sci fi flicks

[kelber at mindspring.com]

This is Gregory Benford's definition of sci-fi:

"SF is a controlled way to think and dream about the future. An integration of the mood and attitude of science (the objective universe) with the fears and hopes that spring from the unconscious. Anything that turns you and your social context, the social you, inside out. Nightmares and visions, always outlined by the barely possible."

Of course, he's talking about sci-fi literature.  I think most literary sci-fi (whether well-written or otherwise) tends to be more contemplative than plot-heavy, and therefore ill-suited to the screen.  Benford's phrase "the mood and attitude of science" is important.  Clockwork Orange, for example, is dystopian, but is it really "science-y?"  Also, movies such as Forbidden Planet may be set in outer space, but the space setting isn't intrinsic to the plot.

Some movies which have the mood and attitude of science, or where science is intrinsic to the plot (which doesn't make them good):

2001
Blade Runner
Pi
Solaris
Donnie Darko
Planet of the Apes 
Fantastic Voyage
Back to the Future
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Things to Come
War of the Worlds
The Time Machine
The Matrix

Plus many, but not all of the Star Trek TV episodes.

Laura




-----Original Message-----
>From: Anville Azote <anville.azote at gmail.com>
>Sent: Nov 7, 2006 1:52 PM
>To: Joseph T <brook7 at sover.net>
>Cc: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: Re: sci fi flicks
>
>I'm a little surprised nobody has mentioned "Forbidden Planet",
>"Them!", "The Day the Earth Stood Still" or "Metropolis" yet.  Be that
>as it may ---
>
>On 11/7/06, Joseph T <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:
>> Star Wars
>
>Good enough as it is; replace with "The Empire Strikes Back" and I'll
>agree wholeheartedly.
>
>> AI
>
>Everything until the closing act. . .
>
>I'll also throw in recommendations for "Pi", "WarGames", "2010" (not
>as epic as "2001", but a good movie in its own right), "Star Trek II:
>The Wrath of Khan", and the three Ghost in the Shell movies --- the
>original, "Innocence" and "Solid State Society".
>
>-A. A.