http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2008/03/16/bad-bad-movie-physics/

Firstly, The blockquoted portion of the article is not my writing and is credited accordingly.

Secondly, the quote does say “Faster-than-light travel is probably not ever going to be possible.”

PROBABLY. Doesn’t say it is impossible. Improbable.

Lord of the Rings is undoubtedly Fantasy Genre.

People are always free to have their opinions. But there is very much an academic definition of science fiction, and Star Wars does not fit into it. That, my friend, is a fact. If somebody wants to use their own definition of what they think should be considered science fiction, they should feel free – but they will often be disagreed with by those of us who study the genre.

According to the Star Wars official Databank, “during Queen Amidala’s escape from Naboo, Captain Panaka was heard to lament the likelihood of their being hit by Trade Federation cannonades. He likened their position to being “sitting ducks.” ”

Just sayin.

Wow. And I thought I was the only person alive who remembered Luke’s ‘What’s a duck?” line. The proof of the existence of the dialog is in the original paperback printing of Star Wars (before it was known officially as A New Hope) and I still swear to this day that I saw the scene in live action when I first saw Star Wars (A New Hope) as a kid. That was at a drive-in no less. It seems to have been edited out since, as if too deny the existence. But it remains…in the original paperback novelization. I know that…because I still have it , even if it’s not the best of conditions.

I’m surprised Trek didn’t make it- the early Trek anyway. Before the real world had cell phones (and walkie talkies before that)…the OS Star Trek gave us communicators. Right?

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There was a few items here which are debatable. Here they are:

“Planets should have diverse climates, instead of one unified climate across a “desert planet” or “forest planet.”

Far be it from me to argue with science fact. But from what we know about Mars…wouldn’t that be considered a unified climate?

“And it definitely shouldn’t be too easy for humans to interbreed with aliens.”

Y’know what, I would like to know how that was scientifically proven either by observation or demonstration. Second thought, I don’t want to know. Neither should you. (I’m not sure where the interbreeding in the Alien films comes in…I’m lost there)

On thier list, one got my attention.
STARGATE.

They should check themselves. It is-and should be- an exception on thier list. In Stargate (the movie, not the series) the inhabitants of that world were not “aliens” and the communication was not “alien” in nature. It was clearly established that this was an offshoot of a tribe of humans with an ancient language taught to them by aliens and the language stayed in Ancient Egypt. Still, the communication was not always understood (the awful chicken joke, for example) in addition, the lost tribe are “still” human beings. So they “would” be able to reproduce with visiting humans from the Stargate.

The world, as we find out is very close to Earth- same gravity, about the same oxygen. As to if there are other climates on that planet- the audience was only treated to one general locale.

I’m glad to see Right Stuff and Apollo 13 getting a clean slate, but those two films aren’t science fiction or fantasy, and I cry foul.

There is a not-so-academic, but well argued, discussion about Star Wars’ true genre. It brings up all of the fantasy elements in the film, and debunks every misconception that Star Wars is actually science fiction. As a result, it’s a lot more interesting to read, and easier to find than the books and articles I mentioned yesterday.

I’d like to personally address this stupid “midichlorian” misconception too. Science fiction refers to science that actually has a basis in reality. Even if it is technically impossible (such as traveling at the speed of light with plasma engines alone like in Star Trek), the concept uses terms and ideas that are REAL, even if they’re not realistic. Thus, sci-fi is dependent on the intrinsic presence of scientific principles that are based on real science.

Fake science, which is just FANTASY science, like midichlorians, are not science. Magic isn’t magic anymore just because there is an explanation to how it works. For example, many fantasy very much go into detail about how magic in their world works to the point of scientific understanding (I myself am writing a film that deals with this subject). Does that makes it any less fantasy? No. Does that make it anymore science fiction? No. In ever genre class, genre based article, genre based book, etc, the sections detailing science fiction ALWAYS guide you through the biggest misconceptions of the genre – most professors, academic writers, etc, will tell you flat out that fantasy science is not science fiction – it’s still fantasy.

At least in Star Wars there is a reference.

Science Fiction has some sort of scientific explanation as to the functionality of the far fetched technology they use. The Force is mystical, but explained as the byproduct of the symbiotic Medichlorians. So there is a scientific (though implausible) explanation.