I have a few thoughts on why contemporary science fiction films like Star Trek: Into Darkness don’t measure up to the class works by greats such as Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert and Robert Heinlein.
I’ve discussed this elsewhere, but I think great books grapple with important social issues. Science fiction has an illustrious history of taking on big ideas and making them come alive with captivating characters, action oriented plots, and direct challenges to contemporary values and culture. Many of the recent movies don’t, and this is what I discuss in greater detail in this blog post over at The Beacon.