The downfall of Sci-fi

[Principal_Skin-trade]

*sigh* my favorite 2 movies EVER are both 'recent sci-fi' (1. Matrix 2. Dark City)

I can understand those... but they really aren't all that recent are they? Both of those films are almost 10 years old.
There was a time when Sci-fi was a credible and sheik genre, which in my opinion began around the same time
2001 came out. Before that, sci-fi really wasn't sci-fi, it was just kinda silly and involved people hanging around on
wires and floating awkwardly in front of windows or mirrors. Now, in my view, the downfall began in the 90's when
producers started believing sci-fi should feature either Will Smith, Over the top cheesy dialogue, and massively stupid
catchphrases. I think Independence day is... YES, responsible for this downfall. I think if it had not been made that
The Phantom menace may have actually been a decent movie, and so may have Attack of the clones. But unfortunately,
the success of Independence day gave all sci-fi makers a solid reason to goof around, and that pisses me off to no
end.

[mrbasehart]

I think you're "cherry-picking".  Taking a few good examples of the genre at the time, and forgetting the really bad stuff that came out at the same time.  Sure, Terminator's a good movie, but Saturn 3, The Stuff, Parasite, Strange Invaders... They all came out around the same time, and are all pretty bad. 

And before 2001, we have most ot the movies that MST3k made a living on.  There's probably a ratio of a good sci-fi movie to 10 bad ones in the 50s and 60s alone.

[Moose]

I mean what is the last great recent Sci-fi film you have seen? Yes I know you want to say Transformers but I don't consider that a movie that is completely dedicated strictly to the genre of Sci-fi.

There was a time when Sci-fi was a credible and sheik genre, which in my opinion began around the same time
2001 came out. Before that, sci-fi really wasn't sci-fi, it was just kinda silly and involved people hanging around on
wires and floating awkwardly in front of windows or mirrors.

I'd like to know exactly what you consider to be the criteria for a movie being "sci-fi", and why all these sci-fi films don't meet them.

[Principal_Skin-trade]

I'd like to know exactly what you consider to be the criteria for a movie being "sci-fi", and why all these sci-fi films don't meet them.

Alright. Sci-fi should first have the requisite of taking place mostly in outer space, the past, future or anywhere not on planet earth. The material can have humor or be light-hearted, but it should never at anytime indulge in being overly cheesy. Never should the characters have some long pointless discussion about the inner workings of some aspect of technology, such things ought to be implied visually, rather then wasting a lot of time on dialog. Visual effects should be nice and most importantly, believable, and the length of seeing such things should be proportional to the amount of dramatic impact. We should care about the characters, they should all be distinct in some way. Most importantly though, I think Sci-Fi needs to have dramatic tension, it needs to do things that are unexpected, and not cliche. I think I covered just about everything.

[optimus357]

And I suppose there should be exceptions to any or all of those rules.

[Principal_Skin-trade]

And I suppose there should be exceptions to any or all of those rules.

Nope... never.

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

its like this man, movies generally move in cycles.  star wars a new hope helped create a great sci fi cycle that eventually made way for 80s films like die hard.  9-s had several cycles as well including mega disaster films like id4 (which i realize is also scifi) and armegeddon.  i think we can safely say we are in a fantasy cycle.  this has also included a comic subcycle.   i think you can blame lord of the rings for that.  i blame spiderman for the comics.  

[Principal_Skin-trade]

its like this man, movies generally move in cycles.  star wars a new hope helped create a great sci fi cycle that eventually made way for 80s films like die hard.  9-s had several cycles as well including mega disaster films like id4 (which i realize is also scifi) and armegeddon.  i think we can safely say we are in a fantasy cycle.  this has also included a comic subcycle.   i think you can blame lord of the rings for that.  i blame spiderman for the comics. 

I think this is more like the menstrual cycle. I have a bad feeling that we'll never see another truly revolutionary sci-fi film ever again.

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

just out of curiosity what WAS the last movie you actually liked?

[Principal_Skin-trade]

just out of curiosity what WAS the last movie you actually liked?

Well, I loved both Simpsons and Transformers. Obviously, I don't consider the first to be sci-fi. I loved Transformers, it was great but it wasn't a work of genius.  Why do you ask Sarc?

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

see im pretty sure i despised the transformer movie.  well ...... maybe not despised.  i hated the action.  thought it was terrible and hard to follow.  but the rest of the elements of the film were ok  although the back story was soooooooo corny.  its hard to catch because optimus sounds so cool.  he could probably read the phone book and i would think it was cool

[optimus357]

See when saw Transformers I hadn't realized that was the original Optimus voice and I thought it was cheezy as hell.  It was like 50 year old man voice more than it was fearless leader voice.  I guess anything pales in comparison to Optimus Primal's voice, so I shouldn't be disappointed.

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

on a side not simpsons was amazingly good fun. 

[optimus357]

I totally agree.  Simpsons is bar none the best new movie I have seen in about as long as I can remember.  Even went a second time with my parents! 

[Minnesota]

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Primer are all recent good Sci-Fi.

2nd Eternal Sunshine (excellent film)... what is this Primer movie? ... actually tell me nothing I will see based on your recommendation alone

another favorite Sci-fi of mine is The One (I'm a big morgan / wong, Jet li, and transporter fan... this film captured the best from all three... though many people dont share my love for these things )

hmm, seems like some of you'all just like to be haters ... sci-fi is probably my favorite genera ... also since no one mentioned it yet 'cube'