The Development History of American Science Fiction Films

1. Late 19th century to 192s: the growth period of Hollywood science fiction films.

At the end of the 19th century, sci-fi films were born in France almost at the same time as entertainment films, such as The Machine Butcher in 1895 and A Surgeon of the 2th Century in 1897. But these films may be more like using film technology to do magic. It was not until 192, when Meria, a Frenchman, introduced Le Voyage dans la Lune that the first real sci-fi film appeared. In the 191 s, European countries, especially France and Britain, seemed to take the lead in making sci-fi films about aliens and future wars. However, with the emergence and development of the Hollywood studio system, the United States has caught up in the production of science fiction films, producing films such as Frankenstein (191) and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913), and what is more worth mentioning is the 15-minute "Two Wan Li under the Sea" (2 In the 192s, American science fiction films began to part ways with Europe. Compared with European sci-fi films such as Metropolis (1927), Hollywood sci-fi films pay more attention to legendary plot, fast rhythm, thrilling action and superb stunts. The representative works of Hollywood science fiction films in this period include The Lost World (1925) and The Mysterious Island (1929).

the 193s and 194s: the maturity of Hollywood science fiction films.

Since the 193s, Hollywood science fiction films began to favor the theme of crazy scientists with horror, pessimism and romance, and began to shoot a series of science fiction films. For example, Frankenstein (1931), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and The Son of Frankenstein (1939) were produced in this period, as were dr. jekyll and mr. hyde series and Flash Gordon series. The Invisible Man (1933) and King Kong (1933) are both masterpieces produced at that time. They have continued and developed the advantages of Hollywood movies in special effects and plot arrangement, and have produced unique programs. In the 194s, due to the influence of World War II, Hollywood science fiction films were in a stagnant but relatively stable state. Almost all the science fiction films produced in this decade were "follow-up series" of previous themes, such as The Invisible Woman (194), The Invisible Man Returns (194) and Revenge of the Invisible Man. However, it also consolidates the narrative mode of Hollywood science fiction films. In The Batman, which was released in 1943, Japanese scientists became evil enemies, combining Hollywood science fiction films with war propaganda, which is also the characteristic of this period.

the 195s and 196s: the prosperous period of Hollywood science fiction films.

In 195s, shadow of fear, who was shrouded in people's psychology by the Cold War, strengthened people's imagination. During this period, Hollywood produced a large number of excellent science fiction films, which often focused on aliens, monsters or nuclear war, and relied more on the use of special effects. For example, The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) and X-ray (Them! , 1953), The Beast from 2, Fathoms (1953), Invaders From Mars (1953), The War of the Worlds, 1953), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), Adventure of the Lost Star (1956), The Fly (1958) and On the Beach (1959) about nuclear war, etc. The influence of the Cold War on Hollywood science fiction films lasted until the 196s. For example, Countdown in 1968 took the US-Soviet arms race as the source of imagination. But it was in the 196s that 21: A Space Odyssey (21: A Space Odyssey, 1968), a classic in the history of science fiction films, came into being. This film co-produced by the United States and Britain has reached a considerable height in story, ideological connotation and special effects.

Fourth, 197s and 198s: the era when Hollywood science fiction films kept a balance between special effects and stories.

The use of special effects has always played an important role in Hollywood science fiction films, and with the development of visual effects technology, the tension between special effects and stories gradually began to increase. How should we combine the two perfectly? Many directors have made their attempts. George Lucas's THX 1138 (THX 1138, 1971) and Star Wars (Star Wars, 1977), Woody Allen's Fools Make a Big Scene in Science City (Sleeper, 1973), Steven Allan Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and ridley scott's Alien (1979) are undoubtedly several successful examples in the 197s. By the early 198s and mid-198s, the special effects production of Hollywood sci-fi films had brought unprecedented magical experience to the audience, and at the same time, these sci-fi films could provide them with a story worthy of tasting. For example, in 198 and 1983, George Lucas successively launched the magnificent Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedy. Steven Allan Spielberg's tender and affectionate E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), James Cameron's The Terminator (1984) and Robert Zemeckis's Back to the Future (1985) and so on.

5. Since 199, Hollywood sci-fi films have made progress in high technology.

With the application of computer technology, Hollywood sci-fi films began to rely heavily on computer-generated images (CGI), and at the same time ignored the importance of the story itself. Hollywood sci-fi films after the 199s are lacking in stories, with great impact on visual effects and more exquisite and realistic pictures. Movies such as Independence Day, Jurassic Park series, Star Wars: Episode I-the Phantom Menace (1999) and Star Wars: Episode II-attack of the Clones (22) have cultivated the audience to become accustomed to those expensive stunt scenes. When the dazzling computer stunts tend to be saturated on the screen, Hollywood science fiction films also begin to lose their way. With the progress of science and technology, Hollywood sci-fi films began to explore new themes, such as the far-reaching impact of cloning technology and intelligent robots on human society.