The best magazine
Science fiction can be difficult to define due to the fact that it includes a wide range of sub-genres and themes that can be both suspenseful and thought-provoking.
Perhaps one of the easiest to understand definitions comes from Rod Serling whose stated definition is "fantasy is the impossible made probable, while science fiction is the improbable made possible".
Science fiction in films is nothing new and has existed since the early years of silent cinema when Georges Melies' 1902 film A Trip To The Moon dazzled audiences with its trick photography.
The 1930s brought larger film budgets to the movie industry benefiting fans of the genre.
The first feature length sci-fi film by an American studio was the generally unfamiliar title Just Imagine.
More notable American made films in this genre during the 1930's include King Kong, and Lost Horizon.
Many of these films produced not only a great storyline, but also a classic movie character.
Two of these unforgettable classic characters come from the blending of two genres - science fiction and horror.
They would be Mary Shelly's Frankenstein (1910), and Dr.
Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde (1912).
Today many of these films are based on comic book characters.
This is nothing new.
In 1934, comic strip characters entered motion pictures in movie serials.
Two good examples of this include Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon (both played by Buster Crabbe).
The similarity extended beyond the actor playing the role, as each of these characters were space heroes, and each had a movie that was similar in title.
Buck Rogers Conquers The Universe was released in 1939 and Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe was released in 1940.
For a period of time, the general public looked upon science fiction movies as being juvenile, and as a result there were no more big-budget sci-fi films produced after 1936.
However, this all changed in 1950 with Destination Moon, the first sci-fi film to be made in color.
The 1950's brought a resurgence of popularity to the science fiction genre with some of the most famous and entertaining science fiction movies ever being made came during this time.
Some of these titles would include the classics The Day The Earth Stood Still, This Island Earth, and one of my personal favorites Forbidden Planet.
Source: ...