Science fiction film

Science fiction has been a film genre since the earliest days of cinema. Science fiction films have explored a great range of subjects and themes, including many that can not be readily presented in other genre. Science fiction films have been used to explore sensitive social and political issues, while often providing an entertaining story for the more casual viewer. Today, science fiction films are in the forefront of new special effects technology, and the audience has become accustomed to displays of realistic alien life forms, spectacular space battles, energy weapons, faster than light travel, and distant worlds.

Influence of classic sci-fi authors

Jules Verne was the first major science fiction author to be adapted for the screen with Melies Voyage Dans La Lune of 1902 and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea of 1907 but these only use Verne's basic scenarios as a framework for fantastic visuals. By the time Verne's work fell out of copyright in 1950 the adaptations were treated as period pieces. His works have been treated in a number of film releases since then, including 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in 1954, From the Earth to the Moon in 1958, and Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1959.

Related Topics:
Jules Verne - 1902 - 1907 - Copyright - 1950

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H. G. Wells has had better success with The Invisible Man, Things to Come and The Island of Doctor Moreau all being adapted during his lifetime with good results while War of the Worlds was updated in 1953 and another update has been released in 2005. The Time Machine has had two film versions (1961 and 2002) while Sleeper in part is a pastiche of Wells' 'The Sleeper Awakes'.

Related Topics:
H. G. Wells - 1953 - 2005 - 1961 - 2002 - Sleeper

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With the drop off in interest in science fiction films in 1940s and 1950s few of the 'golden age' sci-fi authors made it to the screen. A novella by John W. Campbell provided the basis for The Thing From Another World. Robert Heinlein contributed to the screenplay for Destination Moon, but it was not until Starship Troopers (1997) that one of his major works was adapted and L. Ron Hubbard had to wait to 2000 for the disastrous flop Battlefield Earth. Isaac Asimov can rightly be cited as an influence on the Star Wars and Star Trek films but it was not until 2004 that a version of I, Robot made it to film.

Related Topics:
1940s - 1950s - Novella - John W. Campbell - The Thing From Another World - Robert Heinlein - Screenplay - Destination Moon - Starship Troopers - 1997 - L. Ron Hubbard - 2000 - Battlefield Earth - Isaac Asimov - 2004 - I, Robot

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The most successful adaptation of a sci-fi author was Arthur C. Clarke with ' and its sequel. Reflecting the times, two earlier science fiction works by Ray Bradbury were adapted for cinema in the 1960s with Fahrenheit 451 and the Illustrated Man. Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughter-house 5 was filmed in 1971 and Breakfast of Champions was filmed in 1998.

Related Topics:
Arthur C. Clarke - Ray Bradbury - 1960s - Fahrenheit 451 - Illustrated Man - Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughter-house 5 - 1971 - Breakfast of Champions - 1998

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More recently Phillip K. Dick has become the most influential of sci-fi authors on science fiction film. His work manages to evoke the paranoia that has been a central feature of the genre without invoking alien influences. Films based on Dick's works include Blade Runner (1982), Total Recall (1990), Minority Report (2002), and Paycheck (2003). These film versions are often only loose adaptations of the original story, being converted into an action-adventure film in the process.

Related Topics:
Phillip K. Dick - Blade Runner - 1982 - Total Recall - 1990 - Minority Report - 2002 - Paycheck - 2003

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