Craving Science Fiction Films
Pamela Scott Shelton
February 19, 2008
If you are a science fiction film enthusiast, good luck, because there just are not that many really good films to select from these days. It has been a while since Hollywood has produced a science fiction film that would register on the meter equal to director Stanley Kubrick´s (1968) 2001: A Space Odyssey. While the year 2001 has come and gone, and although mankind has yet to venture into space as pioneers as was the dream of many during the 1960s, this film has by virtue of its cinematography and limited futuristic set withstood the test of time in appearance and storyline. Watching this film today, you don´t have the sense that you´re viewing a forty year old film product – except for the film´s title, which dates it. Unfortunately, for some younger viewers, who might not see the film unless it is assigned to them to watch for a high school or college course, the "2001" in the title may be a turn off when selecting a science fiction movie to watch.
However, anyone, young or old, who has not seen the film, is encouraged to see this masterpiece. Kubrick utilized all of the tools in the making of this film that were available to him at the time to create a science fiction master piece. It is, however, Kubrick´s filmmaking genius that compensates for the lack of technology when the film was made. The starkly white environment of the craft that the astronauts travel in conveys the sense of a sterile environment. The set lighting is creatively directed in a way that supports the film through the scenes when the director is attempting to create for the viewer the sense of something much greater than "self."
The antagonist is at first a seemingly docile computer, Hal 9000, whose voice, courtesy actor Douglas Rain, is essential to what emerges as Hal´s personality. From the beginning, as the viewer, you find yourself listening very carefully to Hal´s very even and tranquil voice; there is in his voice a hint of something beyond the machine. Then, when Hal attempts to psychologically test (Kier Dullea) astronaut Dave´s level of tension, and Dave, who recognizes the computer ´s strategy, lets Hal know that he understands what the machine is doing; then you know the contest between man and machine has begun.
The storyline, monoliths discovered on the moon during a lunar landing, is, oddly enough, consistent with some of today´s conspiracy theories surrounding the Apollo astronaut´s landing on the moon; that they found "something" there, remnants of a civilization, or of some alien life forms having been on the moon before us.
Whatever your conspiracy, if you are a science fiction enthusiast, this film is as interesting to watch today as it was when it was released in 1968. It satisfies the sci-fi enthusiasts´ need to blend technology with a good plot, and, because man has remained anchored in earth´s orbit since the lunar landing, 2001 is intriguing and beckons to the explorer and adventurer in all of us. 2001: A Space Odyssey is the right recipe to satisfy the sci-fi enthusiasts´ film craving.
There are other science fiction films, like director Anthony Hoffman´s (2000) Red Planet, with a cast of space astronauts starring Val Kilmer, who is outstanding in his role as the "space janitor"; Carrie-Anne Moss as the commander of the expedition to Mars, Kate Bowman; Tom Sizemore, proving himself a great actor in his performance as a scientist who can manipulate the human genome and decide how many fingers an embryo is born with, Dr. Quinn Burchenal; the incredible acting genius of Terence Stamp, as Dr. Bud Chantilas, who found that "science couldn´t answer any of the really interesting questions,"; Simon Baker, as Chip Pittengill; and the moody and fun Benjamin Brat as the ego driven Lt. Ted Santen. Red Planet is a well matched cast of actors and a sexy and fun storyline.
Unfortunately, unless you are prepared to sustain yourself with rations of Star Trek, Star Wars, and Galaxy Quest, all of which are good entertainment; the sad fact is you are not going to find many available science fiction films to intrigue, inspire and entertain you on the scale of 2001, Red Planet, and a few available others, like director Ridley Scott´s (1979, 1986) Alien and Aliens, or Steven Spielberg´s Close Encounters of the Third Kind– which does not survive its dated point in time to audience viewing factor, except for the technology, which is timeless.
What is your favorite science fiction film? Who do you want to see star in the next great sci-fi epic? What is the most memorable sci-fi film quote you can think of? Drop me an e-mail and let me know your thoughts (keep it brief, to the point).
However, anyone, young or old, who has not seen the film, is encouraged to see this masterpiece. Kubrick utilized all of the tools in the making of this film that were available to him at the time to create a science fiction master piece. It is, however, Kubrick´s filmmaking genius that compensates for the lack of technology when the film was made. The starkly white environment of the craft that the astronauts travel in conveys the sense of a sterile environment. The set lighting is creatively directed in a way that supports the film through the scenes when the director is attempting to create for the viewer the sense of something much greater than "self."
The antagonist is at first a seemingly docile computer, Hal 9000, whose voice, courtesy actor Douglas Rain, is essential to what emerges as Hal´s personality. From the beginning, as the viewer, you find yourself listening very carefully to Hal´s very even and tranquil voice; there is in his voice a hint of something beyond the machine. Then, when Hal attempts to psychologically test (Kier Dullea) astronaut Dave´s level of tension, and Dave, who recognizes the computer ´s strategy, lets Hal know that he understands what the machine is doing; then you know the contest between man and machine has begun.
The storyline, monoliths discovered on the moon during a lunar landing, is, oddly enough, consistent with some of today´s conspiracy theories surrounding the Apollo astronaut´s landing on the moon; that they found "something" there, remnants of a civilization, or of some alien life forms having been on the moon before us.
Whatever your conspiracy, if you are a science fiction enthusiast, this film is as interesting to watch today as it was when it was released in 1968. It satisfies the sci-fi enthusiasts´ need to blend technology with a good plot, and, because man has remained anchored in earth´s orbit since the lunar landing, 2001 is intriguing and beckons to the explorer and adventurer in all of us. 2001: A Space Odyssey is the right recipe to satisfy the sci-fi enthusiasts´ film craving.
There are other science fiction films, like director Anthony Hoffman´s (2000) Red Planet, with a cast of space astronauts starring Val Kilmer, who is outstanding in his role as the "space janitor"; Carrie-Anne Moss as the commander of the expedition to Mars, Kate Bowman; Tom Sizemore, proving himself a great actor in his performance as a scientist who can manipulate the human genome and decide how many fingers an embryo is born with, Dr. Quinn Burchenal; the incredible acting genius of Terence Stamp, as Dr. Bud Chantilas, who found that "science couldn´t answer any of the really interesting questions,"; Simon Baker, as Chip Pittengill; and the moody and fun Benjamin Brat as the ego driven Lt. Ted Santen. Red Planet is a well matched cast of actors and a sexy and fun storyline.
Unfortunately, unless you are prepared to sustain yourself with rations of Star Trek, Star Wars, and Galaxy Quest, all of which are good entertainment; the sad fact is you are not going to find many available science fiction films to intrigue, inspire and entertain you on the scale of 2001, Red Planet, and a few available others, like director Ridley Scott´s (1979, 1986) Alien and Aliens, or Steven Spielberg´s Close Encounters of the Third Kind– which does not survive its dated point in time to audience viewing factor, except for the technology, which is timeless.
What is your favorite science fiction film? Who do you want to see star in the next great sci-fi epic? What is the most memorable sci-fi film quote you can think of? Drop me an e-mail and let me know your thoughts (keep it brief, to the point).
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