Space exploration in movies
May 9th 2008 22:00
It is argued that one of humanity's largest goals is to spread into space, to colonize other planets and solar systems, perhaps just to survive our self-destructing, environment demolishing nature, or if you believe in greater goals: to spread the miracle that is life throughout the universe. This thought has been tickling in the back of our minds for a long time now, and it's basicly the driving force of the sci-fi genre: both in literature and film.
The silver screen or the glowing box is a fitting environment for sci-fi, as the images can fly you literally to another time and place, and there is no age limit for awe. It can be more fiction or more science, the core is the same: imagining the future, places and things that are not possible right now, but they motivate you.
Several sub-genres are in sci-fi, and even the space movie genre has it's sub-genres: from documentary (Space Station 3D) to feature, from space opera (Star Wars) to hard science (2001 A Space Odyssey).
Listing all of them is harder than going through an asteroid field in Star Wars, but selecting a few great achievements is more possible.
First I'll start the list with two films vaguely similar, but oh-so different, a hard sci-fi thriller, and a milestone IMAX 3D film. I choose Sunshine and Space Station 3D in the common concept of science as the vehicle of humanity's survival. In both films the central story is man using science and technology to insure humanity's future.
In Sunshine, the situation is dramatic: in the not so distant future our Sun is dying, it's nuclear reactor is standing down, and the star is slowly burning out, leaving cold and death for Earth in it's trail. A group of astronauts are sitting in a symbolic Noah's Ark: a huge spaceship that's towing Man's largest nuclear bomb ever constructed to reignite the Sun. Ultimate destruction in service of life.
While the core theory itself is the most fiction-like part of the movie, it can be considered a hard science film. Why? There are no little green aliens, no WW2-like starfighters zapping through space, no sign of extraterrestrials at all, just technology, and the raw power and beauty of the universe, with our Sun as the god in center of it all.
The portrayal of life in space: hydroponic farms, massive space suits, hazards of vacuum, or portraying the power of sunlight is what makes this movie special. The astronaut in every boy and girl is revived, even if they became man and woman through the years. Discussing the ending would be too spoilerous for those who have yet to see this film, but the similarity with 2001 becomes clear with those scenes. It's far from a remake, but Kubrik's epic sci-fi was clearly an icon for Danny Boyle, the director.
Science in the service of humanity is even more evidential in my other pick: Space Station 3D, the IMAX movie is both spectacle and a monument of human ingenuity. This jaw dropping experience that I could only absorb a few days ago at the IMAX theatre in Budapest is true escapism. But it's escapism with a ray of hope. Hope that one day me and you might experience life in space, or on the Moon for example.
There are very few who are totaly neutral towards the possibility of space travel. You know, everyone wanted to be A, Fireman or B, Astronaut in their childhood. This movie brings back those memories, and will make grown men giggling like a schoolboy (at least that was the case with me). The powerful images of the International Space Station, with the Earth in the background, everyday life of the astronauts, interesting scenes of preparation, and the gut busting scenes of launches are the perfect example of inspirational IMAX, a thought from my previous IMAX education post.
All the above in 3D will put you on location, and in this case it's space and the space station we're talking about! What cooler place could you wish for? Well, perhaps the Bahamas would do it for a lot of people, but the true exploring spirit that drives our civilization tells us: NONE.
I will continue with my recommendations, two at a time, but here's the deal:
If you have one or two favourite sci-fi flicks, that you would like to pair or just explain separately in 2-3 paragraphs, please do it in a comment and I will insert them in this or the next similar post with your name included. This way a nice list should form over time, a sci-fi library if you like. Looking forward to your picks and comments!
The silver screen or the glowing box is a fitting environment for sci-fi, as the images can fly you literally to another time and place, and there is no age limit for awe. It can be more fiction or more science, the core is the same: imagining the future, places and things that are not possible right now, but they motivate you.
Several sub-genres are in sci-fi, and even the space movie genre has it's sub-genres: from documentary (Space Station 3D) to feature, from space opera (Star Wars) to hard science (2001 A Space Odyssey).
Listing all of them is harder than going through an asteroid field in Star Wars, but selecting a few great achievements is more possible.
First I'll start the list with two films vaguely similar, but oh-so different, a hard sci-fi thriller, and a milestone IMAX 3D film. I choose Sunshine and Space Station 3D in the common concept of science as the vehicle of humanity's survival. In both films the central story is man using science and technology to insure humanity's future.
Theatrical poster for Danny Boyle's Sunshine
In Sunshine, the situation is dramatic: in the not so distant future our Sun is dying, it's nuclear reactor is standing down, and the star is slowly burning out, leaving cold and death for Earth in it's trail. A group of astronauts are sitting in a symbolic Noah's Ark: a huge spaceship that's towing Man's largest nuclear bomb ever constructed to reignite the Sun. Ultimate destruction in service of life.
While the core theory itself is the most fiction-like part of the movie, it can be considered a hard science film. Why? There are no little green aliens, no WW2-like starfighters zapping through space, no sign of extraterrestrials at all, just technology, and the raw power and beauty of the universe, with our Sun as the god in center of it all.
The portrayal of life in space: hydroponic farms, massive space suits, hazards of vacuum, or portraying the power of sunlight is what makes this movie special. The astronaut in every boy and girl is revived, even if they became man and woman through the years. Discussing the ending would be too spoilerous for those who have yet to see this film, but the similarity with 2001 becomes clear with those scenes. It's far from a remake, but Kubrik's epic sci-fi was clearly an icon for Danny Boyle, the director.
Cinema City International's Hungarian poster for Space Station
Science in the service of humanity is even more evidential in my other pick: Space Station 3D, the IMAX movie is both spectacle and a monument of human ingenuity. This jaw dropping experience that I could only absorb a few days ago at the IMAX theatre in Budapest is true escapism. But it's escapism with a ray of hope. Hope that one day me and you might experience life in space, or on the Moon for example.
There are very few who are totaly neutral towards the possibility of space travel. You know, everyone wanted to be A, Fireman or B, Astronaut in their childhood. This movie brings back those memories, and will make grown men giggling like a schoolboy (at least that was the case with me). The powerful images of the International Space Station, with the Earth in the background, everyday life of the astronauts, interesting scenes of preparation, and the gut busting scenes of launches are the perfect example of inspirational IMAX, a thought from my previous IMAX education post.
All the above in 3D will put you on location, and in this case it's space and the space station we're talking about! What cooler place could you wish for? Well, perhaps the Bahamas would do it for a lot of people, but the true exploring spirit that drives our civilization tells us: NONE.
I will continue with my recommendations, two at a time, but here's the deal:
If you have one or two favourite sci-fi flicks, that you would like to pair or just explain separately in 2-3 paragraphs, please do it in a comment and I will insert them in this or the next similar post with your name included. This way a nice list should form over time, a sci-fi library if you like. Looking forward to your picks and comments!
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