And on Sci-fi. There is no "classic sense of the word" there has always been hardand soft sci fi. They are different, but neither predates the other significantly or is any cheaper than the other when executed correctly.

The modern/classic difference that I mentioned isn't the same as hard vs soft sci-fi. It's more along the lines of narrowly classifying sci-fi as just the space-opera sub-genre (i.e. in the modern sense of the word, if your show is set on a space-ship, then you're free to call it "sci-fi", regardless of how well it actually fits into the sci-fi genre).
Compare modern Stargate episodes where the plot revolves around action, adventure and interpersonal dramas, with old star-trek episodes that actually raise philosophical questions...

w2l2c - arguments like that are precisely why I asked you to list 5-10 of your favourite sci-fi films - to see what standards you judge films by. because I don't think the treatment you're giving this one is a completely meditated one.

Not in any particular order, and I might replace 1 or 2 if I forgot some others.
1. Event Horizon
2. Serenity (firefly in general)
3. Star wars 4-6
4. Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind
5. batteries not included (nostalgia mostly)
6. Pitch black
7. District 9
8. Aliens 1-3
9. Equilibrium
10. Gattaca

probably some more I can't think of like I said.

[quote name='freeworld' timestamp='1298414430' post='4777736']
it's not an action movie that's why.

There are plenty of non-action movies that don't have the same problem.
[/quote]

well your name already makes me think you're one of those people that would easily watch animal porn as long as there are explosion.... not saying you watch animal porn just making it dramatic.

[quote name='irreversible' timestamp='1298417278' post='4777752']
w2l2c - arguments like that are precisely why I asked you to list 5-10 of your favourite sci-fi films - to see what standards you judge films by. because I don't think the treatment you're giving this one is a completely meditated one.

Not in any particular order, and I might replace 1 or 2 if I forgot some others.
1. Event Horizon
2. Serenity (firefly in general)
3. Star wars 4-6
4. Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind
5. batteries not included (nostalgia mostly)
6. Pitch black
7. District 9
8. Aliens 1-3
9. Equilibrium
10. Gattaca

probably some more I can't think of like I said.
[/quote]

but atleast you put event horizon at the top of your list. that is one hell of a movie.

if were going to argue genres, sci-fi should be considered a theme more than a genre, it really does nothing to prepare you for how the story will play out. It basically just give away the types of things that will be in the movie. Sci-fi can be anything from steam punk to artsy fartsy, aslong as it has; outer space, extraterrestrials, future technology or simply takes place far into the future. Basically I'm just trying to say your opinion is extremely bias'd.

Not in any particular order, and I might replace 1 or 2 if I forgot some others.
1. Event Horizon
2. Serenity (firefly in general)
3. Star wars 4-6
4. Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind
5. batteries not included (nostalgia mostly)
6. Pitch black
7. District 9
8. Aliens 1-3
9. Equilibrium
10. Gattaca

probably some more I can't think of like I said.

Watch Sunshine, then add it to your list. Beautiful movie in so many ways (watch on Blu-ray, if you can) Realize it's a science fiction that's heavy on the fiction, but not wasting effort trying to make the situation believable is part of what makes it so great.

I haven't seen The Box, so this is all I can contribute to this thread. And after reading this thread I know how it ends so I guess I don't need to watch it either, which is just as well since I knew about the Twilight Zone as well.

[quote name='way2lazy2care' timestamp='1298426492' post='4777804']
Not in any particular order, and I might replace 1 or 2 if I forgot some others.
1. Event Horizon
2. Serenity (firefly in general)
3. Star wars 4-6
4. Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind
5. batteries not included (nostalgia mostly)
6. Pitch black
7. District 9
8. Aliens 1-3
9. Equilibrium
10. Gattaca

probably some more I can't think of like I said.

Watch Sunshine, then add it to your list. Beautiful movie in so many ways (watch on Blu-ray, if you can) Realize it's a science fiction that's heavy on the fiction, but not wasting effort trying to make the situation believable is part of what makes it so great.

I haven't seen The Box, so this is all I can contribute to this thread. And after reading this thread I know how it ends so I guess I don't need to watch it either, which is just as well since I knew about the Twilight Zone as well.
[/quote]

I've seen sunshine. One of the ones that I just didn't remember. Very event horizony feeling. Liked it, but it just reminded me of event horizon, which made it feel less good than it was. Still thought it was a solid movie.

well your name already makes me think you're one of those people that would easily watch animal porn as long as there are explosion.... not saying you watch animal porn just making it dramatic.

I don't see what's wrong about liking a good action movie. I'll tell you straight up I thought 500 days of summer was one of the best movies released recently, but that doesn't mean I can't watch the losers or the expendables or the transporter series and have a great time doing so.

edit: a good example is serenity. Great character depth, pretty unique and intriguing world with a lot of interesting possibilities, witty, and on top of that it has action elements. Does the action take away from any of the other stuff? I'd say no. It's not mindless action.

double edit: in fact, a lot of my favorite episodes of firefly are the least action filled. Out of Gas and objects in space namely.

[quote name='nilkn' timestamp='1298368890' post='4777466']
It makes no sense for Cameron Diaz's character to die simultaneously with the pushing of the button by the next family because the next family could have chosen not to press the button. The film thereby suggests they didn't have free will, which contradicts the entire idea of the movie.

I haven't seen the movie since it first came out but I'm pretty sure the pushing of the button doesn't kill the previous wife. The timing of the two events is just to make that families choice that much more dramatic. Also him saying that pushing the button will kill someone is more of an ominous suggestion, rather than it being fact. She didn't have to die in the end it was her free will to save their son from being blind for the rest of his life, or let him be blind.


[/quote]

Well, I'll concede that the timing of the two events could have been a (rather misleading) choice on the director's part to (almost artificially) increase tension at the expense of (much needed) clarity. But I thought the movie was fairly explicit that if you push the button then you cause the previous person who pushed the button to die (modulo some unexplained starting conditions for the experiment). Any other interpretation definitely seems to be stretching it a little too far for what the movie showed and said.

Actually the only compelling interpretation I've been able to come up with is that the second half of the movie is supposed to be a depiction of hell--i.e., the husband did *not* choose the correct water pillar. (And that water pillar scene is an example of something that probably just pissed a lot of people off rather than intriguing them.)

Oh yeah, Sunshine. I really like the 'Avenue of Hope' music. The story itself is great.

if were going to argue genres, sci-fi should be considered a theme more than a genre, it really does nothing to prepare you for how the story will play out. It basically just give away the types of things that will be in the movie. Sci-fi can be anything from steam punk to artsy fartsy, aslong as it has; outer space, extraterrestrials, future technology or simply takes place far into the future. Basically I'm just trying to say your opinion is extremely bias'd.

That's not even self-consistent -- artsy fartsy steam punk doesn't meet any of your requirements.

What makes something fit in the genre is whether or not it deals with the (real or imagined) influence of (real or imagined) technology on individuals or societies -- and that does relate to how the story will play out.

If it simply has technology, but doesn't focus on the human impact of that technology, then it's not sci-fi, no matter how many alien species or space armadas are present.

(And that water pillar scene is an example of something that probably just pissed a lot of people off rather than intriguing them.)

yes.