May 1, 2006
Hollywood's Take on the Internet Often Favors Fun Over Facts
Hollywood has a spot track record when it comes to depicting computers and the Internet. Depictions tend to range from slightly exaggerated to just plain goofy.
Click here to see some memorable portrayals of the Internet on the big screen put together by The Wall Street Journal:
War Games (1983), Sneakers (1992), Hackers (1995), The Net (1995), Mission: Impossible (1996), Independence Day (1996), You've Got Mail (1998), Swordfish (2001), .com from Murder (2002), Feardotcom (2002, The Matrix Reloaded (2003), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005.
Some portrayals are so absurd as to leave viewers wondering if the film's producers use the same Internet they do.
"Representing Internet use in film is challenging to even the most seasoned director and writer," said Mr. Goodman, the museum director. Accurate depictions of Web surfing, instant messaging or email exchanges are not very cinematic, he added. "How exciting can you make someone typing into the computer?"
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