MovieChat Forums > Flash of Genius (2008) Discussion > Are you kidding me?

Are you kidding me?

posted 15 years ago by littlerudi08043
10 replies | jump to latest

They made a movie about the guy who made a *beep* windshield wiper? and they're calling it Flash of Genius? Are you kidding me? Yes a windshield wiper is important, but genius? No. More like Flash of Mild Convienience!

I know it's a story abou a guy who got screwed over by "the man," but seriously? Windshield wipers? You could make up a more interesting story involving an elephant, but windwhield wipers? You've gotta be kidding me! I have an idea, let's make a movie about the guy who invented the glove compartment, or the E-Z bake oven!

I saw the preview for this movie and I don't think I've laughed so hard in my life at such an absurd movie premise.

[–] SmokeyTheGreat 15 years ago

Is the movie any more idiotic then you coming here to tell strangers about a movie you never claim to have even seen? You must really crave stranger attention

-You look like Babe Ruth's gay brother, Gabe Ruth-

[–] littlerudi08043 15 years ago

You just can't see the absurdity of this movie.

[–] nemidwest 15 years ago

Watch the movie. Seriously, it is about following your heart and doing the right thing. Doesn't matter if the invention was a device for making windshield wipers work better or for a better mousetrap. There was a principle involved.

[–] MuchToBeGratefulFor 15 years ago

If you bothered to watch the movie you would understand why it is titled "Flash of Genius", because that term is used and explained. You just come across as an idiot for making ignorant comments about a movie you haven't seen.

You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi

[–] mrliteral 15 years ago

Not only was the term used incorrectly, it doesn't even apply to the story: his "big idea" was the use of intermittent wipers, which was actually not a new idea because the auto companies were already working on it. Where he succeeded first was in the development and engineering of the device, which was not the result of any "flash of genius" but due to his education, research, and persistence in construction.

I refer only to events in the movie, not actual history, because I don't know the actual history nor do I care. This was a stupid movie, badly made, and if the real guy really went to Ford with a valid design to which he & his partners really held the patents and really told them he wanted to manufacture it himself instead of selling them the design...he was really stupid.

http://moviesonthemind.blogspot.com/

[–] LachieMohr 15 years ago

So "auto companies were already working on it" but they couldn't make it work reliably, so that was in fact the innovation. This was in the days when computers were built with discrete circuitry - uhh, that means there were no logic chips, no micro-controllers and no memory chips; memory was made with magnetic cores.

Your ignorance and disdain for scientific progress and its history is only a sad reflection on the state of the education system.

[–] camel-wides 13 years ago

"Not only was the term used incorrectly, it doesn't even apply to the story"

wrong. it was used quite correctly. it was used in conjunction with the requirements of a patent from the early 40's where an invention had to have a "flash of genius" or Eureka! moment in it's inception to qualify. this has long since been changed to allow for more scientific methods of routine, and mundane experimentation, and creation.

[–] MagicMikassa 15 years ago

I think the fact that he didn't invent the greatest product ever makes this movie so much better than if he had. Even though it was just a windshield wiper he still fought for the credit all the way (and even turned down millions of dollars) because he deserved it not Ford. It's just fascinating that a man could go through all those years fighting for what most people would think of as such a unimportant invention. Just because it isn't the greatest invention doesn't make it any less his and the fact that he never let go of that is pretty astonishing. He lost his marriage and a decade of his life all for a windshield wiper (and not even the first windshield wiper). Oh and no I'm not kidding you.

http://mmimdb.blogspot.com/

[–] LatigoMeans 15 years ago

The invention was not important to the point of the film ... pretty obvious. And as Kinnear's character states in the film, "... it's my Mona Lisa."

~LjM
Way down deep I'm very superficial.

[–] dlbach1 12 years ago

The movie was NOT about a man who made a windshield wiper. It was about an inventor standing up for himself and fighting to get credit for what he had done. Watch the movie before you run off at the mouth.