Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film

able to think of these two films. They are classic examples of films that are well known for having a strong political and social message. In the first film that I chose, Planet of the Apes (1968) these messages were implicit because they do not immediately jump out at you. In the second film, I chose Billy Jack (1971) these were messages were extremely explicit in nature because they jump right out at you throughout the film. Regarding their ideological themes, these films are both written very…

When it comes to symbolism in films, whole books have been published by various authors on their speculations as to the meaning of the symbolism contained in Stanley Kubrick’s recondite, enigmatic, philosophical, science fiction epic 2001: A Space Odyssey. Most obviously from the title, much of the symbolism is derived from Homer’s The Illiad and The Odyssey. Other authors theorize that the film is an allegory to Arthur Clarke’s (novelist of the literary version of the film and co-writer of the…

Jarvie’s thesis that the average film goer is willing to suspend our disbelief. However, only to a certain extent. If one is told going into a film that it is “based on true events,” or for that matter even a historical film, the extent of a film goer’s suspension is diminished. Even though the actual events that happened are almost the minority of the content of the film. Anything that can have happened or with the potential of happening sucks the viewer in more so than a film whose universe is…

1984 American science fiction action movie. The film was directed and written by James Cameron. Cameron then sold the script to producer Gale Anne Hurd for one dollar, with the condition that he be permitted to direct his dream movie. The motion picture had a great ideal of actors, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn and Linda Hamilton. It was captured in Los Angeles, California and was produced by Hemdale Film Corporation and distributed by Orion Pictures. The film is…

The Effect of Absurdity in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams is a very unique book and has many different elements that set it apart from other science fiction novels. The story has interesting and relatable characters and the writing style is humorous and clever. However, what really makes this story stand out is the absurdity of some of the things the characters encounter while they travel through the universe after Earth is destroyed.…

Modern Renditions of “Duck and Cover” Films Many modern day science fiction movies reflect much of the same “sensuous elaboration” as the films Sontag examined from the 1950’s and 1960’s. Similar to their predecessors, contemporary SF films such as Interstellar, Elysium, and Mad Max all convey a common theme regarding the downfall of the Earth, as we know it. All three of these films represent the possibility of an “earth shattering end to life as we know it,” as described in Imagination of…

recent telephone study that involved 1,000 Americans concluded that 60 percent of Americans that partook in the study, believed in aliens (Malik n.p.). For the longest time, aliens were considered to be mythical stories told by campfires or in science fiction movies. Over time, people actually started to believe in these extraterrestrial beings. Aliens have been featured in many movies and TV shows throughout history. Some examples of aliens portrayed in media are as follows: E.T, Aliens, and…

Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness Teaser 1: Play Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness and explore a futuristic dystopia run by Sybil. Teaser 2: Explore a futuristic world in Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness, a visual novel based on the anime Psycho-Pass. Teaser 3: Take the role of either Inspector Nadeshiko Kutaguchi or Enforcer Takuma Tsurugi in Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness. Make difficult choices and interact with other Psycho-Pass characters like the intelligent and compassionate Akane…

action science fiction film that representationally expresses the controversy between a parallel universe and the reality. I am going to be using one of the four stylistic controls, mise-en-scène, which is used to convey underlying messages and hidden symbols. I will do that by looking at the lighting and the importance of reflective surfaces and what they represent. I will therefore analyze a specific sequence in the movie, and discuss the fundamental aspects to show how it links with the film…

ways can a reading of Blade Runner be justified within the terms – theoretical, historical and aesthetic – of ‘science fiction cinema’? The science fiction genre is difficult to define within a set of conventions. However, through various subgenres and from exploring theoretic ideas, it is evident that Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982) fits into the umbrella term of science fiction. The advanced technology of a futuristic society is presented through the creation of the Nexus 6 replicants.…