Science Fiction

Asimov's Laws won't actually stop robots from harming us, so here's a better solution

How do you stop a robot from hurting people? Many existing robots, such as those assembling cars in factories, shut down immediately when a human comes near. But this quick fix wouldn’t work for something like a self-driving car that might have to move to avoid a collision, or a care robot that …

Stargate is returning with a prequel series about beloved archaeologist Catherine Langford

The 10-episode Stargate Origins will air on a dedicated new streaming service, Stargate Command.<p>It’s been more than two decades since the <i>Stargate</i> franchise first united our nerdy love of archaeology and interdimensional space stuff, and now the universe that spawned two movies and a trio of …

‘Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets’ review

<i>Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets</i> is a case study in what to avoid when trying to establish a sci-fi universe. At first glance, the …

The Dizzying 'Valerian' Is Not Your Average Sci-Fi Blockbuster

Not by a long shot<p>Watching <i>Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets</i>, you get the sense that the movie’s director, Luc Besson, knew he wouldn’t get the chance to make a sequel. The sci-fi extravaganza, over two hours in length, is so overstuffed with worlds and creatures and gizmos and ideas that …

Review: 'Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets' Is As Empty As 'No Man's Sky'

I’d been looking forward to <i>Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets</i> for months, ever since the first trailer dropped. That trailer really got me pumped up; the trippy Beatles song, the adorable little protagonists, and a colorful alien world from the creator of <i>The Fifth Element</i>. I honestly …

Women Are Running the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show Right Now and We Couldn’t Be Happier

When <i>Doctor Who</i> announced that <i>Broadchurch</i> star Jodie Whittaker had been cast as the 13th doctor, the internet exploded with joy (and, naturally, some haters) over the fact that the show was getting its first female lead. Women have a long history as leading sci-fi/fantasy stars (shout-out to Gillian …

Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets

It’s called Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets, but what that evocative title actually refers to is a vast galactic colony comprising …

The Weirdest Aliens of 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets'

'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets'<p>Credit: Vikram Gounassegarin<p>Thousands of bizarre alien species coexist in one giant alien megastrucure …

'Valerian' Deserves To Be Seen On The Biggest Big Screen You Can Find

Much of the talk concerning Chris Nolan’s <i>Dunkirk</i> swirled around how well it played in IMAX and/or 70mm and how it personified the prototypical big-screen theatrical experience at its best. The good news is that most of said chatter is correct. <i>Dunkirk</i> does look marvelous in IMAX 70mm and it does …

Attention Passengers: Your Flight Will Arrive 20 Years behind Schedule

A commercial airliner passes through a temporary wrinkle in spacetime en route from Tokyo to San Francisco. Its passengers arrive seemingly on time, …

Luc Besson Can't Find All the 'Fifth Element' Easter Eggs in 'Valerian'

Even if you've seen all of French auteur Luc Besson's films, which include such visionary masterworks as "Le Femme Nikita," "The Professional," "The Fifth Element," and "Lucy," you won't be prepared for the visual splendor of "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets."<p>Based on a groundbreaking …

Stargate returns with Stargate Origins series, an MGM streaming exclusive

Stargate is the epic, storied TV and movie sci-fi franchise that gets the least amount of credit, overshadowed by the likes of Star Trek and Star Wars. But fans of the series know the truth: Stargate is a deep well of space adventure fiction that you can lose yourself in, and it’s fantastic that …

Cara Delevingne Shows Off Her Singing Skills in Valerian

Triple threat.<p>In case you needed reminding that Cara Delevingne is a bona fide triple threat (or is it quadruple threat?), the model-turned-actress-turned-singer-turned-designer is set to showcase her musical talent in the upcoming <i>Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.</i><p>Delevingne, who plays …

Dark Tower Director Explains the Short Runtime

Director Nikolaj Arcel has explained why his upcoming movie adaptation of Stephen King’s <b>The Dark Tower</b> is only 95 minutes long. Set to release this …

Valerian film review: Lost (and confused) in space, but still a blast | Ars Technica

Bad ending, bad acting, but Besson nails that Fifth Element feeling, anyway.<p><i>Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets</i> could be the most enjoyable …

‘Valerian’ and ‘Apes’ Would Have Been Better With Bad VFX

Good special effects are missing the point.<p>The critical consensus for <i>Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets</i> praises the films’s visuals but …

Cara Delevingne Just Debuted Her New Single “I Feel Everything”

With her sure-to-be summer blockbuster, <i>Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets,</i> released today, model, actress, and novelist Cara Delevingne can add recording artist to her résumé, too. The star took to social media today to share the news of her first official single, and it’s definitely worth …

Dane DeHaan, Please Stick to Indie Movies

Dane DeHaan is in the wrong movie this summer. Instead of <i>Valerian</i>, he ought to have done <i>Dunkirk</i>. Christopher Nolan’s war movie is exactly the kind of …

Game of Thrones Showrunners Address Confederate Backlash

<b>Confederate</b> seemed like an intriguing premise for an HBO series: an alternate-history science fiction show depicting an America where the South had …

Inside Look: Blade Runner 2049 Experience at Comic-Con

With Comic-Con in full swing this week, the amount of panels, previews, games, and brand activations to check out seem endless. But this year, there …

Videos: SDCC 2017: Blade Runner 2049 Experience Full Exclusive Tour

This is a new video From JoBlo Movie Trailers of the <i>Blade Runner 2049</i> Experience, which is currently at Comic-Con. The experience is a combination of …

Watch CNET's biggest sci-fi nerds review the film 'Valerian'

'Valerian' Delivers an Extraterrestrial Spectacle (Review)

A heaping dose of extraterrestrial eye candy invades movie theaters across the U.S. today (July 21).<p>"Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" is …

Jazz Legend Herbie Hancock Tells Us How He Wound Up In the Sci-Fi Epic 'Valerian'

When Luc Besson offered Herbie Hancock a role in his nearly $200 million space opera <i>Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets</i>, the pioneering jazz …

Cara Delevingne Sings On ‘Valerian’ Soundtrack & Her Song Is Actually Really Good — Listen

Model, actress…singer? Yes, Cara Delevingne is officially a triple threat, and we’re here for it! Listen to her epic song ‘I Feel Everything’ from …

'Blade Runner 2049,' 'Stranger Things' bring VR to Comic-Con

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Comic-Con visitors are getting more than an early look at anticipated movies and shows. They're going inside them with virtual reality.<p>The studios behind "Blade Runner 2049" and "Stranger Things 2" have created temporary installations in downtown San Diego where fans can soar …

Sci-Fi Movies That Prove the Future Really Is Female

There's this misconception out there that sci-fi movies are for and about dudes. Sure, many of the films in this genre are helmed by men — but women are often the real stars of them. Exhibit A: <i>Star Wars</i> focuses on the tiff between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, but everyone knows Princess Leia is …

Before You See Valerian, Revisit The Fifth Element’s Iconic Costumes with Milla Jovovich and Jean Paul Gaultier

With its dazzling visuals and star-studded cast, <i>Valerian</i> arrives in theaters today with fanfare befitting an epic. Its timing is apt: 20 years ago, director Luc Besson raised the bar for science fiction films with his first intergalactic blockbuster, <i>The Fifth Element</i>. The tale of special forces …

MovieBob Reviews: VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS

<b>Is Valerian good?</b><p>Yes. It’s messy, it’s awkward, it’s bizarrely constructed and at points verges over into weirdly “problematic;” but also ingenious, …

Luc Besson's Valerian looks spectacular but the plot's a mess

Writer/director Luc Besson is a prime example of how a filmmaker's reputation can be made from just one or two films. Thanks to The Professional and …