Is “Dune” A Perfect Movie? Neil deGrasse Tyson And Stephen Colbert Agree To Disagree
TLDRIn this engaging and humorous conversation, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson returns to 'The Late Show' with Stephen Colbert. Tyson, a New York Times bestselling author known for books like 'Astrophysics for People in a Hurry' and 'Starry Messenger,' discusses his views on the movie 'Dune: Two.' Despite enjoying the film's spectacle, he critiques certain scientific inaccuracies, such as the behavior of sandworms and the design of anti-gravity copters. The discussion also touches on Tyson's cameo in Jennifer Lopez's movie 'This Is Me Now: A Love Story,' where he humorously attempts to inject a bit of scientific reasoning into astrology. The exchange is filled with wit and showcases Tyson's ability to blend science with popular culture, while maintaining his commitment to scientific principles.
Takeaways
- 📚 Neil deGrasse Tyson is a New York Times bestselling author known for books like 'Astrophysics for People in a Hurry' and 'Starry Messenger'.
- 🎬 Tyson attended the U.S. premiere of 'Dune: Two' and had some scientific critiques about the portrayal of sandworms and their behavior in the movie.
- 🎓 He emphasized the importance of adhering to fundamental scientific principles even in science fiction, quoting Mark Twain's advice to 'first get your facts straight, then distort them at your leisure'.
- 🐛 Tyson pointed out that in reality, you can't 'thump' sand to create vibrations that would be heard by a sandworm, as sand is an acoustic insulator.
- 🌌 He discussed the scientific inaccuracies in the movie, such as the depiction of how sandworms move, which he compared to the movement of snakes.
- 🚁 The conversation touched on the design of the copters in 'Dune: Two', questioning why they needed wings when the technology could have been incorporated differently.
- 🌟 Tyson mentioned that the universe is weirder than we can imagine, bringing up concepts like wormholes, antimatter, black holes, and the multiverse.
- 🎭 He made a cameo in the movie 'This is Me, Now: A Love Story', where he played the role of Taurus, and tried to inject some science into the script.
- 🔮 When asked if he could put science into astrology, Tyson humorously pointed out that the Zodiac is actually 13 constellations, not 12, and that most people who think they are Scorpio are probably Ophiuchus.
- 📺 The interview was filled with a playful banter between Tyson and Stephen, highlighting Tyson's passion for science and his ability to engage in popular culture.
- 🌝 The discussion provided insights into Tyson's perspective on balancing scientific accuracy with the creative freedom needed for storytelling in movies.
Q & A
Which books has Neil deGrasse Tyson authored that were mentioned in the transcript?
-Neil deGrasse Tyson has authored books such as 'Astrophysics for People in a Hurry' and 'Starry Messenger'.
What is Neil deGrasse Tyson's profession?
-Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist, a New York Times best-selling author, and a popularizer of science.
What movie did Stephen and Neil discuss in the transcript?
-They discussed the movie 'Dune: Two', which is a science fiction film.
What is Neil's criticism about the sandworms in the 'Dune: Two' movie?
-Neil criticizes the portrayal of sandworms, stating that you can't 'thump' sand to create vibrations that the worms would hear.
What does Neil mean when he talks about 'thumping' in the context of the movie?
-In the context of the movie, 'thumping' refers to creating vibrations in the sand to locate the sandworms. Neil argues that this is scientifically inaccurate.
What is the title of the book that Neil deGrasse Tyson is promoting in the transcript?
-The title of the book Neil deGrasse Tyson is promoting is 'Starry Messenger'.
What is Neil's view on enjoying movies with scientific inaccuracies?
-Neil believes in Mark Twain's edict of first getting the facts straight and then distorting them at one's leisure. He suggests that the universe is weirder than we can imagine, implying that movies should strive for scientific accuracy.
What was Neil's role in the movie 'This is Me, Now: A Love Story'?
-Neil played the role of Taurus, an astrological sign, in the movie 'This is Me, Now: A Love Story'.
What is the humorous interaction between Stephen and Neil about the zodiac sign Scorpio?
-Neil humorously corrects the common misconception about the zodiac sign Scorpio, stating that most people who think they are Scorpios are probably Ophiuchus due to the Earth's procession.
What is the term used in the movie for the large creatures that travel through the sand?
-The term used for the large sand-dwelling creatures in the movie is 'sandworms'.
What is the name of the device used to detect the sandworms in the movie?
-The device used to detect the sandworms in the movie is called a 'thumper'.
What is the humorous point Neil makes about the design of the copters in the 'Dune: Two' movie?
-Neil humorously questions the need for wings on the copters in the movie, suggesting that they could have been designed without them and still function.
Outlines
🎬 Neil deGrasse Tyson's Return to 'The Late Show'
The first paragraph introduces Neil deGrasse Tyson as a guest on 'The Late Show'. Stephen Colbert welcomes Tyson, highlighting his status as a New York Times bestselling author and America's favorite astrophysicist. Tyson is also mentioned as a movie buff, and they discuss the recent premiere of 'Dune: Two'. Stephen praises the film, but Tyson admits he has some issues with the scientific accuracy, particularly regarding the behavior of sand worms in the movie.
🌌 Tyson's Critique of 'Dune' and Sci-Fi Movies
In the second paragraph, Tyson elaborates on his critique of 'Dune: Two', pointing out the unrealistic portrayal of sand worms and their behavior. He humorously suggests that if one wants to avoid sound transmission, they should fill a space with sand, as it would muffle sound. Tyson also discusses the unrealistic depiction of the worms' movement, comparing it to snakes. The conversation shifts to the concept of the multiverse, with Stephen correcting Tyson on its origin, and they touch on Tyson's cameo in the J. Lo movie 'This Is Me, Now: A Love Story', where he humorously attempts to inject some science into astrology.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Astrophysicist
💡New York Times Bestselling Author
💡Starry Messenger
💡Movie Buff
💡Dune: Two
💡Sand Worms
💡Thumper
💡
💡Fremen
💡Anti-gravity
💡Mark Twain's Edict
💡Multiverse
💡Astrologer
Highlights
Neil deGrasse Tyson returns to 'The Late Show' as a guest, welcomed warmly by Stephen Colbert and the audience.
Tyson is introduced as a New York Times bestselling author of books like 'Astrophysics for People in a Hurry' and 'Starry Messenger'.
Stephen Colbert mentions Tyson's new book 'Starry Messenger' is now available in paperback.
Tyson discusses his role as a movie buff and his recent attendance at the U.S. premiere of 'Dune: Two'.
Tyson expresses his enjoyment of 'Dune: Two', calling it 'quite the spectacle'.
Despite his enjoyment, Tyson points out scientific inaccuracies in the movie, particularly regarding the behavior of sandworms.
Tyson humorously debates with Colbert about the acoustic properties of sand and the feasibility of sandworms hearing vibrations.
Tyson criticizes the movie's depiction of how sandworms move, comparing it to the movement of snakes.
Colbert defends the movie's creative license, suggesting that the sandworms could have special adaptations for movement.
Tyson comments on the movie's design of flying copters, questioning the need for wings on these anti-gravity vehicles.
Colbert and Tyson engage in a playful debate about the scientific plausibility of the movie's elements.
Tyson shares Mark Twain's advice on distorting facts for storytelling, after establishing them accurately.
Tyson emphasizes the universe's inherent weirdness, potentially surpassing human imagination.
Colbert corrects Tyson on the origin of the term 'multiverse', attributing it to fantasy writer Michael Moorcock, not a scientist.
Tyson discusses his cameo in the movie 'This Is Me, Now: A Love Story', where he played an astrological sign character.
Tyson humorously attempts to inject some science into astrology for his movie role, even suggesting changes to the script.
The conversation ends with a teaser for more discussion with Neil deGrasse Tyson after the break.
Transcripts
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