# Things That Bother Me in Science Fiction Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [October 24, 2023, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001 "2023-10-24T08:55:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/201 "2023-11-01T03:40:05Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > However, I couldn’t get over how much they sexed up JPL as a futuristic-looking campus that is somehow central to NASA operations; in reality it looks like a run-down land grant college which had its architectural heyday in the ‘Sixties and is pretty much considered a side project for NASA that they let the eggheads at Caltech run for them despite how many phenomenal uncrewed planetary exploration missions they overachieve at. Not that he’s taking this personally at all! Seriously, I love you @Stranger_On_A_Train. Your posts are always informative and often humorous as well. You represent the best of the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/202 "2023-11-01T12:07:25Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Once you get past the splendor of the cosmos unfiltered by atmosphere, space is just very, very boring In Space, No One Can Hear You Yawn. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/203 "2023-11-01T12:23:40Z")
> [@WhatWasISaying](#): > > MCCOY: I’ve always wondered why there were so many humanoids scattered through the galaxy. > SPOCK: So have I. Apparently the Preservers account for a number of them. Wouldn’t Spock be wondering why there are so many Vulcanoids? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/204 "2023-11-01T12:34:59Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > because the cooling system in your EVA suit is leaking and slowly filling the helmet with air. Everything else your post said makes sense–but I’m struggling with this. Is there a typo, or am I misunderstanding what you’re saying? I thought your helmet was _supposed_ to be filled with air. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/205 "2023-11-01T15:19:12Z")
That was supposed to be “… slowly filling the helmet with _coolant_.” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/206 "2023-11-01T15:28:18Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Wouldn’t Spock be wondering why there are so many Vulcanoids? Everyone knows the Universal Translator is racist. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/207 "2023-11-01T15:50:06Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > That was supposed to be “… slowly filling the helmet with _coolant_.” That makes so much more sense. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/208 "2023-11-01T15:54:55Z")
I think I once saw a movie where they employed biological organisms to regulate the systems on their spacecraft. E.g. using swarms of insects (in secure tubes, natch) to transfer heat from one part of the vessel to another. Unrealistic as hell of course, but I did think that if an ant could act as temperature regulator, that really would be a cool ant. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/209 "2023-11-01T16:05:33Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > if an ant could act as temperature regulator, that really would be a cool ant. Well played! Now if only they could engineer one that would cheer me up. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/210 "2023-11-01T18:51:41Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Now if only they could engineer one that would cheer me up. One to lift your feelings? Like a sort of buoy ant? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/211 "2023-11-01T18:52:46Z")
Two ants, and in the middle, I depress. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/212 "2023-11-01T19:03:15Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > > [@silenus](#): > > > > Shatner never would have stood for it. You….can’t…emote…through a mask. > > But you can through the Dollar Store Spacesuits they used in, for example _The Tholian Web_ > > [Doux Reviews: Star Trek: The Tholian Web](https://www.douxreviews.com/2012/02/star-trek-tholian-web.html) Those were light-years ahead of the ones they wore in “The Naked Time”: [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQRZXYhpA0MTpzW-ZtO3EY4ry11ul9zYGHEwxLy0C2V_kDTrOZz-c3onAtW9z3q76uppr0&usqp=CAU) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQRZXYhpA0MTpzW-ZtO3EY4ry11ul9zYGHEwxLy0C2V_kDTrOZz-c3onAtW9z3q76uppr0&usqp=CAU) Dollar Store shower curtains, these were! As for the prevalence of humanoids throughout the Galaxy, this was discussed in at least two episodes of _ **TOS** _: “Return to Tomorrow” and “The Paradise Syndrome.” The best test of a planet’s atmosphere was in _ **Flesh Gordon** _, where Flexi Jerkoff walked out of his spaceship, inhaled a lungful, and said “Good. There’s oxygen here.” ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/213 "2023-11-01T20:16:43Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Those were light-years ahead of the ones they wore in “The Naked Time”: I especially like the way there is not actually a seal between the hood and the rest of the suit. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/214 "2023-11-01T20:42:36Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The best test of a planet’s atmosphere was in _ **Flesh Gordon** _, where Flexi Jerkoff walked out of his spaceship, inhaled a lungful, and said “Good. There’s oxygen here.” [\*sniff\* \*sniff\* “Seems okay.”](https://youtu.be/kcPouxFqUFA?si=yS2ktGjMNsv4hPqh) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/215 "2023-11-01T20:53:35Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The best test of a planet’s atmosphere was in _ **Flesh Gordon** _, where Flexi Jerkoff walked out of his spaceship, inhaled a lungful, and said “Good. There’s oxygen here.” Now I want to see this movie. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/216 "2023-11-01T21:04:44Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Once you get past the splendor of the cosmos unfiltered by atmosphere, space is just very, very boring; Yep. One can fly thru the asteroid belt, and you _might_ see a couple of points of reflected light that indicate an asteroid . You will not have to be dodging them like crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/217 "2023-11-01T22:53:47Z")
> [@frogmouth](#): > > And where the heck is that John Williams music coming from? A full orchestra? In outer space? REALLY?!? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BymRIbLcn1o/maxresdefault.jpg "Shut up John Williams!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BymRIbLcn1o) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/218 "2023-11-01T23:45:22Z")
I think it was implied all those doo-dads woven into the suit generated some kind of protective force-field. In the animated series, they didn’t even bother with suits—they just had force-fields. [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTPcF2rWVOFcHRBK6Ig3EEhgjLGx-Xugq1Yag0faypQ87Ncvd4SrxYo8HClYXmsjP9KJnU&usqp=CAU) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTPcF2rWVOFcHRBK6Ig3EEhgjLGx-Xugq1Yag0faypQ87Ncvd4SrxYo8HClYXmsjP9KJnU&usqp=CAU) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2023, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/219 "2023-11-01T23:57:45Z")
Why do shuttlecraft always land in the middle of big rock formations? [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXS31RUesGHi3_jnJIutdu74uhY_0FTgoI5iwe35s65ZuTeyqikwjc0iLLukTqrzJRaSo&usqp=CAU) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXS31RUesGHi3_jnJIutdu74uhY_0FTgoI5iwe35s65ZuTeyqikwjc0iLLukTqrzJRaSo&usqp=CAU) [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT6rriY0-Di8aNOIVfL7tN5IarC46jmKX8xN-bj6uuTKZdK_zcpbvRIAlFn05QjjKq1qgM&usqp=CAU) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT6rriY0-Di8aNOIVfL7tN5IarC46jmKX8xN-bj6uuTKZdK_zcpbvRIAlFn05QjjKq1qgM&usqp=CAU) They wouldn’t do that if Armstrong were piloting. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2023, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001/220 "2023-11-02T00:03:46Z")
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