What are you tired of seeing in Sci-Fi movies?

Discussion in 'Science Fiction' started by Uberwatch, Feb 1, 2015.

  1. Aaron DC

    Aaron DC Contributor Contributor

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    Sorry yes, it is fantasy, no question. I am only just getting to grips with that understanding of the definition of sci-if vs fantasy.
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2015
  2. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Well, don't be so ready to take my word as law. :) There are plenty who disagree with me as to what Science Fiction is and/or should be. My definition of the genre is much more in line with what I feel its purpose is, where others define it more along lines of the elements and props to be found therein. In some ways, Comic Book serves a similar purpose to Science Fiction, in that it often tackles aspects of the human condition through a very high powered lens afforded by the distortion of reality, but it often does so with an eye towards an idealization of the condition, not so much a dispassionate consideration. Fantasy is more about mythologizing, not only in the classic sense like Roman or Greek myth, but also in the sense of creating mythologies to encapsulate our sense of history and importance.

    And, again, a queue is forming to the left as we speak for those who would like to hold forth as to just how very wrong I am. ;)
     
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  3. Aaron DC

    Aaron DC Contributor Contributor

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    I posted a thread based on a foreword by Philip K Dick and am sticking with his definition because it suits me :D

    Possible down the track = sci-fi
    Impossible down the track = fantasy

    There was more to it than that but that's what I ended up with distilled in my mind.
     
  4. Michael Pless

    Michael Pless Senior Member

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    Just a few things I dislike in Sci-fi:

    1. Robots or anything that makes sounds that another character can instantly translate into English and then that character repeats the creature's/machine's words for the benefit of the audience. E.g. R2D2.

    2. Creatures that are somewhat humanoid but have large latex growths or protrusions just to make them look different. For example, just about any alien in Star Trek (movie and series) and Star Wars.

    3. An android/robot/alien that doesn't have or understand human emotions and then tries to. At some stage it will say, "I just don't understand you humans," or similar. Then it will learn how to cry and/or laugh. Or Arnie, with his grotesque pseudo-smiles when he's in Terminator-mode.

    4. When a machine produces a voice or sound, it has a grill that flashes (often in close-up) - presumably because the director thinks his/her audience is brain-dead and will screech "where did that voice come from?" without it. This is very common in TV series. Think Lost In Space, that execrable show from aeons ago with a talking car, etc. Also sound effects and/or poses a la Six Million Dollar Man that warns the audience there's a superpower about to be used.

    5. Post-apocalyptic worlds where people dress bizarrely in badly-worn, mismatched clothing, eat pet food, look like they never wash but often have sculpted eyebrows (women) and well-cut hair. Someone always seems to have a pair of aviation-style goggles, usually the electronics genius who fixes the inevitable radio.

    6. An alien creature that becomes a pet and acts just like a dog.
     
  5. Vandor76

    Vandor76 Senior Member

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    This is why they need to hide themselves. The Hulk experiences directly on his skin how the government is dealing with someone who happens to have superpowers.
    On the other hand we have seen governments making secret agreements with dictators or organized crime to help them achieve their political goals. So the problem that a superhero with superpowers poses is not that massive as long as (s)he is "on our side".

    Kick Ass tries to be an example of this but I suggest that you watch "Defendor" with Woody Harrelson. That is a great film and shows perfectly what kind of person a "mask" is and how difficult is to fight crime in the real world. Woody is one of my favorite actors so I might be biased, but I think he plays the main character pretty good.

    To say something that is a reply to the question in the thread title :
    I'm tired of seeing...
    - when we humans are the perfect good guys (all of us know that we aren't) and the aliens are ruthless killers. I want to see more sci-fi where humans are depicted in a more realistic way.
    - aliens or robots behaving the same way as humans. They are not humans and I would like to see the difference shown in creative ways (Ex Machina was good in that, especially the ending).
    - advanced technology that does not seem to have a reasonable goal : highly intelligent computers built in devices that are simple like a hammer, humanoid robots used to clean the house with cleaning devices designed for humans, etc...
    - I know others have already mentioned this but it really annoys me : sounds in space. WTF?
    - I HATE when an otherwise good sci-fi breaks itself with a poor mythical/unbelievable/"unscientific" subplot or resolution. I'm pointing my finger to Battlestar Galactica and Interstellar.
     
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  6. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    Retro 1950s fashions - that's what I'm sick of seeing in sci-fi movies.

    Just out of interest - not that I'm complaining or trying to tell the mods their job - but why has this thread been allowed to remain in the writing section of the forum for so long? It should be in Movies, Movies, Movies! shouldn't it?
     
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2015
  7. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    [​IMG] Splendid! Post of the thread!
     
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  8. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Because it has given rise to very good and thought provoking discussions regarding the nature of the genre, its elements, what works for us and what doesn't. All of these are easily applicable to the writing of short stories and novels. Also, it's much more likely that those interested in Science Fiction as a genre have a common bank of films with which most can relate and discuss, rather than a common bank of books that we have all read and can discuss. It just makes for a more likely continuation of conversation. ;)
     
  9. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    Fairy Nuff :)
     
  10. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    Modern Sci-fi flicks always seem to be more bells and whistles, and have really crummy storylines. Look at Jupiter Ascending, drowning in CGI and habitually has to kick its own story forward with drawn out explanations for everything. Big name cast and computer generated graphics, does not a good movie make.

    Franchises are just as bad, if not worse. Just use the same main character names, and some light elements from the original storyline and bam movie. From what I could grasp from Terminator Genesis, is exactly what I mentioned. Really don't see how it ties into the original beyond the characters and minor elements. Just another flashy CGI action shooter, with a flailing attempt of a plot. That and it has a built in internal logic system (entire franchise) that repeats in a loop. Try to kill John Connor with robots, yay we stopped Skynet (lather rinse repeat). Going to have more in the future.
     
  11. cutecat22

    cutecat22 The Strange One Contributor

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    Maybe change the question from what don't you wan't to see in Sci-Fi movies, to what DO you want to see in Sci-Fi movies?
     
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  12. outsider

    outsider Contributor Contributor

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    Aliens that irrespective of their proximity to Planet Earth have an adept understanding and articulation of English. Not Swahili, nor Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or Urdu. English.
    That and spaceships.
     
  13. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    Common things that are made to look different than they are currently, when there's nothing whatsoever to suggest their design would change.

    Instances where the film designer or props man has gone out of his way to create 'futuristic things' purely for the sake of it, and ignores the fact that their design would make them totally impractical in the real world.

    I hate to nominate this one as I really like the way they look on film, but.... neons! Neon signs have been around years and haven't yet taken over the world, so why does sci-fi so often suggest this will be the case in the future? I blame Ridley Scott.
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2015
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  14. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    You might be on to something there, sir. Seems there is a lot more 'dislike' threads than 'what would make it better' ones. :D
     
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  15. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

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    One thing I don't like is when the writer advances one technology, but not all the rest of the technologies. I used to read a lot of science fiction in which there were spaceships that could fly to Mars in a couple of days, but the navigators were still using slide rules to do their calculations. The idea was that one field advanced hugely, but other fields didn't advance beyond the 1940s. A little more imagination on the part of the writers would have helped!
     
  16. DeadMoon

    DeadMoon The light side of the dark side Contributor

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    I am tired of all the zombies. I love em but in the last few years it seems as if their in movie after movie after movie.
     
  17. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

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    I hate zombies. Not just because they're in every movie, but because they keep trying to eat my brain. ;)
     
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  18. Sack-a-Doo!

    Sack-a-Doo! Contributor Contributor

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    3rd Rock from the Sun did this one right, IMHO. Dick spoke every language that came up.
     
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  19. Sack-a-Doo!

    Sack-a-Doo! Contributor Contributor

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    Something I'm tired of seeing...

    After the apocalypse, everyone behaves like they're twelve. I think there are enough opportunities for drama without all that emotional immaturity and posturing.
     
  20. semicolon

    semicolon Member

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    In the way of Star Wars, I feel it's good that they're creating the new movies, and I feel like Disney (and by extention, Lucas, as he was the one who sold the rights to Disney) is trying to make up for the Prequel Trilogy, in a way. Because, as many people know, there were quite a few fans of the original trilogy who were disappointed with the prequels because of crappy effects, Jar Jar Binks, a poor storyline, Hayden Christiansen's acting, Jar Jar Binks, etc... I think that they wanted it to be sort of a redemption and that the nostalgia factor will only be around for the first couple of movies, as I doubt that the Big Three will be the stars of the Sequel Trilogy, because the way that I see it is that the only reason that they're there is because they want them to sort of pass on the story to the other younger actors. Sure, they'll have their own storylines that they'll be on themselves, but they won't try to feed off of nostalgia for the next five years, it just isn't something that I can see happening.
     
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  21. ToeKneeBlack

    ToeKneeBlack Banned

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    Aliens who don't look human, don't behave human and don't use spaceships - I've got me an idea for a story!

    In a desolate desert under a red sky, a metallic probe hits the sand; the heat from the impact turns the sand grains surrounding the crater into glass. As it cools, the probe bursts into life, scans its environment, and releases three orbs.

    The orbs float through the air, arranging themselves into a triangular formation. Suddenly a portal forms between the orbs, from which a trio of vaguely human shaped figures clad in space suits emerge. After confirming the readings taken by the probe, they remove their helmets to reveal they're not human, but definitely alien.

    A single compound eye surrounds each of their heads, giving them panoramic vision. Their mouths are located on the tops of their heads, with bristly hairs covering their skin. While they can hear sounds, they communicate by other means.

    The planet is Mars, and the conditions there are ripe for life as they know it; but the only evidence of life they find is in the form of probes sent from Earth...
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2015
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  22. Uberwatch

    Uberwatch Active Member

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    Negativity is more fun.
     
  23. cutecat22

    cutecat22 The Strange One Contributor

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    I hate it when bombs/timers are set with flashing lights/beeping sounds which the opposition are expected not to see or hear.

    Just, dumb.
     
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  24. DefinitelyMaybe

    DefinitelyMaybe Contributor Contributor

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    I'm getting tired of too many movies where aliens are monsters. I liked Alien itself, but feel that it's all been done too often and often not done well.

    I'd like to see more science fiction movies that look at SciFi in different ways. I liked Interstellar, and liked The Martian even more. Prometheus - I'm not sure why but I was less involved in that.
     
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  25. ManOrAstroMan

    ManOrAstroMan Magical Space Detective Contributor

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    It's been a long time since I've seen it, but I really liked Titan AE. I remember it being well-written, with a solid story and good characters.
    Fifth Element was silly as hell, but enjoyable. Though, I thought Leeloo should have had a more active role (one fight scene, lots of hiding), and Bruce Willis' character was damn slow on the uptake (as usual).

    Oh, and I've never understood why tracking devices have flashing lights. Aren't they supposed to be stealthy?
     
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