Science Fiction Films

Paper Summary:

The range of subjects that Science Fiction films can cover makes the genre a broad field. This paper examines one recognized subgroup which features alien contact. This theme first emerged in the 1951 film "The Thing From Another World". To consider the development of feature films involving alien contact, three examples are discussed in this paper. Firstly, Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977), secondly "Contact" (1996) and, finally, "Solaris" (2002). These films are each discussed for the purpose of showing how they fit into the science fiction genre.

From the Paper:

"In this scene, Spielberg uses special effects in the form of lighting and the scene has a strong visual appeal. However, this visual appeal also creates a certain mood. The entire focus of the movie is based on showing that aliens encounters are not necessarily going to be the feared event that everyone should panic over. Spielberg's perspective is that it is more likely to be a peaceful and moving event. The visual appeal effectively creates this exact response in the viewer. The beauty of the lights and the scene creates a sense of calmness and awe, rather than anything that suggests fright. The important point is that the special effects create a mood that enhances the meaning of the film. It is this effective use of special effects that resulted in the new era. Spielberg showed how special effects could create meaning and this was the basis of their success, not just the fact that it was a nice scene to look at."

More papers on Science Fiction Films:

• Analytical Essay # 132895 : "Themes in Science Fiction Films"
• Persuasive Essay # 103685 : "Semiotics in Science Fiction Films"
• Comparison Essay # 73360 : "A Comparison of Science Fiction Film Classics"

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