Dr. Lucy Jones took a break from studing real earthquakes to tell the world what she thinks of cinematic ones.
image via twitter/@DrLucyJones
Doctor Lucy Jones is astonishingly well-credentialed. Per her professional profile, she graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a degree in Chinese Language and Literature, before earning her Ph.D. in geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She’s the author of over 100 academic papers on earthquakes, and has spent over two decades working for the U.S Geological Survey, as well as at Caltech’s seismological laboratory. Dr. Jones also leads a partnership between the USGS and the city of LA to explore the “seismic vulnerabilities” of that region.
Given all that, you might think Dr. Jones would be too busy being a leading expert on earthquakes to add yet another line to her already hefty resume. Well, think again.
Dr. Jones can now call herself a bona fide film reviewer, after attending—and live-tweeting—the recent premier of this summer’s big-budget disaster flick, San Andreas. As the film focuses on the catastrophic outcome of seismic activity up and down the West Coast’s titular San Andreas fault, Dr. Jones’ opinion seems particularly worthwhile.
After seeing the film, what’s Dr. Jones’ take? Some good lessons, some bad science, and some, as she puts it, “howlers.” Don’t read ahead if you’re worried that a few very vague tweets might ruin the film for you, but for those of you unafraid of spoilers, here’s what an actual seismologist thinks of San Andreas:
My first experience of a red carpet at to the premiere of San Andrea pic.twitter.com/eHcL4NdPvL
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nFirst big howler. San Andreas the movie pretends that California has a subduction zone. We can only have a M8.2
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nIf seismologists could actually predict EQs, we'd all be much richer. Too bad that part of San Andreas isn't real...
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nFirst big safety message- if the shaking is bad enough to damage a dam you won't be able to run
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nThe seismologist says "no one listens to us until the ground shakes." Thank heavens @ericgarcetti made this untrue
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nThe predictions aren't real but EQ triggering is real. A California EQ M7.3 in 1992 triggered a M5.7 in Nevada the next day
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nYes! Drop, cover& hold on. The right thing to do in an earthquake
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nNow people fall trying to run but they run anyway. I guess only the seismologists know Drop Cover Hold On
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nI like that the aftershocks keep on hitting and cause more damage. That's the reality of Big EQs
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nWe expect serious damage to 1 in every 16 buildings in a real San Andreas EQ. The movie damage over the top.
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nThe human reality of EQs. You are probably going to be rescued by your neighbor- or the cute guy you just met
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nAnother good tidbit. Landlines work when cellphones are out because of no electricity
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nGreat emotional message - not knowing if your family is ok is hard. Do you have a family communication plan?
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nOMG! A chasm? If the fault could open up, there'd be no friction. With no friction, there'd be no earthquake
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nThe competent young woman knows what to do! And wins over the guys. Advertising for emergency training
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nSpecial effects accomplished what the earth never will. People take pictures after EQs of damages but not of the buildings that are ok.
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nRecognizing water draw down as sign of tsunami is good. However tsunami from San Andreas is impossible. Now we are in fantasy territory
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nThe competent young woman understands vertical evacuation. One way to escape tsunami is going up a building
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nCompetence makes the girl sexy! That's a new message i can applaud!
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nBottom line: don't learn seismology from #SanAndreas but maybe it will inspire people to take Community Emergency Response Training
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) May 27, 2015\nIt seems that, for all the film's scientific flaws, Dr. Jones genuinely enjoyed herself. That’s probably good news for San Andreas’ director Brad Payton and Warner Brothers Pictures, because, as A.O. Scott says in his review for The New York Times:
“San Andreas for its part, delivers a perfectly sensible message: Listen to scientists.”
[via LA Observed, cover image via youtube screen capture]
Share on Facebook
