Biggest Science Fiction Disappointments!

[Last Conformist]

"Lemme see, what can I do to annoy Elok?"

[Sandman]

You have to wonder what he was thinking.

"How can I raise the tone of the film in between fart and poop gags?"

or maybe

"You know the scene where Sebulba jumps out of his machine in the middle of the pod-race and paints a fake tunnel on the cliff face, and the other racers pass safely through it, and then Sebulba tries and hits the cliff? I think it might be too childish. Let's add something adult for the mommies and daddies to enjoy. I know! A scientific basis for the Force!"

[Mr. Harley]

The thing I loathed in AOTC was the pathetic attempt to show the beginning of the fall of Anakin to the dark side. I've seen better script writing in TV series or grade B horror flicks. He comes off as a spoiled brat, not a future dark Jedi master. The scene of him giving into his rage is pathetic. Plus the light sabre wielding gymnast Yoda. I felt like I was in bad Muppet Movie, "Jedi Master innn Space....".

Then the whole midi-chlorinans. Leave it as mystic fantasy, versus Star Trekesque pseudo-science. Puke. Plus, remember the one rule for all great films. "It's the script, stupid." Given a good script and a good director, you only need competent actors for a decent film, maybe even a good film. With a poor script, even the best actor can only make it less painful to watch.

At least we all agree, Jar-Jar must be one of the great all time fubars in the history of script writing. The Ewoks were cute and annoying. Jar-Jar was obnoxious at best, and managed to destroy every scene he was in. Didn't ANYBODY pre-screen the film who was over twelve?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Many have commented that the reason the original Star Wars trilogy worked was the chemistry of the three main actors. Looking at the results of the newest films, which are devoid of chemistry, lends credence to that IMHO.

I disagree. I think what John said holds up. It was new and different and, in addition, the idea of a small rebellion going up against the biggest badest Empire, led by so-cool Darth Vader and WINNING because of this mystical force made for something fun and interesting. That storyline allowed the acting and directing to suck and still succeed.

The prequals are how a democratic Republic devolves into the Empire and how easy it is to slide into the Dark Side. It's something that requires nuance, as opposed to rebels against overwhelming odds. Lucas can't do that type of nuance to explain how everything goes over the edge.

He comes off as a spoiled brat, not a future dark Jedi master

I think being a spoiled brat is a very good way to become a Sith Lord. It shows that you only care for yourself and your own feelings. These can be capitalized on to make you more powerful in the force by feeding on your anger and sense of marginalization.

Plus the light sabre wielding gymnast Yoda.

BEST. SCENE. EVER.

I loved it. You'd have to think that Yoda couldn't do crap with a lightsaber, because, well, he's a muppet. He's leaping, striking form is a great way to have him fight in lightsaber duels (after all, he has to, seeing as how the lightsaber is integral to the Jedi).

[Hueij]

Damn, another promising thread turned into a Star Wars discussion

Anyway, Contact (the movie) would be on my list...

[GePap]

Sadly, Star Wars is the seminal Sci Fi franchise of the last 25 years (bigger of course than Star Trek), and hence dominates.

Actually, both adaptation of Solaris- the first one was way too introspective, while the story is not THAT introspective- it is still a mystery. While I did not mind the Clooney version much, it was still at best a mediocre film.

[LDiCesare]

Star Wars dominates in movies and on TV but not in books. Space opera is not really SF, and it's a very marginal part of SF. But people here have been talking about TV and cinema mostly, maybe because you are less disappointed when you read a book than when you watch movies?

I couldn't find the Russian adaptation of Solaris. The American one missed a lot of things (including the most important) but I still found it an interesting movie.

[Jon Miller]

books are way better than TV or movies

JM

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
books are way better than TV or movies

JM

yep, you can't colour in movies....

[Hueij]

Originally posted by reds4ever


yep, you can't colour in movies....

Oh? Some of my all time favourites have been coloured in

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by Hueij

Oh? Some of my all time favourites have been coloured in

Not by yourself with felt tip pens

[Hueij]

Originally posted by reds4ever


Not by yourself with felt tip pens

That makes it all the worse

[Bkeela]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but Lucas's reworking of the original trilogy is my biggest sci-fi disappointment. I doubt if I'll get to experience the films I loved and grew up with again, unless they re-issue his films after his death.

[Kuciwalker]

It has.

[Pax]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
books are way better than TV or movies

JM

That would explain why most of the disappointments are movies.
Books that have been converted to movies at that.

Huejj,
At least people are not arguing about which is better ST or SW. Damn, I should'nt have said anything!