... makes me wonder if it was all just an elaborate hoax to sell more blu-rays and digital rentals.

I used to go through a similar situation at Thai restaurants. I then learned how to tell them “ pom chop pet pet” which means I like spicy spicy in Thai. Now they take me seriously and don’t laugh with the chef about the white boy asking for spicy.

Why don’t they scoop the algae up with fire fighting planes and then drop it on farmlands? It’s got to be nutrient rich and great for the soil/plants on land.