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The Science Fiction Film Reader
An illustrated collection of essays by masters such as H.G. Wells, Luis Bunuel, Jorge Luis Borges, Arthur C. Clarke, Anthony Burgess, Joseph Campbell, Pauline Kael, George F. Will, Robin Wood, and Susan Sontag.
466 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 10, 2020
An enjoyable collection, including interviews with makers, contemporary criticism and thematic analysis. I'd recommend (re)watching some of the films alongside.
I particularly liked: the essay on Science Fiction and the Mysterium by Karl Wessel (the best aliens are the ones you don't see); Doug Williams on Star Wars and republics (links between the Jedi and late '60s protest movements); Carina Dielissen's feminist take on Alien (sex organ imagery and mother power) and E.J. Park's provocative Socratic dialogue on the Truman Show (was he actually better off in than out?)
Overall I found it really revealing to understand some of the subversive / satirical motivations of makers and the rich references to other works that I would otherwise completely miss.
I particularly liked: the essay on Science Fiction and the Mysterium by Karl Wessel (the best aliens are the ones you don't see); Doug Williams on Star Wars and republics (links between the Jedi and late '60s protest movements); Carina Dielissen's feminist take on Alien (sex organ imagery and mother power) and E.J. Park's provocative Socratic dialogue on the Truman Show (was he actually better off in than out?)
Overall I found it really revealing to understand some of the subversive / satirical motivations of makers and the rich references to other works that I would otherwise completely miss.
October 25, 2014
Interesting articles and papers that cover Sci-Fi from the early silent films through the modern films of the Truman Show and Matrix. It is very dry, but anyone more interested in the genre should read.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews