[jackothy]

The details aren't really fleshed out scientifically, I will certainly grant you that. However, I think just the very concept of a drug/medicine/some sort of thing that can make you very smart is very relevant to real life. We are approaching breakthroughs in gene editing, brain-computer interfaces, and simulated people (AIs) that will lead to a scenario in some ways similar to Limitless. Sudden leaps in human intelligence will happen. I find Limitless to be a fairly interesting exploration of "What would I do if I suddenly could make myself a lot smarter?".

One of the main traits of good Sci-Fi in my opinion is that it leaves you with questions like these to ponder.

[Zurrrrr]

It's specifically the idea that it is based on the idea that we only use 10% of our brains, which is utter bunk. I can't see it as anything but fantasy because of that.

I agree the idea of a drug that could turn us into super intelligent beings is an interest concept to ponder, and agree with you about good sci-fi and what it leaves you with. For Limitless I just can't get past the specific premise they wanted to use.

[jackothy]

Oh yes I forgot they mentioned that 10% thing, and yes it does make me cringe a bit too. I remember thinking when I was 12 that it sounded quite cool, though. Anyways, a huge chunk of Sci-Fi stories (good ones too) have these little kernels of BS that you just have to get past.

[Zurrrrr]

I'm older I guess because I saw that in my 20s and couldn't take it seriously. Agree a lot of sci-fi might have something like that though and I would have been more forgiving of stuff when I was younger, and was for stuff I did like when I was younger also.