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Real Genius (1985)
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Overview
Release Date:
7 August 1985 (USA) moreTagline:
When he gets mad, he doesn't get even... he gets creative. morePlot:
Teenage geniuses deal with their abilities while developing a laser. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
2 wins & 2 nominations moreNewsDesk:
Opening This Week: British gangsters, mock doormen, Lou Reed (From IFC. 15 July 2008, 4:57 PM, PDT)User Comments:
A smart film moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Val Kilmer | ... | Chris Knight | |
| Gabriel Jarret | ... | Mitch Taylor (as Gabe Jarret) | |
| Michelle Meyrink | ... | Jordan Cochran | |
| William Atherton | ... | Prof. Jerry Hathaway | |
| Jon Gries | ... | Lazlo Hollyfeld (as Jonathan Gries) | |
| Patti D'Arbanville | ... | Sherry Nugil | |
| Stacy Peralta | ... | Shuttle Pilot | |
| Daniel Ades | ... | Laser Ray Victim | |
| Andres Aybar | ... | Bartender | |
| Louis Giambalvo | ... | Maj. Carnagle | |
| Ed Lauter | ... | David Decker | |
| Charles Shull | ... | Air Force General | |
| Beau Billingslea | ... | George | |
| Charles Parks | ... | Larry | |
| Sean Frye | ... | Boy at Science Fair |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
108 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
Argentina:Atp | Iceland:L | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PGMOVIEmeter: 
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
When Mitch rides the cart into the steam tunnels, the viewer briefly sees the quotation, "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain" scrawled on the left wall. These are the original words of German poet 'Friedrich Schiller (I)' . Relevant to the film, Isaac Asimov named three separate stories "Against Stupidity", "The Gods Themselves" and "Contend in Vain". He later combined them into a 1972 science-fiction novel about a conspiracy by aliens who inhabit a parallel universe with different physical laws than ours, and who are trying to turn our sun into a supernova in order to collect the resulting energy for their use. moreGoofs:
Continuity: Kent smudges the optic lens to sabotage it, but the smudge is different later in the movie. moreQuotes:
Chris Knight: Sir, let me take this moment to compliment you on your fashion sense, particularly your slippers. moreSoundtrack:
All She Wants to Do Is Dance moreFAQ
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First off: This is an 80s movie. It contains within it certain aspects of the 80s film genre which may cause you to cringe. A youthful, innocent boy gets corrupted by the feckless rebel; a vicious adult has his own agenda; boy gets seduced by teenage girl who may or may not be the current sex symbol. All generalizations aside, the roles in this movie are well-written and well-played. Val Kilmer is at his absolute best, William Atherton is as sly as Jeffrey Jones is oafish in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." The supporting heroine is annoying and unneeded, but who needs her when you've got Jonathan Gries to laugh at? All-around fun and plenty of one-liners that'll have you wishing you could be so witty.