An MSN article discusses the persistent stigma that the movie industry continues to attach to the label science fiction, with the most recent example being Alfonso Cuaron, director of Children of Men (one of the most brilliant movies of the last year), and his refusal to utter the phrase “science fiction” when discussing his film. The article’s author points the finger at George Lucas for juvenilizing the form and emphasizing spectacle over substance. While geeks love to make sport of trashing Lucas, I don’t think it’s fair to place all the blame on his shoulders. SF has always occupied a cultural ghetto associated with pimply adolescent boys. And Spielberg’s Jaws did just as much to convince Hollywood that special effects will sell more tickets. But I continue to be confident that the promise of DVD sales will persuade the occasional studio to take a chance on more films like Cuaron’s.
Speaking of, I need to head over to Amazon to pre-order my copy of Children.
I loved Children of Men. I also love SF and I’m not a pimply faced boy.