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Ask HN: What are some technically inspiring movies, TV shows or documentaries?

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Re: Ask HN: What are some technically inspiring movies, TV shows or documentaries?

#41
post #15

The Martian. I don’t know of any other movie that better celebrates the uniquely human ability to overcome challenges through innovation and persistence. That movie gets me charged up.

Reminded me a lot of Apollo 13, which I feel similarly captures that, and really happened!

Re: Ask HN: What are some technically inspiring movies, TV shows or documentaries?

#42

I've enjoyed Suits. It's about lawyers, but with an intertwined hacker ethic (one of the lead characters is a college dropout practicing law without a license). There's a bit of cheese that spoils it for me sometimes, but for the most part the emotional drama is pretty engaging, and it definitely inspires a determined, gritty attitude.

+1 for Suits. I didn't do all the seasons, but I was pretty solid for the first five. Also, every guy could use a "Donna" in his life.

Re: Ask HN: What are some technically inspiring movies, TV shows or documentaries?

#44
post #15

The Martian. I don’t know of any other movie that better celebrates the uniquely human ability to overcome challenges through innovation and persistence. That movie gets me charged up.

Yes, I love this one. Great movie.

Re: Ask HN: What are some technically inspiring movies, TV shows or documentaries?

#45
Some years ago I stumbled upon an "old" documentary on the Voyager missions, from the 80s or 90s I think. It covered the work done on orbit mechanics in the early 70s, the realisation that in a couple of years time there'd be a once in a generation window to send a probe to visit all the planets in the outer solar system, and the political and engineering challenges that had to be overcome to make it happen. It really clarified what an incredible achievement the whole project was, and is by far the most thrilling and inspirational documentary I've ever watched. Sadly can't remember what it was called. I've looked on youtube, there are other voyager documentaries on there, but not this one.

Re: Ask HN: What are some technically inspiring movies, TV shows or documentaries?

#47
post #21

Movies and Hollywood in general are a pretty bad source for that kind of material.

Also open to recommendations from any other world industry, including Japanese anime.

If you need external inspiration to do something that's usually a bad sign. If you need it to start a business that's a recipe for disaster.

I tend to agree with Elon Musk, he said: "If you need inspiring words, don't do it." [0]

[0] https://www.facebook.com/drivelinebaseball/videos/if-you-nee...

Re: Ask HN: What are some technically inspiring movies, TV shows or documentaries?

#48
If you need external inspiration to do something that's usually a bad sign. If you need it to start a business that's a recipe for disaster.

I tend to agree with Elon Musk, he said: "If you need inspiring words, don't do it." [0]

[0] https://www.facebook.com/drivelinebaseball/videos/if-you-nee...

Re: Ask HN: What are some technically inspiring movies, TV shows or documentaries?

#49
Flash of Genius[0], "The story focuses on Robert Kearns and his legal battle against the Ford Motor Company after they developed an intermittent windshield wiper based on ideas the inventor had patented."

[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_of_Genius_(film)

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