40 Years Ago, Star Wars Changed Movies Forever

SSgt Christopher Brose - 2001 introduced the technology that made scifi come alive on the screen.

CPT Jack Durish - I would say the same thing about Star Wars. 2001 put me to sleep the first time I watched it. (That was a shame, too, because before that I liked Arthur C. Clarke, but 2001 kinda killed it for me.) The first time I saw the entire movie, at the end of it I wondered what the point was. Actually, if I had to point to a movie before Star Wars that made sci-fi come alive on screen in a way that hadn't been done before, I'd probably go with Silent Running.

SSgt Christopher Brose - You'll notice that I commented only on "technology". 2001 was the first scifi film in which space travel was presented realistically. There have been many scifi films before 2001 and Star Wars that were exciting, but none looked real. And as to reality, I always find it amusing that the only one demonstrating fear while caught in a battle in space, was C3PO. Yes, Star Wars had a story. 2001 barely had a story. But Lucas didn't invent the technology. He borrowed it from 2001. He didn't invent the merchandising strategy. He borrowed it from the Japanese. And he sure as hell didn't invent the sequel. He just made them worse.

Fair enough.