Over the last five decades, technology has played an important part in cinema as it enhances storytelling and adds visual spectacle to keep viewers engaged. A lot of tech scenes can be over-the-top and unrealistic, as seen in the recent ‘Fantastic Four’ film wherein the protagonists built a teleportation bridge to transfer Earth to a hidden part of the galaxy. But in most films, tech-focused scenes are somewhat more believable, reflecting our modern world and the increasing role of technology in our daily lives.
A lot of movies try to incorporate familiar tech concepts, devices, and themes to make them seem more plausible. But the truth is, the majority of tech scenes in films tend to be wildly inaccurate, especially if the movie is about espionage or crime. Here are some memorable examples on how movies get technology scenes wrong.
Inaccurate Hacking Scenes
As a way to add authenticity to their films, some directors hire tech advisors to create realistic hacking scenes in movies or TV shows. The end result is often good enough to impress tech experts and aficionados, and some scenes are so accurate that certain entities had to warn viewers about emulating them. In 2003, ‘The Matrix Reloaded’ caused a sensation with its believable hacking scene which involved using Nmap, a scanner which can detect a computer network's users. Since the use of Nmap was so realistic, the British Computer Society and the Scotland Yard Computer Crime Unit had to release a joint statement, warning hackers not to emulate the film. After ‘The Matrix,’ other films such as ‘Ocean's 8,’ ‘The Bourne Ultimatum,’ ‘Snowden,’ and ‘Elysium’ also used Nmap in their hacking scenes as having the characters use the scanner, or even just having it in the background added credibility to the sequence.
While ‘The Matrix’ and shows like ‘Mr. Robot’ get hacking scenes right, there are others that get them hilariously wrong. Films like ‘The Net’ and ‘Independence Day’ are often cited as examples of inaccurate hacking portrayals, with cybercriminals or tech geniuses typing at lightning-fast speeds, hitting random keys and breaching systems within a matter of seconds or minutes. In reality, hacking is a time-consuming activity that can last for weeks, and breaking into a computer is no easy feat since guessing usernames and passwords can take a few hours or even several days.
AI Becoming Self-Aware
During the late 90s and early 2000s, it seemed like directors and producers were fascinated with the idea of AI becoming self-aware as it became one of the most popular sci-fi movie tropes at the time. Films like 1999's ‘Bicentennial Man’ is the best example of this as it told the story of a robot that started to experience emotions and creative thought before going on a 200-year quest to become human. Robin Williams’ portrayal of the main character made androids seem quirky and lovable to audiences. But other AI characters, such as Skynet in ‘The Terminator’ franchise, made people wonder about the real risks of getting increasingly entangled with artificial intelligence technology.
Although there have been recent reports of AI assistants becoming self-aware, experts say that AI cannot become sentient since it merely repeats input based on massive amounts of data and algorithms. Some sophisticated AI models may seem more knowing and perceiving than others, but this is mainly due to their programming and training.
Infinite Image Enhancement
Ever watched a movie wherein a ‘tech expert’ is able to enhance a grainy photo or footage to 4K quality, or they can somehow pan to everything that's beyond the shot? In spy thrillers like ‘Enemy of the State,’ Jack Black, who plays a forensic imaging technician, is able to transform a 2D segment from a video camera into a 3D version. Meanwhile, in one of the ‘Taken’ films, Liam Neeson's character acquires a mediocre photograph of his daughter being kidnapped, and he uses an editing app to enhance it and identify the kidnapper.
Although image enhancement tools have become more advanced, there is no way to improve a low quality image beyond its original state as cameras have no infinite capacity for resolution. Also, it's impossible to capture details beyond the shot as there is a limit to how far a picture can be improved.
Tech scenes make movies more engaging, but most of them veer off course and head to the path of implausibility. They can be incredibly entertaining though, so sit back, relax, and enjoy all the ways modern filmmakers envision the future of technology.
