Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Series separates special F/X fact from fiction.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
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.
Talk to Your Kids 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?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 19, 2006
- Cast : Dave Hoffman
- Network : National Geographic Channel
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : STEM
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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