1. AbelSoul
      Unhappy

      Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

      I can't imagine the ticket price for that...

      I just checked my local IMAX and it's £14:30.

      Nearly thirty quid for two of us to go to the pictures? Yikes!

      Still tempted, right enough.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

        £30 for two people to go to the pictures is becoming fairly standard unfortunately, which is why I very rarely go. That's not including £8 each for popcorn and a bottle of water by the way!

        ...and they wonder why people just wait for the movie to reach DVD or streaming services instead...

        1. MrXavia

          Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

          "£30 for two people to go to the pictures is becoming fairly standard unfortunately, "

          My local cinema is a little independent single screen job but they have a digital projector, leather seats and only charge £7.

          meaning I have more change than my local sticky multiplex to spend on a good draught beer (the cinema also has a fully licensed bar and even serves ales!!)

          It may not be the iMax experience but I wish there were more cosy cinemas like this ran by people who love film! and its great for kids, get a sofa (yes they have leather sofas) and sit your young one beside you, they can cuddle up in scary bits!

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

        "Nearly thirty quid for two of us to go to the pictures? Yikes!"

        Yeah but that's, you know, foreign money. So it's not like it really matters.

        : )

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

          >Yeah but that's, you know, foreign money.

          Known colloquially as Monopoly (the game) money.

      3. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

        "Still tempted, right enough."

        A fool and their money...

        1. mark 63 Silver badge

          Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

          Theres no way in hell I'm sitting still in a small seat with 200 other people for 3 hours!

          never mind paying £15 quid for it!

          Theres a reason you can buy a projector that'll give you 100" screen at home for £250 (or £600 for a decent one) - so you can watch movies like you were at the cinema without the:

          1) travelling

          2) parking

          3) queueing

          4) Paying £15

          5) Paying a further £10 for food n drink

          6) Sitting with a load of teenage knobheads

          7) not being able to pause it and go for a piss

          8) Not Being allowed to drink beer

          9) not beoing allowed to smoke

          10) not being able to stretch your legs out on comfy furniture

          11) Being Deafened

          12) sitting through 30 minutes of ads for shit you have no interest in

          13) having to start at a specific time

          did I miss anything ?

      4. illiad

        Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

        and WHERE is your local cinema?? Cineworld can be a lot cheaper than Odeon...

    2. intrigid

      Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

      The movie isn't being shown in IMAX format, silly. It's being shown in IMAX-branded theatres, which are the same as regular theatres but with the seats a little closer to the screen.

      1. Ralph B

        Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

        Thanks for the downvotes for saying it might be expensive to see this movie in an IMAX cinema. Even though it will be.

        My "local" IMAX charges between £12 and £14 for the 20 minute films. There's no sign of Interstellar appearing there any time soon, which may be because they don't want to lose the 9x£14=£126 they could be earning in the same time (OK, more realistically 6x£14=£84, allowing for audience swaps), or because have no chance of charging that much for screening Interstellar.

        So, downvoters, I'm not knocking the IMAX experience, just pointing out the mathematical / economic facts involved in screening a 3hr movie in an IMAX cinema.

        1. intrigid

          Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

          You're the one who doesn't seem to be getting it. When a major motion picture is released "in IMAX", it means they're being played in traditional theatres branded by IMAX. It does not mean that it will be shown in purpose-built IMAX theatres on actual IMAX 1570 film.

          So yeah, OF COURSE there's no sign of Interstellar being shown at your local science center. Nobody ever said it would be!

          By the way, does the UK actually HAVE a legit 1570 theatre?

          1. johnnybee

            Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

            Actually, you're both mistaken.

            Interstellar will be showing at IMAX cinemas, meaning cinemas with projectors capable of projecting the 1570 format (of which the UK has >30, usually a single screen in a multiplex). The reason it is being shown there is because it was partially shot (>60mins) in IMAX format, with IMAX cameras, on IMAX stock, by the director who seems to like doing IMAX-format films (Batman films). Films (or parts of films) not shot with IMAX cameras can be remastered to be shown on IMAX projectors, but the effect is somewhat reduced.

            The other thing to 'get' is that showing a three-hour film to a packed theatre will generate cash that showing a twenty-minute film to one man and his dog will not. A blockbuster like Interstellar will get bums on seats, even at 2-3 times the price of viewing it on a regular screen.

            1. Fuzz

              Re: 3hrs in IMAX? UK IMAX cinemas

              Just a small correction here, as far as I know the UK has 4 IMAX cinemas capable of showing 15 perf 70mm. BFI, Science Museum, Manchester and Bradford.

      2. AbelSoul

        Re: The movie isn't being shown in IMAX format...

        It's being shown in IMAX-branded theatres, which are the same as regular theatres but with the seats a little closer to the screen.

        At the regular cinemas in town it's "only" £9. So the question is, would seeing it in an IMAX be worth the extra fiver each?

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: The movie isn't being shown in IMAX format...

          Did iMAX kill off betaMAX, there's so many formats out there these days, i get confused.

    3. streaky

      Re: 3hrs in IMAX?

      At BFI which is one of the few legit IMAX cinemas (where the European premier was held last week) in the UK it'll be about 20 quid I'd think (rough usual price) - *and* worth every damn penny.

      @intrigid, yes ^ - and also there's one in Manchester I believe but the BFI one is a nicer cinema :)

  6. Toltec

    I am trying to maintain an open mind about this film, the existing clips showing distinctly contemporary tech levels and black holes are not making it easy though.

  7. Anomalous Cowshed

    Cool times ahead for scientists

    You can just imagine this becoming widespread, and scientists, even normal ones, having a second, evening job in show business, advising film-makers, TV production companies, theatre impresarios, writers...it would be cool to be a scientist and loads of kids would want to get into it...instead of studying things like Media and Marketing studies*...that would be good for the kids, for the films / TV shows, and for the world as a whole!

    *subject to availability of the requisite level of intelligence to cope with all those pesky equations, graphs, variables, concepts, some of which may be significantly different from what's taught on the Media & Marketing course at your local Mickey Mouse University.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Cool times ahead for scientists

      They had 'technical advisors' from American academia on Star Trek TNG, so....nothing new here.

      1. Hero Protagonist

        Re: Cool times ahead for scientists

        But this time the scientist has Executive Producer credits, hopefully this means he had more pull* than a mere "advisor".

        *Pull, geddit? Gravity...pull...oh never mind, I'll get me coat, it's the one with all the holes...no, the *black* holes...yes, that's the one. Careful, it's a bit heavy.

    2. Turtle

      Re: Cool times ahead for scientists

      "You can just imagine this becoming widespread, and scientists, even normal ones, having a second, evening job in show business, advising film-makers, TV production companies, theatre impresarios, writers...it would be cool to be a scientist and loads of kids would want to get into it...instead of studying things like Media and Marketing studies*...that would be good for the kids, for the films / TV shows, and for the world as a whole!"

      You couldn't be more wrong. "Scientists in showbiz" portends nothing good for science. Unless your idea of "cool" is watching Michio Kaku spout his bullshit on tv. And if you think that competition for fame and the wealth that is often attached to it somehow breeds anything useful other than venal people.

  8. intrigid

    Soooo....

    In other words, this movie will NOT be like Gravity?

    1. MrXavia
      Facepalm

      Re: Soooo....

      Oh Gravity, has A film that was almost designed to pull a massive geek crowd ever disappointed so much?

      Did they even have an advisor from NASA?

      The film could have had a very similar plot, similar effects but been more realistic...

      I am glad I did not watch it at the cinema, I would have annoyed everyone by screaming at the screen!

      One of the most glaring errors is you do NOT wear normal underwear under a space suit, where is the cooling garment? where is the Maximum Absorption Device (space nappy)?? I guess having her in underwear showed more skin than the cooling garment, and having her float naked would be a no no for American audiences....

      1. Destroy All Monsters Silver badge

        Re: Soooo....

        Space worker Ripley disagrees with out. So there.

      2. asdf

        Re: Soooo....

        >The film could have had a very similar plot,

        Don't know that spacesuit only trip from the Hubble to the ISS was going to to be pure fiction regardless unless the movie took place in the year 2100 or something. That was a major part of the plot.

  9. stu 4

    Kif Koker

    I keep getting the two confused.

    1. Oz
      Coat

      Re: Kif Koker

      Do you mean Kif Kroker?

      http://futurama.wikia.com/wiki/Kif_Kroker

      1. Gobhicks

        Re: Kif Koker

        Kif Toker?

  10. Andy The Hat Silver badge

    Having a physicist on the team helps ...

    "Sunshine" and Brian Cox proves this not to be true ...

    1. jamesb2147

      Disagree

      Hey, the first half of that film was excellent (though I've found most people found it boring).

      You won't catch me defending the second half, though, nor Boyle's apparent views on women in storytelling.

      1. MrXavia

        Re: Disagree

        I agree, first half was great!

  11. i like crisps
    Mushroom

    Don't like Christopher Nolan films.

    Cinematic Snake Oil salesman who can't direct Action Films.

    ( Don't downvote, it's just my opinion )

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Devil

      Re: Don't like Christopher Nolan films.

      And thus you were downvoted, not for your opinion, but for your pleading for mercy on the downvotes front...

      1. i like crisps
        Angel

        Re: Don't like Christopher Nolan films.

        I didn't downvote you Getifa, that wasn't me, ok?

  12. Greg D
    Mushroom

    Am I in the right place?

    I thought we all liked technology and science.

    Am I at the Register? I seem to be surrounded by cynical old bastards.

    1. DJO Silver badge

      Re: Am I in the right place?

      Am I at the Register? I seem to be surrounded by cynical old bastards

      Yes you are at The Register and if you are surprised by "cynical old bastards" you've plainly not been here for long.

    2. Alistair
      Windows

      Re: Am I in the right place?

      Yes, yes you are.

      Technology and science we like.

      Marketteering and snake oil we do not. Being charged ridiculous prices just makes us grumpier.

      (yes I'm a grumpy old bastard)

    3. Destroy All Monsters Silver badge
      Windows

      Re: Am I in the right place?

      Am I at the Register? I seem to be surrounded by cynical old bastards.

      Because El Reg forums becomes more and more of an old pirate bar, with Orlowski ranting time and again from the upper stairway like a village priest to general rolling of eyes, and everyone hoping that they will still manage to actually see the world burn before the last bourbon is absorbed, while young ones stumble through the front door, full of wide-eyed naiveté and start to post things that apparently are full of earnest hope.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Am I in the right place?

        You're like Good Cop & Bad Cop all rolled into one, ain't ya?

      2. DJO Silver badge
        Pirate

        Re: Am I in the right place?

        old pirate bar - OK I can see that, but bourbon! Pirates drink Rum, everybody knows that - Yo ho ho and a bottle of thereof and other jolly shanties.

        1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

          Re: Am I in the right place?

          Bugger! I missed Talk Like A Pirate Day again! :-(

  13. Destroy All Monsters Silver badge
    IT Angle

    Riding the accretion disk?

    A crispy critter is you!

    So what kind of cluster was this computed on? Come on, Reg!

  14. Winkypop Silver badge
    Alien

    As long as Tom What's-his-name isn't in it

    It might be OK.

  15. streeeeetch

    Quiet please

    Personally aside from general physics, just no noisy explosions and more realistic lighting in space would be welcome.

    I will also be watching it at home when it comes out on Blueray. I love the big screen but find the experience spoiled by the lights half on, noisy eaters, talkers and kids on phones. At home I get comfy seats (I'm 6'7"...), free (almost) popcorn and proper beer along with a big(ish) screen and decent sound.

  16. Sokolik

    If I knew anything, I'd have alphabet soup after my name. Yet, I think it's fair to say, "Mr. Nobody" also is based on sound science.

  17. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    A voice from the future

    Hi there, I'm posting this from several days in the future because I just walked over a particularly heavy manhole cover.

    This film takes general relativity and the physics of black holes and says "how can we make these work with the plot?". Then it says "Oh, is that what the physics means?". Then it says "well, bugger the physics, let's just go with the plot."

  18. harmjschoonhoven
    Pint

    If

    Nolan had also consulted a biologist, the slogan whould not have been "THE END OF EARTH WILL NOT BE THE END OF US.", but "The end of us will not be the end of earth". After all, life on earth has been thriving for billions of years without us.".

    Beer because yeast will survive us.

  19. illiad

    2 stars, 6 if the music is removed..

    Just saw it at the Kingston odeon.. about a tenner.. :)

    If you are desperate to see it, bring earplugs!! the 'background' music is thunderous and pointlessly laid on... :(

    REMOVE the music, it is 'fairly' average scifi movie... I would wait for it on cable/sky, so I can record & see it with sound muted, so I can see what happened when I was too deafened to follow some parts... :(

    Dont worry, good ending, but some may not understand most of the 'tech'..

    The 'setup' was a bit much, how can a whole planet have fantastic technology, robots, etc, and decide to misinform people about space, due to lack of food/ crops?? -- that seemed to be in abundance through the film??? we have the tech TODAY, to '3d print' a burger...

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