Particle Fever @ San Jose’s Camera 12 and The Del Mar, Santa Cruz
– A friend wanted to clap and cheer throughout the flick –
A particularly timely work given the Nobel Prizes for Physics just announced for two of its central figures, Particle Fever succeeds on every level, but none more important than in making the normally intimidating and arcane world of genius-level physics at least conceptually comprehensible and even friendly to the lay viewer.
As they seek to unravel the mysteries of the universe, 10,000 scientists from more 100 countries joined forces in pursuit of a single goal: to recreate conditions that existed just moments after the Big Bang and find the Higgs boson, potentially explaining the origin of all matter. But our heroes confront an even bigger challenge: Have we reached our limit in understanding why we exist?
Astronomical observer for 20 years and optical engineer. I design non-imaging prism and reflector optics for commercial, medical and high-end retail lighting.
Here’s the official website:
http://particlefever.com/
I’ll try to go and see it this week. Anyone wanna come? Post here if you’re interested!
Rob
Just got back from flick. Nicely done. If you pick out a time please post. I may want to hit again – this time with popcorn.
PRI did their usual excellent interview w/ the movie makers on their SciFri program dated March 6. One of them actually earned a Ph. D. in physics before turning to making movies. Check out iTunes or the PRI website. It’s more about the scientists and the process (i.e., problems and issues, which is of course where the tension comes in) rather than the actual science, and so it should have a more broad appeal to the general public.
Found this review from the NYT.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/05/movies/particle-fever-tells-of-search-for-the-higgs-boson.html
Saw it at Camera 12. The film is a good fit for the 21st century audience — it’s impossible to miss the subwoofers and the graphics helps draw you in to world of cutting edge science.
Heard a rumor that the sequel will be entitled “Aperture Fever”. 8)