Shots of earth in sci fi movies

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I haven't seen Moon yet, but looking this bit on the film (listed as number 4 on the best sci fi flicks) got me thinking: Here hte guy mentions how the retro model effects used made for a great film visually, of which I would agree, but the picutre of the Earth shown there is ludicrous!

It's just this image used again! I mean, aside from the fact that the original image was actually inverted to match up with our ideas of north and south, the photo is plenty old and far too recognizeable! I doubt that the zig zag cloud formatiuoin near th souther tip of Africa is a permanent mark. I've seen this same picture used as a stand-in for our planet in other sci fi films, such as Independence Day and it takes me out of the film veery time.

So, what are your favorite and least favorite shots of our planet in a fictional film?

 

[Zulu Romeo]

It's just this image used again! I mean, aside from the fact that the original image was actually inverted to match up with our ideas of north and south, the photo is plenty old and far too recognizeable! I doubt that the zig zag cloud formatiuoin near th souther tip of Africa is a permanent mark. I've seen this same picture used as a stand-in for our planet in other sci fi films, such as Independence Day and it takes me out of the film veery time.

Perhaps its use each and every time in most sci-fi movies is deliberate, as a tribute to that famous photograph. If you like, a subliminal message to a certain generation that that insignificant little blue-green planet in the film isn't any old insignificant little blue-green planet - it's home.

Either that, or in the future, East London and Port Elizabeth will have permanent rain and heavy cloud cover.

 

[Gojira]

Yes, that picture of the earth was used in Independence Day also.

 

[Christopher]

So they reuse an image, so what? It's nowhere near as ubiquitous as the Wilhelm Scream.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

It's nowhere near as ubiquitous as the Wilhelm Scream.

And that itself is apparently deliberately used as an in-joke by sound supervisors.

 

[The Comedian]

Uh, if you're gonna show Earth, use a real picture, ya know?

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

So, you want them to use a real picture, despite the fact that zig zag cloud formation clearly indicates particular formation from a particular formaiton that last\ed for a finite time in 1972? Yeah, I buy that.

 

[Kegg]

Let's see: Serenity, Cloverfield and Sunshine make the cut and Solaris is heralded as better than the original.

Hm. Those would be the main points in the list that caused my eyebrow to arch Spock-like, as it were. Props for including 2046, though, which would easily make my cut (the logic of it being not strictly a sci-fi film be damned, I say).

Oh, and the photo hadn't ocurred to me as a problem when watching Moon, generally I found the effects to be excellent. I'll keep an eye on it when I next see the picture.

 

[Harvey]

A more recent photo of the Earth would also be inaccurate to the Earth of the future. Sure, they could have created an image using computers, but the movie was brought in under a tight budget. And, as far as celestial objects go, I'll take that over the moon effect in The Evil Dead. Although that effect holds a certain 'charm,' I suppose.

As to that list, it's an interesting one, although I don't care for the feature version of Whedon's space universe found in Serenity. Solaris was good, although I think the earlier version is better. I wasn't especially blown away by Code 46. And are The Fountain (which I've seen) and 2046 (which I haven't--yet) strictly science fiction?

 

[RoJoHen]

So, you want them to use a real picture, despite the fact that zig zag cloud formation clearly indicates particular formation from a particular formaiton that last\ed for a finite time in 1972? Yeah, I buy that.

As I never pay that much attention to images of planets, they could probably re-use that image in every single space movie ever and I still wouldn't notice.

 

[Kegg]

2046 (which I haven't--yet) strictly science fiction?

No, as she conceded. Basically, 2046 is a period piece - the 1960s, Hong Kong - about a pulp author and his many loves (it's also a sequel to In the Mood for Love). He's now into writing sci-fi novels, and there are some segments of the film set inside his novels (which, themselves, are thinly veiled allegories for his personal life).

As for the Fountain, hm. It's borderline, that, but why not?

 

[Harvey]

I suppose it depends how you read The Fountain, but my interpretation was that the 'future' segments were strictly the fantasy of Hugh Jackman's character as he dealt with his wife's death.

I knew that 2046 was a sequel to In the Mood for Love, but aren't they both part of a tentative trilogy by the director that includes one other film I don't remember?

 

[MEATLOAFr]

you would figure they could just dial up the weather channel and get a fress picture.

or have someone make a "stock earth" in 3d and add clouds for each show

 

[Kegg]

I suppose it depends how you read The Fountain, but my interpretation was that the 'future' segments were strictly the fantasy of Hugh Jackman's character as he dealt with his wife's death.

That's how I saw it as well. The past is his wife's novel, the future is his fantasy. But where does that leave the strange properties he was studying as a doctor in the present? Is that also part of his fantasy?

Anyway, I'm willing to give it a pass because it visualises his science fantasy and makes that a major component of the film, in addition to his studies.

I knew that 2046 was a sequel to In the Mood for Love, but aren't they both part of a tentative trilogy by the director that includes one other film I don't remember?

Days of Being Wild, which comes first (and is also pretty good.)

 

[FluffyUnbound]

My favorite recent shot of Earth is the CGI one they used at the end of nuBSG when the fleet came out of warp over the planet.

 

[Harvey]

I knew that 2046 was a sequel to In the Mood for Love, but aren't they both part of a tentative trilogy by the director that includes one other film I don't remember?

Days of Being Wild, which comes first (and is also pretty good.)

Right, that's it. I don't know why I still haven't seen a single Wang Kar-Wai film. I've seen select scenes from In the Mood for Love and they were just beautiful. Truly stunning. And Tony Leung! I'll see it eventually.

 

[Kegg]

^
I'd suggest starting with Chunking Express, which is what I did. Very fast, buoyant and wonderfully funny film (also has Tony). He's definitely one of my favourite living directors.

 

[Harvey]

^
Plus, that one has a nice new Blu-Ray from the Criterion Collection. There's no excuse, really.

 

[Kegg]

And I have even less excuse for not owning that, considering my current DVD copy is pathetically sparse (the extras include: An introduction by Quentin Tarantino!... and that's it.)

 

[Harvey]

I assume he uses "allright" (spoken as he no doubt writes it, as one word) during half the duration of that introduction, too. And I say this as an admirer, but, Gods, it's hard to listen to the man talk sometimes. It's probably for the best that he's only done a true commentary track on one film -- True Romance.