Sci-Fi/Fantasy Films

» Sarah B. Hood - Sci-Fi is short for Science Fiction

Do people generally get confused about or ignore classifications of this kind ? I think perhaps they do. Case in point, I was reading postings on a forum dealing with a local band, and one of the moderators solicited from contributors their lists of top ten canadian FOLK SONGS; the contributors instantly responded with lists of twenty or more songs that covered every genre from rhythm and blues to death metal, half of them by american artists.

I concur; Jurassic Park seems to me to be the only film of the ones mentioned that can be strictly classed as Science Fiction. Just for the record, I would class the others as follows:
Lord of the Rings--Fantasy King Kong--Horror
1984--Political Fantasy Raiders of the Lost Ark--Adventure.

Films that feature action dealing with technology and/or the future may lure us into believing that they are sci-fi when in fact they are perhaps more appropriately classified as something else. For example, the classic shocker "Alien" very adroitly defined a new set of visual standards for cinematic depictions of "the future" when it appeared and features several important scientific or technological leitmotifs, but any one of the terms Thriller, Psychological Horror, Horror or Monster movie better characterize its genre.

A few random musings for what they may be worth...

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John Hood

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» Puppetmaster - Sci-Fi is short for Science Fiction

In response to Sci-Fi is short for Science Fiction posted by SarahBHood:

Thank You!
I realize that it is a niggling point, but as humans I believe that we like classifications, it just makes more sense out of our world.
I also agree with your classifications. On a strictly anal standpoint I barely think of the original Star Wars as a sci-fi, I think of it more as a western/samurai film which happens to be set in a sci-fi setting.
Check my blog for the week, you have inspired me to whip out a list.

Puppetmaster

-- posted by Puppetmaster

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» JohnnySilver - Sci-Fi is short for Science Fiction

In response to Sci-Fi is short for Science Fiction posted by Puppetmaster:
Don't mistake my purpose; I also think we need the classifications...and you're dead on about "Star Wars"...the science elements are just a "repaint" to borrow a term from the action figure marketers. It could play equally well in a western or medieval setting. It's a "quest/coming of age" story. This gets back to the literary truism that there are really only a very limited number of plot/story types and the physical texture of the story is merely set dressing.

-- posted by JohnnySilver

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» Puppetmaster - Sci-Fi is short for Science Fiction

In response to Sci-Fi is short for Science Fiction posted by JohnnySilver:

"Repaint" is a terrific term, which I am sure I will beat to death in my articles.

I remember reading ages ago that "Alien" was just a haunted house story set in space. Maybe that is where I started obsessing about this stuff...hmmm.

Puppetmaster

-- posted by Puppetmaster

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