What Sci-Fi clichés do you resent?

[Battlemage!]

Well, any film that seriously takes space travel that has noise in space grinds my gears. As much as the ending to Interstellar seems incredulous, the fact that the spaceship didn't make noise from the reference frame of outside the craft made it worth it to me (I'm sure there were various physics errors to boot, but I've never seen a film that actually explored the effects of the twin paradox, so I thought that was neat). But what made me stay to finish it was the thrusters only made sound from inside the ship. When the camera showed outside, it was silent as the grave.

Just my sci-fi pet peeve, I guess.

 

[UsableThought]

When the camera showed outside, it was silent as the grave.

Maybe a movie poster? "In space, no one can hear you rev your engine."

Speaking of Interstellar, that filmmaker, Chris Nolan, made such a hash of the story world of Inception that I stopped going to his movies. I won't go into it here; but he made many mistakes at the meta-level I discussed in my previous post. Total turn-off.

 

[Battlemage!]

Maybe a movie poster? "In space, no one can hear you rev your engine."

Speaking of Interstellar, that filmmaker, Chris Nolan, made such a hash of the story world of Inception that I stopped going to his movies. I won't go into it here; but he made many mistakes at the meta-level I discussed in my previous post. Total turn-off.

Regardless I enjoyed Interstellar. There was some mumbo jumbo at the end, but I really liked the way Nolan did the emotional results of the twin paradox.

As for Inception, I'd love for you to point out the flaws in another thread whenever you feel like it. I'm sure I missed a bunch, being distracted by the excellent actors, including my favorite Japanese actor, Ken Watanabe.

 

[UsableThought]

As for Inception, I'd love for you to point out the flaws in another thread whenever you feel like it. I'm sure I missed a bunch, being distracted by the excellent actors, including my favorite Japanese actor, Ken Watanabe.

Yeah, not here in this thread. I will say that I did enjoy a lot of the actors (though not Leo, though I've liked him elsewhere); many of the ideas about dream technology; & some of the setup scenes - my favorite is the sequence where the new girl on the block is being taught dream architecture & gets to walk on an Escher staircase among other cool things. I also liked early on where Leo & his chair are dumped into a bathtub to wake him up, and in his dream the huge hall he's in fills violently w/ water as if it's been hit by a tsunami.

 

[fresh_42]

I want to add a different view on "noise in space". Often this noise can be heard by firing the gun or from the impact on the target. Both usually have an atmosphere, but even if not, the structures themselves can serve as propagation medium - or an open communication port. So it's not a complete nonsense.

 

[dkotschessaa]

Funny, no mention of black holes in this thread. Is that just a "don't even get us started" topic?

 

[fresh_42]

Funny, no mention of black holes in this thread. Is that just a "don't even get us started" topic?

"Don't mention the war!"

 

[pixel]

How about when the aliens are approaching and there's a military person who wants the president to launch a pre-emptive attack, while the scientist argues against it.

 

[Battlemage!]

How about when the aliens are approaching and there's a military person who wants the president to launch a pre-emptive attack, while the scientist argues against it.

Ian Malcolm says hi.

 

[GTOM]

Is it trope or cliche? => Noise in space. Whatever it is, I instantly turn off the film or show when this occurs.

Many people don't like too much silence in a film, also it might be justified, that radar signals translated into sounds.

 

[GTOM]

Whatching Dark Matter 2nd season. It is a great series, but i find something irritating, maybe it is not SF but general cliche: why is it that in majority of cases, strong female character means that she has a fist of iron? There are a dozen other things that could make someone strong. I like Killjoys partially because it showed good examples in that matter, like it showed that a simple mother can be strong.
Generally i think many SF would need more good and realistic characters.

 

[dkotschessaa]

Whatching Dark Matter 2nd season.

I don't know how you made it that far into the series. I found the series so trope-laden (tropey?) that I felt like I was just watching reruns of something else.

-Dave K

 

[dkotschessaa]

We forgot this one:

::time travel happens::

Person A: "Where are we?"

Person B: "No. The question isn't "where are we." The question is WHEN are we?"

Just once I want to see person B punched in the mouth for saying this. I'm not a fan of unnecessary violence, but in this case I believe it is strongly warranted.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I'm not a fan of unnecessary violence,

This is necessary violence.

 

[Battlemage!]

^^ Good stuff lol.Here's one that annoys me: colorful large computers and machines complete with unexplained flashing lights. Even data centers don't have those ridiculous flashing lights (although some have "hip" c, so why would more advanced computers and systems be bigger and more 1960s looking?Also, humanoid robots. Just seems unrealistic. The robots in Interstellar were perfect: completely not-human shaped, and instead shaped entirely for utility.

(or at least that was the image they wanted to project... I'm sure having block legs might not be the most efficient mode of transportation, but at least it wasn't a bi-pedal human looking thing. Yuck)

 

[GTOM]

I don't know how you made it that far into the series. I found the series so trope-laden (tropey?) that I felt like I was just watching reruns of something else.

-Dave K

Oh, how i love this mentality... Based on this, most chapters of most books are similar to something, that someone made already...

 

[dkotschessaa]

Oh, how i love this mentality... Based on this, most chapters of most books are similar to something, that someone made already...

Huh?

 

[rkolter]

I dislike the reverse, where aliens are all the same and only humans are diverse. I bet the Klingons have plumbers.

YESSSS.

Also, why hasn't this one been mentioned: STEAM. The use of steam in science fiction to denote "damage" to whatever structure you are in. Related to that are the twin ideas of breaking a nearby steam pipe to blind or distract your enemy and walking into or disappearing into a hallway obscured by steam.

 

[GTOM]

YESSSS.

Also, why hasn't this one been mentioned: STEAM. The use of steam in science fiction to denote "damage" to whatever structure you are in. Related to that are the twin ideas of breaking a nearby steam pipe to blind or distract your enemy and walking into or disappearing into a hallway obscured by steam.

If they use nuclear reactors, then they are ultimately still working with steam.

 

[sanman]

I hate the computer hacker stereotypes, as well as the nerdy-looking scientists.

Seriously, when's the last time you saw Hollywood portray a scientist who looked normal? Instead they're always socially retarded dweebs.

 

[Battlemage!]

I hate the computer hacker stereotypes, as well as the nerdy-looking scientists.

Seriously, when's the last time you saw Hollywood portray a scientist who looked normal? Instead they're always socially retarded dweebs.

 

[UsableThought]

Seriously, when's the last time you saw Hollywood portray a scientist who looked normal? Instead they're always socially retarded dweebs.

I wonder if the "brainiac/nerd" stereotype wasn't more a product of the 1950s, at least in the U.S.?

At any rate the role of scientist like any other role (politician, lawyer, soldier, cop, housewife, etc.) can be caricatured or ridiculed; but also portrayed as sympathetic and/or admirable with humanizing character flaws; especially true when they are the protagonist or play a strong supporting role:

http://static7.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_medium/11118/111184078/5438929-9511668863-640_s.jpg

Also for more non-nerdy women movie scientists in particular, see: http://www.ranker.com/list/best-female-scientists-in-film/anncasano

 

[dkotschessaa]

It would be great to see a story about a mathematician that wasn't half insane, delusional, or manic depressive.

 

[gleem]

It would be great to see a story about a mathematician that wasn't half insane, delusional, or manic depressive.

Probably only mathematicians (and physicists) would want to watch it. Small audience.

 

[dkotschessaa]

Probably only mathematicians (and physicists) would want to watch it. Small audience.

I mean, they could be charming, exciting, and dashing (like me) but do they have to be completely whackadoodle?

I'm going to film myself inverting a 10x10 matrix and send it to some film students. We'll see!

-Dave K

 

[BL4CKB0X97]

The chosen one. I love an antihero.

 

[Battlemage!]

It would be great to see a story about a mathematician that wasn't half insane, delusional, or manic depressive.

Well, what about an engineer? Primer had a bunch of regular looking scientists.

Yeah they wore ties the whole movie, but that was more about being professionals than engineers/scientists.

 

[gleem]

@dkotschessaa Does this fit your needs. Three African American women who save the US space program.

 

[rkolter]

It would be great to see a story about a mathematician that wasn't half insane, delusional, or manic depressive.

This topic is about science fiction. Sane, lucid, emotionally stable mathematicians are fantasy creatures.

 

[john101]

I find it annoying that I notice in TNG that most of the time people turn left when exiting a room.

 

[dkotschessaa]

This topic is about science fiction. Sane, lucid, emotionally stable mathematicians are fantasy creatures.

Some are at least 2 out of 3...

 

[Battlemage!]

Some are at least 2 out of 3...

I have one at my school who is all three, plus he's smooth with ladies.

 

[dkotschessaa]

I have one at my school who is all three, plus he's smooth with ladies.

Some people can only be explained by reincarnation.

 

[Bandersnatch]

I have one at my school who is all three, plus he's smooth with ladies.

Surely, he must be a closeted physicist.

 

[SciFiWriterGuy]

Honestly, the biggest sci-fi cliche that I absolutely hate is the notion that everything in a sci-fi story has to be sci-fi. Hydrospanners, laser drills, plasma-based can openers...no, okay?? The hammer, screwdriver, nail, and, yes, can opener will continue to be effective in the future. Humans have made a lot of tools - and a lot of improvement on those tools - but we've never outgrown the humble hammer. Why? Because we always have something we need to smack with a hammer. We always will. A screwdriver's batteries never run out mainly because it doesn't have any. Old solutions can still be the best solutions. Honestly, the over-teching of the world is a huge thorn in my hide when it comes to most sci-fi out there.

 

[dkotschessaa]

Honestly, the biggest sci-fi cliche that I absolutely hate is the notion that everything in a sci-fi story has to be sci-fi. Hydrospanners, laser drills, plasma-based can openers...no, okay?? The hammer, screwdriver, nail, and, yes, can opener will continue to be effective in the future. Humans have made a lot of tools - and a lot of improvement on those tools - but we've never outgrown the humble hammer. Why? Because we always have something we need to smack with a hammer. We always will. A screwdriver's batteries never run out mainly because it doesn't have any. Old solutions can still be the best solutions. Honestly, the over-teching of the world is a huge thorn in my hide when it comes to most sci-fi out there.

Great point! I might include video phones in this. Every single conversation. Why?

 

[SciFiWriterGuy]

Great point! I might include video phones in this. Every single conversation. Why?

Yes, exactly! With a normal phone, you can hand-signal someone in the room to create a pretext to get you off a never-ending call. That's a little hard to do when the other person can see you.

 

[Battlemage!]

Surely, he must be a closeted physicist.

It's funny you say that. His specialty is partial differential equations, in his class he spent an inordinate amount of time explaining the physics of every piece of math he taught, and he is fond of saying the only department in the entire school that isn't a mess is the physics department.

 

[john101]

I find it annoying that I notice in TNG that most of the time people turn left when exiting a room.

I think I know why that bothers me. They are on a set. The camera is downstage and they exit the door (stage left) on the set and tend to walk towards the rear of the stage which means turning left outside the door. It breaks the scene for me and reminds me momentarily it's just a scene. iow that moment upstages the whole thing. I think that's what I find annoying.

 

[SciFiWriterGuy]

I think I know why that bothers me. They are on a set.

Actually, it's a little-known Starfleet regulation that you always have to walk clockwise around the ship, which makes going to your next door neighbor in the other direction incredibly inefficient.

Really, though...it was just sloppy directing.

 

[Chris Miller]

I dislike time travel in SF. Especially into the past where a tiny act creates some drastic change.

 

[Battlemage!]

I dislike time travel in SF. Especially into the past where a tiny act creates some drastic change.

I really liked Primer :/ No drastic changes though.

 

[r8chard]

Late to the conversation

I'd say, off the top of my dueling heads, that my pet peeve is the failure of writers to convey the all too normal existence of stultifying boredom.

i.e. an cosmos-spanning alleged civilization, thousands of years old? Has nothing better to do with their time but travel umpteen parsecs to harass some dweeb kid?

A vast international conspiracy of powerful, wealthy personages, spanning centuries? Is deliberately frustrating your ambitions in life to be the best damn carpetcleaner in your neighborhood. And, wreck all your attempts to get laid on a regular basis. The bastards!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Laser guns

I really liked Primer :/ No drastic changes though.

I need to watch this again!

 

[RyanJones]

Why are so many starships built with submarine-like interiors, cramped and claustrophobic, with dim lighting and shadows everywhere? Sounds like a recipe for psychiatric problems on a long term voyage.

Love the old NCC 1701, with its huge hallways and bright primary colors. That's a happy ship.

 

[BWV]

Mining raw materials in space to send down into Earth's gravity well. Don't see how this would ever be economic vs. just digging deeper holes in the Earth. For that matter, its hard to see how the economics of any human space travel will ever be driven by anything other than tourism or aesthetics.

 

[gleem]

Packing so much energy into such small weapons. I need some of those batteries or energy cells, whatever.

 

[DrClaude]

Packing so much energy into such small weapons.

And how heavy they must be!

 

[Stephenk53]

Mining raw materials in space to send down into Earth's gravity well. Don't see how this would ever be economic vs. just digging deeper holes in the Earth. For that matter, its hard to see how the economics of any human space travel will ever be driven by anything other than tourism or aesthetics.

I think maybe eventually it might if the civilization ends up digging up so much Earth is basically resource-less. And maybe they create ships that can easily go from planet to an asteroid belt cheaply. And maybe they find another civilization that lacks some resources due to a war so humanity trades with them

 

[BWV]

I think maybe eventually it might if the civilization ends up digging up so much Earth is basically resource-less. And maybe they create ships that can easily go from planet to an asteroid belt cheaply. And maybe they find another civilization that lacks some resources due to a war so humanity trades with them

I don't think this would ever happen. Just think, for example, how much mineral wealth is in, say, Antarctica or the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. With robots one could mine asteroids, but also dig far deeper in the Earth than human miners could go. Given the energy requirements of getting material in and out of Earth's gravity well, it should always be less energy-intensive and therefore cheaper to just exploit more resources on Earth. We are nowhere near running out of minerals on Earth currently and have not even touched many areas of the planet that are currently uneconomical to mine