Re: Science Fiction
I worry about the fate of science fiction.
The Beej and I saw “Equilibrium” the weekend before last, a low-budget Orwellian deal-y with Christian Bale, Taye Diggs, Emily Watson, and Sean Bean.
When I was little, I loved the lemon in lemon meringue pie, but hated meringue. I figured out that the lemon and meringue parts were independent of each other, and that you could technically eat the lemon part out of a pie and leave the meringue, with nobody the wiser until it was cut.
“Equilibrium” was like getting a piece of pie with the lemon missing, but the meringue still there.
Don’t get me wrong: it’s got its charms. The fight choreography was very good, and everyone looked incredibly sexy in that “functioning in an oppressive society” kind of way; everything else was pretty lackluster. Another rehash of “Brave New World” and “1984”, with a little “Fahrenheit 451” thrown in for good measure; strictly “Sci-Fi Original Movie” material. The whole “totalitarian regime” thing is basically a one-trick pony, except for the great suits.
For some reason, there’s a pendulum-type creative effect between fantasy and science fiction, and we’re a little past the apex of the fantasy cycle. This is why “Charmed” is still on, but “Farscape” was cancelled (unbelievable!). This is not to say that “Charmed” is a bad show. I like it. But “Farscape” was the best space opera on TV since “Star Trek: The Next Generation” in it’s latter seasons, and it was unceremoniously cancelled.
I know eventually science fiction will make a comeback (hopefully with the release of “The Matrix” sequel, but that may be too optimistic). I just wonder what form it will take. Cyberpunk is played; we’re so immersed in technology, the “info-saturated society” isn’t so novel or scary. It’s just a little more advanced than the society we live in today, which isn’t nearly as interesting.
8:07:56 AM 
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