Wargames (1983)

how much of this movie originates from previous “cold war” sequences?

what happens to the outsider here? Joshua or David? the computer or the hacker?

where is the enemy? is it non-existent?
see one of the final sequences

concerns about automation

some main anxieties are that technology may break or stop functioning. Even worse, a looming fear, especially during the cold war, is that it may malfunction or overpower human decisions.

a scene from “Colossus: the Forbin Planet”(1970)

the faith in technology is remotely reminiscent of Klaatu’s polite offer to the humans:  accept the policing of Gort-like robots or be annihilated”

see this classic scene form Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove:

man vs machine

the exploration of the relation man/machine and man/technoscience has a long story. The ambiguous significance of science and technology already emerges in Metropolis

other looming threats

in Hoffman’s “Red Planet” (2000)Martians are definitely NOT the main threat

Aliens r Us

Some examples where the alien is not only not dangerous, but it is closer to us than we think

Brian DePalma “Mission to Mars”
astronauts discover some “odd” artifacts.

…and finally, there have a revelation …coming from the Martian herself

the transformation of E.T.

Neil Badmington indicates how the figure of the alien (in Film, TV and pop culture alike) have become  fashionable, friendly and even cute especially after films such as Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T.
this does not mean that Aliens are not perceived dangerous anymore. simply, the classic opposition US vs THEM so popular in the 50s ceases to make sense.

why is this happening?
what issues are at stake here?
if the distinction is now blurred, then who is the alien and who is teh human being?

Mars Attacks! as cult movie

Music
http://elfman.filmmusic.com/filmography/mars_attacks.html

Fan Club
http://www.timburtoncollective.com/mars.html

Official Mars Attacks! site
http://marsattacks.warnerbros.com/

Mars Attacks! and the 50/90 double satire

one of the source of inspiration for Burton’s Mars Attacks! is Ed Wood’s b-movie “Plan 9 from Outer Space”

whether inadvertently or purposely, Mars Attacks manages to satirize “Independence Day”.

The invisible alien/other

one of the most popular representation of the Alien as invisible threat invading both  body and  mind of unaware human beings is “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”

In addition to being one of the best examples of portrayal of the “invisible other” , “invasion..” has enjoyed a long list of re-makes. each version utilizes the “invisible other” to materialize different social fears and political or cultural habits

here a list with commentary
http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/8781/versions_invasion_of_the_body_snatchers.html

monsters across time/space

interestingly, the existence of many re-makes and re-adaptations help detect and understand how the same monster or category of monster stands for different fears and represents different threats.

See for example how Godzilla (Gojira) emerges as a Japanese production in 1954 and how it has been appropriated by Hollywhood in the 1998 version.

Godzilla 1954

Godzilla 1998

See how the monster emerging from water is re-interpreted in the 2006 South Korean The Host