The past, present, and future of Science-Fiction and Fantasy. News, reviews, and "remember when."
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Review: Sucker Punch
New Season of Doctor Who
Monday, March 7, 2011
A Genre of Subgenres
Three of the most famous of these are: Space Opera, Cyberpunk, and Steampunk. While these are some of the most common, it cannot be forgotten that most of the subgenres blend together to create the final product. With Zac Snyder releasing the first mainstream Steampunk film, here's a look back on some of the more famous of the three subgenres:
Space Opera
There is only one space opera that has claimed the hearts of millions of viewers in the world, both sci-fi fans and simply moviegoers alike: Star Wars.
George Lucas spent years into putting together the first film. Originally intended to just be Star Wars, the popularity surprised Lucas, and thus persuaded him in creating the Star Wars saga. Star Wars set the standard for science fiction films. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, is even considered the best science fiction film ever made. While the franchise has expanded to novels, video games, and expanding on both the Old Republic, and the issues of the New Republic, nearly 34 years later, and the saga shows no signs of slowing down.
Cyberpunk
With titles such as "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" and the film, "Neuromancer" cyberpunk emerged from the science-fiction genre as an era in the 80s/90s. Coined by Bruce Bethke with his short story "Cyberpunk," the era featured advance science, information technology concepts, themes of a breakdown or radical order in the social order, hackers, AI, and more.
"The Matrix" is perhaps one of the most remembered of the Cyberpunk era films. With Keanu Reeves playing the protagonist, Neo, and Hugo Weaving as his antagonist, Agent Smith, the story follows the course of the humans fighting to be awakened and reclaim Earth. While the triology found itself taking turns into different, dark corners of the subgenre that possibly should not have been addressed, it managed to create a complete story that affected novels, and even anime, in the Cyberpunk era.
Steampunk
The youngest of the movements, currently still in a characteristic/subgenre phase. Although it is slowly making its way to declare itself as a movement. With the first ever Steampunk Expo in 2010, in Michigan, Steampunk has garnered a following of millions, creating a subculture as it works to declare itself an era.
The concept of Steampunk is best described with a question: What would happen if the Industrial Revolution was pushed back a century? Throw in mythological creatures and you are now a part of Steampunk.
Zac Snyder (Watchmen, 300) will be releasing the first mainstream Steampunk film later this month. "Sucker Punch" may not be your average Steampunk story, but it has a lot of potential of setting the groundwork for future Steampunk films. It follows the story of a young girl, played by Emily Browning (A Series of Unfortunate Events), who is institutionalized by her evil stepfather. With the advice of Madam Gorski, played by Carla Gugino (Watchmen), she retreats into an alternate realtiy to devise a way for her, and the other girls, to escape.
A Belated Birthday...
Eisner created "The Spirit" in June 1939 as a seven-page urban crime fighter story. It was published in the Sunday newspaper. The comic ran June 1940 through 1952. The tabloid-sized feature followed the vigilante crime fighter, the Spirit, through his adventures, which he funded from the rewards he received when he captured villains. The only character to truly know who he was, and in turn gave him permission, was the Spirit's friend Central City Police Commissioner Dolan.
While the character of the Spirit became one of the classic icons of comic history, Eisner was often criticized for his portrayal of Ebony White, the African American sidekick. Often portrayed as a caricature of the racial "blackface" often associated with Jim Crow:
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Award, also known as The Eisner Award, given every year to celebrate American comic artists and writers. It was named in honor of Will Eisner, and is considered to be the most prestigious award a comic artist and writer can receive. It also includes the comic industry's Hall of Fame.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Star Wars in 3D
Fox recently announced that "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" will be the first of the saga to get the 3D makeover. Lucas plans to release all of the films in years to follow.
Hearing the "Star Wars" saga will be adapted to 3D and re-released does not come as a great surprise. However, choosing to go in order from beginning to end, as well as choosing to focus on the one film that received the most criticism out of any of the saga's episodes, seems to be a risky move for Lucas.
As a blogger wrote on Sci-fi Now's website: "Star Wars Episode I in 3D--because we didn't all complain enough when it was in two dimensions."
Whether or not it will generate new fans or revive the excitement for the saga can only be seen when it is released.
Catch The Phantom Menace in 3D on February 10, 2012.