Science-Fiction films - 2012
2012 wasn't a huge year for science-fiction in the movie theaters. But there were some notable entries . . .
| Prometheus | Looper | The Hunger Games |
| Cloud Atlas |
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Prometheus attempted to bridge the gap between our world and the future world with "aliens" as part of its constituents. It gave us a future earth with space travel, seemingly sentient androids, aliens, horrible biological weapons, and theories as to the origins of life on earth. And though this movie is in the sci-fi class, it delivered some of the best horror moments on the big screen for 2012. The ending of the film set the stage for more films from that universe. I hope they get made.
The notion of a universe where we are not alone and are just exploring what that means is tantalizing. The theme seems to be about creating life and then deciding what happens then. Did someone create humanity? Why? How did they feel about this after seeing what we became? Should we create life? Should it be like us or should we make adjustments? The conversation between the human scientist, Holloway and the android, David, is the most intriguing exchange in the whole film:
Holloway: What we hoped to achieve was to meet our makers. To get answers. Why they even made us in the first place.
David: Why do you think your people made me?
Holloway: We made you because we could.
David: Can you imagine how disappointing it would be for you to hear the same thing from your creator?
Holloway: I guess it's good you can't be disappointed.
Interesting stuff to think about, mixed with enough great visuals, and thrills to keep one interested.
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Looper was essentially a movie about time-travelling gangsters in what appears to be a fairly lawless future. My problems with this: There don't seem to be any cops in the future so why does it matter if bodies are hard to get rid of? Why no explanation of the TK phenomenon? Does anyone really buy a 60-year-old Bruce Willis able to wade through anyone and everyone in a gunfight with ease while they stupidly shoot slowly and don't bother to take cover?
One element they introduced into the story was what happens when a person from the future travels to the past and as a result they change their own past, thus changing their own memories (and sometimes more) on the fly. This was touched on in the film several times. Who knows how this would actually work, assuming that time travel is even possible and not just a fantasy idea, but their take on it was interesting and added to the film.
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The most successful sci-fi movie of 2012 was easily The Hunger Games. Sci-fi isn't always simply about technology. Changes that vastly affect society fit the mold too (Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, etc.). While the movie had a few interesting technologies - genetically-engineered creatures, miracle-cures, flaming clothing - it was the social changes that made the future striking. Could a strong and often unfair central government distract its people from fighting injustice with sensational entertainment? While watching I kept making comparisons to American Idol, Survivor and The Running Man.
Dystopian futures are always intriguing. They remind us of the ways in which a few in power can victimize the rest and how we are obligated to rise up against this. We need government to provide order and achieve things no one can do alone, but when justice and basic freedoms are gone, something will need to change. But this kind of change is usually called revolution and I trust we will see that as the series continues.
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A similar social theme runs throughout the film Cloud Atlas. In a sextet of stories told in different styles spanning centuries of human history the theme of each individual tale seems to be this - The weak are meat and the strong must eat. In each tale, told concurrently, we see the struggle between the evil and selfish and the good and courageous who must stand up to them. Why do I include Cloud Atlas in the sci-fi page? Of the six tales, two could fit under the sci-fi ambit. My favorite storyline from this film involves cloned humans, de-humanized into slave laborers in a futuristic Korea. It was just one small part of the overall film, but I found the story emotionally engaging, interesting, and it had some very exciting moments with impressive visual effects.