Should Science Fiction movies go smaller?

These days science fiction movies are mainly about visual effects and action. The results are breathtaking for most of the time, especially if they are paired with a clever story and good actors, as recently seen in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2".

While those blockbusters are absolutely enjoyable and great cinema, they often leave the audience a little exhausted, as if they had run a marathon along the lead characters. It is not unusual for people to leave the latest blockbuster having a slight headache. While this might be due to some people being sensitve to the 3D technology it might also be due to the visual overload, especially if there are no slower scenes to counterbalance the action.

An interesting break from this form of science fiction was last year's "Arrival" starring Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams. While it visually stunning as well and had also some action scences it had a calmer pace without ever getting boring. It reminded the audience of such classics as "Alien" and "2001 - A Space Odysee" and the fact that science fiction is often most effective in a quite and but intense atmosphere. Since blockbusters can't seem to get any bigger it might be time for them to go smaller again. 

When science fiction movies started they were story driven, simply because the visual effects were just starting off. These days this has literally made 180 degrees turn, were often movies and stories are built around certain sequences that are solely based on visual effects. 

One example of this is "Gravity". Although the movie gained huge critical acclaim if we look at it closely it is little more than an ad for the special effects company. The story is almost none existing and could be noted on a single sheet of paper. Admittedly Sandra Bullock and George Clooney were brilliant working with what they were given but there wasn't much to begin with. 

This becomes more extreme in movies like "Transformers", which has a story that has been done a 100 times and that only serves as an excuse to frame action scences, which are constantly outdoing themselves. Needless to say that these movies can be enjoyable, when you are looking for something to awe you and that allows to zone out but they are far from the real science fiction that inspires people.  

The opposite was Vincenzo Natali's Cube which was filmed in 1997. The movie is a perfect example for a compelling science fiction movie. The movie has a simple premise and almost no visual effects but due to great actors and surprising twists the movie has an impact. Despite that it is understandable how some people might find the small cast and the lack of change unappealing. 

Visual effects are an incredible tool that help visions and an essential part of modern sicence fiction movies but never at the cost of a story because that is how all movies start, with a story. Visual effects should always support the story but the story should be the centre of the movie and like in music it is important to combine loud and low notes and to include pauses. 




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