From growing vegetables on Mars to creating an artificial intelligence (AI) system that slowly begins to become the world’s biggest villain… science fiction films have posited hundreds of unique, and sometimes scary, possibilities for the future – but just how many of them are accurate?
Click start to play today’s Crossword, where you can guess sci-fi films with clues that have double meanings to help you along.
Not surprisingly, many Hollywood productions have used the sci-fi genre to create flights of fancy that are in no way scientifically plausible (think Jurassic Park and the concept of reversing extinction). Still, other movies have done their research and have successfully produced accurate scenarios. Here, we share a few from both categories:
Back to the Future (1985)
In this cult classic, set in the 1980s, Marty McFly is sent back to the 1950s after an experiment goes wrong. Time-travelling in a DeLorean with the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, Marty’s mission is to make his parents fall in love, or he will be erased from existence.
Verdict: The film gets more things wrong than right. Here’s what turned out to be accurate – it depicted the use of drones, and the rise of augmented reality, along with fingerprint payments that are uncannily similar to Apple or Google Pay. Unfortunately, the world has yet to see flying DeLoreans or teens on hoverboards, although some tech companies are working to make the latter happen.
Minority Report (2002)
A mystery/thriller set in 2054, John Anderton and his law enforcement team use psychic tech to arrest and convict murderers before they commit their crime. Things go haywire when Anderton himself is accused of committing a future crime.
Verdict: The realm of psychological interconnectedness and mindreading is so far beyond human reach, there’s no chance anyone’s going to be busting down doors for criminal intentions any time soon. However, Minority Report’s iconic scene of gesture-control computing is something designers and engineers have already brought to fruition. Some versions of this kind of user interface, with specialised gloves and virtual reality eye-wear, is here and is experiencing advancements and upgrades every day.
The Martian (2015)
Directed by sci-fi fan Ridley Scott, the film captures the experiences of a group of astronauts in 2035, on the Ares III mission to Mars. During the mission, astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a Martian sandstorm forces his team to leave him behind. The film follows his wait for rescue, during which time, he uses science and tech to survive.
Verdict: This film was a huge moment in the scientific community, and for sci-fi buffs. Scott worked with US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) to ensure the film was accurate. The investment paid off. From the use of Martian soil to grow plants, to the travel time between Earth and Mars – everything was factual. The film is so realistic that Nasa has been using it as part of its marketing campaign for actual human-crewed missions to the red planet in the 2030s.
Which film pushed the boundaries of reality for you the most? Play today’s Crossword and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.
