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How 'Star Wars' ruined sci-fi
CNN ^ | 5/2/2014 | CNN

Posted on 05/04/2014 2:13:54 PM PDT by Dallas59

Now that the cast of the seventh "Star Wars" movie has been announced, you can imagine the anticipation among the millions of fans of the film franchise. And why not? The six "Star Wars" films have been enormous successes: they have grossed over $2 billion domestically at the box office, spawned scores of books, comic books and merchandise (how many kids have their own light saber?) and made household names of characters like Darth Vader, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Music/Entertainment; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: cinema; film; movies; sciencefiction; scifi; starwars
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To: Tax-chick
"It’s not hard to do something “better” than Gene Roddenberry. The “Star Trek” francise got much more interesting after he died. However, Heinlein did a lot his writing in the same general time period."

Actually, most of Heinlein's work was well before Roddenberry.

141 posted on 05/05/2014 4:48:25 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog (Newly fledged NRA Life Member (after many years as an "annual renewal" sort))
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To: GOPsterinMA; Impy; Bender2; Perdogg; BillyBoy; sickoflibs

“...The marketing (which led to the cultural phenomenon) is what differentiates Star Wars...”

Bingo.

Toys, comic books, paperbacks, lunchboxes, etc., money flowed like water.

And that’s a good thing.

Author can grind his axe somewhere else - you can’t argue with success.


142 posted on 05/05/2014 5:56:34 AM PDT by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

Kinky sex has been a major driver of SciFi awards.


143 posted on 05/05/2014 6:43:10 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: DemforBush

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.


144 posted on 05/05/2014 6:46:59 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: F15Eagle

This is “now”. “What?”

“now is now”


145 posted on 05/05/2014 6:48:08 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

That would be pretty cool...
They really would have to include the outbreak of war in The Gripping Hand as well.


146 posted on 05/05/2014 6:48:53 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: SkyDancer

Just as a point of reference, the “flip phone” is considered so far outdated now as to be laughable.


147 posted on 05/05/2014 6:49:42 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Vermont Lt

Let’s not fall for the Left’s race lies, particularly about America. There have been any number of very successful black entertainers throughout American history. For myself, I don’t care about the race of the actor, but the quality of the story, acting and film work/editing.

For instance, here in Chicago it is common for directors or producers to cast blacks in the lead roles for Shakespeare. I judge them just like any other Shakespearian actor, most of whom don’t get it right.


148 posted on 05/05/2014 6:53:17 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: Tax-chick

There are several very good readings on audio. We listened to the Hobbit, LOTR, Star Wars, Escape from the Deep (1st WW2 sub sinking escape story - excellent), Greek myths and a bunch of others that I’ve forgotten. They made long car rides or family trips very pleasant. I refuse to watch videos in the car, but the audio books were very good, taught both good writing, good vocabulary and, an often overlooked, but critical skill, good storytelling.


149 posted on 05/05/2014 6:56:49 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: MrB

>snort< It’s what I use. It’s a contract phone where I get 100 minutes a month for $10. Suits my needs. I’m not a phone talker - I’ve 2400 minutes available. OTOH, I’m Skyping more. I like face time.


150 posted on 05/05/2014 7:11:42 AM PDT by SkyDancer (I Believe In The Law Until It Intereferes With Justice. And Pay Your Liberty Tax Citizen.)
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To: SkyDancer

I was also a “late adopter” to the smart phone.

I had a LG flip phone that I kept replacing with refurbs until they weren’t available anymore.


151 posted on 05/05/2014 7:13:11 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: 1010RD
Kinky sex has been a major driver of SciFi awards.

Oh sure in fact in all book awards. Which is why I approach "award winning" books with a certain amount of trepidation.

152 posted on 05/05/2014 7:37:53 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: Tax-chick
Perhaps this article was generated because today is Star Wars Day. One has to agree that Star Wars is not the most sophisticated exemplar of the genre; aside from the visuals, the various movies stand or fall as “Westerns,” without much more to be said.

Probably that is why he wrote it and probably he should not have.

I have little patients with people who write just to rag on something that other people enjoy. It was not a fine example of high art but it was a story that resonated.

And it resonated because it followed themes that people like in their stories in fact I think it hit every one of them which is why it is so popular.

153 posted on 05/05/2014 7:52:25 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: MrB

Mine is a silver Motorola from Trakphone. It does have a camera though. But no way to download pictures. Computer doesn’t recognize the phone.


154 posted on 05/05/2014 7:57:57 AM PDT by SkyDancer (I Believe In The Law Until It Intereferes With Justice. And Pay Your Liberty Tax Citizen.)
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To: Harold Shea
"...Never got why no story by Niven ever got made into a movie..."

I love Larry Niven's work, but:

(1) He is still alive, so his work will still be expensive to license

(2) His stuff is often complex, and understood only in the context of his "Known Space" history and universe. This might be difficult to convey in a 2 hour movie.

(3) His characters solve problems with REASON and EFFORT. Less "Bang-Bang / Zap-Zap"

Now I think that Sci-Fi movies should be about IDEAS, and if they have to bend a little physics for the sake of moving the plot along, I cut them some slack.

FORBIDDEN PLANET
GATTACA
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
JURASSIC PARK
THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951)
BICENTENNIAL MAN
MINORITY REPORT

This list is just a few that I believe were more about IDEAS than ACTION (although some contain their fair share of action sequences).

Ideas like exploring the nature of free will, humanity, science and morality.
155 posted on 05/05/2014 8:06:19 AM PDT by Rebel_Ace (Tags?!? Tags?!? We don' neeeed no stinkin' Tags!)
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To: MarkL; sickoflibs

That must be the one with the shark that floats up and takes a bite out of an airliner, which somehow causes it to explode.

I guess there is a sizable audience for deliberately ridiculous crap.


156 posted on 05/05/2014 8:21:26 AM PDT by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN)
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Comment #157 Removed by Moderator

To: Impy
That must be the one with the shark that floats up and takes a bite out of an airliner, which somehow causes it to explode.

NOOOOO!!!! You haven't seen "Sharknado?!?!?! It's a classic! I've got a T shirt with "I survived Sharknado!"

It's the story of a hurricane that's driving sharks towards the shore, and when the hurricane comes ashore, it brings the sharks along for fun, spawning multiple tornadoes, which also bring even more sharks... It such a bad movie that it's so much fun to watch in a group! Watching it, I almost felt like I was IN an episode of MST3K!

Some incredibly bad lines, like "We're gonna need a bigger chopper!" Or, "I really hate sharks!"

Here's the trailer!

Mark

158 posted on 05/05/2014 10:22:51 AM PDT by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: GeronL
Hulu has 14 episodes of Firefly, how many were there?

I believe that's it. Fox really screwed the pooch with Firefly. Great show, great cast, and due to showing much of the show during baseball season, many markets wound up showing episodes out of order, which really screwed things up, and the show was cancelled before the first season had even ended.

If you get a chance, it's well worth watching, but while it resonated with a lot of people, there were also some people who just never "got it."

The first episode, Serenity (not to be confused with the movie), a 2 hour "pilot" (which Fox nixed, demanding a second "pilot, "The Train Job") is really terrific, and quickly brings you up to speed on the Firefly universe. Throughout the season, you'll learn about all the characters, but Joss Wheedon purposely left a lot out, making the characters even more interesting. The cast was incredible.

Mark

159 posted on 05/05/2014 10:29:44 AM PDT by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: MarkL

I googled it, the Shark biting he plane is from something called “Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus”.


160 posted on 05/05/2014 11:55:19 AM PDT by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN)
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