From Alien to the Matrix: Reading Science Fiction Film

by Roz Kaveney

Written by a world expert in Science Fiction, From Alien to The Matrix is a hugely entertaining and enlightening read and a new critical approach to SF films that considers them as autonomous creations and contributions to the genre and to the broader culture. Kaveney looks at the movies of alien invasion and movie franchises, and offers a celebration of Galaxy Quest; deep readings of the Alien quartet, of Dark City, Starship Troopers and Strange Days; extended consideration of the Star Wars series and the Terminator films, and much more.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Reference

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Eli Poteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was FANTASTIC! esp the sections on the alien movies, i adored the depth and reach of this authors critical lense!

[Ian Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms Kaveny’s history of SF films covers the time from when they became commercially viable (in the wake of Star Wars) to when they became ubiquitous in the cinematic landscape. She picks and chooses some interesting films that have some similar themes - identity, transformation, the idea of being out of place in the world and making a place in it - and talks about how they explore the ideas that define them. She makes some fascinating points about films that I thought I already knew plenty about - as well as films I know very little about - and devotes the last third of the book to a fairly rigorous examination of the Alien franchise as it existed by 2005. There is a brief discussion of Star Wars that briefly demolishes any idea of consistency of theme or metaphor in that series, while the other big series of the same timeframe - Trek - barely rates a mention except in the chapter on Galaxy Quest, possibly because it doesn’t fit the brief of the book. It’s interesting and engaging and doesn’t talk down to the reader despite dealing with a lot of heavy concepts. Importantly, it doesn’t lose sight of the fact that these films are also highly entertaining for a lot of people who have no interest in looking deeper than being mildly entertained.

[Brian Cham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most academic texts about media studies, this book is written in a rather rambling way that makes it hard to see what the focus is. This is both good and bad - it allows the author to cover a lot of disparate thoughts that deepen the analysis, but it also dilutes the points and makes it harder to follow. The best part of this book was the series of case studies analysing and comparing the entire Alien film series at the time (the first four films). The worst part was the constant opinionated rants like how much the author hated the Star Wars prequels, repeated over and over.

[Roberto Roganovich · Rating 1 out of 5]

El valor filosófico de este libro es nulo. Tal vez el problema es que me acerqué a él pensando que iba a encontrar algo que nunca fue el deseo de la autora. Trabaja muy libremente y de forma desordenada sobre películas elegidas de forma bastante aleatoria. Pensé que podía funcionar como buena introducción al problema del cine de ciencia ficción. Bueno, no. La lectura es veloz, de todos modos. Ni me gastaría en traducirlo al español.

[Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

IMO, this is the definitive and authoritarian guide to SF film. Her favorites are a little surprising and they are, Aliens series, Strange Days (Angela Bassett and LIam Neeson), and Small Soldiers (Kristen Dunst and voice of Tommy Lee Jones). Additionally, if you're a disciple of the cult of Lucas, be prepared because she trashes Star Wars pretty thoroughly and that's without consideration of Phantom, Attack or Revenge. There's some analysis about how the Alien series is superior to SW. Bottom line if you're serious about analyzing SF films you owe it read this because it will add to your analytical toolbox. FYI, I did not even know about Strange Days or Small Soldiers before I read this book, after seein them I agree with her completely.

[Michael K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roz Kaveney is omnivorous in her curation of technical, sociological, theoretical and philosophical aspects surrounding Science Fiction films, which she recommends to us as 'thick texts' whose ongoing development she sees at state-of-the-art cultural progression.
Furthermore, her prose-style makes for, dare I say it, 'light reading' of the many aspects of her surveying, allowing all to access what exactly it is we are already finding so enjoyable about this genre.
Very highly recommended.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at common themes and recurring story elements in modern science fiction films.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read the whole book, but her reading of Alien is terrific.