i.e do you prefer:

  • technically grounded and plausible science elements (e.g The Martian)

or

  • stuff so fantastical that it doesn't even warrant trying to explain it (Dr Who, some Marvel/DC stuff, Star Wars)

Another way to look at this would be Sci-Fi versus Science Fantasy, perhaps.

  • Old-School Sci-Fi like HG Wells centers around a core scientific idea and the consequences arising from that,

whereas

  • Science Fantasy (more prevalent nowadays) only looks to science - or the impression of some science - to serve the fantasy devices it uses.

So which is better?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 9 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (2 children)

I like both to be honest.

With that said, I actually lean more toward the Fi end of things, because when a book or movie gets something obviously wrong it's really grating. Where as with technobabble it's true in that universe, so who am I to contradict it. It's easier to stay in the moment.

As a case in point, I actually turned Prometheus off at the point when it's stated the ship traveled a billion miles... Or you know, out to Jupiter. The writers could have taken 10 seconds to educate themselves that as far as distances in space go, a billion miles isn't even out of your own yard yet. Much less an interstellar distance. Given the reviews on the rest of the movie, I apparently didn't miss much. Yes, I'm aware that Prometheus is solidly in the Fi end of the spectrum, but come on... Some one actually thought a billion miles was an interstellar distance? JFC education is really going down the tubes.

  • source
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 8 hours ago

    My kids and I still talk about the Prometheus school of running from things. "Oh look, a giant wheel of death is rolling towards me! Surely if I stay on the exact path it is following I will be safe! And I can certainly outrun the giant wheel of death, so why wouldn't I?" Proceeds to get crushed by the giant wheel of death. This scene is representative of much of the film. Pretty pictures, lots of destruction, check your brain at the door.

  • source
  • parent