Alien Invasion Movies: The Overlooked Realities We Never Get Right

When it comes to alien invasion movies, filmmakers often bend the rules to suit their narratives, but sometimes these liberties taken can lead to a disconnect with the fundamentals of science and logical storytelling. Here's a closer look at the realities we often miss and the reasons they matter.

The Eternal Battle Between Humans and Aliens

In the grand scheme of alien invasion movies, one constant remains: humans never seem to falter or grow too troubled by the impending danger. It's rare to see our protagonist succumbing to despair, panic, or loss after the first battle. Instead, they pick up their pieces, devise new strategies, and move forward with the hope that this time, it will end differently.

However, if we step back and consider the situation from a more realistic perspective, the implications are stark. If an alien invasion resulted in catastrophic damage and a significant portion of the human population lost their lives, how long would it take for humanity to fully recover? Could we really bounce back from the destruction of major cities and the collapse of global infrastructure without any real signs of struggle or despair? The answer is no, not in a short enough timeframe to fit into a typical movie plot.

Aliens as Biological Organisms vs. Omnipotent Entities

Another critical aspect filmmakers often overlook is the biological nature of aliens. Humans are, after all, a biological organism, so it makes sense that aliens would be as well. Yet, in many films, aliens are portrayed as beings with instant and unlimited knowledge, capable of mind-bending feats that seem almost divine.

While aliens could indeed be biological organisms, their understanding and behavior wouldn't necessarily be comparable to that of humans. They might have entirely different biological structures, cognitive processes, and motivations, leading to vastly different interactions and conflicts. The idea that they could learn every detail about an entire species of 8 billion individuals within a relatable timeframe is highly improbable. Even if they managed to gain such knowledge, their inability to predict or understand all human behaviors accurately would be a natural consequence of their limited time and perspective.

The Challenge of Intergalactic Travel: Realistic vs. Cinematic

One of the most significant scientific barriers to intergalactic travel is time itself. The vast distances between stars and galaxies mean that even the fastest spacecraft, traveling at a significant fraction of the speed of light, would still take years, decades, or even centuries to reach a destination. For a single human lifetime, this presents a monumental challenge. Yet, in alien invasion movies, we often see aliens effortlessly flitting between planets and solar systems, almost as if the journey were a day trip.

This discrepancy between the scientific reality and the cinematic portrayal can be disorienting and undercut the credibility of the narrative. If the aliens manage to conquer the galaxy, one might expect their physical journey to have taken a considerable amount of time, which would naturally slow down their advance. Their constant presence on Earth could imply a few visits over many years, rather than a sudden invasion by a galactic superpower.

Unexplained Tolerances and Phenomena

Many alien invasion movies gloss over the logistical challenges and tolerances that an alien species would need to have when making contact with vastly different environments. For example, how do they survive in Earth's atmosphere or on its surface if their environment and biology are fundamentally different from ours? Would they have a built-in technological system to maintain their body temperature or atmospheric needs? These are questions that are rarely addressed, but they contribute to the overall realism of the story.

Additionally, the film usually doesn't cover whether the aliens have any methods to repair or replace any equipment or technology that could be damaged in an alien environment. If we assume that aliens have more advanced technology, the plot then forces them to demonstrate it with ease, without showing the real-world intricacies of maintaining and repairing such advanced machinery.

Conclusion

While alien invasion movies are primarily created for entertainment, it's important to recognize that the liberties taken in storytelling and scientific portrayals can affect the overall authenticity and engagement of the audience. By striving for a balance between creativity and factual accuracy, filmmakers can create stories that are both thrilling and believable.

So, the next time you watch an alien invasion movie, be aware of the underlying realities that remain hidden behind the special effects and thrilling action sequences. It's these missed opportunities that remind us how much we depend on a suspension of disbelief to suspend our understanding of the natural world and its limitations.