Oppenheimer and Star Wars
For a long time now I have sustained that Star Wars is not science fiction - and indeed it isn't. Based on the same criteria, neither is Oppenheimer a movie about science - at least, not explicitly. Science Fiction Science Fiction is a specific genre. Although it lacks an exact definition, it usually involved the exploration of Mankind's "future", based on scientific concepts.
Hmmmmm I'd say the focus on revolutionary technologies like the Death Star, that change the equation so fundamentally between number of people needed to attack it versus number of people to be saved by destroying it do push Star Wars over the boundary and into science fiction.
It might not be hard science fiction, but it does explore issues of the future where such force multipliers are enabled by new technology.
But what is your definition to the extent that this fails to meet it?
@volkris The Death Star is a valid point. However, keep in mind that the Death Star itself was never a plot point in the movie; the plans for it were but they could be substituted by any number of McGuffins. The fact that the story - which really revolves around the eternal strife between Good and Evil - happens in a technologically advanced environment is trivial, because the same story could be told in any other context (e.g. medieval Japan).
That's fair, and yeah I thought it was kind of a close call, and I did have to think a little long to come up with that scifi angle :)
