OK, trekkies, think long and hard about this one! Sci-fi has been around since the early days of film. First off, let's consider the off-beat versions: I loved ET....what a delightful, benign, touching look at aliens! How many sci-fi pieces bring tears to your eyes? Then there was Alien Nation. The series showed us that alien folks can make good friends. Remember how the aliens loved spoiled milk? Hahahaha. I really enjoyed They Live. The '88 classic stars a trucker type who discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow only him to see the aliens among us. He's a tough dude who takes on the baddies. Keanu Reeves did a nice job in the recent remake of the 50's version of The Day the Earth Stood Still. But Michael Rennie was even better in the original. Great ethical conflict: Be good, earthlings, or lose your planet! John Travolta showed us the positive effects of a blast from outer space in Phenomenon. Though only tangentially sci-fi, the film reminds us that good things can come from outer space, even in the form of blasts of light from stars. Of course, let's not forget the 50's cult film, War of the Worlds. (Sorry, Tom, the original was far better than yours). The creativity behind WotW was the thought that no weapons could take down the bad guys. Their only fallibility was their inability to live in our virus-filled world. Well, so much for the wannabes (where Star-Trek belongs too). The best and top sci-fi film of all time, for me, is The Terminator. The three originals in the series are as good as it gets. When Arnold proclaims, "Ahhhhllll be baaack", we smile, but there is little respite for the fearful audience. The machines that we humans create are way too scary. James Cameron may not be king of the world, but he is a genius when it comes to the top sci-fi winner. Back to you, Valerie, or anyone else, for more insight into one of my favorite genres.
You write with such rapid-fire steel-trap details, friend.
ReplyDeleteMy new moniker of Mary Shelley is an interesting choice, because ironically, Kenneth Branaugh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1995) is a huge favorite of mine. The novel is credited to be the first science fiction work, one where Ms. Shelley boldly questions the moral, ethical, physical, spiritual, and sociological effects of science run amuck. The Scientific Age was turned on its heel. The Karloff version, as a film (1931), is butchering of the novel; however Karloff manages to evoke true pathos just with his eyes. De Niro's portrayal, in aforementioned version, also digs deep in our souls, as he plaintively confronts Viktor Frankenstein, "Did you ever consider the consequences of your actions?" Whew.
For me, sci-fi has to be reasonably intelligent (even with suspension of disbelief) in its premise and approach. That, along with characters I can care about. I actually liked Spielberg's WOTW. Also Jurassic Park, Alien, 2001 Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes, first 3 Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I will even add Stepford Wives to this genre, although that movie deserves its own post!
I'll stop for now.
Thanks for the compliment, film buddy! You too do well putting pen to paper...or computer to blog!
ReplyDeleteYour comments on Frankenstein are right on. I agree that MS asked many questions concerning science gone wild. Sometimes the pioneers in a given genre are brilliant.
Frankenstein is well done, but not my favorite...but I love the others you mentioned: Jurassic Park...how could I have not commented on that one? What a fantastic work of art! I've always loved dinosaurs....studied them endlessly as a kid...and would give every wood bowl I've carved to take a time machine back to see T-rex and the little Velociraptors in the flesh! Alien: Sigourney Weaver at her best. Face-to-face scene with alien is seared in my mind. 2001...quite futuristic for its time. A precursor to the Terminator films. Hal is quite the man/computer, with his desire for freedom! Planet...wow. Yes, you're right. Super sci-fi....that really makes us think. Stepford Wives...one of Nicole Kidman's absolutely outstanding roles.
As more come to mind, let's add a few words. Sci-fi, when done well, is truly creative and mind-warping!
Nicole Kidman?! Are you freakin' kidding with me? I mean the original with Katharine Ross and Paula Prentiss. Do tell me you've seen that one. It's placement in time - 1975 - was pivotal in those days of blooming feminism.
ReplyDeleteThey say, "The truth shall make you free." So I confess: I have not seen the original! But now I will! The sci-fi theme of folks in a trance reminds me of the classic: Children of the Corn. Sometimes sci-fi and pseudo-horror genres mingle, but Children, with the beautiful Kim Basinger, sets the standard for the theme of minds-gone-wild. And then, of course, there's Scanners...an 80's standout. But I shall stop writing now...and RUN out to the DVD store to rent the original Stepford. Thanks for the tip, Valerie... Will report back upon viewing it.
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