One of the definitions of atomise is to break something up into smaller particles. Atoms are made up of neutrons, protons, and electrons. Nuclear physicists use fission to break up the nucleuses of atoms which produces photons, free nuetrons and the reamining subatomic particles. Didn't you learn some of these simple concepts in junior high school?
The proper meaning of atomise is to reduce to atoms. The word itself makes that obvious. In manufacturing science it's used to refer to breaking a liquid into a spray of fine droplets. Any other generalised meanings are irrelevant if we are debating on a scientific basis, which I assumed we were. I've never heard a scientist talking about 'atomising atoms' - it's nonsensical. As nonsensical as vaporising a vapour or liquefying a liquid. You must be talking about atomic fission, splitting the atom.
The human body is largely oxygen (65%), carbon (18%) and hydrogen (10%). These are all lighter elements than iron/nickel and therefore would release energy in atomic fusion, and absorb energy in atomic fission. Therefore, fusion (of a sci-fi kind) was taking place, releasing energy, which accounts for the explosion of the house and destruction of most of Alcatraz. If Cyclops was also blown apart in the same way as Xavier (we're not sure 100% but it seems he was), the energy released into the environment must have caused the anti-gravitational effects and fog at Alkali Lake.
Nothing like the force of a fusion bomb was created, so we must assume the energy was being channelled/absorbed/dispersed elsewhere, perhaps absorbed by Phoenix (who in the comics has fed upon stars - which operate on fusion), or dispersed into the environment. It's worth noting that electromagnetic fields can contain a fusion material, and she was described as an electromagnetic force, enough to overcome gravity and create anti-gravity effects.
She was doing something with a metal cup in a deleted scene at the forest camp, which was releasing energy - one assumes that was some kind of controlled nuclear fusion. Camping cups are usually aluminium or stainless steel (I researched and found a steel composition of iron + chromium + nickel is typical for eating/drinking utensils). The steel cup would seem too stable for energy release, but the aluminium one would indeed release energy upon atomic fusion as aluminium is lighter than iron/nickel and therefore releases energy.
I conclude that was no 'atomisation of atoms', no fission, but that it seems to point to a kind of fusion.
What do you think? Do you agree that this is reasonable sci-fi science?
This is relative. Diamond is the hardest substance on earth and is often regarded as being indestructible yet it can be easily damaged if it is hit in the right spot. There is no matter in the universe that is indestructible. In the marvel universe adamantium is shown to be a hard substance to destroy but, we all know the X-Men writers gave it's structural integrity limits. Magneto pulled all of the adamantium out of Wolverine in one comic.
All of the above is irrelevant because even if Jean was not able destroy the adamantium she could have atomised all of Wolverine's blood, bones, flesh, and internal organs.
I'm not sure how adamantium compares with diamond in the Marvel universe. Obviously, anything the writers make indestructible has to then be given weaknesses to make a source of threat in stories. I believe she could have broken down the adamantium, but not immediately, because of its structural integrity.
But pieces of his surface tissue were destroyed by what we can see as waves of destructive force rippling through the air towards him. Obviously, flesh is easier to destroy than adamantium.
The fact that he managed to get close suggests either she was not using full destructive force on him (ie just toying with him) and the adamantium and/or his healing power enabled him to survive, or that she WAS using full force but the adamantium's bonds could survive it, at least for a period of time, and his healing power also helped.
It just doesn't look to me like she is furiously trying to destroy him, she is standing there, occasionally sending out a blast of energy. So I believe she was toying with him, and his adamantium and healing power were enabling him to get close. The structural durability of the adamantium has to be playing a part here, in protecting his bones and some of his organs encased by the bones. (The novelisation says she would eventually have shattered the adamantium's structure but that she hadn't because she wanted him there - this is, to me, borne out by what we see in the movie). I believe it's more than just healing - it's her holding back and taunting him and also the added protection of his adamantium. If you don't accept this, fair enough; but I do.
I don't know if this was the writer's intention. Especially considering that Jean is a telepath and knew all of Wolverine's thought's before he spoke. Since the storyline was so weak and confusing one can only guess what the writers were thinking and what they wanted an audience to comprehend during this scene. It doesn't make any sense to me.
See above for what I believe, and have always believed, was happening in that scene.
So you're admitting it made no sense for Wolverine to be able to heal as quickly as Jean was ripping his body apart at an atomic level?
Again, see above for my explanation and reasoning of this scene. The healing did not, to me, seem ridiculous in its speed or extent. The wounds inflicted by Spike in the forest sealed and healed immediately. When knocked unconscious, as by Sabretooth's blow with a branch in X1 and by a bullet in X2, the healing is slower, for some reason. But he was not unconscious at the end of X3, and he clearly screamed in pain, so he was not presented as invulnerable. This 'healing is too fast' complaint is largely an argument postulated by those bitter about Cyclops' absence in that scene and I easily dismiss it as such.
It isn't his adamantium that gave him the best chance. It was his healing power which he believed would give him the best chance but, in theory it shouldn't have mattered.
Surely the virtually indestructible adamantium has to have played a part? I believe it did, as explained above.
From my perspective, novels for films that are written after the script is set are made to try an explain away all the flaws in films. If a movie can't stand on it's own merits and needs a novel to make it better than that's not a good movie for me. No movie goer should feel any obligation to getting more out of a confusing or disappointing movie by reading the novel.
I agree that reading the novel should not be required. However, the novel - released the same month as the movie, not thrown together ages later to answer problems - was by Chris Claremont, who was on set, who was given the shooting script and was discussing ideas with the writers on set, according to the writers themselves. Therefore I think it does add depth or possible explanations in some places at least. But I've never relied upon it for solid answers. Sometimes it confirms my thoughts, sometimes it adds things never shown in the movie.
Well, you've used science to try explain some of your arguments in regards to comic book films. You had no problem accepting the improbability of Mystique having the size and density to change her shape into a mini-statue of liberty a page ago.
There IS something odd about that Mystique transformation, it even bugged the director himself. It's not an impossibility though. Clearly she can add bulk to become Stryker or the fat unconscious cop whom she masquerades as at the end of X1, clearly she can shed or shift mass if she can seem to be a child in X3. It's just the extent of transformation required for the size and volume of a statue appearing to be metal or stone
I find analysing the science of science fiction movies, books, and comics to be quite stimulating. If you don't have this preference that's perfectly fine with me. I just would like to see some consistency with your assertion because so far I have not seen it.
It can be stimulating and entertaining too, but it's not possible to pin everything down to known science. For instance, Cyclops' eye blasts - concussive force with no heat, not lasers. For instance, the exact mechanisms of psychic abilities, which are not on any science syllabus but come under paranormal phenomena. These things are not possible in our world of science. Your problem is that you try to turn everything into some cold, hard, chemical experiment where A + B = C, and you do it even with emotions and characters.
Number#1 I thought Science of the X-Men was a crappy book. Number#2 it became quite clear after reading how amateurish the scientific reasoning was the author knew little about science and had no business writing that book. Marvel should have hired someone who is very knowledgeable with science to write a book of this sort.
It was an interesting book with some interesting ideas. I agree a respected/known/famous scientist should have tackled it, but how would you improve upon some of the ideas in it? Examples?
Who said anything about trying to fit these things into real-world physics? I've stated well over a hundred times by now the biggest problem I have with science fiction movies is inconsistency. X-Men 3 was filled with major and minor plot inconsistencies that involved the use and misuse of mutant powers. The horrible dialogue, rapid pacing, short run time, and wasted characters didn't help either.
Perceived inconsistency, while not ideal, happens all the time. It's present in the movies for Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, Stardust, and the other X-movies. Yet I don't see you on the forums for those movies bleating on and on about the problems in those - and that points to a bitter agenda that goes far beyond scientific issues you might have. It's you trying to justify your dislike of this Fox/Rothman/Ratner movie thinly disguised as nitpicking over scientific implausibilities. If the science in sci-fi bothered you so much, you'd be all over these boards pointing out 'problems' in all the movies, as all the movies have them. But you aren't in all the movie threads and you're noticeably absent from forums such as the SR forums, where a host of issues rage on and on even now over Superman's characterisation, the science in the movie, and a lot more.
I don't believe the science in X3 was that bad; if it were, I'd be going on and on about it. Most things can be explained away.