Joel Duff wrote:
>
> At 07:26 AM 3/16/00 -0500, you wrote:
> >Science fiction, good & bad, has a considerable influence on popular ideas
> >about science & sometimes about relations between science & religion. 1
> recent release
> >& 1 coming attraction are bad news in this regard.
> > 1) _Mission to Mars_ is, apart from the science, not very good SF - a
> melange of
> >old themes & plot devices. The previews & ads for it pretty much give
> away the plot so
> >I shouldn't be spoiling it for anyone to say that the ancient Martians (of
> course
> >humanoid, kind of a cross between _Close Encounters_ & Roswell) "seeded"
> earth long ago
> >to begin an evolutionary process which would end up with human DNA. How
> that is
> >supposed to work is anyone's guess. There is no overt religion in the
> film at all but
> >this idea of a directed, noncontingent evolution (a version of ID) serves
> as an ersatz
> >religion for some folks today - including some Christians.
>
> George,
> Nice observations. When I first heard about this movie I had wanted to see
> it but then I saw an add for it in which there was this revolving DNA helix
> on a computer screen. A couple of people, presumably scientists, are
> looking at it when one exclaims "it looks human." Wow, I didn't know the
> human genetic code was so distinctive! At that moment I decided this flick
> wasn't going to be a shining example of good science.
>
> I am always looking for a good science fiction movie but am so often
> dissapointed. _Gattica_ was one exception in the last couple of years.
> I also have high hopes for a big screen version of _Ender's Game_ (Orson
> Scott Card) that I had heard a while back is in the works.
I hadn't heard that a film of _Ender's Game_ was in process. It should be very
good - if they stick to the book & don't mess it up!
I think _The Matrix_ is - well, challenging, though theologically it's
cyber-gnosticism. & _Deep Impact_ is good, especially if one thinks through the
meanings of "Trinity".
Shalom,
George
George L. Murphy
gmurphy@raex.com
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
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