Film: Wargames

Post #199,755

3/21/05 1:51:26 PM

Film: Wargames

Don't expect oscar-caliber acting, star-wars quality special effects, or "Miracle Mile"-style end of the world drama.

A little backstory, my wife checked out "Swordfish" (which really should have been named "Suckfish" due to the amount of suck the film contained), and as punishment, I told her she'd have to watch "Wargames" as punishment.

It's actually a surprisingly decent little film. I was saying to my wife over the weekend that as far as computer stuff went, it was pretty consistent - and lo and behold, the IMDB shows one of the script authors as the same guy who wrote "Sneakers", another film I count as being imbued with the hacker spirit. WOPR's final commentary on nuclear war is probably the best summary of all the arguments against nuclear war...

That, plus Ally Sheedy is still quite easy on the eyes after all these years.

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not "Eureka!" but "That's funny..."
-Isaac Asimov

Post #199,785

by lister

3/21/05 3:15:38 PM

Suckfish

The first 20 minutes was good. The blowing up part was rather surprising. Otherwise the movie indeed was suckfish even with Halle's berries in HD.

lister

Post #199,794

by inthane-chan

3/21/05 3:30:14 PM

And berries they are...

Post #199,803

by tjsinclair

3/21/05 4:02:58 PM

Showed both to my students

In an intro to network security course, I showed both Sneakers and Swordfish to compare and contrast how Hollywood portrays hackers/crackers/computers/etc.

Tom Sinclair

"This is a lovely party," said the Bursar to a chair, "I wish I was here."
-- The Bursar is a man under a *lot* of stress
(Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies)

Post #199,850

by static

3/21/05 6:32:30 PM

I like Sneakers. I didn't like Swordfish.

Having worked with encryption, it's clear the makers of both films have not. :-( But Sneakers is overall a much, much better film. I couldn't finish watching Swordfish - the amorality of Travolta's character bothered me.

Wade.

Is it enough to love
Is it enough to breathe
Somebody rip my heart out
And leave me here to bleed

Is it enough to die
Somebody save my life
I'd rather be Anything but Ordinary
Please

-- "Anything but Ordinary" by Avril Lavigne.

Post #199,859

by tjsinclair

3/21/05 6:58:34 PM

Agreed

After each 'sneak' (the bank, the university lab, the toy company) in Sneakers, I pause and we discuss the techniques used. What I like about Sneakers is the way that most of their work is done through social engineering. I make sure to point out where they fall down on the subject of crypto. In general, though, it's about the best portrayal of hacking/cracking I've seen in a major commercial movie.

As for Swordfish - Now that you mention it, this movie bothers me more these days with the current administration than it used to. However, despite my reservations about Travolta's character, he does a very good job portraying the amoral zealot Gabriel.

Tom Sinclair

"This is a lovely party," said the Bursar to a chair, "I wish I was here."
-- The Bursar is a man under a *lot* of stress
(Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies)

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