|
Author
|
Topic: Four Most influential Sci Fi Films ...
|
Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
|
posted July 11, 2009 09:48 AM
My two passions have always been sci-fi and animation. In many ways, animation is far more magical, taking pencil drawings and breathing real life into them, but Sci-Fi has just as magical of an ability to transport you, well, out of this world.
Before I list my four picks for the most influential sci-fi films, (granted, I'm only taking into account this latest wave of Sci-fi from the last forty years), I must tip the hat to ...
2001: A Space Oddessy
Though ponderous and very slow moving, the special effects far out classed nearly anything being produced at the time and would not be equaled, (even by "Silent Running") until the first of my picks. It was not the first serious Sci-Fi of course, but it was among the first that could be taken seriously because of the visuals in combination with the story.
1. STAR WARS
A masterpiece in nearly everyway. The visuals, for nearly the first time, equaled the vision we had in our minds of space battles and great fantasy. It is interesting to compare this film to "Logans Run" from just a year before. Lucas, (and his capable team) was able to bring to life a visual splendor that we had only dreamed about. Lucas did two other things quite wise for the time. Though he was encouraged to have a rock-n-roll soundtrack, he chose classical orchestra, as he did not want his film to become dated. The other wise choice was to make this film a PG film and not have a lot of R-rated elements added into the story in order to sensationalize it. he wanted the feel of the old fashioned serials he grew up with in the movie theaters as a kid. He succeeded admirably. You have no
sexual politics, no grandiose foul language, (only two slight cussing's in the film), just adventure and spectacle on a grand scale, and hero you could truly cheer for, at a time when the world really needed SOMETHING to cheer for. This wasn't a 70's "message" film, unless the message was, "Lets escape for awhile!"
2. Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Note: Though some would list this in 1977, I prefer 1978. Along with STAR WARS, this film redefined what could be shown on the big screen visually. Douglas Trumball, the mastermind behind 2001's special effects, really topped himself, (and, in some ways, never equaled). In this case, where STAR WARS was in a galaxy far far away, this was in our own backyard! Though there had been literally countless attempts at UFO stories, in this one, the UFO's looked truly real and not some paper plates floating in the air. The story was also quite above what had been seen in this sort of film. Also, this was one of the first, (perhaps not the first) where the aliens were not enemies, but friends.
3. ALIEN
I find it fascinating that three of the four films follow one year after another. While STAR WARS and CE3K had 1970's "artifice" to them, ALIEN had nearly none of this. Lucas, though not the first, brought to the forefront a "lived in" universe. That is, the ships aren't pristine, they are pock marked with laser burns, dust, ect. In ALIEN, this is done to perfection. The space freighter "Nostromo" looks like it is one step away from the salvage yard. This was also one of the first films to blend two genres in a truly successful manner, Sci-fi/horror. Ridley Scott (who is always fun to watch), gave the film a visual splendor but went old fashioned, as he wisely did not allow us to see much of the monster until it was absolutely necessary. It was truly a well paced film, worthy of the special effects. By the way, in this case (not STAR WARS), Ridley Scott was more technically accurate about space itself.
4. BLADERUNNER
All complaints about the story aside, this film is also another timeless masterpiece. This film, also directed by Scott, presented us with a Los Angeles of the near future that was very real, with no seams showing. It is a decadent dying planet. Not only were the visuals up to the task, but listen to the soundtrack sometime, without the visuals. The ambient sounds of the city; you can literally hear the decay and debris. Listen to the near silence where it is presented. It's fascinating. It also presented an element which would also highly influence Sci-fi for many years ... what makes a human ... human? Is it merely flesh and blood, or is that which makes humanity what it is, not of flesh and blood, but of ideals?
All four of these films are most watchable and highly repeatable. I would love to hear your picks for what make up the top influential films ...
By the way, four of the five films mentioned, are all on Super 8 in they're full feature format!
My next topic ... Most Influential HORROR!
--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic
