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6 New(ish) Sci-Fi Movies Are Better Than Star Wars

Star Wars is back in a big way, with Star Wars:The Force Awakens ushering in a new era for this long-running series, which makes people giddy with excitement. But while the hype is palpable, one has to wonder if it's justified. It's Star Wars Truly the pinnacle of sci-fi movies set in space? They haven't already outgrown several Star Wars movies. series?

I know I know, "overcome Star Wars It's a strong statement that perhaps borders on the incendiary, but let's face it:While the franchise certainly left a permanent mark on global culture, the movies themselves are far from perfect. Cool? Of course. Defective? Absolutely.

So, what is my criteria for these so-called “best” movies? I'll boil it down to three things:narrative ambition, overall execution of the film, and the feeling of satisfaction when the film is over. Also, for reference, all of these space-related movies were released between Star Wars Episode III:Revenge of the Sith (2005) and Star Wars:The Force Awakens (2015).

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Summed up in a quick sentence, Star Wars is essentially an epic sci-fantasy adventure in space, and if we're going by that description, then there's no other movie that better captures that feeling than Guardians of the Galaxy. .

Despite being based on a comic book, this movie doesn't feel like a "comic book movie" in the same sense as spider-man. , Man of Steel , or Captain America - especially since the characters in Guardians they're not traditional superheroes with regular superpowers.

In a word, Guardians it's fun. There's a lot to love about this movie:the humor, the action, the performances, and even the unexpected emotional notes that carry through to the end, but at its core, this movie is a wild ride through space.

As for science-fantasy adventures, Guardians of the Galaxy runs much better than Star Wars And it ends up being a more satisfying meal as a result.

Serenity (2005)

Serenity It's another example of a sci-fantasy adventure movie that gets it right. To be fair, Serenity is an end for Firefly , one of a few brilliant sci-fi TV shows 10+ Brilliant Sci-Fi TV Shows That Aren't Star Trek [Things To Watch] 10+ Brilliant Sci-Fi TV Shows That Aren't Star Trek [Things To Watch] The best sci-fi movies are often cherished by fans and placed high on the mantle, but it's the TV shows that make up the bread and butter of any geek's media diet. A good TV... Read More

The good thing about Serenity it's the same thing that marks the greatness of most of Joss Whedon's work:witty dialogue, a living world, and a diverse but lovable spectrum of characters. While Star Wars can be painfully cliche at times, Serenity It's a breath of fresh air.

The range of Serenity may not be as far away as Star Wars , but attributed it to the limitation between one movie and seven movies (with more on the way). Considering seven movies, I think a Serenity The series would have easily flown Star Wars Out of the water.

Note:Joss Whedon also wrote Avengers:Age of Ultron , which is a very similar movie in many ways (though obviously in a different world with different characters and a lighter tone). If you like both Star Wars and The Avengers , you would like Serenity .

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Star Trek (2009)

oh boy. Anyone who says that Star Trek is better than Star Wars - or even the other way around - is just asking for trouble. The truth is that they are so different that the two can be difficult to compare between Star Trek and Star Wars:Which is more technologically advanced? Star Trek vs. Star Wars:Which Is More Technologically Advanced? There are three topics that should never be discussed at the table:religion, politics, and the relative merits of Star Trek and Star Wars. Lucky for us, MakeUseOf is not a dinner table. Read more . After all, the two universes are fundamentally different at their cores, or at least they used to be.

Star Trek re-imagines the universe stripping much of the philosophical weight that once defined it. As a result, it's lighter and more conventional, making it feel closer to Star Wars. than the series ever in the past.

What was once an exploration of society and the human condition has become a grand science-fantasy adventure complete with a polished cast of characters, a sharp narrative, and wonderful visuals. In terms of pure adventure, Star Trek it's a masterpiece.

But best of all, Star Trek I managed to do the only thing that Star Wars could never really pull off:creating a satisfying prequel story that doesn't suck.

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The Martian (2015)

The Martian was one step behind the new Star Wars As for the most anticipated movies of 2015, which is funny because The Martian it's almost the exact opposite of Star Wars In many ways.

What is remarkable about The Martian , in addition to the fact that the book was serialized The Martian and The Rise of Serial Publishing The Martian and The Rise of Serial Publishing. A revival of book serialization is currently underway, with The Martian, now a big movie, being the prime example of this fascinating method of distribution. Read More There are no lightsabers (because lightsabers are impossible) You'll never have a real lightsaber, because science you'll never be with a real lightsaber, because science since the first time viewers saw the lightsaber in Star Wars Episode IV:A New Hope, there's been demand for a real one (Unfortunately, science suggests real lightsabers are an impossibility. Read More), not laser battles, and not aliens. Nothing but science, ingenuity and the protagonist's main will to live..

Of course, Star Wars could take place in space, but The Martian It takes us to a place where we have never been. This movie is equally suspenseful, inspiring, and primal. The story it tells is simple and straightforward, but also upbeat and universally relatable, and that's a rarity in this genre.

Interstellar (2014)

Without a doubt, Interstellar It will be remembered as one of the science fiction classics of the future. Be smart:watch the best futuristic action movies. Be smart:watch the best futuristic action movies. There are a number of movies that combine shocking action with deep concepts. These are smart, thought-provoking movies that offer a very welcome form of smart entertainment. Read more . It's one of the few movies that does justice to the vastness of space, as well as the inherent wonder and mystery of it all. Interstellar respects the vastness of space in a way that Star Wars never did.

But more than that, Interstellar has much more ambition than Star Wars - and that's saying a lot, considering how many more Star Wars The films are in planning and the immense canonical universe that has generated since its inception in 1977..

Indeed, Interstellar achieves much more in a single film. It's not to say that it's a perfect movie, but it certainly tries to be the ultimate cinematic experience. The scope is massive, the acting is phenomenal, the concepts are cutting-edge, and the visuals are ethereal.

Interstellar It is dense and compact while Star Wars it's wide and shallow. There's nothing inherently wrong with being wide and shallow, but when it comes to cinematic ambition, Interstellar is the clear choice.

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Gravity (2013)

Many people see Gravity , Interstellar , and The Martian like the Holy Trinity of modern space movies that really take space seriously. These films take a pragmatic and realistic view of space, with very few fantasy elements included, and are truly refreshing.

Gravity He was the one who started that trend. (It also grossed more than the other two movies in all meaningful metrics, including Domestic, Worldwide, and Total.) Gravity But he deserves praise for what he tried to do.

This is how Gravity Beat Star Wars - It focuses on the one truth of space that Star Wars It conveniently overlooks:Space is the most dangerous thing about space. , even more than the Sith Lords and the Galactic Emperors.

Gravity it's a thrill ride from start to finish, and the threats along that journey are more relatable to everyday people than the enemies in Star Wars. . In that sense, Gravity it is much more praiseworthy.

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Other notable mentions

There are several other high-quality space movies released in the last decade that also deserve credit:Sun (2007), Moon (2009), and even Avatar (2009). Better than Star Wars ? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on how you see it.

Don't get me wrong Star Wars It is impressive, and its impact on society cannot be denied. I mean, just look how many The Force Awakens parodies Trailers were made. And that's just the tip of the iceberg as all of this Star Wars demonstrates. fanfiction stories.

So what do you think? It's Star Wars The best space science fiction movie of all time? If not, which ones are really better? To what extent do you agree or disagree with this list? However, feel free to let us know in the comments below!