Posted on 02/19/2008 11:03:14 AM PST by rjp2005
Where have all the sci-fi films gone?
Those simple, thought-provoking speculative tales about how people respond to something new, what kind of moral choices they make, keeping traditions in the face of technological change. Essentially, the kind of films that were thought provoking and story/character driven - Day the Earth Stood Still, Planet of Apes, 12 Monkeys, Minority Report (more action though but good), etc.
The "Superhero and Fantasy Genre Craze" since Spiderman and LOTR has really eaten up a lot of support for original sci-fi works to film...
For 2008, we have two horror/slasher types "I Am Legend" (Omega Man remake) and "Death Race" (revisiting the 70's version), another superhero film in "Jumper", "Iron Man", which could be a treat, and maybe the only true sci-fi attempt, "Babylon A.D.". There was also "Sunshine", a late 90's disaster film leftover, possibly funded by Global Warming-mongers ;)
And without the naked Congress scene, Heinlein's story is drained of its social satire. It becomes just another creature feature.
Quite true.
It’s been a couple of years since I’ve sat and talked with Fred (he’s getting on in years), but if I remember our last chat correctly, those films were animated in Italy. I might have that wrong, though...
I loved “They Live”! A good, liberty-oriented message, too. And just campy enough.
But who could duplicate those icy blue eyes on Meg, uh, what’s her last name?
What makes Turtledove great is that he is actually a history professor. His books are not parallel universe stuff. They are alternate history stuff. Things like, what if, after Gettysburg, South African Nazi racists from the 21st century came back and supplied Lee with 100,000 AK-47’s and training to use them. Thanks to his understanding of the history of the time, it can make for VERY interesting reading.
The biggest problem with his 20’th century version (space aliens attack earth in the middle of WWII) is that the books don’t stand on their own very well. Each one doesn’t have a crisp ending. You pretty much have to read the whole series. It is very much like a soap opera/cliff hanger.
I’ve read the Ringworld series, the Rama series and quite a few other Sci-fi books but by far, my favorite author is not even Sci-fi - Tom Clancy. All of them are pikers compared to him in regards to writing style. They do come up with fascinating universes, etc. though.
>>The more I watched the more I liked it - the characters made the show.<<
You nailed it in that line.
“Plot and substance sacrificed to special effects grandstanding. Everything is too slick, I like a bit of grittiness.”
Yes. I would like to see a return to the “minimal scifi flicks” where instead of bombarding you with tons of technology, introduce just one new thing into a completely earthy, gritty, low-tech, down to earth environment, and tells the story of how people react.
12 Monkeys, Predator, Frequency, Pitch Black, Escape from New York, Mad Max series as you mention.
Yep.
I would agree that AI was pretty good. It was a rare “slow pace SciFi” that allows you to actually ponder/think during th e film.
A lot of Star Wars books are the same way. On their own, usually (though becoming less so in recent years) they're actually quite decent. However, if you take them as a whole, not only is there a much grander scope, but the overall story becomes much richer.
Is someone really thinking about making “Ender’s Game” into a movie? I picked that one up nearly by accident when it came out, and loved it.
I really enjoyed Enders Game. The main problem I had with it, though, was as soon as he was relocated to the final gaming facility I remember telling my wife, “I’ll bet what he is doing is real and he doesn’t know it.” It just made sense that his handlers would do it that way. As long as he intellectually only thought he was playing a game, all the phylosophical thoughts that could muck up his effectiveness were not relevant until after he did his job.
Finding out I was right was a bit dissapointing.
BTW, one of my favorites is a childrens book: The Giver
Lexx was a pretty weird show.
Heres a teaser trailer for the upcoming Trek movie.
http://www.imdb.com/video/user/me703165651
Check out “Equilibrium” with Christian Bale.
Prety good Future Sci-Fi.
Ever read “Swan Song” by Robert McCammon?
I read it like 3 times during my end of the world phase.
only had about 1500 pages or so :)
Lucifer’s Hammer i havent thought about in a Looong time.
I know i read it but i forget most of it.
wasn’t the Hammer a comet or something hitting earth?
Indeed it was a comet that causes the troubles in Lucifer's Hammer.
It's a great read.
Violence was over the top, but it was a decent sci-fi. The emotions thing seemed lame, but I liked the “against the totalitarian state” theme.
you got good points there.
Movie was not very original either.
Logans Run and THX 1138 quickly come to mind.
i’m sure there are tons others.
I was just comparing it to the current crop of crap out there.
Great thread by the ways, thanks!
Here’s an idea - what would a “FreeRepublic Films Sci-Fi Movie” be about?
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