Science Fiction Stories - Movie Review Example

SCIENCE FICTION STORIES Student’s Name Course Tutor Date Q. Science Fiction stories are often about where man encounters his uncivilised double The Left Hand of Darkness Introduction The Left Hand of Darkness can be considered as a great work of science fiction. It vividly narrates the story of a human messenger to an alien world known as Winter in which whose inhabitants have the ability to change their gender. The fundamental goal of the agent is to facilitate the inclusion of winter in a growing civilization occurring between the galaxies. In order to do that, the agent must seek compromise between his own ideological views and those of the completely different culture that he meets. The messenger named Genly Ai, visited the planet Winter where the citizens speak a language called Genthen in order to try and convince its people to join the Ekumen. As the name suggests, planet Winter is obviously very cold and the shocking revelation is that its citizens are neither female nor male and more to that have gender identities as well as sexual urges just once in a month (Androvich, M. 2000), Such unacceptable conditions have had effect on the ways of the development of civilization in the planet Winter, and most notably, the planet has never experienced civil strife such as war. In order to fit in the Winter world, people and guests must learn some backward rules of peacekeeping and politics. The luck of Genly Ai saw a strong change in relation to the political faction at the helm of power. For example, the country’s leader arranged for a meeting with the king, but in a shocking order of events, the leader is exiled the next day due to betrayal charges he was facing. In another wicked event, he had a hard time determining the rightful factions of the district governors who were truly supporting him (Androvich, M. 2000),The kind of struggles faced by the envoy in his attempts to understand the nature of the people in alien world as well survival in the planet provides the context of survival without some of the dualities of nature such as having definite seasons, particularly summer and winter and male or female persons. Throughout the movie, it is possible to see how heroic records and native myths are intertwined thus bringing into focus the psychology and general beliefs of the unrevealed past of the Gethenians and Estraven. For instance, there is a section that talks about the place inside the storm, which is a relatively calm place within a storm while another dwells on the exact genesis of the Yomeshta cult. According to (Bernardo & Murphy 2006, pp 12-76). Gethen inhabitants are characteristically hermaphroditic humans because for a period of twenty-four days of the lunar cycle that consist of twenty-six days, they are biologically sexually latent androgynies while for the rest of the two days they are either male or female depending on the pheromonal negotiation that aspires with a sexual partner that has developed interest. It is in this aspect that each of the inhabitants of the planet Winter can both with a lot of success sire and bear off-springs. In terms of physical composition, the Gethenians are brown-skinned and as demonstrated from the film have wide variations, thus do not have beards and most interestingly their breasts are just slightly bigger than normal human males. The spokesperson from the planet Earth is in contrast darker-skinned and relatively taller compared with many of the Gethenians. However, he can be mistaken to be a native if he wears indigenous clothing, which has been the case with earlier observers who were able to hide their real identity. The doubled standards is also brought about by the fact that Gethenians could have been genetically modified for hermaphroditism by the Hainish civilization, which is believed to have been planted colonies on quite a number of worlds such as the Earth. It is believed that the Gethenians might have undergone modification so as to maximise on the rate of production on the harsh cold climate of Gethen, which is thought to have taken place as a general attempt to get rid of the war and as a social experiment (Brosnan 1978, pp 8-35). The author therefore developed the concept of a desire to find out what has been considered basic to the nature of humans when biological gender was overtaken by events. The movie, The Left Hand of Darkness is an important leap as far as sophistication in the treatment of the theme of sex in science fiction is concerned. Embracing the aspects of society, psychology, and emotions of human beings in a foreign land, the film is a significant achievement in the history of intellectual science fiction (Bernardo & Murphy 2006, pp 12-76). Body Snatchers Body Snatchers is generally set in Santa Mira, a tiny California town that has been invaded by pods from outer space that surprisingly replicate and miraculously take the position of humans. The main character in the movie is Miles Bennell, a local physician who utterly resists the invaders as well as their attempts to eliminate the existence of human beings from the earth. The film, Body Snatchers invokes quest for more knowledge and understanding about the nature of man. It both reflected a particular period in history and a clear indication of escalation of social injustices in the society. The movie attempted to address the dehumanization of persons, a very sensitive topic in the contemporary times that is characterized by a lot of wild happenings (Brosnan 1978, pp 8-35).The only resistance presented in the movie is the repression of individualism, which the film maker, Siegel has identified with. The conflict between the individual and society is seen as a more metaphysical duel as opposed to the political one. The villains are not found on the other side of the planet, but basically amidst us. T is therefore in order to say that the real enemy is basically the totalitarian conformity. It also comes out very clearly that act of resistance should be against all manners of conformity, and if not the case then the enemy may dupe one to giving up the aspect of individuality by assuming an alien cause. Body Snatchers as brought out in the movie may as well be interpreted as anti-scientific, thus reflecting the kind of fears that pervaded a particular period in time. For example, during the earlier years of America’s exploration of the space, many people feared that space would in a way invade the planet earth thus viewed the movie as a potential warning in relation to the looming dangers of inventions and science (Androvich 2000, pp 45-60). People become very aware of the fact that advances in science had a negative influence on culture. This is pointed out when Miles said that a lot has been discovered over the recent past, which may be as a result of alien organisms or atomic radiation. Since science has been generally categorised, the inclusion of fear of psychiatry should be part of the general composition. The alien in the film is shown to pronounce the demise of God by throwing away the ideological concept of the individual soul. It may therefore be said that the author’s mind was preoccupied with what modernisation and technology can do to disenfranchise persons and consequently make them unable to act in a human way. As illustrated in the movie, Finney had the concern that human beings have lost the grip of being masters of what they have invented and to make matters worse they no longer have the ability to have mastery of what they have made. It is in this aspect that traditional values and morals can be seen as victims of a hurried move just for purposes modernisation. The traditionalism presented by Finney may easily be mistaken to denounce communism as the producer applied conservatism in battling the evils of the society such as desegregation. Interestingly, traditionalism was rejected by the intellectuals of the land due to its association with McCarthy. The film producer therefore tried to respond to the question of relevance in a new world upon culmination of a war and strongly believed that ideal humanness calls for full assertion of individuality, expression of real feelings as well as embracing the values of human beings such as dignity, pride and friendship. While the film maker acknowledged the fact that the movies indicates the raging conflict between people and diverse forms of heartless authority. He therefore thought that the modern world is infested by pods in an attempt to defend the Body Snatchers. There is also a belief in the movie that people lost a lot of their sensitivity due to military arsenal advances as well as the atrocities committed in the recent wars (Bernardo & Murphy 2006, pp 12-76), The cruel doctor in the film, Dr. Bassett, exemplifies a person who in essence act in the same way as a pod as explained by the film maker. He compares people to pods since they have lost the sense of feeling. Generally, as explained by the film maker, to be a pod shows that an individual has no anger and passion. Thus the pods, which are known to eliminate pain, mental disturbances and poor health, are believed to have been on the right path. Although it leaves an individual in a very awkward world but in essence that is the kind of world that many a person lives in. In a way, it is the same kind of people who are in complete support of people enlisting in the military and other unusual places such as the prison. Such incompleteness and lack of critical thinking ability to make sound decisions is then disastrous because individuals are making themselves to be of no use. In reality, Invasion of the Body Snatchers may be said to be one of the greatest yet simple alien invasion movies that has ever been made. As shown in the movie, the aliens are known to replicate the human form which in no way warrants the comparison of the devilish figures with those of the humans. The film, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is not solely concerned with the presence of aliens than it is to alienation. The theme of the movie is thus the growing ego of human beings in relation to unorthodox corruptive efforts of how an alien race can take over and control human race. Although the version of the film, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, may have a lot of ambiguities, it fits in all times thus remains relevant in the modern times due to the continued existence of societal vices. The movie is a good marking point in science fiction more as it reveals how human beings are faced by the potential threat brought about by the need of political identification. Fundamentally, aliens that are discussed as “pod people” refer to force of conspiracy. The movie is therefore primarily a straight plan trademark that is transparent and has very strong political undertones that are clearly visible beneath the normal surface (Brosnan 1978, pp 8-35). Alien Resurrection Alien Resurrection is a typical Science Fiction film that indicates the aspect of humans coming into contact with the amplified uncivilized nature of themselves in form of other beings. The film brings out the irony regarding human perceptions of humanity in judgment to reality. Alien Resurrection launched in 1997 as directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and founded on Joss Whedon’s screen play by 20th Century Fox as well as the fourth installment in the Alien franchise. This marked the foremost alien motion picture screened somewhere else apart from England. The filming took place at the fox studios of California, Los Angeles. This is brought out through the role of the main character - Ripley- who happens to be a hybrid human/alien (Androvich 2000, pp 55-63). She exemplifies a human but is at the present a very commanding human, more or less predator-like. Ripley has been replicated through the application of technology. Therefore, she possesses human attributes, logic of self, her past as well as feeling psychologically inclined to assist other people. Therefore Ripley has alien traits namely, speed, strength, exceedingly-tuned senses and agility through which she reacts to the extraterrestrial queen calling her. Call on the other hand is the womanly android that endeavors to annihilate Ripley and the impregnated extraterrestrial; nevertheless, she is excessively late. Call is additionally human-like as compared to her real-human equivalents. The actual humans in this motion picture are represented as violent, greedy, self centered and brutish. On the contrary, Call is devout since she holds a bible in addition to being humane ... an ostensible incongruity to what she actually is ... a non-human android. In the movie both Ripley along with Call seems human but in essence they are not. Conclusion In summary Science Fiction stories are often about situations where man encounters his uncivilized double. This is often regards stumbling upon a human or perhaps what resembles a human which seems normal externally, although is not a normal human in essence. This characteristically regards the manner in which they think or as well as their behavior that is considered uncivilized - definitely, something concerning them that is not usual from our own cultural viewpoint, something like encountering the 'other' in a human form. Alien Resurrection perfectly suits the above description, in essence; the entire film underscores the quintessential aspects of science fiction. At the heart of the entire film is the fact that Ripley and Call resemble humans but are actually not humans. On the outside the two appear as perfectly human and normal but something deep within them regarding their character and behaviors exemplifies the fact that they are not normal. This is the true essence of being. At one point Call is portrayed as being more human than real humans. At this point true humans are depicted as being violent, gluttonous and selfish. Call on the other hand comes out as being religious and human. But a deeper evaluation of the inherent essence of Call and Ripley shows their true nature as not being humans. The film uses the above paradox to exemplify the aspect of man bumping into his uncivilized double. The film presents the paradox of humans bumping into their uncivilized double. This is brought out by the comparison of true humans and Ripley along with Call. Bibliography Androvich, M. 2000, Alien Resurrection: Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Washington: Prima Games. Bernardo, S.M & Murphy, Graham J 2006, Ursula K. Le Guin: A Critical Companion (1st ed.) Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Brosnan, J 1978, Future Tense: The Cinema of Science Fiction, St. Martin’s Press. Read More

For instance, there is a section that talks about the place inside the storm, which is a relatively calm place within a storm while another dwells on the exact genesis of the Yomeshta cult. According to (Bernardo & Murphy 2006, pp 12-76). Gethen inhabitants are characteristically hermaphroditic humans because for a period of twenty-four days of the lunar cycle that consist of twenty-six days, they are biologically sexually latent androgynies while for the rest of the two days they are either male or female depending on the pheromonal negotiation that aspires with a sexual partner that has developed interest.

It is in this aspect that each of the inhabitants of the planet Winter can both with a lot of success sire and bear off-springs. In terms of physical composition, the Gethenians are brown-skinned and as demonstrated from the film have wide variations, thus do not have beards and most interestingly their breasts are just slightly bigger than normal human males. The spokesperson from the planet Earth is in contrast darker-skinned and relatively taller compared with many of the Gethenians. However, he can be mistaken to be a native if he wears indigenous clothing, which has been the case with earlier observers who were able to hide their real identity.

The doubled standards is also brought about by the fact that Gethenians could have been genetically modified for hermaphroditism by the Hainish civilization, which is believed to have been planted colonies on quite a number of worlds such as the Earth. It is believed that the Gethenians might have undergone modification so as to maximise on the rate of production on the harsh cold climate of Gethen, which is thought to have taken place as a general attempt to get rid of the war and as a social experiment (Brosnan 1978, pp 8-35).

The author therefore developed the concept of a desire to find out what has been considered basic to the nature of humans when biological gender was overtaken by events. The movie, The Left Hand of Darkness is an important leap as far as sophistication in the treatment of the theme of sex in science fiction is concerned. Embracing the aspects of society, psychology, and emotions of human beings in a foreign land, the film is a significant achievement in the history of intellectual science fiction (Bernardo & Murphy 2006, pp 12-76).

Body Snatchers Body Snatchers is generally set in Santa Mira, a tiny California town that has been invaded by pods from outer space that surprisingly replicate and miraculously take the position of humans. The main character in the movie is Miles Bennell, a local physician who utterly resists the invaders as well as their attempts to eliminate the existence of human beings from the earth. The film, Body Snatchers invokes quest for more knowledge and understanding about the nature of man. It both reflected a particular period in history and a clear indication of escalation of social injustices in the society.

The movie attempted to address the dehumanization of persons, a very sensitive topic in the contemporary times that is characterized by a lot of wild happenings (Brosnan 1978, pp 8-35).The only resistance presented in the movie is the repression of individualism, which the film maker, Siegel has identified with. The conflict between the individual and society is seen as a more metaphysical duel as opposed to the political one. The villains are not found on the other side of the planet, but basically amidst us.

T is therefore in order to say that the real enemy is basically the totalitarian conformity. It also comes out very clearly that act of resistance should be against all manners of conformity, and if not the case then the enemy may dupe one to giving up the aspect of individuality by assuming an alien cause. Body Snatchers as brought out in the movie may as well be interpreted as anti-scientific, thus reflecting the kind of fears that pervaded a particular period in time. For example, during the earlier years of America’s exploration of the space, many people feared that space would in a way invade the planet earth thus viewed the movie as a potential warning in relation to the looming dangers of inventions and science (Androvich 2000, pp 45-60).

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