Vlog 9-12-11 – Contagion

Spoony | Sep 12 2011 | more | 
Share
Share
  • http://twitter.com/TheMrDerp Trevor Utzy

    This movie seemed to be something that would’ve scared the HELL out of people during the Swine Flu epidemic. If only I had a time machine…

  • Anonymous

    Oooh, Contagion does sound good! I’ll have to try and catch it now. You’re right, though. Nothing ruins a movie quite like a bad ending (such as twist gone wrong). But I have to disagree about stupidity in films such as (to use your example) the scientist reaching for a ham sandwich and sticking his hand in a centrifuge.  If done well, those moments make sense because people really do stupid stuff like that in real life. It just has to be just sparingly (not in half a dozen different scenes).

    • Anonymous

      yea have you ever watched the movie the fountain it was a great movie but i think the ending completely ruined it

  • Anonymous

    You know, listening to this vlog reminded me of The Wire. At first it was just the use of the word pandemic, which immediately made me think of the brand of heroin with the same name from the show. So I chuckled and was like, “Pandemic, getcha Pandemic!” If you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch the show. It’s seriously one of the best shows in history and if what I say about it interests you at all, get your ass to iTunes or a DVD store or whatever and see it.

    Now that I think about it, this movie is actually rather similar to The Wire in that it deals with things very realistically. Where Spoony says Contagion does a good job of enacting how real-life people would deal with a global outbreak, The Wire is basically a police procedural with all of the fakey CSI bullshit scraped away. The creator of the show, David Simon, worked closely with the police and used to work for the Baltimore Sun, and so on.

    The Wire also works with a lot of protagonists (moreso than Contagion because it’s a five-season TV show instead of a movie), but instead of a global scope, it’s limited to the city of Baltimore, a setting the show is inherently tied to. I can’t say that the character don’t do stupid things, but when characters do stupid things, they’re characterized as such that you can totally believe they would do it, and the consequences don’t play out in typical television tropes as you typically see in cop shows.

    In summary, anything that reminds me of The Wire cannot possibly be a waste of time, and I will try to see this movie in theaters. If you’re interested in a police procedural that looks at the viewpoints of cops, drug dealers, politicians, and all sorts of people in a decaying American city and an uncompromising, no-sugarcoating look at life there, watch The Wire. If you’re sick of every critic prostrating themselves before this series like geeks do to Firefly, do your best to give the series a fair shot anyway. I can’t say much more than that without looking obsessed, so there you go.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Thompson/520675414 Michael Thompson

      Agreed 110% with this.  In my opinion, The Wire is the best TV show of all time.

  • Anonymous

    You know, listening to this vlog reminded me of The Wire. At first it was just the use of the word pandemic, which immediately made me think of the brand of heroin with the same name from the show. So I chuckled and was like, “Pandemic, getcha Pandemic!” If you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch the show. It’s seriously one of the best shows in history and if what I say about it interests you at all, get your ass to iTunes or a DVD store or whatever and see it.

    Now that I think about it, this movie is actually rather similar to The Wire in that it deals with things very realistically. Where Spoony says Contagion does a good job of enacting how real-life people would deal with a global outbreak, The Wire is basically a police procedural with all of the fakey CSI bullshit scraped away. The creator of the show, David Simon, worked closely with the police and used to work for the Baltimore Sun, and so on.

    The Wire also works with a lot of protagonists (moreso than Contagion because it’s a five-season TV show instead of a movie), but instead of a global scope, it’s limited to the city of Baltimore, a setting the show is inherently tied to. I can’t say that the character don’t do stupid things, but when characters do stupid things, they’re characterized as such that you can totally believe they would do it, and the consequences don’t play out in typical television tropes as you typically see in cop shows.

    In summary, anything that reminds me of The Wire cannot possibly be a waste of time, and I will try to see this movie in theaters. If you’re interested in a police procedural that looks at the viewpoints of cops, drug dealers, politicians, and all sorts of people in a decaying American city and an uncompromising, no-sugarcoating look at life there, watch The Wire. If you’re sick of every critic prostrating themselves before this series like geeks do to Firefly, do your best to give the series a fair shot anyway. I can’t say much more than that without looking obsessed, so there you go.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4LM23I53VCE4KUVGC4GI6XYCVU toms

    Spoony knows nothing about SCIENCE. 
    From Cracked.com
    “Michael Sveda, who was smoking in the lab and put down his cigarette on a pile of chemicals. He then picked it back up and put it in his mouth, because you gotta get that nicotine rush no matter what, and noticed-guess what!-a sweet taste. He had stumbled on cyclamate, currently found only in the Canadian version of Sweet N’ Low because apparently Canada has to be different. ”
    Dr. Insano would approve.

     http://www.cracked.com/article_18744_7-great-foods-that-were-created-thanks-to-dick-moves.html#ixzz1XnPQpUtt

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Natalie-Jones/100001438912549 Natalie Jones

      Permit me to sing: HE’S A MAAN! SUCH A MAN!(such a man) HE’S A REAL,A REAL MAN’S MAAN!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4LM23I53VCE4KUVGC4GI6XYCVU toms

    Spoony knows nothing about SCIENCE. 
    From Cracked.com
    “Michael Sveda, who was smoking in the lab and put down his cigarette on a pile of chemicals. He then picked it back up and put it in his mouth, because you gotta get that nicotine rush no matter what, and noticed-guess what!-a sweet taste. He had stumbled on cyclamate, currently found only in the Canadian version of Sweet N’ Low because apparently Canada has to be different. ”
    Dr. Insano would approve.

     http://www.cracked.com/article_18744_7-great-foods-that-were-created-thanks-to-dick-moves.html#ixzz1XnPQpUtt

  • Anonymous

    Oh yeah, and I also forgot to add that the show isn’t episodic at all, and there are no previouslies. The closest parallel I can think of for its structure is 24, except it doesn’t take place over a whole day. You pretty much have to start from the beginning, and it might take a few episodes for it to really kick in. So if you’re impatient, and I know some of you are, you might not like it anyway. Your loss.

  • Anonymous

    Thank you so much for posting vlogs today Spoony so I have something to watch while I’m sick and miserable.

    • Anonymous

      Oh my God it’s real!!!!

    • Anonymous

      Oh my God it’s real!!!!

  • http://profiles.google.com/coredumperror Robert Rollins

    One of the best things about Contagion was how genuine it was.  I watched it with my mom, who used to be an infectious disease epidemiologist.  She said that, based on her knowledge of the field from the 90s, this movie was around 90% accurate with the real science they would actually do in this kind of situation. 

    She said the only thing that seemed unrealistic was how fast they developed the vaccine, but mentioned that she may simply be behind the times with the vaccine tech, since she hasn’t worked in the field since the mid 90s.  So if the tech is up to snuff for what they showed, it’s entirely possible that this movie was totally realistic.

  • http://profiles.google.com/coredumperror Robert Rollins

    One of the best things about Contagion was how genuine it was.  I watched it with my mom, who used to be an infectious disease epidemiologist.  She said that, based on her knowledge of the field from the 90s, this movie was around 90% accurate with the real science they would actually do in this kind of situation. 

    She said the only thing that seemed unrealistic was how fast they developed the vaccine, but mentioned that she may simply be behind the times with the vaccine tech, since she hasn’t worked in the field since the mid 90s.  So if the tech is up to snuff for what they showed, it’s entirely possible that this movie was totally realistic.

  • Anonymous

    This is one of those movies I really want to see but I can’t go but I can wait till the DVD hits stores!
    I would love to actually see a zombie moviemade like this.  Ithink WWZ is suppose to be but I’m sure it’ll turn into another Zombie flick but I’ll still be happy then!

    COVER YOUR DAMN MOUTH!!! (hold shotgun to 3 yearolds head)

  • Anonymous

    This is one of those movies I really want to see but I can’t go but I can wait till the DVD hits stores!
    I would love to actually see a zombie moviemade like this.  Ithink WWZ is suppose to be but I’m sure it’ll turn into another Zombie flick but I’ll still be happy then!

    COVER YOUR DAMN MOUTH!!! (hold shotgun to 3 yearolds head)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Maciej-Chrominski/1431213951 Maciej Chromiński

    wasn’t interested in that movie, but after watching your vlog, i’m pumped to see it, thanks Spoony and Miles – this sounds like my kind of flick

  • Anonymous

    same. the studio should pay u for this. i had NO interest to see this, thought it be another shitty blockbuster infection movie – the trailer really doesnt make it look like anything special. ur review was really sincere and infusing. sure spoony, as great as usual but miles really did a good job here too – the food comparison is great dude!!

    unfortunately this is only released at the end of october in the UK .sucks.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Natalie-Jones/100001438912549 Natalie Jones

    ACTION SCIENCE….I LOVE ACTION SCIENCE! IT’S THE BEST TV SHOW EEEEVVVVEEEERRRRRRR!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Natalie-Jones/100001438912549 Natalie Jones

    ACTION SCIENCE….I LOVE ACTION SCIENCE! IT’S THE BEST TV SHOW EEEEVVVVEEEERRRRRRR!

  • Anonymous

    I just watched Outbreak with my friends – it is one of the most unintentionally hilarious movies ever made. They must have blown their budget on big name actors, because the rest of the acting is so atrocious you’d think the producers had to bring in their family members to act! Not to mention the whole “big, bad military!” premise is just ridiculous. In fact, I think you should review it Spoony!

  • http://www.facebook.com/alex.wally.k.053 Alex Kaminski

    Exactly! Exactly what I felt while watching it!

  • Anonymous

    I hope there was a scene where the guy says “I got a shotgun” :P

  • Anonymous

    I hope there was a scene where the guy says “I got a shotgun” :P

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ashley-Browne/100001616866424 Ashley Browne

    Huh, I wasn’t interested in this movie at first, but now I might try and go see it when it comes out here.

    I love how in order for a movie to defy expectations or be not be predictable is to essentially be un-movie like. Go figure, eh?

  • Matsern

    Miles is getting comfortable in front of the camera as a co-host on your vlog movie reviews.
    Great!
    Because I knew from the moment I first watched him on the Transformers vlog, that he’s insightful and could be an excellent addition to the experiment.
    As always; great vlog, thanks a lot. Will check the movie out when it hits the cinema. Cheers!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Karolina-Chomicka/1505379654 Karolina Chomicka

      Same here. I think he’s doing better and better :)

  • Anonymous

    I love this preview pic. Spoony and Bro are going to talk about their feelings.

    But srsly tho’, Miles warms my heart.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Patrick-Wells/13805208 Patrick Wells

    This movie reminds me of when Swine Flu broke out. My girlfriend at the time was Columbus OH’s patient zero at OSU, and then they like “locked her up” at an undisclosed location (it was an off campus housing apartment where she wasn’t aloud to leave the room) and she swelled up a ton and felt so horrible for what…two weeks? Something like that. And me and her would talk on the phone constantly because we couldn’t see each other. It was ridiculous and a little freaky. Kind of funny looking back on it though…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Patrick-Wells/13805208 Patrick Wells

    This movie reminds me of when Swine Flu broke out. My girlfriend at the time was Columbus OH’s patient zero at OSU, and then they like “locked her up” at an undisclosed location (it was an off campus housing apartment where she wasn’t aloud to leave the room) and she swelled up a ton and felt so horrible for what…two weeks? Something like that. And me and her would talk on the phone constantly because we couldn’t see each other. It was ridiculous and a little freaky. Kind of funny looking back on it though…

  • http://twitter.com/Yadokingu Moritz

    Spoony could you upload your videos in less HD? These files are so big that they take forever to load with my connection and they only play back choppy in the flash player.
    I have to actually download and play them in VLC.

    Or maybe you can get that HD on/off button that penny arcade TV has. They are also on blip, so there should be a way…

  • Anonymous

    Spoony, you and I have the same ringtone!

  • Anonymous

    Spoony, you and I have the same ringtone!

  • http://www.facebook.com/cklambo Keith Lam

    SARS the movie

  • http://www.facebook.com/cklambo Keith Lam

    SARS the movie

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Zap/1609284984 Dave Zap

    You guys ever watch the movie “smallpox”? It was shot in a documentary style involving a bio-terrorist attack not long after 9/11 that created a global pandemic killing tens of millions. Scared the shit out of me when I watched it as a kid. This anything like that?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephanie-Paredes/100002471823133 Stephanie Paredes

    I really liked this movie and like they said I loved that it didn’t have a twist, but what annoyed me is that he never wore a mask. I get that he was immune, but just because you’re immune doesn’t mean you can’t get it means that you aren’t affected by it, but you can still be a carrier. He could have gotten his daughter sick because of that.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephanie-Paredes/100002471823133 Stephanie Paredes

    I really liked this story and like they said I was glad that there wasn’t some big twist, but what really annoyed me is that he never wore a mask. I get that he was immune, but just because you are immune doesn’t mean you can’t be a carrier. He really could have gotten his daughter sick.

  • Paul Eath

    I didn’t like this movie. I agree this is not your average Hollywood film.  Spoony praises this film for what it is not and what it doesn’t do. I knew 20 mins in what this movie was and didn’t expect plot twist. This movie is realistic and intellectual but my problem with this movie was it necessary that this was made for theaters? This movie would have been way more awesome as a documentary (or mockumentary). 

  • Anonymous

    This movie makes me think of the Stephen king’s The Stand.

  • Anonymous

    This movie makes me think of the Stephen king’s The Stand.

  • Anonymous

    This movie makes me think of the Stephen king’s The Stand.

  • Anonymous

    This movie makes me think of the Stephen king’s The Stand.

  • Anonymous

    This movie makes me think of the Stephen king’s The Stand.

  • Anonymous

    This movie makes me think of the Stephen king’s The Stand.

  • Anonymous

    This movie reminds me of the Stephen king’s The Stand.

  • Anonymous

    This movie reminds me of the Stephen king’s The Stand.

  • Anonymous

    This movie reminds me of the Stephen king’s The Stand.

  • Anonymous

    This movie reminds me of the Stephen king’s The Stand.

  • Anonymous

    This movie reminds me of the Stephen king’s The Stand.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kevin-Fumero/100000153843491 Kevin Fumero

    This was great stuff. 
    What video editing software do you use? 

  • Anonymous

    Matt Damon bought a gun and didn’t use it? A gun was introduced and not used? But, but, b-b-but, impossible!

  • Anonymous

    Matt Damon bought a gun and didn’t use it? A gun was introduced and not used? But, but, b-b-but, impossible!

  • http://countzeroor.wordpress.com Alexander Case

    Hmm. I’m going to have to put this movie on my to-watch list then.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jonathan-Pelikan/100000903137143 Jonathan Pelikan

    Spoony, let’s repeat this since it bears repeating; figure out why your mic destroys people every time you scream, or don’t scream, please.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jonathan-Pelikan/100000903137143 Jonathan Pelikan

    Spoony, let’s repeat this since it bears repeating; figure out why your mic destroys people every time you scream, or don’t scream, please.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kyle-Huckins/100000367365765 Kyle Huckins

    Arizona must have gotten a different cut of the film than New Jersey because we saw different movies.  Jude Law might as well have been Snidely Whiplash, especially when conspiring with that bearded fellow who’s name isn’t even given much less why he’s relevant.  Matt Damon’s storyline was pure padding from my perspective since it mostly consisted of him shooing away that kid.  It would have been nice to see more with Elliot Gould who just disappeared for some reason.  The ending showing how the virus started also seemed like a final finger to the audience that was tacked on at the last minute.   Another pet peeve, anyone who talks up the use of antibacterials against a virus should be beaten.  Antibacterial soap is USELESS against virii.  This might work as an anthology series but as a movie ye gods this was awful.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Natalie-Jones/100001438912549 Natalie Jones

      Sooo,if your misinformed you should be beaten? Wow, so according to you i (and my supervisors,CNA teacher etc,) should’ve been beaten a long time ago

    • http://twitter.com/MichaelCWells Michael Wells

      I just rented this video. Yes the movie ends with it showing how the virus got to the women. But that was not a TWIST per say it was just informing the viewers how it happened. In the movie the women who injects herself (I honestly dont recall names in this movie) mentions “Somewhere in the world the wrong bat met up with the wrong pig” and that was exactly what happened. It showed how something was basic as a fruit bat dropped it’s food into a pig pen caused a lethal epidemic that killed thousands.

      Matt Damon’s storyline was something that could have been cut after the death of his wife and son. Or at least use his immunity to the virus. But I did understand it, they wanted to give the everyman’s view on the outbreak and how society was breaking down around him. Like the house and stores being looted, the fear of letting someone in because they might have the virus even though it seems innocent. The women in the store pissed me off as she knows she is sick and so gonna die and she grabs this seemingly healthy guy knowing full well she might have just infected a person and killed them. Spoony mentioned the other guy who annoyed me.

      Overall this movie was good, I liked it, they did not do anything too cliche and while I agree Jude Law’s character was a douche he was realistic in this day and age. Everyone is out to be famous and get rich and that was this guy’s sole goal.

    • http://www.facebook.com/salkkuaannapsauttelevaexcelseta Mä En Ehkä Kestä

      The only question that arises from this nonsense is that were you beaten too much as a kid or too little.

  • Mark Richard

    heh. i love this kind of stuff. reminds me of the character i’m playing right now on our wednesday games.

    see i’m playing a wizard in a pathfinder (a Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 spinoff for those who don’t know) game and our GM, bless his heart, gave us a Clay Golem Manual. this item lets you create 1 golem without needing the particular spells as well as a few levels earlier then normal. the steps are pretty much :

    1) make body of clay
    2) create pentagram around it
    3) press button found on book
    4) enjoy golem

    so i have this big ‘ol clay golem… so how does one go about their daily lives with a 2.5k Kilogram Gumby?

    shove him in a Portable Hole (a 10x10x10 extradimentional space/rug) for easy carry!

    now, think about this for a second: you have 2.5-3 meters tall, 2.5k Kilo, near indestructible (at least for the most part) terminator.

    a lot. so far i’ve:

    -used him as a trapspringer (the golem has a very specific damage reduction ability of decent strength, poison immunity & crazy magic resistance makes most traps negligible). the rogue, the cleric and the group’s two wizards rather dislike getting spear’d or arrow’d, especially if poison is involved.

    the golem, not so much. i’ve yet to figure out if he’s even noticed the stabs.

    -for those who don’t know, Invisibility is a D&D spell that lets you be, well invisible until you attack an enemy. that “until” part is pretty important as it lets you get only a single surprise attack… it does, however, include a clause that lets you take actions like cutting a chandelier’s rope (and thus making it fall on someone) without breaking the invisibility.

    so i asked the GM if could simply deploy the portable hole near an enemy… and then let the golem grab their ankle from inside the hole, thus dragging them into his space, (IE: inside the hole) and then simply closing the hole while they’re in there fighting for their life. if the golem doesn’t kill them, they only have 10 minutes of breathable air.

    every time i’ve done this, the GM had me clean out my portable hole due to messy golem-based dismemberment. it’s usually reserved for the enemies who’ve really cheesed us off and deserve the ignoble death called “the golem hole”.

    -on more then one occasion i’ve had the golem create doorways, ferries or makeshift bridges where there were none and simply carry us where we need to be. the golem stands 2.5-3 meters tall, my character is about 2 himself. so with the golem’s outstretched arms easily holding my wizardly weight i can easily get boosted to where i can reach ledges 6 or so meters off the ground and easily keep my own feet 3 meters off the floor (which could be made of water, acid, snakes, spikes or some such annoyance).

    it’s great size and strength also allows it to be the best packmule ever. after we put all the little widgets in the golem’s hole, we simply have the golem carry the large, heavy stuff… or the REALLY large stuff after i’ve shrinked it.

    while we’re no longer dismantling doors off their hinges and selling them to the evil necromancers across the lane, we still do enjoy grabbing the odd things, like a 2-meter long model ship, because… well, just because.

    i mean, it was a REALLY nice model caravel.

    -remember the golem’s magic/poison immunity i mentioned? one of the PCs, another wizard, likes the cloudkill spell. cloudkill is a cloud… that kills you. it’s name really says all you need to know. it’ll quickly whittle away at your constitution if you stay in it too long. thankfully, it’s generally content to roll along the ground at a speed of about 10 feet per round and you can usually just walk out of it too… i mean, it’s a cloud. unfortunately, that doesn’t help much when the golem (due to it’s superior size & strength) is dragging you on the floor in this horrific mustard gas while not being affected by it.

    very often do we use the golem to simply manage enemies in this way, let the golem win an attrition war with enemies we can’t simply alpha-strike while we debuff them.

    one of the changes from your standard 3.5 that the Pathfinder variant did, was give the specialist wizards X rounds / day of certain effects. now, i’m an evoker, a specialisation in one of the weaker schools (for those who don’t know, evocation generally consists of spells that do damage, while a wizard’s true forte is in the sheer variety of non-damage options they have).

    at level 8+ evokers can create magical walls of [element of your choosing] damage for up to X rounds a day, divided as they choose. these walls, if created on someone or if they pass through it, deals damage that can’t be avoided with a reflex save, like you could with Fireball or Lighting Bolt (wizards aren’t too creative with spell names, you can guess what these spells do).

    now, remember how the golem is immune to magic? and how i have the golem grab enemies? on more then one occasion i’ve had the golem grab an enemy, hold him to the ground while beating his head in, all while surrounded with a wall of flame that the golem simply shrugs off. the golem’s own 2d10+numbers and my own wall’s 2d6+numbers rips through most enemies like a hot, clay knife through butter.

    or worse… cause here’s the kicker: the golem’s magic immunity has a few loopholes. like how magical acid heals it. so i often find myself surrounding the golem with a caustic wall of healing that hurts the poor schmuck who’s gotten himself grappled.

    -golem-based tactical nukes, or “i open the hole, on the ceiling, above
    the enemy”. i’ve simply crushed more then a few enemies under the
    golem’s massive bulk. i remember one fight where the other wizard tried to cloudkill a monster, hoping to kill it. unfortunately, it was immune to poison and a rather strong melee type.

    it also stood guard at the bottom of the well where our objective, a tomb, was.

    unfortunately it was also underneath the golem’s only way down, which ended up with two wizards & a cleric cheering on from the top of a well as 2 3-meter tall colossi duked it out in a circular ring, all while the rogue (who had sneaked down earlier under the cover of Invisibility) tried not to get murdered.

    All in all our GM has taken it all much better then i had hoped he would. for some people, a golem is nothing but a servant. for us (or at least me), he’s a valued teammate that’s generally underrepresented in the GM’s blog for his contribution.

  • http://profiles.google.com/likalaruku Allaiyah Weyn

    Just watched this; I was in the mood for a virus marathon.

  • Seamus Mulhern

    I personally didn’t like Contagion. The virus wasn’t exactly apocalyptic enough for this kind of movie.

The Spoony Experiment © 2012 Noah Antwiler
Privacy Policy
Banner image by Jared von Hindman
Forged by [the Engineer]