Interesting article, though I disagree with the premise. As much as I loved the original Star Wars films, I never thought (even as a kid) they were the end all, be all for science fiction.
Consider some of the really great sci-fi made during or just after the original trilogy of Star Wars flicks: Alien, Blade Runner, John Carpenter’s version of The Thing, Starman, etc. Later on, we’d also have the likes of Dark City, Gattaca, and so on.
Now, I *do* think there is a trend towards on over-reliance on action in the sci-fi genre. But that’s what sells summer movie tickets these days, and I don’t think Star Wars is to blame or even that sci-fi is the only genre to have this trend.
As for the author’s assertion that The Matrix is the most original movie of the last 25 years, well, each to their own. The first film was visually impressive, but I’ve never found the films that deep or inspiring. Gattaca left a much bigger impression on me than Matrix. And in the vein of virtual/alternate reality, I like Dark City and the low-bugdet eXistenZ (a birthday IS a special occasion) just as much, if not more, than Matrix.
You are correct, but the theme of Gattaca has been used a lot. The “surprise” in Matrix is rarer, although explored at length in the Amber series. I’ve always wondered why the Amber novels weren’t made into movies. The storyline and visuals are excellent.