Ep 8. Hollywood on Trial

The Emmy-nominated television series Mythbusters is back with another exciting episode from season 3! In episode 8, titled "Hollywood on Trial," hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman investigate myths and claims related to Hollywood movie scenes.

The episode starts off with Adam and Jamie testing a claim that explosions in movies are wildly unrealistic, and that real explosions don't look or behave anything like they do on-screen. To test this claim, the hosts work with a professional pyrotechnician to set up a series of controlled explosions, which they then compare to movie explosions to see how closely they match up. Along the way, they provide some interesting and informative insights into how Hollywood creates some of its most famous and impressive scenes.

Next, the hosts investigate a claim that a person can fall ten stories and survive, as demonstrated in the movie Die Hard. To test this myth, they construct a makeshift 'person drop zone' from ten stories up and drop various objects and materials to see if any of them manage to survive the fall intact. They then move on to dropping crash test dummies and finally, a real human volunteer to see if anyone actually could survive the fall without any injuries.

The episode then moves into the world of bullet-time effects, which have become incredibly popular since their use in the movie The Matrix. Adam and Jamie investigate whether the effects, which slow down time to give the impression of a bullet travelling in slow motion, are actually feasible in real life. They set up an elaborate experiment featuring a high-speed camera, a paintball gun, and some gravity-defying acrobatics to see if they can capture a similar time-manipulating effect to that seen in The Matrix.

The final myth that Adam and Jamie explore in this episode is related to the classic Western movie moment of shooting a gun out of someone's hand. They investigate whether it's possible to shoot a gun out of someone's hand without injuring them, and whether this is a realistic portrayal of what would happen in a typical gunfight. They explore the ins and outs of how guns work, the likelihood of hitting specific targets, and the various ways in which guns can be safely and accurately fired.

Throughout the episode, the hosts combine scientific testing with plenty of Hollywood flair, creating a fun and entertaining viewing experience for fans of both science and action movies. They also provide plenty of historical context and interesting trivia, helping viewers gain a deeper appreciation for the myths and legends that have grown up around some of the most famous movie scenes of all time.

Overall, "Hollywood on Trial" is a fantastic episode of Mythbusters that provides a unique and informative look at the science behind some of Hollywood's most iconic moments. Whether you're a fan of action movies, sci-fi epics, or just love learning more about how the world works, this episode is sure to provide plenty of excitement and entertainment. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and prepare to have your mind blown by the fascinating experiments and myth-busting antics of Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman!