The Word 9/The Word 9 (Disk 2 of 2).adf/Files_2/06-SciFi1.txt/06-SciFi1.txt

Text File | 1996-01-17 | 12KB | 266 lines

|1-Science Fiction



                               by Sparhawk



   This  document explores the Science Fiction genre through the mediums
of  TV,  Film and Literature.  Each section starts with a description of
the  state  of  the  subject  in  that  genre,  some currently available
examples  and some specific examples which show the range within science
fiction.

   Science  Fiction is sometimes best thought of as Speculative Fiction,
as it deals with what may happen.  The genre has fascinated people for a
long time since perhaps the days of Jules Verne.  Science Fiction, along
with  Fantasy  and  to  a  lesser  extent  Horror,  allows you to escape
reality,  for  a short while at least, and that is why it is so popular.
Science  Fiction  is  much  more  than  just  the average view of space,
spaceships, aliens and the rest.



                              Television.
                              ~~~~~~~~~~~
   There have been many, many science fiction television programmes over
the  years.  Most of these have enjoyed good to excellent ratings and so
similar programs continue to be made.

   Science  Fiction  programs are mainly from the US and Japan, although
there  are  some  from  Britain  and  other countries too.  The US is of
course famous for Star Trek and it's spin off's among many others.  Star
Trek  must  surely be the most famous Sci-Fi TV programme of all.  Japan
also  has  a  great output of Science Fiction material, from Godzilla to
Anime.

   Sub  themes  of  Sci-fi explored in TV include the Space Opera, Super
Hero  and  Paranormal  genres.   Most  Sci-Fi TV programs are now mainly
thrillers,  suspense  and  drama,  as opposed to the mainly action-based
programs  of  years  ago.   Of  course there is still a lot of action in
Sci-fi but the trend is away from that.

   Today  the  main Sci-fi TV programs are Star Trek the Next Generation
which  is  still showing but no more episodes have been made (yet), Deep
Space 9, Star Trek Voyagers, Babylon 5, Red Dwarf, Alien Nation, Quantum
Leap and the X-Files.  There are others but they are mainly childrens TV
such  as  'Power  Rangers'  etc.   Older shows are still showing such as
Twilight Zone, Dr.  Who etc.  on some satellite/cable stations.

   I will now look at some landmark Sci-fi TV shows in more detail:

Star Trek.
~~~~~~~~~~
   This  was the first really popular TV show, mainly for its simplistic
Middle  American  style.   It has a well defined crew which the audience
has quickly become acquainted with and is mainly action based, with each
episode standing alone.

   This  series  was  invented  by  Gene Roddenberry.  There was also an
animated  series.  Every year there are literally thousands of Star Trek
conventions  held.  Star Trek's spin off series are Star Trek:  The Next
Generation,  Star  Trek:   Voyagers and Deep Space 9.  Of these The Next
Generation  is  the most similar to the original series while the others
are set in the same universe and carry the detail forward.

   Star  Trek has had (to date) seven films made of the series.  This is
astonishing  considering  the  original series didn't run for that long.
The latest included the Next Generation cast as well.

   Star  Trek  is  the  most  popular of all Sci-Fi TV programme and the
theme looks set to continue for a long time yet.

Dr. Who.
~~~~~~~~
   This  was a typically British Sci-Fi programme.  This was the longest
running   Sci-Fi   TV  series  ever,  running  for  over  twenty  years.
Unfortunately  the  last  series  was  made  years  ago, although Steven
Spielberg looks set to make an American TV series from it.

   The basic plot is that of a Time Lord who travels through Time in his
Tardis  (representing  a Police phone box) righting wrongs and generally
having adventures.  Dr.  Who was characterised by its monsters, of which
the Daleks were the most famous.  There were some films made of Dr.  Who
with Christopher Lee as the Doctor.

   The  Doctor  had  been played by many actors.  To get around this the
Doctor  'died'  and  was regenerated in his new form.  The last actor to
play  the  Doctor  was  Sylvester  McCoy.   The Doctor has also had some
companions  on  his  journeys.   The  last  of  these was Sophie Aldred.
Before her it was Bonnie Langford.

   Dr.   Who  was  made  on  a relatively small budget and sometimes had
flimsy  sets  and  laughable  special  effects  but  in it's defence the
storylines were good and different from the usual sci-fi fare.

   Unlike  Star Trek Dr.  Who episodes were shown in a serial form, with
the  story continuing from week to week.  Dr.  Who had a large following
in the UK but not abroad.  Let's hope Steven Spielberg gets it right.

The Prisoner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Another British Sci-fi TV Programme this was not made for long but is
best  categorised  by  calling  it...  strange.  It was conceived by and
starred Patrick McGoohan.

   It was mainly a James Bond style future thriller, but more like James
Bond  on  drugs.   Patrick  McGoohan played a man who was captured (in a
giant  beach ball) and kept in a strange society were he was only called
Number 6.  He rebels against this and gets into strange adventures while
fighting against Number one.

   'I am not a number, I am a free man!'

Gerry Anderson.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Gerry  Andersons  series  included Thunderbirds, Terrahawks, Fireball
XL5, Captain Scarlet.  Although he made action series as well his puppet
series were the most popular.

   Of  his  series  Thunderbirds  must  have  been the most famous.  Who
doesn't  recognise  the  famous start of the series '5....  4....  3....
2...  1...  Thunderbirds are go!' ?

   These  series  were  dubbed  as  'Supermarionation'.  They have since
gained  a  cult  following  and  although they ceased production a long,
long, long time ago repeats continue to remain popular.

   Gerry  Anderson is still very much around and he has had his hands in
many  projects.   A  new  series  by him is destined for release - Space
Precinct.

Others.
~~~~~~~
   Other classic Sci Fi series are, briefly listed:
   Space 1999, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Battlestar Galactica,
   Blakes Seven, $6 Nillion Man, Invaders, Land of the Giants
   and an old favourite Lost In Space ('Danger Will Robinson!').
   These have all been repeated and will continue to be so for some time.



                                Films.
                                ~~~~~~
   Science Fiction films remain popular and have grossed millions.  Some
of  the biggest selling films of all time were Science Fiction.  The one
that  started  the ball rolling must have been Star Wars.  The have been
many  different  films  based  on  every conceivable subject.  There are
cheap  and  nasty  B-Movies  of  Sci-Fi  Horror  and  thought  provoking
big-budget  movies by internationally famous directors.  Science Fiction
has  ranged  from  the lows of the infamous 'Plan 9 from Outer Space' to
the  heights  of films such as '2001' and 'Close Encounters of the third
Kind'.

   Sci-fi  films  have been made basically since film making began.  The
subject  is  immensely  popular.  Film is probably the most direct media
and   Sci-fi   has   made   more  of  an  impact  here  than  elsewhere.
Unfortunately  the many bad examples of Sci-fi has made Sci-fi lose some
of its credibility.

   Still,  Sci-fi  has  proven  itself  over  the  years  and films will
continue  to  be  made as long as they make profits.  Sci-fi has happily
proved that it does.

   Some  new  films  include Star Trek:Generations, Fortress, No Escape,
Brainscan, Highlander 3, Timecop and StarGate.

   Some  due  for  release  are  Judge Dredd, Tank Girl, Batman Forever,
Street Fighter, Spiderman and Mortal Kombat.

   Some good films, old and new, include:

Star Wars.
~~~~~~~~~~
   One  of  the  first  ultra  popular  Sci-fi films was basically a big
budget  space  opera  which  seems  to  be  many  standard  plots thrown
together.   Star Wars only ever intended to be good family entertainment
and it succeeds at this.  There can't be anyone who hasn't seen this.

   The  basic  plot  is  that  of  rebellion  against  the  empire.  The
immediate threat is the demonic Darth Vader in charge of the Death Star.
Luke  Skywalker  meets  Obi  Wan Kenobi and starts to train to be a Jedi
Knight.   On  his  travels  he  meets  Han Solo, pilot of the Millennium
Falcon.  Han solo joins Luke in his quest to free Princess Leia, whom he
saw  in  a  hologram projected by the robot R2D2.  R2D2 and C3PO used to
work for her.

   Star  Wars  was  created  by  and  directed  by George Lucas, boss of
Industrial  Light  and  Magic.  It stared Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and
Carrie  Fisher.   There were two sequels, Empire Strikes Back and Return
of The Jedi.

   There  are  supposedly  another three star wars films to be made, set
before  the original three.  The main character is Obi Wan Kenobi played
by Kenneth Brannagh.

Close Encounters of the third kind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Starring  Richard  Dreyfuss and directed by Stephen Spielberg this is
noticeable  for its different message to most Sci-fi.  It's central plot
is the meeting of man and alien.

   This  film's theme is love, not war.  It cost a lot for its time ($19
million,  not much for now) and was a blockbuster.  It was well received
on its release.

   The  main  plot  is that UFO's are seen and people around the country
have  strange  compulsions  to  travel  to  a  mountain.   It is at this
mountain that the humans meet the aliens.  The film follows one fanatic,
Richard Dreyfuss, who drives his family away with his obsession until he
eventually reaches ground zero and meets the aliens.

   Steven  Spielberg has made a few Sci-fi films including E.T.  He also
had  a  TV  series  'Steven Spielbergs Amazing Stories' which was mainly
Sci-fi and 'Seaquest DSV'.

Mad Max.
~~~~~~~~
   There  were  three Mad Max films - but the second was mainly a remake
of the first.  They all starred Mel Gibson.

   Mad  Max  is  set  in  a post-apocalyptic world, but for a change not
after  world  war  3  but  after the breakdown of society.  Mad Max is a
policeman  in  this world, where petrol and other commodities are scarce
and guarded jealously.

   The  third  film  was  by far the best.  It also starred Tina Turner.
The  basic plot is average but special effects, action and scene setting
make this a classic.

   At least, I think so.

Total Recall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   A  more  modern classic this is one of many Arnold Swarzenegger genre
films.

   It  was based on a short story by Phillip K.  Dick, whose other short
stories  have inspired the likes of Blade Runner.  The plot is that Doug
Quaid (Arnie) visits Recall who give you a 'mental' holiday.  He chooses
a  trip  with  himself  as  a  special  agent  on  mars.  Before this is
implanted  Doug  realises he his actually a special agent whose mind has
been  wiped.  At the end a martian machine is activated which gives Mars
an atmosphere and stops the selling of air on mars.

   As  expected the special effects are excellent.  Arnie does his usual
acting  job  (i.e.   nothing special) but the film carries itself along.
The  main  theme  ('is  he  dreaming?') sometimes gets in the way of the
story.

   The  film  is  a  good  example  of  modern Sci-fi films.  It's fast,
exhilarating and above all good fun.

Other Films.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Other films include:
   Escape from NY, Blade Runner, The Thing, Alien, Zardoz,
   Buckaroo Banzai, 2001, Dune, StarMan, Forbidden Planet,
   Brazil, Barbarella, Back to the Future, Planet of the Apes,
   Robocop, War of the Worlds, The Fly, Rocketeer, Terminator,
   Darkman and Communion.


Continued in part two...