Forum Topic
Spartacus
MemberOvomorphJun-08-2012 9:48 AM[b]I TOOK HOME 7 OF THESE AFTERWARDS!!![/b]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/LT.HIGHTIMES/1a1b4.jpg[/img]
[b]AND ON THE WAY OUT OF THEIR GRABBED TWO OF THESE AS WELL...[/b]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/LT.HIGHTIMES/1a1b6.jpg[/img]
[b]What is it that makes some people say a science fiction movie is bad?[/b]
A movie can be considered bad science fiction if the plot or story in the movie depend on the violations of any of the following principles.
The science in the movie contradicts itself.
The science in the movie contradicts known scientific principles and without explanation while not following popular science fiction conventions.
The science in the movie does not follow accepted science fiction norms and conventions without explaining why it does not.
The characters in the movie are unable to draw obvious conclusions based on the scientific knowledge available to them.
Can bad science fiction movies be entertaining?
Absolutely, if the movie makers are good enough salesmen but that doesn't make them good science fiction. Star Wars anybody.
What's the difference between bad science fiction and fantasy?
We can and might imagine the events in a science fiction movie could actually take place in the future given the advancement of technology.
Science fiction movies contain the 'pretext of plausibility'.
Fantasy movies do not, they are strictly fairy tales.
Therefore bad science fiction movies are not fantasy.
A few examples of bad science fiction movies.
Red Planet - Violated Rule number three. The astronauts didn't know they could breath the Martian atmosphere even though they were scientists there to study the planet.
I Robot – This one really makes no sense. The most respected robotisist in the world is being held against his will in a robotics laboratory. So he builds a super advanced robot but instead of sending the robot to the police for help, decides to talk the robot into killing him in order to draw attention to the fact that he is being held against his will. The killer robot then runs away and hides. An investigation into the murder subsequently reveals the main plot about a computer trying to take over the world. At the end of the movie they let the killer robot go because there is no law against robots killing people.
This one breaks all the Rules and is unwatchable by science fiction fans.
Armageddon – A killer asteroid is headed for earth. So astronauts use a nuclear bomb to blow it apart. Of course this should have created a lot of smaller but still deadly asteroids. Rule number three violated.
[b]What makes for a good science fiction movie?[/b]
Good science fiction movies follow these principles.
The technology in the movie extrapolates from but does not violate known scientific principles. This of course is hard science fiction.
When known scientific principles are violated the movie explains why and how.
when known scientific principles are violated without explanation the movie follows popular science fiction conventions.
Now a few good science fiction movies.
I won't say to much about these movies in case you haven't seen them. You really should see them they are superb.
Blade Runner – This movie is filled with compelling characters each one trying to discover what it means to be human. Even if they are not.
Planet of the Apes – This movie very effectively tackles racial discrimination. No not the remake, the original movie.
Forbidden Planet – This movie tackles the question of whether or not some technology is to powerful to wield. This one is dated so give it some slack.
Serenity – Originally a TV show called Firefly. Serenity is a really fun film with great characters. All though it doesn't effectively deal with the serious political issues it raises.
Alien - No explanation needed.
2001 & A Clockwork Orange both spectacular and ditto!
But Finally, let's not forget the most important thing of all.
A science fiction movie should be fun to watch and for that it needs to have all the other ingredients of a good movie.
A compelling story to pull us in. Intriguing characters whose fate we must know, and movie makers who respect their audience and have something to say.
it is in this regard that i now say this...
[b]P*R*O*M*E*T*H*E*U*S[/b]
...BLEW MY MIND!!!
IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AND SPECIAL MOTION PICTURE.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/LT.HIGHTIMES/1a1b2.jpg[/img]
The story has 100% of zero freaking holes in it but i suspect those who did not like it and said this felt their belief in religion slammed and so this is how they react, by lashing out and saying the film is crap...and don't say i didn't warn everyone about this 8 months ago please...lol...
..furthermore to say this film is crap defies logic, because it is in fact the Opposite IMHO, A Brilliantly Creative and Crafted, Riveting, Experience unlike any other I have ever seen heard and felt inside a theater...EVER !!!
In fact 5 seconds in the young woman sitting next to me with her boyfriend turned to me and said this while he was tearing into his Nachos...and the THX intro for Dolby Sound or the new one just like those old ones came up and launched images that passed right through all of our bodies...and she turned to me and said..."Well, That was worth my $20 Bucks, We Can All Go Home Now", and because I was sitting in the symmetrical center of the theater every single person in it heard it and erupted simultaneously with laughter.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/LT.HIGHTIMES/1a1b3.jpg[/img]
The Leap in technology this film took is so staggering it made Avatar look Like..well..."Avatarded". It made almost every single science fiction film I have ever seen look almost bad...even some of the good ones...It is that special. I did notice however that they still haven't quite figured out how to keep the focus clarity while the cameras are panning or dolly hopping.
The dialogue was one of the best parts of the film and was also quite fantastically humorous at times.
None of the character portrayals were any kind of problem for me nor was the story which I found to be compelling and far more exciting than any other subject matter in practically every other single science fiction film we see pop up in today's days! Not Only that but I would go as far as to say this...Theron, Rapace, and Fassbender all deserve Oscars for their work in this thing...BUT Mostly Fassbender, and if does not win the Oscar for best portrayal of an android I have ever seen something is seriously even more wrong then we already know in Phoneywood!!!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/LT.HIGHTIMES/1a1b1.jpg[/img]
Michael Fassbender's Performance is a Tour De Force that lifts and pulls up the entire film, and that's beats you over the head with it in a Stunning Plot twist! Absolutely STUNNING !!! and very "O'Toole" Like of him!!!
That performance will win an Oscar no question in MY mind and if not it will not be for not deserving it
The Only Question I was left with at the end was Not whether what I just saw was a Masterpiece or not but rather, Why did the Engineer Sacrifice himself at the start of the film...?... and what DNA wormhole has Ridley Opened up now...?... oh the sweet f'n glory of his genius mind I love him now even more than ever!!!! For reasons too "enumerant" to enumerate here.
THE FILM IS BEYOND ANY SHADOW OF ANY DOUBT FAR SUPERIOR TO ALL THE REST OF YOUR CONVENTIONAL FILMS !!!
[b]This truly is AN EVENT and a MUST SEE IN IMAX 3D!!![/b]
I give this thing an easy 9.3 on 10 stars.
i SAY IT RIVALS "2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY" EASILY... AND AT SOME POINTS SURPASSES ALIEN FOR TOTAL TECHNOLOGICAL PERFECTION!!!
It is what Film Making is supposed to be about!
Losing yourself for 2 whole hours in remarkable visuals and fascinating story lines and interactions all melding together to form the core of one of the best SOUNDING motion picture I have ever heard.
The Musical Score is Breath Taking and I was in Heaven every time I recognized the strains of it...
THE SOUND EFFECTS WERE "SPOT ON", IN MY THEATER AT LEAST...
The Flute, all I heard over here was people complaining about the Flute, are YOU KIDDING ME...?...WILDLY CREATIVE starting up the Hologram of EARTH that was, Just freaking Brilliant man what do you want for crying out loud that was Freaking brilliant...I say again... man...lol...!
And of course if you do NOT GET that this film is a GIFT to us all and to just the process of film Making itself you should have nothing to say here!
IT IS A G-D DAMNED CERTIFIABLE BLOODY AMAZING GIFT TO ALL OF US WHO LOVE AND APPRECIATE HOW HARD IT IS TO MAKE A FILM THAT'S THAT FANTASTIC!!!
It is time to celebrate what is beyond any doubt a Stellar Motion Picture In Every Sense Of The Word and one Created By A Stellar and Master Film Maker...MY Freaking Hero and I'm proud of it...Ridley Scott !!!!!
72 Replies
NCC 1701
Veteran MemberMemberOvomorphJun-09-2012 6:15 PMflick was just AAAHSOME ,,,,Spart
Seeing again sunday night ,,,,,
Juxtapose
MemberOvomorphJun-09-2012 7:41 PM...watching it again tomorrow afternoon......cannot wait!!!...it was an awesome flick....sure it was not perfect...but i have not seen a perfect movie yet....i do not get how people could not like it?
Lopan
MemberOvomorphJun-11-2012 11:12 PMI respect people loved this but i did not see it the same way. Watched it 2 times now and things that are badly done stood out even more.
Visually this movie was amazing i agree. Nothing short of spectacular but other then that it came up short. Gotta say even putting this in the same category as Alien is a joke though. You have had your say along with many others but it does not even touch the plastic wrapping of a cheeseburger when it comes to the meaty stuff of Alien.
I expect the visuals to be better wouldn't you ? Alien was over 30 years ago. Without being to harsh i am just being honest. I did not miss anything in this movie. It just left me a little frustrated with way too many things that we have all spoken about.
I cannot ignore things in movies that make me question if the writers knew what they are doing. Some can ignore what we call plot holes and others simply cannot.
I do think a bit too much perhaps but i cannot help be that way. If something happens in a movie it makes me question it. After all that is why we watch them right?
The ship was some sort of organic therefore the SJ breath oxygen. Later on the Jockey runs around the planet with no mask yet don't choke? Is that cos he can breath without oxygen? If this is the case why have it on the ship haha.
That is not a question above ! I thought about 100 things like this during watching it and i got no answers leading me to a feeling of let down. If this many thing's happened in any other blockbuster it would get ripped hard. People just cover it up as its a Ridley movie and its acceptable to be that way. That is just how i see it.
I was looking forward to this more then anything this year but for me it just did not hit the spot that i wish it did. Its great so many of you enjoyed it. Many reviews have pointed out similar things to what i am saying.
Visuals 10/10 amazing
Story and execution 4/10
Originality 5/10 (District 9 story puts this to shame)
Nothing had me on the edge of the seat and without Michael playing David this movie would have not even got a 4. I was not expecting an Alien movie as there is only one of them and always will be.
I am honestly dreading watching Blade Runner 2 as it might end up another religious film about how god created robots to make noodles or some crazy talk.
Deep movie that was made well that makes you think ? The Boy in the Striped Pajamas or Apocalypto.
Lopan
MemberOvomorphJun-11-2012 11:49 PMHow did they all get on the ship and into cryo sleep without anybody so much as seeing each other ? It was quite clear when they woke nobody had any idea who each other was. No names , nothing. Was they playing hide and seek when getting on board.... Just another one of the many exciting mysterious in this perfect script you are talking about haha
David 1
MemberOvomorphJun-12-2012 9:37 AMGlad you enjoyed it Sparts. ^.^
[b]Ask nothing from no one. Demand nothing from no one. Expect nothing from no one.[/b]
Mafetu
MemberOvomorphJun-13-2012 1:37 AMIf you are being fascetious you are brilliant. I'll leave it at that.
Spartacus
MemberOvomorphJun-13-2012 5:54 AMall of the things that people have been complaining about were deliberately IMHO left the way they were. Editing is something he takes an active role in for all of his films...Ridley would say himself...for example..." the dialogue was this way because...bla bla bla..."...he is not a man to do things for NO reason...everything is meticulously story boarded and discussed thoroughly within the confines of each set with each actor and technician. Film is such a collaborative art form and takes many many people to present the viewer with just 1 full second of live motion film. What I saw Blew my mind, what I heard grabbed my interest, what I felt was entertained..thoroughly...and it left me wanting more, but not bitter about any of it. I just don't get that. I could have been playing chess for 2 hours or doing the washing or cleaning the garage, but instead I got to have this totally immersive experience in the same Universe as Alien, it was so nice just to be close to LV-426 again. The Creature at the end just made the biggest mile come across my face, I kept thinking "don't let it end with Shaw leaving for Their home world...SHOW ME THE MONEY"...AND YA KNOW WHAT PEOPLE...?... YEARS FROM NOW WHEN we all LOOK BACK we WILL REMEMBER ONE THING..."Scott Delivered"...The Xeno Is back, and in the BEST way, we get to see how it came to be in the form we knew from Alien, Because Of This Film, and what could be more exiting for the future? The Best is coming I am sure! But I must say I am completely floored by the lack of respect for Scott, and or understanding of how hard it is and just how strong and masterful at your own craft one has to be to make something like that. Something that artistically beautiful. And especially under the unique timing circumstances as well as the kinds of both public and private scrutiny he has to do this under both before and after the film's creation and release. It is unprecedented in film making history.
fluke
MemberOvomorphJun-13-2012 5:24 PMhi spartacus i think prometheus falls into one of your bad sci-fi principles
"The science in the movie contradicts known scientific principles and without explanation while not following popular science fiction conventions."
engineers are 100% DNA match but they're much diffirent from humans. Oh dear.
Spartacus
MemberOvomorphJun-15-2012 2:47 AMFluke,
With all due respect we were never told it was a 100% match we were told "their genetic material "pre-dates" ours" & No, I beg to differ, Not One known scientific principle was violated without a clear explanation.
Edit actually I was wrong about that and you were right I remember the flashing symbol on the display panel now reading "100% match" that must be what you meant.
Squibby
MemberOvomorphJun-15-2012 1:34 PMSpart - I don't understand how you can say the Xeno is back. The only similarity between the creature at the end of Prometheus and the Xeno is the long head. The head shape is different, the mouth is different, there are no spines on the back, there is no Giger biomechanical aspect. If you're going to end the movie like that, why not just make it look right?
Slipp_Digby
MemberOvomorphJun-21-2012 10:09 AM"Not One known scientific principle was violated without a clear explanation."
The film shows 'scientists' acting with total disregards for the germ theory of disease.
I must have missed the part where this principle established in the late 19th century, responsible for savings millions of lives, suddenly became entirely irrelevant.
Spartacus
MemberOvomorphJul-10-2012 5:49 AM[quote]The film shows 'scientists' acting with total disregards for the germ theory of disease.
[/quote]
quite simply put...IMHO...NO...It clearly does not, they immediately radio the ship, it is JANEK that does nothing responsible towards that end, you obviously did not watch this film properly or were distracted by something else while watching it because Fifield and Milburn were CLEARLY two street punx who got thrown into a privately funded supposed "meeting by invitation" expedition for the purpose of friendly discussions between species. Not an official scientific expedition set up by any government or space administration company...Also you have done , did, and continue to do nothing else but SPEW hatred at this film...and after this spout it appears you went into this whole thing or are doing this for some personal bias reasons and have an AGENDA of HATE...also they were clearly wearing a type of Biomechanical spacesuit each themselves, and that's about as Germ Respecting as you can get and shouldn't have been hard at all to notice, because in both cases the suits had more screen time then they themselves did. Oh and one more thing...THIS...This little bit of sarcasm...I have an answer for...
[quote]I must have missed the part where this principle established in the late 19th century, responsible for savings millions of lives, suddenly became entirely irrelevant.[/quote]
OR, you went into a movie theater with a Close mind a bad attitude and a lot of expectations which sounds very much like the same way you go through life by the way. Maybe lighten up a bit, it was a MOVIE and had no responsibility to YOU what so ever to be or do anything you think it should have. Ridley OBVIOUSLY knew exactly what he was doing and THE PROOF IS it worked, it drove YOU absolutely BONKERS !
Add A Reply
