MovieChat Forums > Resurrection (1980) Discussion > Edna bending the laser beam

Edna bending the laser beam

posted 15 years ago by iamcraig
4 replies | jump to latest

The scene when Edna bent the laser beam really made the hackles of my neck stand up the first time I saw it.

It's so simple as a visual effect, but there are only a couple ways Ellen Burstyn's character could have achieved it in the real world.

1. Manipulate the density of the atmosphere in front of her hands and create a free form gaseous prism to deflect the beam.

2. Manipulate the gravitational constant within a localized area in front of her hands and create gravitational lensing to deflect the beam.

The former explanation would describe the ability to manipulate matter on a molecular level.

The latter explanation would mean a absolutely super scary ability to manipulate the fabric of time and space itself.

Either way, I think the character Edna had a lot more ability beyond healing than she realized.

[–] WarpedRecord 14 years ago

Well, Edna was no ordinary woman, just as Ellen Burstyn is no ordinary actress. And while I must profess ignorance of quantum physics (or whatever other science explains this phenomenon), I am impressed with your critical knowledge of the subject. Someone else pointed this oddity in the film a few years ago on this board, but with much less detail.

While I'd be lying if I said I understood either explanation, I'm intrigued nonetheless by the plot possibilities Edna's skills may have allowed.

If the former explanation were valid, could Edna have found more practical uses for her skills than giving disabled yokels the ability to walk?

And if the latter explanation were valid, could Edna have used her skills to prevent her husband's car accident in the first place?

[–] Anastasia_M 14 years ago

While I'd be lying if I said I understood either explanation, I'm intrigued nonetheless by the plot possibilities Edna's skills may have allowed.

If the former explanation were valid, could Edna have found more practical uses for her skills than giving disabled yokels the ability to walk?

And if the latter explanation were valid, could Edna have used her skills to prevent her husband's car accident in the first place?

To your questions;

(1) I think the denouement of the film showed that while she recognized the miraculousness of her ability, she decided that for her, the only right way to use it was to allow fate, destiny, or chance place before her the opportunity or need to use it. And by doing so anonymously, she removes the possibility that her ego-self has anything to do with its use. It's a kind of zen philosophy of giving what you have to give only because someone needs it, not to aggrandize or elevate yourself in any way.

and, (2) the strong suggestion was that it was her experience while in the borderlands between life and death that somehow "gave" or "awakened" the ability in her. So before the accident, even if she had it, it was dormant.

http://www.drunkduck.com/2_Bitter_4_Words/ ~

[–] Bruce7 13 years ago

I would term it telekinesis.

Can you fly this plane?
Surely you can't be serious.
I am serious,and don't call me Shirley

[–] lvcambot-2 11 years ago

That was sort of the standard PK test at the Stanford Research Institute for psychics. They would take them down into the basement and fire up some sort of energy device.. Not sure if was really a Laser or not. I'm sure a laser bending is more exciting then numbers being printed out.

BTW.. The scientist who opened his lab to the psychics? He nearly lost his job at the university (as well as black balling his career.

GENE