From androids to zero gravity, what makes a smashing Sci-Fi film?

January 28, 2010 - 12:22 pm

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…well, Hollywood, film directors strove for the perfect Sci-Fi creation and they still do.  With so many classic films to choose from in this genre and technological improvements spawning more realistic movies, we’ve complied an A to Z of essential features that spell success.

A is for Avatar.  James Cameron’s latest epic employs cutting-edge effects and is even showing in 3D to completely immerse you in the action.  The film is a mind boggling 60% computer generated with brand spanking new gadgets capturing actors’ movement and translating them into that of the CG aliens’.

Blockbusting budgets have increasingly been essential to a mind-blowing Sci-Fi.  Avatar is the priciest yet and rumoured to have cost a whopping $300m.  Directors also need the best actors and the likes of Harrison Ford and Keanu Reeves don’t come cheap.

Catchphrases are a must.  Although most Sci-Fis contain: “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” who can forget “live long and prosper,” or Arnie’s menacing “hasta la vista, baby”?  The force is definitely strong and films thick with memorable one-liners.

Dressing up parties are choc-full with tin foil barrels, togas, shoulder pads and lycra thanks to this film genre. From  A Clockwork Orange Alex’s iconic eye make-up to Princess Leia’s buns and Darth’s sinister swishing cloak, Sci-Fi has made a real futuristic fashion statement.

E is for Ewoks. Why did we never hear more from these fascinating fur balls?

Fantastic sound effects and theme tunes are integral to Sci-Fi’s success.  Go on, give us a blast of the Star Trek intro, Ghostbusters tune and make the light saber noise.  Bet it made you smile, didn’t it?

Gadgets make Sci-Fi out of this world.  From salivating at supersonic screwdrivers and hoverboards to ultra cool ghostbusting kit, visionary films can transform old keyboards and hoover nozzles into spaceship controls and crime fighting fare.  Who couldn’t find a million-and-one uses for The Minority Report surveillance touch-screen-see-through super computer…want.

Heroes are integral to the Sci-Fi plot.  Loveable rogues like Han Solo and futuristic spaghetti western style, gun slinging, muscular monster-slaying men can be found in Jurassic Park to Alien.  Then there are the intellectual, quiet types like Spock and reluctant heroes ala Close Encounters.  Save the world? Well, if I have to.

Impending doom and disaster with just a pinch of hope is a vital ingredient.  Whether it’s alien invasion in War of The Worlds, an environmental catastrophe in Water World or the threat of technology supplanting mankind as seen in The Matrix and The Terminator, there’s no better way to upend the popcorn as we cower behind the cushions.

Jump out of your seat moments come in many form from lurking monsters in Lake Placid, implosion of planets and spacecraft in Star Wars and the terrifying Terminator.  What’s science without a few explosions?

K is for Klingon or tlhlngan hol.  A sense of otherworldliness, essential in a Sci-Fi can be emphasised by another language.  There were 12 fluent speakers of Kilngon in 1996.  You can buy a Klingon dictionary and even Klingon Hamlet!

Leather coats or costumes must figure in all Sci-Fi films.  It’s the law.  Think The Matrix, The Terminator etc.

Morals often figure heavily and a struggle is essential whether saving an island from rampaging dinosaurs or an alien invasion.  Voyages are popular, especially in space, the final frontier, but nothing beats a great battle between good and evil Luke and Darth style.  Hellish visions of the future in Blade Runner or Children of Men also serve as a warning to us all.

No quick-fix plots please.  None of the most memorable Sci-Fis use corny and predictable plot lines like waking up after a bad dream.  Edie Murphy’s Imagine That was slammed for being unoriginal while implausible gadgets that can get anyone out of any scrape prove annoying- why didn’t you just use the sonic screwdriver in the first place?

Oh what a laugh.  We love funny one-liners to break up the action and impending doom. From spoofs like Spaceballs’ “Prepare ship for ludicrous speed” to Marvin’s “I think you ought to know I’m feeling very depressed” in Hitchiker’s, a winning one liner is as sure to be back as Arnie.

P is for potential for sequels.  Some are great…The Empire Strikes Back, Back to the Future and latest Star Trek, whilst some are dire…the millions of Terminator spin-offs, need we say more.

Quasi science and jargon is essential and Sci-Fi needs science: Affirmative.  Fantastically futuristic ideas such as planets that combust in seconds and anti-gravitational shoes are brilliant but better still are the imaginary phrases and objects that make science sound really complicated… “photon plasma space torpedo” anyone?

Robots have mostly morphed from tin men to droids like C3PO to human cyber men in recent times.  Brainwashing and mind-control plus the strange virtual reality of The Matrix have bought a new dimension to robots.

S is for Speilberg, a master of the genre.  Cult classics like Close Encounters, ET, Jurassic Park, Ai, Transformers and Tom Cruise collaborations The Minority report and War of The Worlds are just a few of his creations.

Time Travel has been a permanent fixture on the Sci-Fi circuit since HG Wells’ Time Machine.  Whether set in the future or whizzing back and forth through the ages at warp speed, time travel can take us to another dimension.

UFOs and Aliens…where would we be without them?  Curiously the pie-dish space ship Close Encounters-style and ‘grey’ shaped alien remains prolific.  However, otherworldly critters can be friendly like ET or intent on wreaking havoc like in War of the World or erm, Alien.

Villains are a must.  Be it the Terminator or Darth Vader, a sinister costume, cloak, possible skin condition or deathly rasp, terrifying weaponry and a red hot temper are pre-requisites.

Wars; the more just and vital the better.  A battle of life or death and against the clock is perfect.  Think Death Star annihilation, a war against disease, monsters, rising seas levels, aliens, you name it.

X-ray vision and super powers.  The supernatural and magical powers are optional extras in the Sci-Fi genre and we would argue there’s a place for Spider Man!

Yelling is entirely necessary when confronting any type of villain.  It also proves handy when warning people to RUN, JUMP or move QUICKLY lest they be abducted/vaporised/slain.

Z is for zero gravity because Space is the final frontier and our love affair with aliens, shiny craft and the mysteries of the galaxy will forever endure and inspire Sci-Fi classics of the future.