Science Fiction Double Feature

Avatar (Real D 3-D)



The plot is ridiculously simple, almost to the point of campiness. There are some wonderful aliens that live in peace and harmony with nature on their home world. We want their natural resources. We send in crippled ex-soldier undercover in one of their alien bodies to try to convince them to leave peacefully or we will destroy them. Crippled ex-soldier likes new body, new alien girlfriend and goes over to the other side. There is a big Ewok style battle of primitives vs. army. The End.

Let’s face it, this whole thing is just a big special effects showcase. But, that said, wow are the special effects good. The alien forest looks kind of like it was ripped off of the night elves forest from World of Warcraft, complete with giant trees and bioluminescent flora.

But the real kick here is the 3-D technology. With the ‘Real D’ process, they’ve finally gotten this technology working really good. Because it (for the moment) can’t be replicated in the home (unless you’re Bill Gates), this could be the Great White Hope the ailing movie industry has been looking for. Only time will tell.

So, if you want mindless science fiction, check out Avatar. If you are willing to live with less revolutionary special effects, but want a better science fiction film, let’s turn the clock back a few years…

Serenity




One of the biggest coups Joss Whedon has ever pulled off, was getting FOX to put up the money for him to make a big budget film of his aborted TV series Firefly before the sets were scrapped and the cast scattered to the winds.

The film was mostly made as a sort of series finale, but it was written in such a way that it could stand alone, even for those who had never seen the TV show. The story concerns a telepath named River who was a secret government weapon who, along with her surgeon brother, is hiding out with a bunch of outlaws aboard a spaceship. River knows many things the government wants to keep quiet, so they send their most ruthless killer to eliminate River and anyone who stands in his way.

Unlike Avatar (which has grossed more money than we can keep track of), Serenity didn't even make its money back. I guess that’s the price of making a movie that appeals to the brain more than the senses. Multi-award winning science fiction writer Orson Scott Card called it “the best science fiction movie ever made”. While that may be a bit of a stretch, it’s certainly a very good one, and very worth your time.