Outline for the Second Term Paper

Science Fact or Cinematic Fiction?

I. Intro
    a. In the world of movies, there is a certain limit one must follow the laws of physics for the audience to believe in the world the filmmakers are creating. However, there are plenty of movies where these laws of physics must be broken, whether it be through ignorance of science or for good reason to advance the story. In the examples below, the law of action and reaction is discussed. In these films, the laws of action and reaction is sometimes broken through poor knowledge, and other times it is broken through good intentions of carrying a good story. The three films I have chosen are Cloud Atlas, Hook, and Kill Bill.

II. Body

   a. Cloud Atlas
        - While this film takes place throughout many fantastical worlds, the laws of physics are actually followed closely well for the majority of the film. However, in one of the future timelines, there is a fight scene that takes place between one of the male leads, Hae-Joo Chang, and the Neo-Seoul police. In this fight scene, there are several instances when the the law of reaction/action is broken. One notable example is when Chang is firing bullets at the police. The police go flying in the air, at a somewhat slow speed, hitting the wall and get knocked out. Chang shows no effects of a recoil.
 
b. Hook
       - Hook is a children's fantasy movie, so it is understandable the filmmakers break the laws to fulfill a child's dream. The instance in particular where the law of action/reaction is broken is when Jack is playing baseball in Neverland, where Captain Hook is hosting the game. Jack hits a unbelievably far home run. For a a ten year old boy with little muscle mass, he would not be able to put such energy into hitting a baseball so far that it goes hundreds of feet into the air.
 
c. Kill Bill
      - In the battle scene between the Bride and O-Ren's 88 army, there are countless instances where the law of action/reaction is broken. One of the many examples is seen when the Bride kicks the spiked ball back to the schoolgirl assassin Gogo, and then the ball bounces on a wooden beam and then bounces back to hit Gogo's head. There would not be enough energy to propel this metal ball so many times that it makes a significant damage to Gogo that she breaks a table in response.

III. Conclusion
     a. In all of these movies, the law of action/reaction is broken and bent in unbelievable ways. However, the audience does not mind it so much. It is all to the benefit of the story and creating an immersive world the law is broken. That is good reason enough in a fantastical world of cinema.