InezWhat happened to sci-fi films?
January 12th 2009 03:28
Seems all we ever see are boring remakes or effects-filled duds that lack any interesting, thought provoking stories. Where are the Blade Runners, the Forbidden Planets? Even This Island Earth was far better than the stuff Hollywood grinds out today. They seem to be obsessed with special effects, not story. Where are the visionary stories that explore the soul of who we are, where we came from and where we’re going?
In my humble opinion, I think all the wrong people are controlling Hollywood, especially in the sci-fi genre. There’s just too much marketing, demographics, psychographics and blind adherence to formula. Add to that the need to imbue every story with some sort of social message and you have soap opera not sci-fi. What we need are writers and directors with imagination. We need fewer technicians and more visionaries.
In the remake of War of the Worlds, for example, we had a technician’s interpretation and lots of special effects, but the wonder, the magic was gone. The original 1953 film drew more on creativity and narrative, molding and adding to what was portrayed in HG Wells' classic story. Director Byron Haskin and screenwriter Barré Lyndon added a fresh, technologically interesting touch to the alien spaceships, empowering them with anti-gravity technology—back in the 50’s this was a marvelous leap in science. The story was lean and simple, unfettered by excessive social commentary.
In the most recent War of the Worlds remake, we have an ungainly tripod ship, gravity bound, stumbling around the landscape emitting an annoying foghorn clarion call. I got it. You want to be true to the original tome. But if you’re going to take creative license with a film and plug in boring slice of life elements—things that have absolutely nothing to do with the story—like divorce, irresponsible parenting, a sassy daughter and stupidly belligerent teen, why not upgrade the alien technology? H.G. Wells’ wanted to engage our sense of wide-eyed wonder of advanced alien technology. Instead, the remake was more of a social soap opera than a visionary adaptation of a revered classic.
See where I’m going here? I’m just not feeling the magic of classic sci-fi any more. More rants to come.
In my humble opinion, I think all the wrong people are controlling Hollywood, especially in the sci-fi genre. There’s just too much marketing, demographics, psychographics and blind adherence to formula. Add to that the need to imbue every story with some sort of social message and you have soap opera not sci-fi. What we need are writers and directors with imagination. We need fewer technicians and more visionaries.
In the remake of War of the Worlds, for example, we had a technician’s interpretation and lots of special effects, but the wonder, the magic was gone. The original 1953 film drew more on creativity and narrative, molding and adding to what was portrayed in HG Wells' classic story. Director Byron Haskin and screenwriter Barré Lyndon added a fresh, technologically interesting touch to the alien spaceships, empowering them with anti-gravity technology—back in the 50’s this was a marvelous leap in science. The story was lean and simple, unfettered by excessive social commentary.
Visionary interpretation of advanced alien technology that far exceeds the remake
In the most recent War of the Worlds remake, we have an ungainly tripod ship, gravity bound, stumbling around the landscape emitting an annoying foghorn clarion call. I got it. You want to be true to the original tome. But if you’re going to take creative license with a film and plug in boring slice of life elements—things that have absolutely nothing to do with the story—like divorce, irresponsible parenting, a sassy daughter and stupidly belligerent teen, why not upgrade the alien technology? H.G. Wells’ wanted to engage our sense of wide-eyed wonder of advanced alien technology. Instead, the remake was more of a social soap opera than a visionary adaptation of a revered classic.
See where I’m going here? I’m just not feeling the magic of classic sci-fi any more. More rants to come.
| 58 |
| Vote |
