...or is it "The Shape of Things to Come"? (A title from one of my favorites by H.G. Wells written in 1933)
Science fiction like HG Wells and science fact as Project Mercury ignited my interests in outer space at an early age. I am not a "trekkie" (Or TREKKER as Gene Roddenberry insisted). I like a good program or story that can draw me into it. Those not afraid to share their dreams and curiosity create adventures, possibilities and often REALITY. I have been withness to science fiction becoming science fact and we as a planetary race have many surprises still in store for us should we not end up destroying ourselves.
The advent of nuclear weapons in the 1940's (no I wasn't alive then despite what some would like to think) brought an explosion of science fiction movies in the 1950's. Some were just dull but I have many favories.
It wasn't until the early 60's I caught up with stories like Jules Verne's Captain Nemo and Rocket Man (1949). When I finally retire from working I hope to have collected every one of my favorites (shuuu don't tell my wife!)
The Day the Earth Stood Still
(Edmund H. North, 1951)
Although I loved the robot and Keanu Reeves is an excellent actor I DISLIKE twisting the story and content of the original screenplay in the 2008 "remake". In the 1951 screenplay Michael Rennie played Klaatu and Patricia Neal played Helen Benson. Klaatu gave a departing message to the world:
"I am leaving soon, and you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. The universe grows smaller every day, and the threat of aggression by any group, anywhere, can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all, or no one is secure. Now, this does not mean giving up any freedom, except the freedom to act irresponsibly. Your ancesters knew this when they made laws to govern themselves and hired policemen to enforce them. We, of the other planets, have long accepted this principle. We have an organization for the mutual protection of all planets and for the complete elimination of aggression. The test of any such higher authority is, of course, the police force that supports it. For our policemen, we created a race of robots. Their function is to patrol the planets in spaceships like this one and preserve the peace. In matters of aggression, we have given them absolute power over us. This power cannot be revoked. At the first sign of violence, they act automatically against the aggressor. The penalty for provoking their action is too terrible to risk. The result is, we live in peace, without arms or armies, secure in the knowledge that we are free from aggression and war. Free to pursue more...profitable enterprises. Now, we do not pretend to have achieved perfection, but we do have a system, and it works. I came here to give you these facts. It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet, but if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned-out cinder. Your choice is simple: join us and live in peace, or pursue your present course and face obliteration. We shall be waiting for your answer. The decision rests with you."