In recent years, science fiction
movies have made a big comeback in Hollywood and I, for one,
consider that a very good thing.
I like to be surprised when I go
to the movies. I like to see things that I've never seen before and
I like to be confronted by virtual realities that I did not even
think possible. That's why science fiction movies are my cup of tea.
They traditionally cover a wide
range of subjects and themes, including several that are uniquely
their own. Today's trend in science fiction puts a premium on
special effects, backed by today's cutting-edge technology that can
make even the most bizarre scenes seem realistic, such as alien life
forms, spectacular battles in outer space, time travel or traveling
to other worlds at the speed of light.
Often, science fiction films are
purely speculative in nature and are peppered with recurring themes
involving science and technology. Other prevalent themes in sci-fi
movies are mysticism, magic, the occult and the supernatural, which
are also key elements of fantasy or occult/religious movies. In
fact, quite a number of films blur the line between these genre,
such as Forbidden Planet, Chronicles of Riddick, and the Star Wars
series.
It's hard to define precisely
what makes a science fiction film because the genre has no
universally accepted definition. In fact, science fiction may vary
from viewer to viewer in that what is sci-fi to me may be fantasy or
horror to you.
If you've been a long-time fan of
Hollywood, then you know that science fiction has come a long way.
There was a time when special effects meant putting a toy spaceship
at the end of a string and waving it in front of a camera or having
someone dress up as an orangutan and terrorizing an entire city.
Certainly, the special effects in science fiction movies have
evolved from the downright laughable to today's breath-taking and
awe-inspiring treatments that seem truly realistic. Some of the
great milestones in this regard are marked by films such as 2001: A
Space Odyssey, the Star Wars films, Star Trek: The Motion Picture
and The Matrix.
Of course, science fiction films
just seem to be getting better by the year, as evidenced by such
recent hits as "Lord of the Rings", "I, Robot" and "Superman
Returns."
