Movies and The Internet--SWORDFISH

One of my favorite Netflix features is the queue. With a simple click I can decide "yes, I do want to watch Generic Action Film over Some Classic I've Been Meaning To See For Years" and I've just jumped my latest pick up to the top.

Another great use of the queue is the ability to create a series of films. I caught myself recently criticizing the presentation of technology in films, and more specifically the unrealistic visuals of the internet and hackers. So, in order to illustrate my point I will be watching a variety of films from the past dozen or so years and analyzing how realistically they portray technology and the internet.

In no certain order my first film is 2001's SWORDFISH. Let's jump right in and take a look at some photos from the film.

An early highlight is this scene where Hugh Jackman attempts to crack a password encryption with a gun to his head *while he receives a blowjob*. He of course passes the test because "he just sees the passwords in his head."

No doubt you are now bored with all the guns and computers, so the movie provides you with this.

Back to the technology, my favorite scene in the film has to be this one, where Hugh Jackman works on a password worm thing on a dozen monitors while he drinks wine, smokes, and jumps up and down.
He is totally Hack-Dancing!


Oh, and if there is any truth to the visualization of this worm thing, please let me know.

Most films about technology feature a shot where someone asks for a close-up enhancement, and SWORDFISH doesn't let you down.

Hmmm, I can't quite tell who those people are.

Yep, it's them--let's get em!

Truth be told, there are a couple good film references in SWORDFISH, but they all come courtesy of Travolta, and how can you really care what he is talking about when he looks like this.

So, in conclusion, SWORDFISH presents a false impression of how hacking works, gives us boobs so we don't care, and then shows us how cool and hip typing on a computer can be. If only they taught Hack-Dancing in schools...