Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/26/83; site ihnss.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxt!mhuxi!mhuxa!houxm!ihnp4!ihnss!knudsen From: knudsen@ihnss.UUCP Newsgroups: net.movies Subject: HUMAN unrealism in WarGames Message-ID: <1582@ihnss.UUCP> Date: Tue, 28-Jun-83 21:52:40 EDT Article-I.D.: ihnss.1582 Posted: Tue Jun 28 21:52:40 1983 Date-Received: Wed, 29-Jun-83 10:33:26 EDT Organization: BTL Naperville, Il. Lines: 28 Nobody has seemed to notice the most improbable plot event in "WarGames": that a non-social, non-athletic boy whose only intrest is computer hacking & games should end up kissing a beautiful girl whose main interest is jogging, aerobic dancing, and other trendy getting physical. David finally seems to recognize the enormity of this mismatch when, on Dr. Falken's island, he admits to Jennifer that he suffers the same physical defect as the frog in the Frogger game. But this well-made film makes this seem plausible, as it does with the more techinical issues. First, David shows he isn't so square as to be into adult morality (by fixing grades). Second, he can explain articulately his interest in computers (boy, don't we wish...)-- when she asks "what's so special about playing games with a computer" he answers "But this one can Learn from its mistakes!" I've found that a sincere desire to share one's interests with others who are socially "above" such things can in fact work. And of course David shows genuine concern that he may be blowing up the human race, and Jennifer is old-fashioned enough to like people who care. And so we believe. In this respect the movie is PRO-technology, in showing that, properly introduced and explained and demonstrated, computing is attractive to attractive (pun?) and not necessarily "intelligent" people, i.e., anyone can love it. In fact, this flick does more to UNDO the NURD stereotype than anything else has lately. Two genuine nurds are shown to prove the point that we're not all like that (all the time...). Say, how come everyone picks technical nits and nobody ever discusses the human angle of plots in sci-fi movies? Those kids are as real as the people in Officer & Gentleman (within an order magnitude) so let's give some equal time. mike k