Ten Great Science Fiction Films (concluded)
Concluding the list of ten great science fiction films. (See Parts I, II, & III of this series on mythology in media if you haven’t previously.)
#8) Gattaca
“There’s no gene for fate.”
Genetic Discrimination
The human genome is a mystery scientists are unraveling … and manipulating. Of course, when it comes to genetic engineering, science fiction is known for envisioning dystopian futures. Jurassic Park, for example, gives the worst-case scenario: bioengineering will unleash unpredictable chaos. Other films lay out a more hopeful picture. In Captain America, for instance, eugenics is morally acceptable if done on an individual who’s compassionate and heroic.
Gattaca, however, may be the most underrated movie on this topic, because it depicts the ethical implications of genetic engineering in detail. In this film, the future is one in which genetic makeup determines social status.
As a result, parents favor “genetic selection” procedures over natural childbirth. What’s at stake for their kids? Well, depending on what traits they inherit, society classifies them as either “valid” or “in-valid.” The “valids” enter high-paying professions, while the “in-valids” are condemned to low-paying jobs.
Vincent, the main character in Gattaca, is a naturally born “in-valid” who speaks poignantly of the injustice he experiences.
I belonged to a new underclass, no longer determined by social status or the color of your skin. No, we now have discrimination down to a science.
Mind over Matter
Vincent is well aware of his “in-valid” status. He’s constantly compared to his “valid” brother Anton, who was conceived from the genetic selection procedure. Although Anton is genetically and physically superior, Vincent eventually beats him in a swimming contest and even saves Anton from drowning.
Vincent then leaves his family and home life, falsifies his entire background, and forges a “valid” identity to work for Gattaca, a space travel corporation. His goal: to escape this genetically determined hell on earth by faking a “valid” status all the way to outer space.
Gattaca brilliantly dramatizes the dangers of genetic discrimination as Vincent avoids close calls with genetic investigators by secretly planting hair, skin cells, and urine samples from a valid donor to pass off as his own.
Ultimately, Gattaca is about the power of human spirit over genetic determinism. After all, Vincent beats his genetically superior brother in swimming contests out of sheer will, and he fools authorities through his own cunning. So, at heart, Gattaca is a story about mind over matter, human will over genomic manipulation.
#9) The Terminator (& Terminator II)
“Listen, and understand. That terminator is out there. It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead.”
Rise of the Machines
Despite Darth Vader from Star Wars, the Borgs on Star Trek, or the Replicants in Blade Runner, the Terminator is by far my favorite cyborg. Unlike other cyborgs, the Terminator can be intimidating and amusing, scary and funny. His look is unique but unassuming—for all we know, he’s some biker dude. On top of that, no other cyborg in cinema has as memorable a catchphrase: “I’ll be back.”
Nevertheless, the reason I find the Terminator so fascinating is because his character adapts and reboots, which we see from both our human perspective and his cybernetic perspective. For example, in The Terminator, he’s a heartless killer in pursuit of Sarah Connor. In the sequel, Terminator 2, he’s a reprogrammed protector of Sarah and John Connor. After he destroys T-1000, he sacrifices himself for the future safety of humankind.
As the Terminator transforms, the audience also sees things from his point of view. We see the first-person, subjective viewpoint of what the world looks like from inside the Terminator’s ‘head’ (or CPU). Seeing the world from the ‘eyes’ of the Terminator shows he’s not mere robot. He’s a “cybernetic organism”: a machine-like creature with living flesh and consciousness.
In the Terminator mythos, this cyborg will arise upon “Judgement Day.” On this day in the future, human beings invent Artificial Intelligence (AI), which will surpass human intelligence and become runaway technologies beyond our control. (This hypothetical day is also known as “the technological singularity”).
Strong vs. Weak AI
In short, the Terminator is a fascinating example of what computer scientists call “Strong AI”: a machine with general intelligence that could, in theory, perform any task a human being can. Needless to say, Strong AI has not happened. In my opinion, it probably won’t. Although it makes for great science fiction, we almost certainly need not fear the rise of the machines.
Nonetheless, we do need to think about “Weak AI”: autonomous machines that, while not conscious cyborgs, can perform limited tasks that resemble human intelligence. In effect, we’re talking about automation. Though automation does not threaten our lives, it will disrupt our livelihoods. In other words, automation won’t terminate us, but it may terminate our jobs. (For details, see a synopsis of The Second Machine Age.)
#10) Her
I think anybody who falls in love is a freak. It’s a crazy thing to do. It’s kind of like a form of socially acceptable insanity.
Love and Technology
Few questions feel weightier than the one artists and philosophers have asked through the ages: What is love?
What makes Her unique is that it asks this question in a world where technological convenience has become the supreme social value. The story revolves around Theodore, a divorcee who falls in love with Samantha. However, Samantha is not a real person. Rather, “she” is an artificially intelligent operating system (OS). That’s right, Theodore, down on his luck with women, tries dating a computer.
If this sounds sad or abnormal, it’s because it is. Indeed, there’s a telling scene when Theodore admits to his ex-wife Catherine that he’s dating an OS.
Catherine: So what’s she like?
Theodore: Well, her name is Samantha and she’s an Operating System. She’s really complex and interesting …
Catherine: Wait…. I’m sorry. You’re dating your computer?
Theodore: She’s not just a computer, she’s her own person. She doesn’t just do whatever I say.
Catherine: I didn’t say that. But it does make me very sad that you can’t handle real emotions, Theodore.
Technological Convenience or Social Isolation?
There’s so much going on in this film, I’m sure dissertations will be written about it. Much of its genius lies in irony. For instance, Theodore makes a living by writing love letters on behalf of others. But he can’t maintain love in his own life. He yearns for authenticity, emotional depth, and social connection. Yet, inside his apartment, he sits in tawdry furniture, plays vulgar video games, and interacts almost entirely with his OS.
Ironically, in this commercial culture of technological convenience and compulsive consumption, people live in social isolation and mutual melancholy. In sum, the movie warns us about a future that, while not dystopian, feels desolate. In Her, we see a world where we’ve given up sociability for expediency.
That concludes this list of ten great science fiction films. Feel free to share your thoughts about any of these ten great science fiction films (or others I left out) in a comment below. Also, don’t forget to explore other Technology and Culture articles on this site.