From: awm@milton.u.washington.edu (Andrew MacDonald)
Subject: CULTURE: More "Lawnmower Man" Madness
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1992 01:41:12 GMT
Message-ID: <1992Mar4.014112.9353@u.washington.edu>
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle


A couple of weeks ago my bother, Bob, saw _Lawnmower Man_ in L.A.
at a sneak-preview/evaluation.  It seems that people in the L.A.
area get tapped out for free movie showings to do market research
to recut films before distribution.

Bob thought that LM was an AWFUL movie -- no plot, "too many graphics,"
generally unengaging and unbelievable.  His opinion confirms my
opinion that Hollywood isn't interested in the potential of the
technology nearly as much as it is in making a buck off it (big
surprise).

Bob is a mechanical engineer who uses CAD programs at work, but he
is not too terribly interested in VR or computer graphics.  I think
he is a very down-to-earth guy, and I believe his reaction will
represent that of most of middle-class America.  LM will turn
off a great deal of the population; I have met quite a few people
who don't really see any use for VR, and this movie doesn't seem
likely to change their minds.

Andy
awm@hitl.washington.edu