Sure, Star Wars and Star Trek movies are two of the greatest science fiction classics ever created, but they are based in futuristic realism and not 1950’s mystical senses. The first appearance of “Star Trek” as T.V. episodes was great science fiction but the movies that came out in later years were set as futuristic realism out of the true classic science fiction sense. I enjoyed watching “Independence Day” but was excited for “Mars Attacks” which came out shortly after “Independence Day”. I was baffled at why “Mars Attacks” wasn’t released before “Independence Day” because I knew “Independence Day” was going to be a mega hit. I thought “Mars Attacks” was going to be a mega hit also but it puttered out after the release of “Independence Day”. I guess maybe the “Mars Attacks” makers thought it would do just fine after “Independence Day” got everyone whooped up into a science fiction fever but that wasn’t the case.
My favorite all time science fiction flicks are, “Mars Attacks” and “Star Ship Troopers”. Both have that real feel of science fiction in the sense of classic science fiction. In fact, I’m under the impression the idea of Mars Attacks was taken from the original Star Ship Troopers publication. I haven’t investigated this yet but I did see a few of the original “Mars Attacks” cards and some had bug armies on them.
In 1996 the “Mars Attacks” movie was released based on the “Mars Attacks” trading cards manufactured in 1962. The movie is “Great!”. The “Mars Attacks” movie captured the true science fiction sense with great special effects and characters. The “Mars Attacks” movie never gave that sense of a story that is or could be reality as “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” did. The true sense of this type of fiction to me is that portrayal of something that can never be real. The invasion of earth by little figures with huge brains carrying ray guns displayed for all future thought what a Martian would look like if Martians were real. Martians in the past were known as human figures with two antennas protruding from the top back of their heads but with the release of “Mars Attacks” Martians are now seen as small figures with huge brains and ugly faces. Ever get pissed off at congress and want to actually see them destroyed? Watch this “Mars Attacks” film and towards the end some small Martians pretend to be negotiating peace with a full seated congress then all of a suddenly pull out their ray guns and vaporize that mess of human beings. In the end human beings find out the Martians weak spot and destroy them which is always the case but the “Mars Attacks” movie is well worth the watch. I can watch it many times over and never get bored of it.
“Star Ship Troopers” was a great flick. I really got into the movies and the sense of classic science fiction was all over me. Huge bug armies controlled by a brain bug that let itself be captured just to gather information for an Olympic size bug in the third movie. The characters really fit the image of the movie and their blend into the bugs plot to destroy human life was outstanding. The trooper uniforms at least the commanders were kind of 1940ish with futuristic armor that the bugs put a leg spike right through. The weapons had clips and they did reload with new clips from time to time but those clips shot so many rounds I was thinking the rifles manufactured their own bullets. But then I came to the conclusion the clips might be power packs and the rifles were shooting hot plasma charges. The trooper movies in my own personal opinion were great movies in the classic alien fiction sense and the classic fiction sense is what I really like. Not the 1930’s or 1940’s alien fiction but the alien fiction produced in the 1950’s and 1960’s era. I did watch the 1966 original Star Trek episodes. I’ve seen all. I haven’t seen them in a couple of decades and can watch them again.
I also liked the 2005 alien fiction movie “War Of The Worlds” that is based on Martians assembling three legged fighting machines equipped with heat rays from the 1890’s put in a modern day setting.
Sharknado is popular in certain circles of wildlife fiction watchers and I saw the first movie but just saw it as corny amusement.
Superhero comic fiction is great also. The Batman movies take the 1st place award for best superhero depictions. I liked the Spiderman movies also but the two main actors playing Spiderman and his girlfriend didn’t draw me in. It was the villains in the Spiderman movies that were the hits. I really liked the “Ironman” movies also. The “Ironman” movies were well done both in actor choice and plot. Thor wasn’t bad either.
The cartoon fiction movie “The Flintstones” was excellent except the blunder of putting Rosie O’Donnell as Betty. Betty was a slim good looking women just like Wilma. Betty isn’t some chubby big mouthed women as Rosie O’Donnell is. Other than the Rosie O’Donnell blunder “The Flintstones” was a fantastic cartoon fiction movie. “Casper The Friendly Ghost” was an absolutely excellent cartoon fiction movie. I really enjoyed the special effects and plot.
Monster fiction is great also if the monsters are played well. I don’t go for the zombie movies although I did watch one that wasn’t bad. There is a large circle of zombie lovers most likely the goth crowd.
I’ve watched many science fiction movies of all types that were constructed well and played well in their type of science fiction sense. The “Mars Attacks” and “Star Ship Troopers” movies are by far my favorites though and well played.
Are there bug planets somewhere out in the universe? A huge flying saucer hovering over a city and delivering a mega energy ray in our future? Huge three legged machines popping out of the earth with a slimy green being operating them? Not out of the realistic realm 1000 years from now.
The difference is “Futuristic Realism” vs “Mystical” science fiction. Which is your favorite type of science fiction?