Steven Spielberg explains why a sci-fi movie is “worth its weight in celluloid”
While Steven Spielberg has turned his filmmaking talents to many different movie genres, including the thriller with Jaws, the action-adventure with Indiana Jones, and the war drama with Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, it’s fair to say that some of his most significant contributions have come within the realm of sci-fi.
As far back as 1977, Spielberg was handling some of the most significant sci-fi entries, beginning with Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which introduced many future sci-fi filmmakers to the genre for the first time. Spielberg would soon follow up with 1982’s E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, which imbued the movie category with a family-safe sense of awe and wonder.
Then, in 1993, Spielberg would deliver one of the most iconic cinematic moments of the 21st century in the shape of Jurassic Park, showing what could be achieved with special effects and animatronics. The director wasn’t quite done with sci-fi just then because the following years have seen the likes of A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Minority Report and War of the Worlds all arrive on screen as a result of Spielberg’s prowess.
Quite simply, it’s evident that sci-fi plays an important part in Spielberg’s vision as a filmmaker. In an interview with the BBC, discussing the motives behind Minority Report, he once spoke of the reason that the genre is so important from an artistic and cultural perspective.
“Science fiction loves to warn,” Spielberg noted. “Remember, science fiction’s always been the kind of first-level alert to think about things to come.” Indeed, as Spielberg attests, the realm of sci-fi has often caught wind of genuine human problems before they have greatly affected the wider public, issues such as environmental disasters or the onslaught of technology.
Novelists and filmmakers working within the widespread boundaries of sci-fi can absolutely warn society of the kind of impending threats they believe we may face in the future, and Spielberg understands that there is a power to fiction and cinema in how it can avoid criticism of dogmatism.
“It’s easier for an audience to take warnings from sci-fi without feeling that we’re preaching to them,” Spielberg added. “Every science fiction movie I have ever seen, anyone that’s worth its weight in celluloid, warns us about things that ultimately come true.” Looking across Spielberg’s own sci-fi movies, we can see that the iconic director has always had an eye on the kind of events that he believes may one day come true.
In both Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, there is a fascination with the possibility of aliens visiting Earth and interacting with human beings. Years later, in Jurassic Park, Spielberg warned us of the dangers of toying with biology and science and the imperative of leaving extinct beings well alone, lest all hell break loose.
Technology was at the core of both A.I. Artificial Intelligence and Minority Report, particularly concerning the possibility of machine emotion and the invasion of a person’s privacy. Through these films, Spielberg has been able to showcase the brilliance of one of his favourite movie genres and simultaneously warn humanity of the kind of problems we are currently facing or will face in the future. This avenue of filmmaking is further proof of his overall brilliance.
