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the box

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  • T thrakazog

    So coming out soon is the movie the box.[^] The basic premise of the movie is that you can hit a magic button that will give you a million dollars and kill somebody you don't know. I'm pretty sure after thinking it over like Stimpy here[^] I'd smash the jolly candy like button with my whole fist. Would you push the button?

    M Offline
    M Offline
    Member 96
    wrote on last edited by
    #15

    It's a bit mystifying how you can make a movie with such a thin premise as a *remake*. After all everyone will know the only twist in the story before they go to see it. :) As a twilight zone episode it was perfect subject matter for such a short format. As a movie though? After everyone knows the premise already? Bad idea. It frustrates me to no end that there are zillions of absolutely epic sci fi novels and short stories out there, any one of which would make an excellent movie or tv show in the right hands that are passed over for rehashing tired old ideas and remakes because of the sad risk averse mentality of the big entertainment industry.


    "Creating your own blog is about as easy as creating your own urine, and you're about as likely to find someone else interested in it." -- Lore Sjöberg

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    • T thrakazog

      So coming out soon is the movie the box.[^] The basic premise of the movie is that you can hit a magic button that will give you a million dollars and kill somebody you don't know. I'm pretty sure after thinking it over like Stimpy here[^] I'd smash the jolly candy like button with my whole fist. Would you push the button?

      C Offline
      C Offline
      Corporal Agarn
      wrote on last edited by
      #16

      Does the button pusher get informed who died? If not you could convince yourself that no one really dies.

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      • M Member 96

        It's a bit mystifying how you can make a movie with such a thin premise as a *remake*. After all everyone will know the only twist in the story before they go to see it. :) As a twilight zone episode it was perfect subject matter for such a short format. As a movie though? After everyone knows the premise already? Bad idea. It frustrates me to no end that there are zillions of absolutely epic sci fi novels and short stories out there, any one of which would make an excellent movie or tv show in the right hands that are passed over for rehashing tired old ideas and remakes because of the sad risk averse mentality of the big entertainment industry.


        "Creating your own blog is about as easy as creating your own urine, and you're about as likely to find someone else interested in it." -- Lore Sjöberg

        C Offline
        C Offline
        Corporal Agarn
        wrote on last edited by
        #17

        I agree that Hollywood has a thing for remakes. The problem is sci fi is not considered movies. Look at the original Star Wars, it was in the theater in this area for a solid year! But they look at it like only a small group of people will come to see it. (I know I am showing my age but hey, at 54 age does not mean that much unless you are looking for work.)

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        • C Corporal Agarn

          I agree that Hollywood has a thing for remakes. The problem is sci fi is not considered movies. Look at the original Star Wars, it was in the theater in this area for a solid year! But they look at it like only a small group of people will come to see it. (I know I am showing my age but hey, at 54 age does not mean that much unless you are looking for work.)

          M Offline
          M Offline
          Member 96
          wrote on last edited by
          #18

          djj55 wrote:

          I agree that Hollywood has a thing for remakes

          Hollywood, the music industry, the network tv industry, the restaurant industry, the clothing industry, the house building industry etc etc etc.

          djj55 wrote:

          The problem is sci fi is not considered movies

          Not sure what you mean by that. There have been a *lot* of "blockbuster" sci fi movies but the ratio of truly good sci fi (and fantasy) stories to movie remake schlock is astounding.


          "Creating your own blog is about as easy as creating your own urine, and you're about as likely to find someone else interested in it." -- Lore Sjöberg

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          • C Corporal Agarn

            Does the button pusher get informed who died? If not you could convince yourself that no one really dies.

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            S Offline
            Single Step Debugger
            wrote on last edited by
            #19

            There are a lot of people with a very flexible conscience. They would push the button, take the money, put half of them for some charity, medical research etc. convincing themselves that they are saving more than one person and will keep the other half with now clear conscience.

            The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.

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            • M Member 96

              djj55 wrote:

              I agree that Hollywood has a thing for remakes

              Hollywood, the music industry, the network tv industry, the restaurant industry, the clothing industry, the house building industry etc etc etc.

              djj55 wrote:

              The problem is sci fi is not considered movies

              Not sure what you mean by that. There have been a *lot* of "blockbuster" sci fi movies but the ratio of truly good sci fi (and fantasy) stories to movie remake schlock is astounding.


              "Creating your own blog is about as easy as creating your own urine, and you're about as likely to find someone else interested in it." -- Lore Sjöberg

              S Offline
              S Offline
              Single Step Debugger
              wrote on last edited by
              #20

              John C wrote:

              Not sure what you mean by that. There have been a *lot* of "blockbuster" sci fi movies but the ratio of truly good sci fi (and fantasy) stories to movie remake schlock is astounding.

              Probably this has something to do with the special effects’ cost. Hopefully now when the prize of the computerized effects is going down we will see some quality SiFi moves. I personally can’t wait for the James Cameron’s “Avatar”.

              The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.

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              • T thrakazog

                So coming out soon is the movie the box.[^] The basic premise of the movie is that you can hit a magic button that will give you a million dollars and kill somebody you don't know. I'm pretty sure after thinking it over like Stimpy here[^] I'd smash the jolly candy like button with my whole fist. Would you push the button?

                C Offline
                C Offline
                Christian Graus
                wrote on last edited by
                #21

                I've seen the poster and assumed that's what it was about. It's an old Twilight Zone episode. The punchline was that it was clear at the end that the next people who pushed the button, would by doing so, kill the last person who decided that the death of a random person could be justified. No, I wouldn't.

                Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

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                • S Shog9 0

                  So, do you get to keep the box if you don't press the button?

                  R Offline
                  R Offline
                  ragnaroknrol
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #22

                  I would assume no. They want to take it to someone else to see if they will press it.

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                  • M Member 96

                    It's a bit mystifying how you can make a movie with such a thin premise as a *remake*. After all everyone will know the only twist in the story before they go to see it. :) As a twilight zone episode it was perfect subject matter for such a short format. As a movie though? After everyone knows the premise already? Bad idea. It frustrates me to no end that there are zillions of absolutely epic sci fi novels and short stories out there, any one of which would make an excellent movie or tv show in the right hands that are passed over for rehashing tired old ideas and remakes because of the sad risk averse mentality of the big entertainment industry.


                    "Creating your own blog is about as easy as creating your own urine, and you're about as likely to find someone else interested in it." -- Lore Sjöberg

                    C Offline
                    C Offline
                    Christian Graus
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #23

                    John C wrote:

                    After all everyone will know the only twist in the story before they go to see it. Smile

                    Yes, this has me beat, but I presume the answer is that they assume that their target audience was too young to have seen the Twilight Zone. I saw the poster and immediately got what it was. No chance I'd bother seeing it.

                    Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

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                    • C Christian Graus

                      I've seen the poster and assumed that's what it was about. It's an old Twilight Zone episode. The punchline was that it was clear at the end that the next people who pushed the button, would by doing so, kill the last person who decided that the death of a random person could be justified. No, I wouldn't.

                      Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

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                      D Offline
                      Dinobot_Slag
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #24

                      So it should really go something like "1. A random person dies 2. You get a million dollars 3. You die." But I guess that wouldn't be quite as intriguing.

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                      • C Christian Graus

                        I've seen the poster and assumed that's what it was about. It's an old Twilight Zone episode. The punchline was that it was clear at the end that the next people who pushed the button, would by doing so, kill the last person who decided that the death of a random person could be justified. No, I wouldn't.

                        Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

                        R Offline
                        R Offline
                        ragnaroknrol
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #25

                        I believe 75% of this movie is them figuring this out and trying to go meet the next person in line to get the button. They can't kill you if the person with the box knows you. While a brilliant way not to get killed for being greedy, sooner or later you will either run out of money or time and so they will get you. Not exactly a good deal for you.

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                        • C Corporal Agarn

                          Does the button pusher get informed who died? If not you could convince yourself that no one really dies.

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                          C Offline
                          Christian Graus
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #26

                          If you saw the original Twilight Zone episode, the protagonists spend the episode convincing themselves that it doesn't really matter if one more person dies. Then when they get the money the guy tells them the button will now be given to someone else. 'Someone you've never met, someone you don't know'. The phrasing is the same as the way he described who would die, so it's clear when you push the button, the last person to push it, is the one who dies.

                          Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

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                          • R ragnaroknrol

                            I would assume no. They want to take it to someone else to see if they will press it.

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                            C Offline
                            Christian Graus
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #27

                            In the Twilight Zone movie it was kind of like Eve and the apple. They had to keep looking at it, and therefore keep considering pressing it.

                            Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

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                            • R ragnaroknrol

                              I would assume no. They want to take it to someone else to see if they will press it.

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                              S Offline
                              Shog9 0
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #28

                              Well, it makes a huge difference - if they keep trucking it around, then there's a chance you'll be the unknown stranger killed by some other selfish bastard.  And even if it isn't you, someone still gets killed regardless of which choice you make. Lots of fodder for rationalization, if you don't get to keep the box...

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                              • S Single Step Debugger

                                John C wrote:

                                Not sure what you mean by that. There have been a *lot* of "blockbuster" sci fi movies but the ratio of truly good sci fi (and fantasy) stories to movie remake schlock is astounding.

                                Probably this has something to do with the special effects’ cost. Hopefully now when the prize of the computerized effects is going down we will see some quality SiFi moves. I personally can’t wait for the James Cameron’s “Avatar”.

                                The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.

                                S Offline
                                S Offline
                                Steve Mayfield
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #29

                                Avatar estimated production cost: $230 Million :omg:

                                Steve _________________ I C(++) therefore I am

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                                • S Shog9 0

                                  Well, it makes a huge difference - if they keep trucking it around, then there's a chance you'll be the unknown stranger killed by some other selfish bastard.  And even if it isn't you, someone still gets killed regardless of which choice you make. Lots of fodder for rationalization, if you don't get to keep the box...

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                                  R Offline
                                  ragnaroknrol
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #30

                                  It's pretty safe to assume anyone willing to give you a million dollars to kill someone is willing to wait until someone else pushes the button to kill you. Safest way to deal with this is ask to be excused, push the button, get your money, then kill them and use power tools and a pig farm to dispose of them. I think I have been stuck in Iowa too long...

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                                  • R ragnaroknrol

                                    It's pretty safe to assume anyone willing to give you a million dollars to kill someone is willing to wait until someone else pushes the button to kill you. Safest way to deal with this is ask to be excused, push the button, get your money, then kill them and use power tools and a pig farm to dispose of them. I think I have been stuck in Iowa too long...

                                    S Offline
                                    S Offline
                                    Shog9 0
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #31

                                    ragnaroknrol wrote:

                                    I think I have been stuck in Iowa too long...

                                    Heh. Yeah, I once spent the better part of an afternoon there too... :-\

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                                    • T thrakazog

                                      So coming out soon is the movie the box.[^] The basic premise of the movie is that you can hit a magic button that will give you a million dollars and kill somebody you don't know. I'm pretty sure after thinking it over like Stimpy here[^] I'd smash the jolly candy like button with my whole fist. Would you push the button?

                                      P Offline
                                      P Offline
                                      peterchen
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #32

                                      no

                                      Personally, I love the idea that Raymond spends his nights posting bad regexs to mailing lists under the pseudonym of Jane Smith. He'd be like a super hero, only more nerdy and less useful. [Trevel]
                                      | FoldWithUs! | sighist | µLaunch - program launcher for server core and hyper-v server

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                                      • C Chris Austin

                                        I think I've read this one before when I was in third grade. Except then it was called "The Monkey's Paw".

                                        And above all things, never think that you're not good enough yourself. A man should never think that. My belief is that in life people will take you at your own reckoning. --Isaac Asimov Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. --Ralph Charell

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                                        Vikram A Punathambekar
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #33

                                        Hey, I read that too. What is third grade? Is it two years of KG, then grade 1, grade 2, etc? I read it in a higher class, around 8th standard (that's like I described).

                                        Cheers, Vikram. (Cracked not one CCC, but two!)

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