Fake Futures: AI and SciFi Effects
AI-driven special effects are revolutionizing the world of cinema, making it possible to create lifelike CGI characters and immersive environments, enhancing storytelling and democratizing access to advanced VFX tools for filmmakers of all scales.
We Can’t Stop Re-Hashing The Thing
Take for example the recent trend of cashing in on nostalgia by creating unnecessary documentaries for movies that are decades old. The latest victim? John Carpenter’s 1982 sci-fi/horror film The Thing. Yes, a movie that has been analyzed and dissected countless times is now getting not one, but TWO documentaries. Because apparently, we just can’t get enough of it.
Twilight Zone and Anti-Mediocrity
One thing I appreciated about the Twilight Zone was how it counteracted mediocrity. I mean, yeah – our current state of science and technology is mediocre-friendly, but we weren’t always this way. We became content with just being good enough, instead of striving for excellence. I mean, don’t get me wrong, we’ve made some amazing advancements and discoveries, but it seems like we’re constantly dumbing things down to make it more palatable for the masses.
When Star Wars Pulled the Jedi Mind Trick
Despite being considered the weakest of the Original Trilogy of Star Wars films, Return of the Jedi still has memorable moments such as the dramatic rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt’s stronghold on Tattooine, although one scene where disguised Leia communicates her demands to Jabba by repeating a single word twice makes little sense in comparison to other instances of alien speech in the franchise.
Murder Your Darlings: Leonard Nimoy Killed Spock’s Baby
God bless Leonard Nimoy – he remembered the ‘Murder Your Darlings’ rule of story and killed Spock’s baby. I mean, not literally. Nimoy’s decision to cut the subplot of Spock and Saavik having a love child in Star Trek IV highlights a larger issue in Hollywood. We’re so used to the lack of commitment to quality storytelling and the constant need to pander to the lowest common denominator that we freak out when someone refuses to pander.
Space News: NASA’s Corporate Conquest and China’s Asteroid Weapon
Chris Barnett-Woods, an electrical engineer who never thought he would work for NASA, just walked into my kill zone.
The Kazon: A Lost Cause for Star Trek
The creators of Star Trek have had a hit-and-miss track record with introducing new alien races, with some, like the Ferengi, being able to redeem themselves and provide comedic and serious storylines, while others, like the Kazon, failed miserably and were eventually abandoned as major antagonists in the franchise’s attempt at serialization, leading to the show avoiding such storylines for most of its run and the Kazon being seen as off-brand Klingons with a problematic origin story.
Sunshine Sunday: ‘Sunny’ Ain’t Scifi
Apple TV+’s original series, Sunny, follows a grieving woman in Kyoto who receives a homebot designed by her late husband and embarks on a journey to discover the truth about him, but despite its visually appealing setting and characters, the show falls short in its narrative depth and exploration of the relationship between humans and technology.
Ammo Vending in Supermarkets – Convenience Armageddon
American Rounds is installing ammo vending machines in supermarkets across the country, offering customers the convenience of purchasing ammunition at any time of day while also increasing security measures through ID verification and facial recognition technology.
BSG’s BFD was SEX
Battlestar Galactica’s unique and serious portrayal of sex, in contrast to the often silly and comedic treatment of it in other sci-fi series, was one of the reasons why the show was loved by fans and set it apart from others in the genre.