Hollywood Science

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Series separates special F/X fact from fiction.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this investigative docuseries helps decipher which parts of movies and TV shows are complete Hollywood fiction and which are rooted in fact. The series is lots of fun for both parents and kids, as long as younger viewers can handle the action-packed scenes of explosions, vehicle crashes, and gun violence from the featured movies and shows (the clips are brief but plentiful).

  • Viewers get a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the science behind the entertainment industry.
  • Gunshots, explosions, and vehicle crashes are common in clips from movies and TV shows.
  • Not applicable.

What's the story?

Investigative docuseries HOLLYWOOD SCIENCE examines both the process behind Hollywood special effects and the inspirations for weapons, tools, and vehicles as yet unheard of in real life. Each episode focuses on one group of items, including amazing gadgets and futuristic vehicles. Using video clips from movies and TV shows, the series shows the effects in action and explains which parts are based in fact -- and which are pure imagination. For example, one episode focused on the high-tech spy tools used by characters in movies like True Lies and The Bourne Identity. Experts showed that quick-acting biological weapons (as seen on 24) are a plausible current concern, that retinal scanners used to monitor a person's movements (Minority Report) are a future possibility, that implanted microchips storing a person's personal information (Bourne Identity) have only small hurdles to overcome before being a viable option, and that tracking devices are in fact not impervious to factors like crowds or a building's infrastructure (Enemy of the State).


Is it any good?

 

If you have an inquiring mind when it comes to what you see on screen, Hollywood Science will captivate you almost as much as the action films themselves. And if your kids and tweens can handle the brief, action-packed clips from some series and movies that might be a little too old for them, they'll probably enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at how Hollywood puts on a show.


Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

Families can talk about media special effects. How do special effects change a movie or TV show? Does the change always make the production better? How important are the effects to the show's or movie's overall feel? How can effects change the actors' appearance? What about the realism of violence? Do shows with high-quality effects have a stronger impact on viewers? Why or why not? What are some of the best effects you've seen? The worst? How have technological advances changed the entertainment industry?


This review was written by Emily Ashby

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.


This review was written by Emily Ashby
Topics:science and nature
TV rating:TV-G
Network:National Geographic Channel
Cast:Dave Hoffman
Genre:Educational

This review was written by Emily Ashby
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

vote now

Will you see Hollywood Science?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Been There? Tell us about it