Science fiction films

IsaacZ

Film-makers have long been fascinated by the commercial and artistic possibilities offered by science fiction. One of the earliest science fiction films was also one of the best: this is the black and white silent film made in 1926, directed by the Austrian film-director Fritz Lang. He imagines what living in a city might be like in the year 2000 - at that time, 75 years in the future: the film contains many terrifying scenes, and is notable for the same actress playing the part of both the saintly Maria, and another evil character, also called Maria, created by a mad inventor.

There have been many others. H. G. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds offered a great opportunity to film-makers, but it was not made into a film until 1953. The book was set in England; the American film-makers changed the setting to the American Midwest: the film, which shows aliens from Mars invading the planet earth, contains some spectacular battles scenes, but it goes to pieces as soon as the cardboard characters open their mouths.
Another novel by Wells, called The Time Machine, was turned into a film in 1960. In this story, a nineteenth century scientist builds a machine which can travel through time. After some trials and errors, the machine takes the scientist and his companions to the year 802701. This brilliant idea is rather spoilt by the fact that the future appears to be much less interesting than one might hope!

The film Star Wars (1977) is very different: in this film a rebel princess in a distant part of the universe escapes, and with the help of her robots and a young farmer, overcomes the threatening forces of evil. The characters in this film are more convincing - but the real heroes are the special effects, especially the spaceship battles, which are highly dramatic.

Robots, and computers, play a central role in what some people regard as the best science fiction film ever made: 2001: A Space Odyssey. Made in 1968 by Stanley Kubrick, this film won awards for its special effects. However, others prefer Close Encounters of the Third Kind. At the start of this film, a series of UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) make surprise landings in the Midwestern state of Indiana. A workman finds his way to the landing site which has been concealed from the public by the military. Children find, and befriend, one of the aliens, who accidentally got left behind. The film is unusual for focusing more on the need for friendship across cultures (and the universe) rather than the technology of space travel, and war.

Notes:
1. commercial adj. : 商业的
2. saintly adj.: 似圣徒的，品德高尚的
3. spectacular adj.: 引人入胜的，壮观的
4. go to pieces: 崩溃，失控
5. spoil v.: 糟蹋，破坏
6. rebel n.: 造反者，反叛者
7. convincing adj.: 令人信服的
8. dramatic adj.: 有戏剧性的
9. odyssey n.:冒险旅行
10. befriend v.: 与…交朋友
11. UFO unidentified flying objects: 不明飞行物