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1. What are some of the common codes and conventions of sci fi films?
Sci fi films often include many common codes and conventions, in order to create
the perfect sci fi film. These code and conventions include common
characacters , special effects, soundtracks, common mis en scenes and also
camera work and editing.
Firstly, one of the most useful and common conventions found in sci fi films is
that they follow a typical storyline or plot in which the film is set in the future. In
sci fi films the storyline/plot is often based upon a topic such a war/battle
between aliens and humans. This is evident in films such as I Robot where will
smith is forced to battle against robots whom have become out of control and
pose a threat to man kind. A plot such as this is common as the futuristic setting
of a sci fi film allows the audience to let their imagination of the future run wild,
whilst the use of a battle and threat to man kind adds to the suspense, tension
and action in the movie. Overall making the film more enjoyable and entertaining
to watch seen as audiences who are appealed to action movies and sci fi films
may find this is their perfect film.
In sci fi films typical characters are often commonly used to fit the storyline of
the film. Primarily, there is normally a hero who is different to normal people in
a sense that he/she has special powers, is the chosen one and the character often
lacks self belief in herself/himself at first. Whereas the anti hero/villain is
normally aliens, robot or extra-terrestrial creatures who are often stronger than
the hero. This is displayed in the film Men in black where Will smith plays the
role of a spy who is forced to save the world from the powerful alien who wishes
to destroy it. Characters such as this often appeal to the audience as it makes
them wonder about their own capabilities and what they could do as Will smith
undergoes and a seemingly impossible tasks against the more powerful aliens.
Therefore the achievements of characters such as will smith add shock and fear
to the movie, which keep the audience watching the film as they are eager to
discover if he will succeed in his endeavours.
To fit the genre of a sci fi film and its futuristic setting, sci fi films often include
special effects in order to make this futuristic setting more realistic and
believable. For example special effects can be used to create futuristic weapons,
explosions and spacecrafts and so on. This is shown best in the movie star wars,
where the futuristic setting in which the characters explore different planets and
fight battles in spacecraft or with unseen technology such as light sabers. This
convention of sci fi effects is therefore useful as it ensure the futurist settings is
displayed and is realistic, whilst also it entertains the audience as it permits them
to wonder about the new technology which could be created in the future.
Sci fi films often include iconic soundtracks in relation to the genre of the film. for
example in films such as starwars the soundtrack includes a tempo that
gradually builds to a climax over a long stretch, then the tempo begins to relaxes
and the soundtrack eventually comes to an end. This is because, the soundrack
links to the general pattern of tension found in most sci fi narratives and the
struggles they involve, you might call this the “struggle” contour.