MovieChat Forums > GATTACA (1997) Discussion > How many kids watch this movie for schoo...

How many kids watch this movie for school?

posted 19 years ago by Hythlodaeus
530 replies | jump to latest

There are tons of kids who write on here that they are watching this movie in High School - are they watching it for English class, science, history, what?

First of all I'm an English teacher (but haven't taught hardly at all yet) and I can't believe how much schools are using movies and only reading one or two books per year - it's nuts. However, I respect the Comparative Lit approach of watching movies as well as reading books.

Second, why is this movie so poorly regarded by most but it seems that schools love it. Maybe it's just the kind of movie teacher types like - I am a teacher and this is my favorite movie. I intend to show it to my class - the next one I get - didn't show it to my first class - showed them The Murder of Mary Phagan instead.

I'm very curious about this.

Update: I'm now teaching a college class in technology and business management, will show part of this movie to my students for the 10th anniversary of this thread (which I never thought would go this long), I'll also be showing them a few other movie clips to illustrate how sci-fi becomes reality so they should keep a flexible mind.

What hump? 

[–] mcentee232 19 years ago

Yes, I watch this movie in high school for biology class. When we study DNA, we get to watch this movie. Maybe that's only for my school though. Also, I don't know why this is poorly regarded, but I don't plan on becoming a teacher and I think this movie is great.

[–] Hythlodaeus 19 years ago

That's funny, what do you talk about for Biology class regarding this film?

It seems like a good discussion would be the Cicle-Cell Anemia gene conferring immunity for Malaria (in heterzygous individuals) but death when a person the gene from both parents - how there could be countless other genes that we would consider "undesireable" and weed out only to find that we've opened ourselves up for huge deficits and disease not to mention what narrowing the gene pool could do to society in terms of genetic disorders and infertility resulting from damaged genes.

Other than that it doesn't seem like there's much science in it - but tons of philosphy of science, in terms of what science should do as opposed to what it can do, which for me is more history and literature. I was a science major in college so I appreciate it from both sides. I liked the movie philosophically - the question about what really drives people, a lack of knowledge of their own limits? What would society become if we knew too much about oursevelves and or tried to all be the same by being what society thinks of as "the best" we can be.

I am alwasys surprised at how many people didn't know that Einstein supposedly had dyslexia and that his radical ability to think abstractly is common in those with dyslexia. It's a perfect case of where we don't understand the full compliment that the "disease" contains and how much might be good.

[–] mcentee232 19 years ago

Well, we haven't watched it in class yet because were not in that section yet, but I do not really know what the discussion surrounding the movie will be. However, I agree with a lot of the points you make in your post. I also liked the movie philosophically and totally agree with your statement about "undesirable" genes. How many mistakes will we make getting rid of these genes before we can, or if we will ever truly understand our own genes and how each affects us?

[–] JohnFK 18 years ago

I am alwasys surprised at how many people didn't know that Einstein had dyslexia and that his radical ability to think abstractly is common in those with dyslexia. It's a perfect case of where we don't understand the full compliment that the "disease" contains and how much might be good.

That's a crock of *beep* and you know it. There might have been some favorable testing, but it isn't the most prominent theory on why Einstein was so creative. As far as I know dyslexia isn't connected to any kind of superior abstract way of thought, but if you have any sources, I'll be happy to read them.

[–] timesquare11 18 years ago

we watched this movie in eighth grade science (along with swing kids) to learn about genetic discrimination. as well as genetics in general.

-kevin

...and nobody is ever gonna bring me down!

no day but today!

[–] tranquocthai 17 years ago

@thatsKEVTASTIC hey same here. We're reading brave new world in english class and watch this movie. We also watched equilibrium

[–] thecompanywebsite 17 years ago

We watched it for English class, in order to compare it to our choice of a utopian novel (i.e. "Brave New World") and write about the similarities between utopian societies. We also had to create a utopian society of our own.

[–] teenage_mutant_ninja_turtles 19 years ago

yea same here!!! watching it in biology while studying DNA

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[–] xentrix-1 18 years ago

I think that's kind of funny actually. It seems like an excuse to the watch the movie, hehe. I wouldn't mind seeing it in school though with my classmates.

[–] vinniethetank 18 years ago

hey yeh im from aus and we just watched it in english.

[–] gretzabumdancer 18 years ago

hey im from new zealand and i also had to watch it for english i like it but when u have to watch and analyze it about 50 times and then write an essay about it in exam conditions it gets to u abit :)

[–] zippyoloo-1 18 years ago

Yeah we just finished this movie on Thursday for freshman biology...a wrapup for our genetics/heredity chapters.

Baby Girl - "Then you can't make me budge!" Steve Urkel - "Not without a forklift."

[–] Six-Shooter 12 years ago

I too first saw it in Biology class while studying DNA.

The knack to flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

[–] Xeller 19 years ago

We've been watching it for our Ethics and Technology class... Basically, the class focuses on the connections between advancement in technology and changes in ethics.

[–] interlude82 19 years ago

im watching it at the moment at skool.

last year its was studied by the year 12s for their final exam.
in austrailia, its popular movie to study, especially because their is stem cell research centre in melbourne and constant media attention is attracted to it.

[–] Hythlodaeus 19 years ago

Oh, that's funny, I guess I was kind of assuming it was only watched in the US.

I heard on the news this morning about how many states in the US are funding stem-cell research because they know that with the Federal Gov. not funding it and indeed banning human cloning that huge research groups and scientists will be moving overseas. I guess Melborurne is one such place so it's a big issue to you because you're doing it and a big issue to us becuase so many Americans feel it shouldn't be done.

I personally feel strongly against abortion and that stem-cell research should not be done especially since within a short time it will be possible to clone human cells and use that tissue. Though, it would be hard to say where the first non-differentiated stocks of cells should come from since fetuses are about the only place to get them - but someday it will be possible to engineer cells to be non-differentiated. I don't believe humans should be cloned but there's no doubt that tissue cloning will be a huge advance in transplants and treatments someday that will dramatically drive medicine forward.

[–] alvin_says_hello 19 years ago

"I guess Melborurne is one such place so it's a big issue to you because you're doing it (stem-cell research) and a big issue to us becuase so many Americans feel it shouldn't be done."

hythlodaeus, just because people are doing it in Aust doesnt mean that everyone in Aust think it is ethical. The Biology syllabus in high school (NSW, Aust)is currently informing students of the ethical issues in this matter. I'm not quite sure, but read in the papers the other day that there has been a ban in using human cells for research that have been extracted after a certain date.

The problem with this research is that there are some people with the knowledge to clone, possibly even humans, who can go to places where there isnt a ban on this matter. The point is that it may happen in the next decade without people knowing that this has happen (or even already happenning).

I myself dont think that there is a need for cloning humans and even if there is, I dont think it is ethical for creating life just to take "spare parts" out. There is however a point that if there was a way to grow organs in pigs to use in humans, I dont see a huge deal with that because the meat would be eaten anyway.

Oh btw, we didnt watch this in class. My Bio teacher recommended that we watch it tho

[–] Hythlodaeus 19 years ago

The ethics question is intesting. When I was a senior in high school back in 1991, we were talking about how the National Science Foundation had rejected funding of cloning on rats. This super smart but ignorant kid in school said, "Oh, gimme a break! They should just do it!" That was when it really hit home to me how much of an advantage I had over students even who had better grades than I. My entrance essay for a big name college here in the US was about ethics in scientific discovery and how research must go forward but at times humanity isn't ready for the advances and that there will surely be consequences in Eugenics as this stuff goes forward. I got in even though my grades and SATs were below the average for the University.

Most people just want to say, "Oh, gimme a break. Just do it!" but that is naive and dangerous. There is a time that a society and especially a scientist needs to say, "Just because it can be done, does that mean it should be?" That was Einstein's dilemma because he knew what horrors his reasearch would be used for even if he never intended that.

I'm glad that it's being discussed in schools - I think Gattaca is a great movie and isn't well-regarded because most people don't want to think about larger issues.

[–] Eileen_Prince 19 years ago

We're half way doe with this movie in Biology class rght now. I've never heard of this movie before today and I was surprised at what a good movie it was. It does raise a lot of philosophy questions, and my class was silent for the entire hour we viewed. I think this is an excellent mobvie to show in class. It deals with a science issue in an interesting way and anyway I'd rather watch this than learn about the endoplasmic recticulum.

[–] Hythlodaeus 19 years ago

What!? You don't like those ERs? Ah, the rough and smooth ER, aren't they great!

Do you watch a lot of movies in science - I don't think I've ever seen a movie in science class unless it was a documentary about science.

Where do you all go to school - I'm curious which states people come from and what sort of curriculum they use.

[–] dark_despair 19 years ago

My English class started watching this movie today...I'm Canadian...the only reason we're watching it, according to the teacher, is because we need to see or read something with sci-fi in it because of the curriculum....its the only movie we've seen all year so far

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] chica80027 19 years ago

We just finished this movie in my biology class, we just finished our genectics/eugenics unit and this was just something that related to genectics that was fun.

[–] laui 19 years ago

Hey! I´m a university student in Lisbon, Portugal and am currently in my 3rd year of Biomedical Engineering. We watched this movie for a subject called Bio-Ethics, i now have to wtite an essay/comment on its many moral,ethical and philosophical questions.
I didn´t know about this movie but I enjoyed it thouroughly as it presented me with a perspective on how far we should apply our scientific knowledge, and maybe, although more dramatically, if we should even apply it at all, in matters of such complexity such as human nature. i used to be all for the development of science and its aplication; besides its risks and setbacks, i thought that in the end it would be for the best for mankind as one. this movie has lead me to think twice, and twice as hard, about my beliefs that i think that such procedure would be extremely dangerous to the point that i imagine an analogy to those very high suspended bridges made of wood and rope(Indiana Jones alike), very fragil and capable of collapsing at any time.
However, besides all the personal and social hazards presented by the movie, i believe that the same spirit/nature that drove Vincent to travel in space, would drive mankind to overcome all the advsersities this subject may offer and obtain a higher level of quality of life.

[–] espamn 19 years ago

I never watched this movie in school (i'm in college now, so maybe it was to new). In any event i loved this movie when i saw it and i'm trying to do a lesson on dystopias right now using the giver by lowry and using Gattaca as a suppliment.

[–] Hythlodaeus 19 years ago

Oh, so are you a teacher, ESpamn? The Giver is a great story for today since with issues like Abortion and the Schaivo case.

I don't know what the thing is with dystopias - some people (like me) are completely unoriginally infatuated with them but then other times I'm shocked to find how many people haven't even read 1984 (which to me isn't as good as the less read Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451) - The Giver is striking - it's too bad there wasn't an non-adolescent version. At one point I thought Gattaca was a book and I was so excited to find and read it but it wasn't - it should have been - I think it would have been classic.

It seems that in some classes Gattaca is being addressed well but in others not much at all - the movie is so full of implications all revolving around what is the exact nature of what makes human beings great as individuals and a whole - it is somehow related to our striving to outdo ourselves - what would we lose as a world that only values a limited set of personal characteristics as desireable.

I love in the Giver the question of what happens to those who seem without value to society and then in Gattaca's special features they had the section where they named all the people in history who had genetic disorders that would be weeded out in a Gattaca world and never gotten the benefit of their life - Einstein (Dyslexia), Kennedy (and also Jane Austen) Addison's Disease, Lincoln (he had that bone/joint disorder), Van Gogh (Depression) etc. etc.

[–] americangirl0711 19 years ago

I'm a sophomore in Michigan and we just finished watching Gattaca in science...we've been dealing with genetics lately...and it seems that every science class in my whole school has been watching it over the past two weeks. I cried at the end ;)...

[–] Hythlodaeus 19 years ago

So do you think most people liked it and/or got it?

What did you cry about - about what Jarome did? A lot of people think the ending meant different things.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] hotcurry414 19 years ago

I live in australia and we watched it at school a couple months ago (I'm in year 12). We haven't actually talked about it in english yet which is what we watched it for, but we're working on our oral presentations at the moment so me and a friend are doing ours on gattaca and we're going right into the philosophy side of it. I'm not doing philosophy or biology as subjects this year so I don't know if they're working on it as well.

I have to agree that it is a pretty popular movie in australia.

[–] Hythlodaeus 19 years ago

What are you planning to say about it, HotCurry?

[–] emilyann0583 19 years ago

I saw this movie as a junior in high school for English class. We watched it after reading the book Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Mainly because it had to do with the subject of people being genetically altered in the future to be near-perfect just like it was in Brave New World. If I am remembering correctly. I loved it and so did everyone else in my class. I suggest using it if you use that book.

[–] redroselovewaits 19 years ago

I am a first year college student, and I saw this just recently in class. We watched part of it in my psychology class, and we watched the whole thing in my genetics and society class. We used it to discuss the implications of the human genome project and when discussing who should have access to our DNA and find out our genetic predispositions to different diseases and disorders.

[–] Chillnhood 19 years ago

Thats amazing thas a movie of this fine nature made into classrooms. While I was in school, fereign height 451 was as good as it got for our class. As far as in class movies went that was the cake for our school, that was only a couple years ago, however I probley caught this movie the 1st time around at age 14, while I did not have the comprehension of it then as I do now. for some reason, after watching it ten times, maybe twice a year or more.. I still love it and always will, it really speaks volumes on a person's drive to become something against inumerable odds. what was the qoute "there is no gene for human spirit"

To think that only teacher types would enjoy this flick as well hos someone thought a movie this calibre would only been popular in the US, thats kind of funny. wouldnt you agree it's actualy us in the US who usualy take a dumbed-down style of movie. or atleast thats what theatres get fed these days how many countless slaughters of foreign films remade into USA box office hits can you count?

[–] Hythlodaeus 19 years ago

Oh, don't get me wrong. I think the movie's great and don't understand why it doesn't appeal to everyone, I just know it doesn't and I just always forget how American movies are seen all over the world - it's rare that an American knows a non-American movie. I would be surprised the movie would be popular abroad for the reason you say that other nations surely have enough good movies, I wouldn't think ours are special overall (althoug I think many are world-class) - I have no idea how other nation's movies compare when talking about a type like Gattaca - I've never seen a foreign film like it.

Fahrenheit 451 was a great book but a horrible movie - it's too bad you only saw the movie.

[–] badger005 19 years ago

I am currently a highschool senior in Canada, and I just finished watching this movie in my Psychology class. We are using it for a discussion of human ethics, and how in the movie the society regects the differences in people. I really enjoyed watching this movie, and it has created a lot of interesting discussion in my class.

[–] Hythlodaeus 19 years ago

I didn't see much in there about it rejecting the differences in people except that they were rejecting anything that they didn't see as desireable at birth - but they didn't reject people after the fact if they weren't engineered. Maybe it's a subtle difference but...