Popular Science has put together a fantastic list of cinema’s least realistic moments—scientifically speaking. And, while the explanations of each entry are highly educational, none of them suck the fun out of watching a ridiculous Michael
Bay movie.

Because of this extraordinary list, I have come to the conclusion that watching Vin Diesel crush Russian terrorists in XXX for two hours and four minutes will have untold effects on the human brain.

A person can believe that with certain modifications a Pontiac GTO can of course be equipped with hidden stinger missiles and exploding hubcaps. But when Vin outruns an avalanche on a snowboard, the brain starts to wonder and one’s suspension of disbelief is all of a sudden not so suspended.

You don’t have to have a doctorate in the physical sciences to know when a stunt as outrageous as that one is not quite in line with reality. But the people at Popular Science want to make you feel like you do have one.

The list breaks down this and other impossible feats from what are mostly action films (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is also included, but I doubt that needs explaining), and it does this in two parts: science speak and terms I can actually understand.

For example, when discussing the unlikelihood of Tom Cruise and Dougray Scott walking away unscathed from their motorbike collision in Mission: Impossible II, Popular Science says something about the “pressure exerted on their bodies at the point of impact” and a whole bunch of numbers and letters and equations. Meaning, that even with improbable ideal conditions, both men would have suffered major internal injuries and had a 50-50 chance of survival. Comforting!

And don’t worry. The list also throws
Hollywood a couple bones here and there for getting something scientific in a movie right for a change. To get the full explanations and see what other crazy stunts made the list, read it here.

Image: Vin Diesel Gallery

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