Thursday 11 April 2013

Walking on 2 legs not 4 - Feet

This scene in X-Men First Class raised a brow when I first saw it. In it, Beast out runs Xavier.




What's been assumed here is that because Beast has hands for feet, he's better and faster at running than a human. Is that a correct assumption? Likely not, as it insinuates that the primate 'foot' is more adapted for running than a human foot.



The diagram above is pretty much representative of the anatomy that's at contest in the film. A chimpanzee's foot is a generalised appendage (gripping, climbing, walking, standing), the human foot has evolved into that of a specialised appendage for bipedal locomotion. We have a bony foot arch that allows for spring and the transmission of huge forces when we walk, making it more energy efficient. It is more adapted to forward propulsion and aids our gait, than that of a flat, figured hand of a chimp. Far from being faster, Beast would most likely injure himself trying to compete against human feet.  

5 comments:

  1. Movies that are incorrect about physics and anatomy? How rare! :P good spot though, shows your amazing innate intuition and expertise :-)

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  2. Why, I wonder, did they give him primate feet? I'm not an X-men fan, but every image I've seen of him renders him as leonine...

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    1. You're right! I wonder why, clearly the producers didn't spot it either.

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    2. There obviously need to be more anthro anatomy nuts among Hollywood producers! Haha.

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  3. They might have been using the original, 60s version of the comic to base their ideas on. Before he grew fur, he was always barefoot and there was an implication that the Beast had some similarity to a gorilla. Good call on your part!

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