By Ed Mechine
Science fiction movies have been around for a long time . Until fairly recently, the limitations on what could be achieved by special effects has always limited their success . However in the new digital age, almost anything is possible using the latest computer graphics techniques.
However, what is science fiction and what are the elements of a science fiction film? I would say that science fiction is usually an attempt by an author to project what the future holds based on his or her knowledge of technology and humanities to today.
This projection could be detailed and grounded in a solid scientific background of training and practise. Where the detailed scientific knowledge is successfully allied with a readable writing style, good plot development, we often have a winner.
Happily, there have been quite a few of these writers over the years and I will mention Isaac Asimov, Alastair Reynolds. However, there are many more and I regret that I cannot mention more of them here.
Then we have writers who are not scientists but who are masters of the writing craft and two exemplars of this are J R R Tolkein and Frank Herbert.
The works of these authors heightened the interest of many people in the sciences and technology over the years. Perhaps this might be said to be the most obvious contribution of science fiction. It helps to make science and technology attractive to all peoples.
The next aspect of science fiction is the exploration of possibilities and this often takes the form of space exploration. For example "Star trek" with its slogan "boldly going where no man has gone before". Captain Kirk and his crew where regularly going to planets new to humanity and making first contact with Aliens who could be benign , malign or indifferent.
Other forms of exploration involved uses of technology to shaped either ourselves or our environment. A lot of the science discussed in these books would be projections based on current scientific knowledge.
After Scientific projection , and exploration of possibilities, the next big component of science fiction can be said to be providing a grand spectacle. Some of the best science fiction movie making in recent times has been epic in proportion . The movie plots tend to cover great expanses of territory either in space or on land , involving large casts and magnificent special effects. Films Like "Star wars" , "Lord of the Rings" "Jurassic Park" have set new bench marks in Special effects excellence.
The last aspect of science fiction I will mention in this article is that they almost always address a major issue, an issue extremely important to the author, or judged by the to be important to the audience. Rarely do you have a science fiction series or movie about day to day life. The Norm is situations like Battlestar Galactica where species survival is at stake, Star wars where Freedom is at stake, Dune where power is the issue, or War of the worlds where humanity is under attack from merciless Martians. Science fiction is often challenging and rarely dull.
Ed Mechine is the pen name for a writer of a for a few science and science fiction and pc games websites like Best Sci fi movies PC Strategy games
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