My Blog for Physics in Film

I thought “Fat Man, Little Boy” was entertaining at least. Now that I think about it, it reminds me of “Pearl Harbor” because both seem to try to entwine a compelling love story with important and rather serious historical events whether its action or political drama. I don’t like it when movies try to make a movie out of events which should in my opinion be separate movies. If you have ever seen the mini-series “Band of Brothers” they make references to their “sweethearts at home” but it is never a dominant storyline and most of the series is mostly military drama.

Anyway, the idea of caged scientists both intrigues and scares me. I would probably be excited to be working on a top secret government project for the good of the country and would not notice I was signing my freedom away for a period of time. One could tell how excited the scientists were in the movie, like boys going to summer camp, boy were they surprised when the camp turned out to be a sweat shop. The scientist became upset when they were being censored, restricted, overworked and regarded as numbers rather than names. Scientists need exchanges of ideas in order to function. They were talking in the movie about how one important idea came out a free discussion.

Working impossible hours constantly for something would definitely make me think about what I was doing. So after the excitement died down, the researchers must have been starting to question in the implications of their research. It would be quite something to have direct involvement in the death of thousands.

As for Dr. Oppenheimer’s God complex, it does make him a effective confident leader. He is respected by his peers, accomplishes tasks and overcomes roadblocks. However, he seems to be difficult with whom to negotiate. General Groves seems a bit monarchial. He did not tell anyone that Germany didn’t have the bomb until way after he got the news and was obsessed with obtaining the device. The thing I do not understand is how come no one made light of the potential peaceful uses of nuclear energy.