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Bad education: what films shouldn’t be shown in schools? Bad education: what films shouldn’t be shown in schools?
(35 minutes later)
Anyone who’s seen Christopher Nolan’s wonderfully self-important space epic, Interstellar, will be somewhat “huh?” at the news that experts in the fields of physics and quantum gravity have deemed it accurate enough to be studied in schools worldwide. Anyone who’s seen Christopher Nolan’s wonderfully self-important space epic, Interstellar, will be somewhat confused by the news that experts in the fields of physics and quantum gravity have deemed it accurate enough to be studied in schools worldwide.
Related: The science of Interstellar: astrophysics, but not as we know itRelated: The science of Interstellar: astrophysics, but not as we know it
Apparently the guff about wormholes holds up, although the paper, entitled Visualising Interstellar’s Wormholes, contains no reference to the scientific legitimacy of a magical bookshelf. Which means that perhaps it’s better to just focus on the odd scene in a classroom, rather than the entire four-day-long saga.Apparently the guff about wormholes holds up, although the paper, entitled Visualising Interstellar’s Wormholes, contains no reference to the scientific legitimacy of a magical bookshelf. Which means that perhaps it’s better to just focus on the odd scene in a classroom, rather than the entire four-day-long saga.
It’s not the first film to be recommended for the curriculum – Steve McQueen’s Oscar-winning drama 12 Years a Slave is a recent addition – but it’s one of the stranger choices. While Nolan’s science fiction is reportedly science fact, here’s a set of other films that could be even less suitable for student viewing ... It’s not the first film to be recommended for the curriculum – Steve McQueen’s Oscar-winning drama 12 Years a Slave is a recent addition – but it’s one of the stranger choices. While Nolan’s science fiction is reportedly science fact, here’s a set of other films that could be even less suitable for student viewing.
Let us know if you have any other ideas in the comments.
The Human Centipede – biologyThe Human Centipede – biology
The marketing for this inventively-grotesque yet surprisingly dull horror film boasted that it was 100% medically accurate. Quite a claim given that no one has actually made a real human centipede (that I know of). So while a surgeon might have consulted with director Tom Six, he wasn’t given the freedom to sew together three interns ass-to-mouth, making his claim slightly hollow. If shown to impressionable teens, repulsion would most likely be the main reaction, followed by denial, anger, bargaining, depression, boredom, horniness (?) and, finally, acceptance. The marketing for this inventively grotesque yet surprisingly dull horror film boasted that it was 100% medically accurate. Quite a claim, given that no one has actually made a real human centipede (that I know of). So while a surgeon might have consulted with director Tom Six, he wasn’t given the freedom to sew together three interns ass-to-mouth, making his claim slightly hollow. If shown to impressionable teens, repulsion would most likely be the main reaction, followed by denial, anger, bargaining, depression, boredom, horniness (?) and, finally, acceptance.
Ratatouille – FrenchRatatouille – French
Related: The bare unnecessaries: which Disney films don't need a live-action versionRelated: The bare unnecessaries: which Disney films don't need a live-action version
It might be one of Pixar’s finest, but Ratatouille’s beautifully-constructed Parisian setting is just that: a construct. Despite the odd “voila”, it’s a film where French rats speak American English and French people speak English in the style of Pepé Le Pew. Its view on the French language is about as loose as its view on food hygiene, given that the final scene sees a restaurant full of people enjoying a meal assembled by rats, without dying of the plague. It might be one of Pixar’s finest, but Ratatouille’s beautifully constructed Parisian setting is just that: a construct. Despite the odd “voilà”, it’s a film where French rats speak American English and French people speak English in the style of Pepe Le Pew. Its view on the French language is about as loose as its view on food hygiene, given that the final scene sees a restaurant full of people enjoying a meal assembled by rats, without dying of the plague.
Showgirls – dramaShowgirls – drama
High school plays aren’t exactly known for their nuance, but Elizabeth Berkley’s performance in Paul Verhoeven’s unintentional camp classic would make most of the performances seem Oscar-worthy in comparison. The doomed actor’s decision to play the entire movie at around a 99 out of 10 means that EVERY SINGLE ACTION IS VERY PRONOUNCED. Like when she has electrifying sex in a pool with Kyle MacLachlan or when she attacks her new friend right before vomiting on her car or when she eats fries. Unless the class is called “How not to become the next Sharon Stone”, this one should be avoided. High school plays aren’t exactly known for their nuance, but Elizabeth Berkley’s performance in Paul Verhoeven’s unintentional camp classic would make most of the performances seem Oscar-worthy in comparison. The doomed actor’s decision to overact throughout the entire movie means that EVERY SINGLE ACTION IS VERY PRONOUNCED. Like when she has electrifying sex in a pool with Kyle MacLachlan, or when she attacks her new friend right before vomiting on her car, or when she eats fries. Unless the class is called, “How not to become the next Sharon Stone”, this one should be avoided.
The Net – ITThe Net – IT
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The internet moves at a frightening pace. During the time it took me to write that sentence, BuzzFeed just posted 23 lists about cats who know what you’ve done. It’s therefore bravely stupid to make a film which aims to showcase just how excitingly cutting edge the online world is and just plain stupid to make it in 1995 when “surfing the web” was an activity reserved for spiders showing off. This one might be useful in history instead, where floppy disks and Jeremy Northam’s career could be explained to confused students. The internet moves at a frightening pace. During the time it took me to write that sentence, BuzzFeed just posted 23 lists about cats who know what you’ve done. It’s therefore bravely stupid to make a film that aims to showcase just how excitingly cutting edge the online world is, and just plain stupid to make it in 1995, when “surfing the web” was an activity reserved for spiders showing off. This one might be useful in history instead, where floppy disks and Jeremy Northam’s career could be explained to confused students.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter – historyAbraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter – history
While Steven Spielberg’s earnest biopic would make a suitable syllabus addition, the same year’s other Lincoln movie might be of less use. Because, well, the 16th President of the United States wasn’t a vampire hunter. Because, well, vampires aren’t a real thing. The film’s middling box office means that other confusingly fantasised biopics (Marie Curie: Sea Monster Slayer!) are unlikely to follow.While Steven Spielberg’s earnest biopic would make a suitable syllabus addition, the same year’s other Lincoln movie might be of less use. Because, well, the 16th President of the United States wasn’t a vampire hunter. Because, well, vampires aren’t a real thing. The film’s middling box office means that other confusingly fantasised biopics (Marie Curie: Sea Monster Slayer!) are unlikely to follow.