I may not be a huge Science-Fiction fan like the rest of the crew on The Movie Blog, but I think I know my fair share about the genre. I bet even those of you that hate Sci-Fi movies are also very knowledgeable about the genre yet don’t even know it. According to Wikipedia, the definition of Science Fiction is synonymous with the term ‘speculative fiction, encompassing creative works incorporating imaginative elements not found in contemporary reality; this includes fantasy, horror, and related genres. That being said, I have seen tons of movies with imaginative elements in them that take place in a so-called ‘contemporary reality.’ Some of these themes or ideas are ‘out of this world’ and very unrealistic.Here are a few examples of what movies (and moments from movies) I consider ‘Sci-Fi,’ because I would believe aliens and UFOs would take over this planet, before any of these movie scenarios would ever happen.Please feel free comment on your “SCI-FI” movies or comment on the list itself!
1. 40 Days and 40 Nights– Now I don’t think it’s unbelievable to give up sex for 40 days. (Hell, I bet there are plenty of men out there that give it up that long unintentionally.) However, what male would give up not only sex but masturbation for LENT?! Now, I’m not saying this be sexist. I went to see this movie with a bunch of guy friends who all laughed and said, “That would never f*cking happen!” Please tell me if you would walk around with a loaded weapon and blue balls as big as an elephant’s.
2. The Human Stain– I can buy Vin Diesel (who is half African-American and half Italian) as a Hispanic in ‘Fast and the Furious.’ I can even buy Jessica Alba being mulatto in ‘Honey.’ What I CAN’T buy however is Anthony Hopkins being an African-American man in ‘The Human Stain.’ I have seen light skinned and albino African-Americans and none of them looked as white as Sir Anthony Hopkins. I can buy that Wentworth Miller (who plays his younger self in the movie) as a black man, because he happens to be half-black in real life. But, Anthony Hopkins? Come ON! No wonder no one could figure out his secret until it was revealed….it was way too unbelievable!!
3. Tootsie/Juwanna Mann/Sorority Boys/To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar
I guess screenwriters think people are borderline stupid to actually think people would not know when a man is imitating a woman. In most of these movies, either a man falls in love with the man in disguise, or the woman of their dreams recruits them as their new best “gal pal.” We are not stupid! I can notice a man in drag from a mile away. (Believe me, I take the subway a lot. I can spot that Adam’s apple from the other end of the train.)
4. Weekend at Bernies/Weekend at Bernie’s 2
This is an extension of number 3. I love goofy eightie’s films, but most of them had very Sci-Fi elements to them. Now, I don’t understand how they were able to make a sequel of this premise. People would notice the man is dead!! He would start to smell, decay, and excrete left over bodily fluids. I couldn’t even watch the sequel because of this fact.
5. My personal favorite: Pretty Woman
I’m sure when this movie came out, every prostitute in the world got a good laugh off this one. The day I hear about a hooker finding a rich and good-looking man who falls in love with her without judging or caring about her profession and ends up sweeping her off her feet, is the day I gladly walk around naked everywhere I go.
Movies with Sci-Fi Elements
Mean Girls-PG-13 movies really do bend reality at times. For instance, in the movie a Rachel McAdams character gets hit full speed by a school bus. She then ends up in a back brace. Yeah……umm…..that WOULD NOT HAPPEN. Has anybody seen ‘Final Destination’ when Amanda Detmer’s character gets hit full speed by a bus? Her fate is what would happen to Miss Rachel McAdams if ‘Mean Girls’ was rated R.
Speed-So I didn’t want to comment on action films, since most of them deal with over the top scenarios that would never happen, but something needs to be said about the ’50 foot jump’ in ‘Speed.’ How did this happen? I really think something paranormal happened because we see the bus make it half way and then fall, then a second later it miraculously makes the jump. Did a UFO beam the bus to the other side? Inquiring minds need to know!
Jeepers Creepers 2-Yes, this movie deals with a gargoyle like monster, but I would believe that to be real before believing any of the characters on the school bus were. I swear I think aliens were impersonating these kids, because there’s no f*cking way a football team would be sun tanning side by side on a school bus, and peeing side by side in a field. By the way, who has a 3 person cheerleading team who are not dressed in their cheerleading outfits? Yeah….I definitely think aliens were impersonating these kids. ;)
I don’t know, I might have to disagree with To Wong Foo simply because John Leguizamo makes a gorgeous woman! Then again, Wesley Snipes REALLY doesn’t…so I guess it still works.
And you’re so right about Anthony Hopkins in the Human Stain. I found that very distracting as well.
I’d add “Knocked Up” to that list. I’m sorry, but that woman would have had an abortion. And even if she did decide to keep it, I can’t believe she’d try to form a relationship with the loser father.
Hey Serena
I’ve given up the sex acts you referred to about 40 Days and 40 Nights. It takes a real commitment, but it can be done… Mind you, I went on one helluva bender when it finished, but nonetheless, it’s accomplishable.
@Rusty James
“African America” no. “African AmericaN” yes. My examples were characters from the states, so the term “African-American” is justified.
I also used BLACK in my paragraph as well if you didn’t happen to notice.
I am Canadian but my father was ‘African-American’ and I’m proud to use THAT term.
@ Phil
Seeing as Home Alone 2 is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE comedies (I’ve seen it countless of times and it’s always like seeing it the first time everytime I do) I laughed hyserically at your points – especially about Daniel Stern being murdered 10 times.
However, it’s never made clear if they called the police or not – and it’s really not important to the storyline that they do.
Serena, do Canadians often use the term “African America” to mean black?
I would add any ’80s movie starring Molly Ringwald
Charly aka Flowers for Algernon is a SF movie though it is not listed as one.
Trust Serena to give us a fresh perspective. Ok, i’ll give it a go:
Home Alone 2:
*The parents send Macaulay Culkin to his room because THEY were all laughing at him during his school play. *The parents are more concerned with getting their own comfy seats on the damn plane than making sure Culkin gets on.
*The parents seem to have not been investigated by child protection for their crimes in the first film at all. That they get away with it a second time is mind blowing.
*Why the parents would even leave the house at Christmas again after what happened last time would be beyond the comprehension of any parent.
*Culkin gets into the Plaza hotel with his Dad’s credit card (ok they do deal with this one but still…).
*Culkin is able to convince the hotel staff that his room is occupied by a machine gun totting psychopath, and they don’t call the cops.
*Daniel Stern is literally murdered about 10 times in the last half hour of the film……by a remorsless child.
Wikipedia also says: “Science fiction is largely based on writing entertainingly and rationally about alternate possibilities in settings that are contrary to known reality.” Additional defintions can be found here: http://www.panix.com/~gokce/sf_defn.html
Of the above, I might consider Jeeper Creepers 2 Sci-Fi. Your point about the plausability of the movies is well made though:)
I’d say Charlie Kaufman’s films are a good example of less obvious Sci-Fi.
Serena as usual you are dead on.
Every romcom where the guy chases the girl down in the airport before she leaves and confesses his love in front of a massive crowd of people.
1) The chick wouldn’t fall into his arms. She’d be pissed that the motherfucker waited until JUST NOW to figure out he’s in love.
2) The bystanders would not smile, nod in agreement, and cheer as the couple kissed. They’d shrug, sneer, and throw spitballs.
3) A guy running in an airport, screaming wildy and causing a scene? You know that guy’s getting tasered. “Honey, I’m in love with…..Don’t tase me, bro!”
not John..nautica! lol Completely forgot about Mrs. Doubtfire! Good one!
you’re right about number 1. i’ve only managed to go 30 days without masturbating! 40, there’s just nooo way!
how come you didn’t mention mrs doubtfire for number 3? did you actually find that believable john?
Taken from one my favourite SF writers, and a Canadian to boot, Robert J. Sawyer: – “Science fiction is the mainstream literature of a plausible alternative reality.”
So your example of Mean Girls is not SF because if a person gets hit by a vehicle at full speed and survives that is not scientifically plausible. Its more fantasy.