The Hilarious Flaw Behind the 11-Year-Old Scarlett Johansson Sci-Fi Movie

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Action films are quite enjoyable, and when they keep you engaged, many people don’t care if they have some intellectual flaws. If the plot is engaging enough, viewers can easily overlook any shortcomings. To illustrate, consider the 2014 science fiction action film Lucy, starring Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman. Yes, you’re correct, we’re discussing the movie Lucy. This film was a captivating sci-fi adventure that follows the story of Lucy, a character who experiences a lot in just one movie. The plot begins with a simple favor, but things quickly take a turn for the worse. However, the main issue with Lucy is also its most amusing aspect, especially when looked back on.

In 2014, the movie “Lucy” hit the screens, with Scarlett Johansson portraying the main character. Joining her on this journey were Professor Samuel Norman (played by Morgan Freeman), Mr. Jang (Choi Min-sik), and Pierre Del Rio (Amr Waked). The film proved to be a box office hit, demonstrating that audiences found both its cast and somewhat absurd plot quite appealing. Essentially, “Lucy” offers a flashy, engaging, and action-packed experience, but may not delve too deeply into philosophical themes compared to other action films.

When Sci-Fi Meets Drama and Action

The narrative opens with Lucy finding herself unwillingly thrust into the role of a drug courier, initially for her boyfriend and subsequently for a powerful South Korean drug kingpin. This initial scenario is undeniably bleak, and events progressively grow more complex. In her capacity as a drug mule, Lucy must transport an unusually large amount of novel narcotics within her body. Eventually, these packets burst, but instead of fatally wounding her, the drugs trigger an extraordinary expansion of her cognitive faculties, granting access to a vast array of physical and mental talents.

In an unusual turn of events, the movie becomes quite peculiar when Lucy discovers that her enlarged consciousness has a lethal effect within 24 hours. This sets off a chain reaction, as she consumes increasingly large amounts of the substance to postpone her demise. However, her objective isn’t merely self-preservation; she aims to disseminate her newfound wisdom globally, although the situation is undeniably complex.

The Premise is a Myth

The primary issue with Lucy lies in its foundation being built upon an outdated theory. To clarify, we’re not referring to the tale having roots in folklore or ancient beliefs. Instead, the basis of Lucy is that a drug triggered the activation of the remaining 90% of her consciousness. Does this sound familiar? That idea originates from a widely discredited notion suggesting that humans typically utilize only 10% of their brain at any given moment.

For centuries, this tale has circulated without anyone claiming ownership, and it’s likely rooted in a misinterpretation of scientific findings. Given the brain’s complexity and the vast amount of data scientists are continuously analyzing, it’s easy to misunderstand the information. Furthermore, the brain having several distinct components might have contributed to this confusion, as people may have thought that certain functions were idle at specific times. Today, we recognize how erroneous this belief was, but given the complexity, it’s not hard to understand how such a mistake could arise.

It’s fascinating to note that numerous familiar figures and sectors embraced this myth, which helps explain its widespread influence. For instance, the 1929 World Almanac mentioned it as a fact, just like many renowned science fiction authors. Consequently, people began to believe they were only utilizing a small percentage of their brainpower, sparking society’s obsession with discovering ways to tap into the rest.

Movies Don’t Always Need Solid Logic to Be Entertaining

It’s clear that audiences took a liking to the film Lucy, despite its questionable foundation. The movie raked in over 400 million dollars worldwide, which is significantly more than its production budget of 40 million dollars. In other words, this film not only covered its costs but also made a substantial profit. The allure of the star-studded cast, featuring Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman, surely played a role in its success. However, we mustn’t overlook the intriguing plot that initially seemed captivating. It’s the kind of story that appears exciting and appealing until scientific explanations come into play.

I’m not the pioneer when it comes to exploring this questionable notion. The film “Limitless” was actually released prior to me, and it too revolved around a drug capable of unlocking one’s brain’s full potential (for a cost). Notably, it led to a TV series that underscored the fascination people had with this idea.

You might assume that understanding the reality behind the 10% myth could spoil future viewings of Lucy, but you’d be mistaken. In fact, Lucy demonstrates that an action movie doesn’t always have to rely on a logically sound foundation to be entertaining. At times, it’s refreshing to watch a visually stunning film without having to engage our brains too much – perfect for unwinding and simply enjoying the spectacle. If there’s a touch of irony in that, we can certainly accept it.

Lucy is available to stream on Netflix.

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2025-06-01 22:41