A recent news article suggested that the matter in the universe ‘may be’ arranged in a fractal pattern. With all the randomness of nature, that might not just be a coincidence between fact and fiction.
The other night I was hurriedly trying to watch this sci-fi film called “Primer“. Unfortunately I couldn’t finish it as I had to return the rented DVD the same night. But I quite enjoyed a good sci-fi film after a long time. I’ll have to watch it again sometime soon. Made with only $7000, the film has a raw and natural feel to it. The film seems to put a basic question in place:
If you always want what you can’t have,
what do you want when you can have anything?
I’ve always been a fan of sci-fi cinema, be it subtle or a bit loud. Sir Arthur Clarke, who passed away this year, will always be one of my favorite science fiction visionary and author. His thoughts were not only ahead of the future, as needed for good sci-fi writing, but his vision was purely provocative. His predictions about the future of science, technology and human society are extraordinary.
I’m eagerly awaiting the 2009 release of the sci-fi film “Rendezvous with Rama“, which is based on a novel by Arthur Clarke. Set in the 22nd century, the story involves a cylindrical alien starship that passes through Earth’s solar system. The story is told from the point of view of a group of human explorers, who intercept the ship in an attempt to unlock its mysteries.
“Rama” is the name given to alien starship, after the Hindu God Rama. Clarke mentions that by the 22nd century, scientists have used the names of all the Greek and Roman mythological figures to name astronomical bodies, and have thus moved on to Hindu mythology. Peculiar and vivid details like these, along with the larger imagination, have made Clarke such a great sci-fi writer.
The novel itself is considered to be very difficult to narrate visually, due to its slow yet visually enriched theme. I’m sure it will be a challange for the film maker to put it on screen with all its abstractness.
Model image by Eric Bruneton