Space combat fantasy. Novelties of fighting fiction

In Russia, the cinematic term "combat fantasy" is originally used, in the West the notion of "military sci-fi & fantasy" is used (in literal translation - "military science fiction and fantasy"). At first glance, the unsophisticated viewer may think that the difference between them is not great, but it is quite significant.

The Essence

The basis in the structure of films related to combat fantasy is the battle itself, a bloody battle, but the military tends to pay more attention to the various facets of the action called war. Descriptive reflection of fights, star squadrons - just a detail, undoubtedly important, but not the only one. In addition to battles in the plot there are diplomacy, politics, tactics and strategy, ethics and morality. The main part of military science fiction is pure "entertainment", or, as it is called, "boevka". However, there are films, the creators of which in some way affect quite serious problems, are trying to analyze the causes and consequences of military conflicts, to design a strategy for future wars and even to convey anti-war messages to the viewer.

Geometry of the film war zone

Often military fiction uses one of the most popular plot schemes - a military epic, which is a whole complex of stories, closely intertwined. Separate directors and directors are waving to a detailed description of events with an impressive number of characters. A typical example is J. Lucas's epic "Star Wars", which continues to enjoy phenomenal popularity and success in many countries around the world. By the way, there is practically no blood in the film epic, even in the most massive battle scenes.

History of the development of the genre. Start

20-30-ies of the twentieth century gave mankind many fantastic pictures, but they are difficult to classify as "fighting fiction". The films of this period are mostly focused on human dramas, not on wars, space and aliens. But in the middle of the century in the film industry, the era of the film about monsters, mostly extraterrestrials, came, which, of course, in every possible way try to harm the inhabitants of the planet Earth.

The brightest example is the Byron Heskin film "The War of the Worlds". And at the end of the decade, the theme of space exploration and possible consequences became incredibly popular, and space combat fantasy pushed other cinematographers: "When the worlds collide", "Destination - the Moon", "The Conquest of the Cosmos", "Evil Red Planet", "It! Horror from Space "(a film-precursor of" Alien ")," Earth against flying saucers ". After the appearance of Kubrick's masterpiece "2001: The Space Odyssey", the studios began with a great desire to invest in paintings about space and space battles. Through the efforts of filmmakers mysticism was added to the film fantasy, such films as "Silent Running", "Planet of the Apes" (with numerous sequels), "Western World" and darkly "THX 1138" by D. Lukas.

Closer to the present

In the film fantasy of the 80's, the futuristic fairy tale Star Wars was ruled, thanks to its success several iconic films appeared: Star Trek, Blade Runner (1982), Something (1982) and Alien Ridley Scott. By the end of the 20th century, in the development of film fantasy, certain patterns have emerged that determined what the viewer will look in the future. They were reflected in the following paintings: "The End of the World", "The Matrix" (1999), "Equilibrium" (2002) and "Independence Day".

In the epoch of the scientific and technological revolution

The rapid development of computer technology, which transformed the face of the whole cinematograph, stimulated in the coming century a new surge in the appearance of paintings in the genre of "combat fantasy." The best of the variety appeared was appreciated by the viewer:

1. "Divergent" (2014). A bright anti-utopia, where heroes are fighting for freedom and independence of everyone, for new laws and the reconstruction of the world. In the film on the planet only one city remained inhabited, and the world became completely different. It is in the vastness of Chicago, the last dwelling on earth, that all events unfold.
2. "Lucy" (2014). The film became a cult and conquered the audience with its colorful plot and exciting action. Lucy - a girl who accidentally became the main participant of the events, suddenly knew everything that is in the world. This is hampered by many, and militants are trying to destroy it, and knowledge is sought by scientists for progress and the domination of world science.
3. "Running in the labyrinth" (2014). A film with an exciting storyline. Several people live in a safe area in the center of a labyrinth, finding a way out is not so easy. However, this security disappears when two other characters appear in their world. Will everyone be able to get out of the labyrinth or will it absorb them?
4. "Iron Man" (2008) "film about progress, about the development of one successful engineer and businessman - iron protective shells. Will people with such armor save the world this time?
5. "The Guardians of the Galaxy" - which became in 2014 one of the most popular films of its genre. In the film, an intergalactic conflict is being resolved, which the American pilot involuntarily witnessed.

In the USSR there were no "boevki"?

Combat fantasy is a favorite genre that has been mastered for a long time in our country. But the films of the era of the USSR clearly go beyond it. Soviet filmmakers were much more interested in the ways of developing mankind, they have a lot of "sotsialki." The first-born film fantasy of the USSR is considered to be "Aelita". After that, the real boom of a fantastic movie enriched the output of such films: "The Silent Star", "The Sky Calls", "The Planet of Storms", "The Prisoners of the Iron Star", "Moscow-Cassiopeia", "The Pilot Pilot's Inquiry." Russian combat fantasy of that period is filled with an agitational spirit - positive heroes-cosmonauts fought against vicious astronauts. All films are similar in their shortcomings: crude scientific blunders, timidity of author's fiction and stereotyped characters.

Domestic cinema. Revival

Russian martial arts fiction corresponds to the trends of the new era, the rental of paintings that are able to compete with foreign:

1. "Night Watch" (2004). One of the most popular Russian films and the most popular domestic film of its genre. Great action and incredible world with vampires, witches and other supernatural forces, and with the "watch" that confronts them.
2. "Day Watch" (2005) - the continuation of the idea and the plot of the film "Night Watch", slightly less popular the first part. Here, in order to maintain a balance in the world with a dark and light force, the day watch balances the forces of good and does not allow it to become stronger than the dark forces.
3. "Keepers of the network" (2010). A film about a secret organization that monitors the Internet. The heroes of the film, once professional hackers, now serve their homeland and are ready to control life on the net.
4. "We are from the future" (2008). In the film, a group of people engaged in illegal mining of artifacts found during their work special documents of the war years. There they also found their photos, but made during the Great Patriotic War. Soon the heroes themselves become participants in hostilities in order to solve the riddle of this find.
5. "We are from the future-2" (2010). Continuation of the plot of the first film, conquered the audience with its action and originality. A group of people who came to war in the past should influence its outcome and the future of the country.

An unprecedented phenomenon

All novelties of combat fantasy represent a single unprecedented phenomenon. In advantage this is a large-scale action-blockbuster with an unexpected but impressive cast:

1. "The Avengers: The Age of the Altron" (2015). The Avengers attack the enemy headquarters of GIDD. Taking advantage of enemy developments, part of the team secretly creates the Altron, a robot, whose mission is to protect peace and order. But something went wrong ...
2. "Divergent, Chapter 2: Insurgent" (2015). Beatrice Pryor confronts the inner demons for the salvation of society.
3. "The ascent of Jupiter" (2015). A simple cleaner Jupiter Jones is at the epicenter of intergalactic intrigue, capable of changing the universe. The girl's routine life changes dramatically.
4. "Welcome to Paradise" (2015). For millionaires, a city has been created where they can carry out all their desires with the help of androids. With a robot, you can do anything you like, and there are very, very many who want to try, despite the price. Then the devices are sent for repair and the memory is erased, but one day the program crashes, one of the androids remembers all the horrors that have happened to him and his fellows.