With Brad Bird's new film Tomorrowland set for release later this week, the science fiction genre is set for another strong reinvention. Among other things, Tomorrowland is a celebration of the innovation of technology and the optimistic future. It's not only an entertaining film that celebrates the ideals of Disney, but a reminder of the importance of science fiction in cinema and the power of original concepts.
Franchises, reboots and tentpole films dominate today's science fiction movies, and the original science fiction film is facing hardship in terms of success. Sci-fi films are generally made due to the power of a particular director or actor and generally have been critical failures, including the derided Chappie and Jupiter Ascending from this year. However, it's important to note that sci-fi films are credited with the inspiration of countless filmmakers, not to mention the reinvention of cinema in general.
1977's Star Wars was not just a pinnacle of special effects and blockbuster cinema, but the needed push that science fiction films needed to continue well into the future. Not only did the film draw off of classic serials like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, but also looked to the influences of Japanese films like Seven Samurai and the hero's journey of Joseph Campbell. As an amalgamation of different styles, Star Wars succeeded in being more than just a mindless blockbuster, but the basis of all of sci-fi films.
Though Star Wars is credited with reinventing the genre, it also changed its direction. Previously, the most popular science fiction film of the time was Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, which served as a similar deconstruction of larger ideas. While Star Wars told the story of a hero's journey and the archetypes of good and evil, 2001 explored the origins of man and their destiny in the universe.
The importance of these two films is undeniable as they changed the way in which science fiction films were received. Though both are entertaining films that relate to the imaginative nature of space and adventure, they use a different world to make relevant and direct comparisons to ours. The following years included similar science fiction films such as Superman, Alien, E.T., Back to the Future, Blade Runner, Ghostbusters and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, all of which explored larger themes through fantastical elements.
Today's science fiction films have become franchise-based, and while sequels have always been an element of the genre the classic sci-fi sequels were part of an overarching story, such as trilogies like Star Wars and Back to the Future. Both of these franchises told stories through individual films, but each installment stands out and isn't simply a precursor to future installments of the franchise. Due to the increasing popularity of ambitious franchises and crossovers, it's often that modern sci-fi filmmakers feel overshadowed by a larger universe, leading to less ambitious concepts for individual films.
Despite the issues regarding science fiction films and the oversaturation of franchises and unoriginal ideas, modern sci-fi films have offered some increasingly interesting options for cinema. Independent sci-fi films like Looper, District 9, Donnie Darko, Ex Machina or Snowpiercer have told riskier stories, both in terms of philosophy and plot, that succeed in telling stories that may not be as successful with mainstream audiences. Even blockbuster fare like Edge of Tomorrow or Guardians of the Galaxy that may not have the significance of Star Wars or 2001 can still succeed in telling original stories.
Sci-fi films have always been one of cinema's most iconic genres, and original and creative films are necessary in restoring the genre to its former glory -- as the pinnacle of what cinema has to offer. A film like Tomorrowland is more than escapism. The film industry needs more original science fiction films like this, those that dare to tell such a story and that are willing to show the audience something they've never seen before.
By Liam Gaughan, Special Contributor
