Comments on: The Flight of Dragons movie: Magic versus science http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/11/15/the-flight-of-dragons-movie-magic-versus-science/ Skepticism. Critical thinking. Podcast. Community. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:29:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Andy Kaiser http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/11/15/the-flight-of-dragons-movie-magic-versus-science/comment-page-1/#comment-5388 Andy Kaiser Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:13:07 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=1621#comment-5388 <p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;"> <div style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0.6em; margin: 0px;"> <p>Hi everyone,</p> <p>For those interested, I just found out: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Dragons-Victor-Buono/dp/B002VA5A0C" rel="nofollow">The Flight of Dragons DVD is available for purchase</a>!</p> <p>(You'll notice from the above link that the DVD cover art is some weird kiddie cartoony-looking thing that is completely different than the actual movie. I don't know why that is, but I understand it's the same art that was on the VHS and laserdisc, too. So, ignore the cover art. Just buy the thing.)</p> <p>Andy</p> </div> </span></p>

Hi everyone,

For those interested, I just found out: The Flight of Dragons DVD is available for purchase!

(You’ll notice from the above link that the DVD cover art is some weird kiddie cartoony-looking thing that is completely different than the actual movie. I don’t know why that is, but I understand it’s the same art that was on the VHS and laserdisc, too. So, ignore the cover art. Just buy the thing.)

Andy

]]> By: Crux Australis http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/11/15/the-flight-of-dragons-movie-magic-versus-science/comment-page-1/#comment-5203 Crux Australis Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:09:43 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=1621#comment-5203 Flight of Dragons was my absolute favourite movie when I was a kid! I first saw it at school (I was, maybe, 8 or 9) and I somehow acquired a copy of it. I must have watched it dozens of times, because I still know the words by heart. That final scene still sends chills down me! I bought a copy from amazon.com a few years ago, but I haven't put it on DVD yet. I strongly recommend it. Flight of Dragons was my absolute favourite movie when I was a kid! I first saw it at school (I was, maybe, 8 or 9) and I somehow acquired a copy of it. I must have watched it dozens of times, because I still know the words by heart. That final scene still sends chills down me! I bought a copy from amazon.com a few years ago, but I haven’t put it on DVD yet.
I strongly recommend it.

]]> By: NGE http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/11/15/the-flight-of-dragons-movie-magic-versus-science/comment-page-1/#comment-5015 NGE Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:02:43 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=1621#comment-5015 Thanks so much for reviewing this movie! Somehow I had completely forgotten about it. As a child growing up in a strict catholic household, it was like a breath of fresh air to me. Thanks so much for reviewing this movie! Somehow I had completely forgotten about it. As a child growing up in a strict catholic household, it was like a breath of fresh air to me.

]]> By: FrankO http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/11/15/the-flight-of-dragons-movie-magic-versus-science/comment-page-1/#comment-4997 FrankO Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:55:20 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=1621#comment-4997 Great review, thanks Andy. I thought I was the only one remembering this movie. They used to play it every year on TV when I was a chilled, until one day it started as usual and stopped suddenly, the rummer says that some people called the TV network and complained that the characters looks like Nazi officers (I live is Israel... so that's an issue) and the movie was never played again :( Fortunately, I managed to get a digital TV to VHS to PC copy. So hopefully I'll be able to show it to my kids :) And I'm glad I stumbled upon you great review. Great review, thanks Andy.
I thought I was the only one remembering this movie.
They used to play it every year on TV when I was a chilled, until one day it started as usual and stopped suddenly, the rummer says that some people called the TV network and complained that the characters looks like Nazi officers (I live is Israel… so that’s an issue) and the movie was never played again :(
Fortunately, I managed to get a digital TV to VHS to PC copy. So hopefully I’ll be able to show it to my kids :)
And I’m glad I stumbled upon you great review.

]]> By: Andy Kaiser http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/11/15/the-flight-of-dragons-movie-magic-versus-science/comment-page-1/#comment-4977 Andy Kaiser Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:46:50 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=1621#comment-4977 <p>An excellent response, starlatk. I never even thought about applying the same thematic analysis to other movies, but yes, <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 22px; color: #333333;">”The Adventures of Baron Munchausen” totally applies.  Another brilliant movie.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">As for the questions you asked, I'll take a stab at answering them:</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><em>does religion exist in harmony with science- as the Flight of Dragons finds value in magic and </em><em>science?   Is that balance possible with religion today? </em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">I think this is usually not possible. By their very natures, they are mutually exclusive. The only possibility for harmony is when you redefine religion to be more of what I talked about in my article - and have it be a way to label the unmeasurable, unquantifyable aspects of humanity. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><em>Why do we believe it has to be black and white… or how do we promote belief in the grey area? Should we? </em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">I don't think this is healthy. From my perspective, it's like the news stories you see about anything supernatural. They have the perspective of the believer, and the skeptic, even though the scientific community agrees the believer is completely wrong. It's this concept that I don't agree with: you don't always have to give both sides of an issue fair play. Sometimes you should simply call something what it truly is: wrong. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">The world, of course, is not black and white (and hasn't been since the 1930s, according to Calvin & Hobbes). There are a ton of gray areas, and plenty of examples with no one answer, no best answer. But there are also many things in which the answers truly are black and white. For me, in the ways that they're popularly defined, science versus magic/supernatural/religion is one of those things. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Andy</span></span></p> An excellent response, starlatk. I never even thought about applying the same thematic analysis to other movies, but yes, ”The Adventures of Baron Munchausen” totally applies.  Another brilliant movie.

As for the questions you asked, I’ll take a stab at answering them:

does religion exist in harmony with science- as the Flight of Dragons finds value in magic and science?   Is that balance possible with religion today?

I think this is usually not possible. By their very natures, they are mutually exclusive. The only possibility for harmony is when you redefine religion to be more of what I talked about in my article – and have it be a way to label the unmeasurable, unquantifyable aspects of humanity.

Why do we believe it has to be black and white… or how do we promote belief in the grey area? Should we?

I don’t think this is healthy. From my perspective, it’s like the news stories you see about anything supernatural. They have the perspective of the believer, and the skeptic, even though the scientific community agrees the believer is completely wrong. It’s this concept that I don’t agree with: you don’t always have to give both sides of an issue fair play. Sometimes you should simply call something what it truly is: wrong.

The world, of course, is not black and white (and hasn’t been since the 1930s, according to Calvin & Hobbes). There are a ton of gray areas, and plenty of examples with no one answer, no best answer. But there are also many things in which the answers truly are black and white. For me, in the ways that they’re popularly defined, science versus magic/supernatural/religion is one of those things.

Andy

]]> By: starlatk http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/11/15/the-flight-of-dragons-movie-magic-versus-science/comment-page-1/#comment-4976 starlatk Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:11:22 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=1621#comment-4976 I love this movie, and you have a great review of it here, but you can't get the full picture until you actually watch it. I was lucky to find this movie at a rental store (can't remember if it was Blockbuster or an independent)  just a few years ago- so its out there folks! Also, when we're considering your last sentence "science or magic", I also harken back to "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen", which would be another interesting analysis.  The main character, the Baron, agonizes over growing old and wanting to die, and responds to young Sally asking, "Why?"  He responds, "Because it's all logic and reason now. Science, progress, laws of hydraulics, laws of social dynamics, laws of this, that, and the other. No place for three-legged cyclops in the South Seas. No place for cucumber trees and oceans of wine. No place for me. " He doesn't die after this... but that's not a spoiler...! But when you look a little deeper into , talking of worlds where two opposing realms of belief exist in harmony, you can address the presence of religion in the modern world... but does religion exist in harmony with science- as the Flight of Dragons finds value in magic and science?  Is that balance possible with religion today? What prevents the balance of religion and logic?  Magic and science? Why do we believe it has to be black and white... or how do we promote belief in the grey area? Should we?  Further, I bet if there are some neuroscientists out there who could chime in on how logical/scientific processing is biologically different from creative/religious/metaphysical thought processes, and if humans are generally inclinded for one or the other- or can balance both equally... Just some ideas to throw out in the mix! I love this movie, and you have a great review of it here, but you can’t get the full picture until you actually watch it. I was lucky to find this movie at a rental store (can’t remember if it was Blockbuster or an independent)  just a few years ago- so its out there folks!

Also, when we’re considering your last sentence “science or magic”, I also harken back to ”The Adventures of Baron Munchausen”, which would be another interesting analysis.  The main character, the Baron, agonizes over growing old and wanting to die, and responds to young Sally asking, “Why?”  He responds, “Because it’s all logic and reason now. Science, progress, laws of hydraulics, laws of social dynamics, laws of this, that, and the other. No place for three-legged cyclops in the South Seas. No place for cucumber trees and oceans of wine. No place for me. ” He doesn’t die after this… but that’s not a spoiler…!

But when you look a little deeper into , talking of worlds where two opposing realms of belief exist in harmony, you can address the presence of religion in the modern world… but does religion exist in harmony with science- as the Flight of Dragons finds value in magic and science?  Is that balance possible with religion today? What prevents the balance of religion and logic?  Magic and science? Why do we believe it has to be black and white… or how do we promote belief in the grey area? Should we? 

Further, I bet if there are some neuroscientists out there who could chime in on how logical/scientific processing is biologically different from creative/religious/metaphysical thought processes, and if humans are generally inclinded for one or the other- or can balance both equally…

Just some ideas to throw out in the mix!

]]> By: Andy Kaiser http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/11/15/the-flight-of-dragons-movie-magic-versus-science/comment-page-1/#comment-4975 Andy Kaiser Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:16:46 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=1621#comment-4975 <p>TechSkeptic, you mean <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizards_(film)" rel="nofollow">this movie</a>? I saw that one years ago. And I remember it being horribly, horribly depressing. The bad guys were modeled after Nazis. Their superior technology was used to grind the good guys to dust. It was awesome (but far from being a "feel good" movie).</p> <p>I also remember that movie used of rotoscoping. Very cool visuals that went beyond the usual animation effects.</p> <p>Andy</p> TechSkeptic, you mean this movie? I saw that one years ago. And I remember it being horribly, horribly depressing. The bad guys were modeled after Nazis. Their superior technology was used to grind the good guys to dust. It was awesome (but far from being a “feel good” movie).

I also remember that movie used of rotoscoping. Very cool visuals that went beyond the usual animation effects.

Andy

]]> By: TechSkeptic http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/11/15/the-flight-of-dragons-movie-magic-versus-science/comment-page-1/#comment-4974 TechSkeptic Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:11:22 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=1621#comment-4974 I may have to catch this movie. I had never heard it. Ever see a movie called "Wizards"? Similar theme.   I may have to catch this movie. I had never heard it.
Ever see a movie called “Wizards”? Similar theme.
 

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