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What did ya think about the movie "Real Genius?"

Jayson1

Jayson1

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I know it's a old movie but I watched it again, yesterday and wondered what everyone else thought about the movie. I find that it actually kind of wholesome by 80's teen standards. Even Val Kilmer who is that kind of 80's teen movie kid who is kind of a jerk but also is played as lovable seems like a good guy for the most part and the more nerdy friend who is the entry point for the movie isn't made fun of or taken advantaged of like poor ole Cameron in "Ferris Buerler" or Anthony Michael Hall in every movie or Ducky.

The guy who lives in the closet and is a interesting weirdo, we find out is normal all along which is a nice message. The love interest was quirky. A little two quirky at times. they kind of overplayed it at times. Walter Peck was playing the asshole guy we all know will get brought down a peg because he played that role all the time in the 80's. His sidekick was also a fun character and even though he was kind of the asshole type as well I actually felt sorry for him at times. He just wanted some respect IMO.

KInd of like the idea of a laser shooting from space to kill bad guys and it is a evil enough idea to work as a reason for the cool smart guys to try and stop the government from getting it. PLus the popcorn in Peck's house was a fun revenge moment but for some reason it played better in my memory than it did when I watched it again.

Jason
 
I'm old enough to have seen this movie when it was new, and didn't. Then I discovered it a few years ago. Now I love it!
 
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I love this movie, I remember watching it over and over on cable in the 80s. A much better executed example from the hacker-caper genre than something like Sneakers, which is currently being discussed in another thread.
 
I liked it when I saw it in the theater in 1985 - and have caught it a few times on Cable over the years. It's fun and doesn't take itself too seriously. It has a few classic lines too.
 
Enjoyed it a great deal when it was new.
Here's the thing - I've been working for a government military contractor for 36 years. The kind of company who would have built the electronics systems for the B-1 that carried the laser in the movie. What those kids did at the end of the film was sabotage and treason. And the movie glorified it.
 
Forbin said:
Enjoyed it a great deal when it was new.
Here's the thing - I've been working for a government military contractor for 36 years. The kind of company who would have built the electronics systems for the B-1 that carried the laser in the movie. What those kids did at the end of the film was sabotage and treason. And the movie glorified it.
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But weren't they tricked into working on the project not even knowing what they were working on? I'm not sure how one would handle that in court. Surly the government doesn't have the right to exploit people in that way but on the other hand you can't have people doing sabotage at the same time. Only thing I feel for certain is the Walter Peck character would most likely be going to prision.

Jason
 
For real geniuses they were pretty naive to think the they were working to develop the most powerful laser that they could manage and was NOT going to be used as a weapon.

Do college students have any say in what their professor's project is going to be used for? Were they not assisting him? They had no ownership of it themselves, did they?
 
Forbin said:
For real geniuses they were pretty naive to think the they were working to develop the most powerful laser that they could manage and was NOT going to be used as a weapon.

Do college students have any say in what their professor's project is going to be used for? Were they not assisting him? They had no ownership of it themselves, did they?
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I could see someone,even geniuses thinking that something is done for the sake of pure science. As for the students assisting him we do know that Kilmer's character was kind of being blackmailed. He wanted to quit but Peck told him he would make sure he failed out of school or class. I kind of forgot what the blackmail threat was.

Jason
 
IMHO, Val Kilmers best theatrical performance, and a fun movie.

I agree with the treason point, though. Big no-no, no matter the seeming justification.
 
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