Welcome to the first in my new series called "Intro To". In this series, we will be breaking down different genres of films into five definitive movies; movies that started or that helped shape the genre and can easily serve as an introduction to it as a whole. For my first post, we will be looking at one of my favorite genres: Science Fiction!
From 1902's silent film Le Voyage de la Lune to 2013's blockbuster Man of Steel, Hollywood has been fascinated by the strange, the fantastical and the futuristic. While it took time to be taken seriously on the big screen, Sci-Fi has long existed in the pages of our literature; but with the advent of motion pictures, new worlds could be built and things that were once seen only in our imaginations were now played out in cinemas everywhere. Sci-Fi films are known to portray futuristic themes such as space or time travel as well as advanced technologies or extraterrestrial life. In recent years, many entries into the Sci-Fi genre include films set in dystopian futures where the world has been plunged into chaos and turmoil, most often as a result of our own doing...or zombies. The following films are, in my opinion, the landmark entries in the genre:
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey
When humanity finds an obviously artificial artifact buried beneath the lunar surface, astronauts set out on a quest aboard a ship controlled by a super-intelligent (and super-creepy) computer called Hal-9000.
Why Does It Stand Out: At a time when Americans were looking at the night sky, hopeful that we would be able to reach the moon, Kubrick's film showed us a future where we had already overcome the challenges we were facing...and graduated to brand new ones. It also drove home, better than most films have, that technology is a blessing but can also be a curse. Not to mention the visuals are dazzling, even by today's standards thanks to very creative camera work.
2. Star Wars
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, an evil galactic empire searches for the stolen schematics to its most powerful battle station, the Death Star. When young Luke Skywalker discovers the plans hidden in two droids who crashed on his home planet, he sets off on a journey that will change him - and the galaxy - forever.
Why Does It Stand Out: While 2001: A Space Odyssey and the original Star Trek TV series had ignited curiosity and passion for space stories a decade earlier, Star Wars took it to the next level and to much wider audiences. Setting familiar good vs. evil, hero's journey themes against a backdrop of laser swords, blasters, mystical religions and an evil Galactic Empire, Star Wars hit us all where we lived and still resonates with new viewers today. Spawning a franchise including books, video games, three prequels, two sequels and at least three more currently in development, it's power to create a passionate fan base - a subculture even - is rivaled by very few movie franchises to this day.
3. Superman: The Movie
On the dying planet Krypton, a father and mother place their infant son into a spaceship and send him off into the stars moments before their own planet is destroyed. The child lands in Kansas and is found, and raised, by Martha and Jonathan Kent. Growing up, Clark Kent learns he has amazing abilities and uses them to become earth's first superhero: Superman.
Why Does It Stand Out: Hollywood's first real attempt at a serious adaptation of a comic book property, Superman The Movie created the superhero sub-genre and set the standard by which all future entries would be measured. The story structure and approach to casting are still copied over and over on the big screen today. I would go as far as to say the current boom of superhero movies would not exist without this movie.
4. Jurassic Park
When a wealthy venture capitalist builds a theme park full of cloned, living dinosaurs on a deserted island, he invites a group of scientists to take a tour in hopes they will endorse it. Things go bad, however, when a hurricane strikes the island and the dinosaurs are freed.
Why Does It Stand Out: In 1993, director Steven Spielberg revolutionized movie making with Jurassic Park; using state of the art visual effects to bring dinosaurs to stunningly realistic life. As any 90's kid knows, the first half of the movie makes you gaze in wonder while the last half makes you grip your seat in fear and suspense all because of some computer animation that I dare you to compare to movies of today and tell me it doesn't hold up. Go ahead, I dare you!
5. The Matrix
Thomas Anderson is a computer programmer who doubles as the hacker, Neo. When three mysterious agents show up at his work looking for him, he is contacted by a man named Morpheus who offers him a chance to the know the truth: This world is a lie; a dream. And it's time to wake up.
Why Does It Stand Out: Forgetting for a second that the Matrix gave us visuals we had never really seen before and began trends that movie makers are still riding today. Instead let's focus on the ambitious nature of the story. It's a film that posits that we only THINK we are living our lives. It forces us to think about who pulls our strings and what IS reality? That's huge! Then add back in the awesome fight scenes and the "bullet time" effect it pioneered. This is one hell of a movie.
There you are. These are your introduction movies to the Science Fiction genre. So hit Netflix or Google Play (or however else you crazy kids get movies these days) and dive right in!
What are your favorite Sci-Fi films and why?
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