Science Fiction: 316

The historical science fiction adventure film, Timeline (2003), directed by Richard Donner, follows Professor Edward Johnston and his team as they lead an archaeological study of Castlegard village in Dordogne, France. The village was where Lady Claire, sister to Arnaut de Cervole, was executed in 1357. Her death played a crucial role in France’s victory over the English in the Hundred Years War. Alongside Johnston are Scottish archaeologist André Marek, students Kate Erickson, Josh Stern, François Dontelle, and his son Chris. During their excavation of a nearby monastery, they come across a sarcophagus containing ...

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) is a science fiction action film and the third installment in the Terminator franchise. It serves as a sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). Following the destruction of Cyberdyne Systems ten years prior, John Connor has been living as a nomad, grieving his mother’s death. Despite initially believing that Skynet has been defeated, John still fears that the malevolent artificial intelligence is targeting him. In an attempt to change the future, Skynet sends back an advanced prototype Terminator called the T-X to kill John’s future allies. In response, the human resistance sends back a ...

Directed by Jon Amiel, The Core (2003) is an American science fiction disaster film. A series of diverse incidents involving the Earth’s magnetic field prompts geophysicist Dr. Josh Keyes and his colleagues, Dr. Serge Leveque and Dr. Conrad Zimsky, to conclude that the rotation of the Earth’s molten core has ceased. If not reactivated, this would result in the collapse of the field within months, leaving the surface vulnerable to harmful solar radiation exposure. To address this crisis, the U.S. government initiates a covert project to construct a vessel capable of drilling into the core and deploying ...

Reign of Fire (2002) is a post-apocalyptic science fantasy film directed by Rob Bowman. During one of his visits to a London Underground construction site, Quinn Abercromby witnesses the awakening of a massive dragon from its dormant state. Tragically, most of the workers are killed by its fiery breath, leaving Quinn as the sole survivor. His mother Karen, who was also working on the project, sacrifices her life to protect him. After emerging from the Underground, the dragon is soon joined by others and humanity finds itself on the brink of extinction. Despite numerous attempts by military forces to stop their spread ...

The American science fiction film Equilibrium (2002), written and directed by Kurt Wimmer, follows the story of survivors of World War III in a totalitarian city-state called Libria. In this city, all forms of human emotion are blamed for causing conflicts, leading to strict bans on anything that can stimulate emotions. Those who disobey these laws are known as Sense Offenders and face a death sentence. The citizens must also take a daily injection of Prozium II, an emotion-suppressing drug. Governed by the Tetragrammaton Council, led by ‘Father’, propaganda is spread through large video screens. The police ...

The Dead Zone (2002–2007) is a sci-fi drama series on the USA Network, featuring Anthony Michael Hall as Johnny Smith. After waking up from a coma, Johnny realizes he possesses psychic abilities. The show, based on Stephen King’s book of the same name, debuted in 2002 and was produced by Lionsgate Television and Paramount Network Television (later known as CBS Paramount Network Television). Prior to his accident, Johnny enjoyed a peaceful life in a small town where he worked as a science teacher. He was also engaged to Sarah, his childhood friend and fellow teacher. ...

Men in Black II (2002) is a comedic sci-fi film based on the popular Marvel Comics series. It follows Agent J, who has been with the MIB for five years and has risen to the top of his field. However, he has developed a tendency to neuralyze partners he believes are not equipped to handle the job emotionally. When a murder involving an alien named Ben occurs at a pizza place, waitress Laura Vasquez reveals that the culprits are Serleena, a shape-shifting Kylothian posing as a lingerie model, and her two-headed assistant Scrad and Charlie. According to Laura, they were after something known as the Light of Zartha. Despite MIB protocol, J becomes strongly infatuated with ...

Solaris (2002) is an American science fiction drama film written and directed by Steven Soderbergh and produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau. Clinical psychologist Dr. Chris Kelvin receives a message from his scientist friend Dr. Gibarian, through emissaries for DBA, the corporation running a space station orbiting the planet Solaris. Gibarian asks for Kelvin’s help in understanding an unusual phenomenon, but refuses to disclose further information. DBA is faced with uncertainty about what steps to take next, as ...

Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002) is an American spy action comedy film that was both co-produced and directed by Robert Rodriguez. Siblings Carmen and Juni Cortez are now full-time agents for the OSS’ recently established Spy Kids Division. Their main competition comes from Donnagon Giggles’ children, Gary and Gerti. During a mission to rescue the president’s daughter, Alexandra, the Giggles siblings outshine Carmen and Juni. While defending Gary, Carmen’s actions drive a wedge between her and Juni. At the OSS awards ceremony, Donnagon manipulates the president’s teleprompter and takes over as director of the agency instead of ...

The American film, The Time Machine (2002), is a loose adaptation of H. G. Wells’ 1895 novel and the 1960 film of the same name by David Duncan. Dr. Alexander Hartdegen, an inventor at Columbia University in New York, is driven to build a time machine after his fiancée Emma’s tragic death at the hands of a mugger. Despite his friend David’s interest in business, Alexander focuses on pure research. After successfully completing the machine in 1903, he travels back to 1899 to prevent her murder but is unable to change fate as she dies in another accident. ...

The American science fiction action film, Minority Report (2002), directed by Steven Spielberg, is loosely based on Philip K. Dick’s 1956 novella The Minority Report. The federal government plans to nationally implement the ‘Precrime’ police program in 2054. This prototype has been operating in Washington, D.C. for six years. In this program, three clairvoyant humans (‘precogs’) receive psychic impressions of future homicides, allowing officers to prevent them before they happen. Perpetrators are put in a panopticon-like prison ...

The Twilight Zone (2002–2003), a science fiction horror anthology show, was presented by Forest Whitaker. This version of the series aired for one season on UPN network and was the second of three revivals of Rod Serling’s original 1959-1964 show. Forest Whitaker served as both narrator and on-screen host, taking over Serling’s role. The series was a joint effort between Spirit Dance Entertainment, Trilogy Entertainment Group, Joshmax Productions Services, and New ...

Star Trek X: Nemesis (2002) is a science fiction film directed by Stuart Baird. This installment marks the tenth film in the Star Trek franchise and features the beloved cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. On Romulus, members of the Romulan Senate discuss potential peace terms with Shinzon, leader of the Reman rebels. The Remans, a slave race from the nearby planet Remus, are often used as laborers and soldiers by the Romulan Empire. While some military members show support for Shinzon’s proposal, the Praetor and Senate are firmly against forming an alliance. However, their opposition leads ...

The American space Western drama television series, Firefly (2002–2003), was created by Joss Whedon under his Mutant Enemy Productions label. The show centers around the ‘Firefly-class’ spaceship Serenity, home to the main characters. Its body has a firefly-like shape and its tail lights up during acceleration, similar to a bioluminescent insectoid abdomen. The ship was named after the Battle of Serenity Valley, where Sergeant Malcolm Reynolds and Corporal Zoe Alleyne survived on the losing side. In ‘Bushwhacked’, it is revealed that this loss sealed the fate of the Independents. The Alliance ...

In the epic sci-fi film Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), directed and co-written by George Lucas, the Galactic Republic faces a new threat ten years after the events on Naboo. The Separatist movement, led by former Jedi Master Count Dooku, poses a danger to the Republic. Senator Padmé Amidala, who was once Queen of Naboo, travels to Coruscant to vote against creating an army to assist the Jedi in fighting this threat. However, upon her arrival, she narrowly escapes an assassination attempt and is placed under the protection of Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker. After foiling ...

K-PAX (2001), a science fiction mystery film based on Gene Brewer’s novel of the same name, follows prot (not capitalized and pronounced with a long O, rhyming with boat) as he is sent to the Psychiatric Institute of Manhattan after claiming to be an extraterrestrial from the planet ‘K-PAX’, located 1,000 light years away in the Lyra constellation. Dr. Mark Powell, his psychiatrist, attempts to cure him of his supposed delusions but prot remains steadfast in his ability to provide coherent explanations about himself, K-PAX, and its civilizations. During his medical examination, it becomes clear that ...

In 2001, a new addition to the Scooby-Doo franchise was released. Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase (2001) is an animated science fiction comedy mystery film, direct-to-video like its predecessors. The plot follows Mystery Inc. as they reunite with old friend and college student Eric, who has created a computer game based on their adventures and a high-tech laser for a science fair. However, things take a dangerous turn when a ‘Phantom Virus’ emerges from the game and causes chaos on campus. The gang must investigate suspects such as Eric, Professor Kaufman, Bill, and Officer Wembley to stop the virus before someone sends them all into the game using ...

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) is an American animated science fiction action-adventure film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. In 6,800 BC, a massive explosion triggers a megatsunami that threatens the city of Atlantis. As the continent and city are submerged beneath the waves, the Queen sacrifices herself, merging with a floating crystal to create a protective dome over the innermost district. In 1914, Milo Thatch, a linguist and cartographer at the Smithsonian Institution, meets his grandfather’s old friend Preston B. Whitmore. Whitmore discloses that he made a bet with Thaddeus to fund an expedition to Atlantis ...

Spy Kids (2001), an American spy action comedy film, was a collaborative effort between Robert Rodriguez who co-produced, wrote, edited, co-composed and directed the movie. Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez lead a double life as spies while protecting their two children, Carmen and Juni. Their work at the Organization of Super Spies (OSS) usually involves desk jobs but they are called back to active duty when agents go missing. Their prime suspect is Fegan Floop, a children’s TV host who has allegedly turned his victims into ‘Fooglies’, creatures featured on his show that Juni is an avid fan of. In their absence, the children are entrusted to their uncle ...

The American science fiction psychological thriller film, Vanilla Sky (2001), was both directed and written by Cameron Crowe. It is a remake of the Spanish film Open Your Eyes, released in 1997 by Alejandro Amenábar. The movie centers around David Aames, who inherited his father’s successful publishing company. After being imprisoned, David shares his life story with Dr. Curtis McCabe, a court psychologist, while wearing a prosthetic mask. Through flashbacks, we see how David passed off the responsibilities of his company to his father’s colleagues ...