Alright.. so if we can call TFs SciFi.. how about the Jetsons?  :tflaugh1 Futurama, Star Wars... do they count to?

Star Wars isnt sci fi? Thought it was always considered to be a sci fi/fantasy type fiction.

Many consider it to be Action/Adventure with Space Themes. *shrugs* You got me, I just always consider it a Sci-Fi Adventure Trilogy.

Alright.. so if we can call TFs SciFi.. how about the Jetsons?  :tflaugh1 Futurama, Star Wars... do they count to?

Star Wars isnt sci fi? Thought it was always considered to be a sci fi/fantasy type fiction.

Many consider it to be Action/Adventure with Space Themes. *shrugs* You got me, I just always consider it a Sci-Fi Adventure Trilogy.

Science fiction is a genre defined by certain themes and/or issues. It is not shorthand for "movies in space with robots and laser guns". As I posted earlier, science fiction concerns itself with the relationship between mankind and technology. Star Wars is not science fiction because its themes are derived from hero myths. In other words, it's a fairy tale (i.e. fantasy). Lucas only set Star Wars in space to make it look visually unique. It could just as easily have been a Western or a samurai movie.

 

Star Trek is science fiction, in that it is based on an assumption regarding the relationship between mankind and technology - namely, that technology is the savior of humanity. Because of advances in technology, the earth is united, wars end, humans are able to explore space and spread peace and love and snazzy red uniforms, etc. However, Star Trek never really explores this relationship in depth, so it's just not very *interesting* science fiction. :P

 

Similarly, Transformers is basically G.I. Joe with robots. And G.I. Joe was basically an adventure cartoon. There were good guys and bad guys and the good guys always won in the end, bla bla bla. So I don't look at Transformers as true science fiction (aside from Beast Machines, and to a much lesser extent, Beast Wars, as I mentioned earlier).

 

I think we don't recognize the difference between science fiction and action/adventure movies because we so rarely see science fiction movies anymore. The Matrix movies were the last films I can think of that really delved into true science fiction themes. What does it mean to be human in a world filled with machines? Can a machine be "alive"? And what is the difference between a sentient human and a sentient machine? etc.

 

Well anyway, I'm repeating myself. All done now. :tfgrin

Yeah, but you see SW has alot of technical info. It's a sci fi/fantasy regardless.

Yeah, but you see SW has alot of technical info. It's a sci fi/fantasy regardless.

You know, I wonder why I even bother posting sometimes. I just got done explaining that spaceships and stuff don't make something "science fiction". Not only that, but if you think carefully you will realize that technical information is largely absent from the actual Star Wars films themselves. It's in all those DK books etc. that you find the "science" of Star Wars explained. The films themselves are not concerned with technology (which is a neutral force in the Star Wars universe), but with the journey of the archetypal hero (Luke/Anakin Skywalker).

 

Not science fiction. Not science fiction. :thumb

Yeah, but you see SW has alot of technical info. It's a sci fi/fantasy regardless.

You know, I wonder why I even bother posting sometimes. I just got done explaining that spaceships and stuff don't make something "science fiction". Not only that, but if you think carefully you will realize that technical information is largely absent from the actual Star Wars films themselves. It's in all those DK books etc. that you find the "science" of Star Wars explained. The films themselves are not concerned with technology (which is a neutral force in the Star Wars universe), but with the journey of the archetypal hero (Luke/Anakin Skywalker).

 

Not science fiction. Not science fiction. :thumb

:pfx

 

nice explanaiton on the starwars stuff.. me and my cousin get into arguments all the time about the science behind the fiction of starwars. stuff like this only exists to entertain us... god i can already hear the arguments of jumping into hyper space, how to make a real light saber (and why don't they make a light saber which length can be extended past the norm or shortened for close combat...) and how the force can be real... i just like watching the movie :tftongue

Yeah, but you see SW has alot of technical info. It's a sci fi/fantasy regardless.

You know, I wonder why I even bother posting sometimes. I just got done explaining that spaceships and stuff don't make something "science fiction". Not only that, but if you think carefully you will realize that technical information is largely absent from the actual Star Wars films themselves. It's in all those DK books etc. that you find the "science" of Star Wars explained. The films themselves are not concerned with technology (which is a neutral force in the Star Wars universe), but with the journey of the archetypal hero (Luke/Anakin Skywalker).

 

Not science fiction. Not science fiction. :thumb

Well the movies manage to go into small workings of the ships, layouts and such of the deathstar, we get life on other planets, the goverment of different systems.

 

Know what, it's sci fi enough for me to consider it that :thumb

Hate me if you will for this but besides the Matrix films the last good scifi film I've seen in recent years is Mission to Mars. True it was selfless rip off/homage to 2001 a Space Odysy but in terms of what scifi initially is it's decent. Any others I've seen are all animated. Ghost in the shell 1/2 Akira and Metropolis top that list.

OM is 100% right. The line between scifi/action/horror has been so horribly blured in the last ten/20 years that it's nearly impossible to define what anything is these days. Movies like Bladerunner, Terminator series, Total Recall, and even the Abyss are all scifi influinced but a there true core there action flicks. Some better than others. Today initially any movie with a space backdrop save Solaris is either an action film or a horror film. One that comes to mind is Event Horizon. Excellent scifi concept but the potential it had was wasted making it another hack/slash thriller. What about alien invasion flicks? ID4, and the upcoming War of the Worlds. ID4 is a Scifi premis but as a film is a nod to 70's disaster flicks more than anything else. Can't see War of the worlds being much different though it may be surprisinglly good as was Steven Spielbergs AI, Minority Report.

On topic Transformers is not traditional scifi. Never was, never will be. It has a scifi setting and ideas/technology but to compare it to Star Trek is absurd. Star Trek is all together a different genre. Sta Trek is about exploration and the technological advancements that serve mankind in the distant future. True wars and rebillions and such break out but it remains true to being scifi. The only exception being Enterprise and some of the later films.

Transformers is cool toyline aimed directly at kids. What kid back then wouldn't want a toy that went from a vehicle/animal to a weapon toting robot. It was the best of both worlds and remains so. G1 the cartoon however is meh.

Yeah, but you see SW has alot of technical info. It's a sci fi/fantasy regardless.

You know, I wonder why I even bother posting sometimes. I just got done explaining that spaceships and stuff don't make something "science fiction". Not only that, but if you think carefully you will realize that technical information is largely absent from the actual Star Wars films themselves. It's in all those DK books etc. that you find the "science" of Star Wars explained. The films themselves are not concerned with technology (which is a neutral force in the Star Wars universe), but with the journey of the archetypal hero (Luke/Anakin Skywalker).

 

Not science fiction. Not science fiction. :thumb

Well the movies manage to go into small workings of the ships, layouts and such of the deathstar, we get life on other planets, the goverment of different systems.

 

Know what, it's sci fi enough for me to consider it that :thumb

I'll just say it one more time, then I'll bugger off.

 

That's not what science fiction is.

 

What you are describing is fantasy. "Fantasy" doesn't have to mean some D&D fanboy movie with unicorns and dragons and sh*t. Fantasy is anything "fantastical", including movies set in outer space. Again, there is nothing in Star Wars that requires it to be a "space movie". The themes and concepts in the film are all fantasy-driven. As I mentioned earlier, Lucas only set Star Wars in space to give it a unique visual look.

 

Science fiction is not about aliens.

 

Science fiction is not about spaceships.

 

Science fiction is not about technical information.

 

Science fiction is about the relationship between mankind and technology. Now you can certainly have a science fiction book / film that is set in space and has aliens, etc. War of the Worlds is a classic science fiction novel. But what makes it science fiction is what it says about humanity and technology - the invading Martians are far more technologically advanced than humanity, and yet they are ultimately undone by something not seen as being "scientific" at the time - namely, bacteria.

 

As another example, Jurassic Park is a science fiction novel because its major underlying theme is the use of technology to disrupt (or control) the natural order. (The movie touches on that theme, but largely focuses on action & adventure.) Star Wars is not really science fiction because at its heart, it's a hero story. However, with regard to the original trilogy you could make the case that it is science fiction on one level, since technology is thematically perceived as a symbol of evil in those movies. (Luke destroys the ultimate technological weapon via "the Force", and then there's the Ewoks....) But the good guys have plenty of technology too - it's just not as good as the stuff the bad guys have.

 

Well anyway, I've had my say. Time to bugger off. :wave

I'm gonna still consider it sci fi. My opinion on it shouldnt matter this much to you :thumb

I'm gonna still consider it sci fi. My opinion on it shouldnt matter this much to you :thumb

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:redface