Does the cinema mimic our lives, or is it the other way around?
As with any other piece of art, you’d never know which bootstrap paradox you’re trapped in. So, without a clear answer about the origin of inspiration, the beauty of this question remains intact. While the world debates around this topic, the best you can do is observe how narratives are evolving in modern cinema— particularly, the Sci-Fi genre.
Modern Sci-Fi movies go the extra mile, instead of settling for unrelatable heroes for the audience. Upcoming movies, like Nath Milburn’s Ivory Night at the Center of the Galaxy, feature an ordinary character caught in an extraordinary series of intergalactic madness.
You see, the superheroes no longer have the burden of a glorious purpose since birth. So, paired with musical sequences and humor, writers bring reality a bit closer with the Sci-Fi genre.
Read more below!
Modern Day Sci-Fi and Ivory Night at the Center of the Galaxy
Contrary to popular opinion, modern-day Sci-Fi is no longer just about advanced tech or elaborate missions, serving a divine purpose. In fact, people got bored with watching the same content where a tough person was expected to make tough decisions.
Rather, it’s much closer to reality than one could think of.
Paired with stunning visuals, grey characters, and no black & white theory, modern-day Sci-Fi features a fictional world that stems from reality.
The characters aren’t stone cold towards their love interests. Nor do they have a heart of gold and save the world at the end of the day. Instead, these characters are very ‘humane’, their distinction mimicking humans more than they do demigods.
As you can guess from the new releases in the cinema, the protagonists aren’t known solely by their extraordinary powers. It is their emotional connection and strong moral values that drive the course of action in Sci-Fi movies. Not only that, but unravelled secrets, boiling conflicts, and tense atmosphere also add to the uniqueness of the genre.
Thus, far from the cloak of seriousness, modern Sci-Fi creators use the lively elements of humor and rhythmic music. After all, a true cinematic experience isn’t possible without a good laugh and music that gives you goosebumps. So, layering the narrative with a mix of goodness, Sci-Fi movies are changing for the better.
How Ivory Night at the Center of the Galaxy Comes Into the Picture?
Nath Milburn’s upcoming movie fits naturally into the basic concept of modern-day Sci-Fi. It doesn’t rely on futuristic machinery or an arch of saving-the-world (or the universe, for that matter). Instead, it blends the currently existing themes of AI into the narrative, while hooking the audience with its retro-style graphics.
Moreover, its distinct music and brilliantly written comedic sequences are worth giving a watch with your folks.
Though the movie is in its pre-production phase right now, the trailer depicts modern-day Sci-Fi, blended neatly with reality. It’s evident from the limited clipping that the director doesn’t enforce his vision on the audience. Whether the protagonist is good or bad, hero or villain, that’s something left for the audience to decide.
You can try to unravel the secrets of Ivory Night’s story once it hits the cinema screens.
But for now, let’s focus on the role of humor and music in modern-day Sci-Fi flicks.
Understanding Humor: Why the Superheroes Aren’t So Perfect Anymore
Where’s the fun if the protagonist isn’t overwhelmed by the havoc around them?
Modern-day Sci-Fi isn’t about depicting flawless, emotionally strong characters. Instead, it gives them enough room to navigate through their ‘humanity’ with relevant episodes of confusion and emotional breakdowns. And the natural human response to unforeseen circumstances is best expressed through the use of humor. This narrative can also be observed in Milburn’s upcoming, Ivory Night at the Center of the Galaxy.
Essentially, the writers allow their characters to simmer in the chaos of humor rather than escape it. To understand it better, humor is a good storytelling device that doesn’t distract the audience from following the narrative. But it’s actually an attention grabber that lets the audience take a peek inside the complexities of a character’s mind and emotional state.
1. Thor: Ragnarok
Taking an example from Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok (2017), the director made excellent use of humor in the entire movie.
Remember the moment where Dr Strange sends Loki into the ‘falling dimension’ to have a one-on-one talk with Thor?
Didn’t the scene itself feel like a teacher expressing concerns to a guardian— which obviously highlighted Loki’s mischief on earth?
And to put the cherry on top, the “I’ve been falling, for THIRTY MINUTES!” delivery by Loki was absolutely humorous. This type of humor nullifies the seriousness of the Sci-Fi genre— bridging the gap between the audience and the characters.
2. Infinity War (2018)
You can find this characteristic consistent with Infinity War (2018), too. The banter of “Where’s/Who’s/ Why Is Gamora” between Star-Lord, Tony Stark, and Drax set the audience in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. In the midst of looking for Thanos, the confusion-driven meetup between both intergalactic teams was a well-needed relief.
3. Endgame (2019)
This type of use for dialogue has proven to be quite a successful approach for Sci-Fi creators. If you remember the time travel frenzy from Endgame (2019), then you know how the cinema erupted in laughter. As Captain America met ‘America’s ass’ from 2012’s Battle of New York, he got super embarrassed about his past.
From the “I have eyes on Loki” to “You gotta be sh*tting me” dialogues, the writers understood the assignment. Thus, to say that the Captain was mentally rolling his eyes would be an understatement. Similarly, the Ivory Night at the Center of the Galaxy trailer features moments of embarrassment that viewers particularly laugh off.
4. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
As Peter Parker heads on to tail the Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), his best friend, Ned Leeds, has his back. When confronted by his teacher (as to why he’s not present at the party), he dodges it well. Instead of stating the truth, Ned utters a shy but believable, “I’m… looking… at… p*rn”.
This boy really had to sacrifice his image to cover up for his best friend. Talk about loyalty, lol.
You see, instances like these are what add to the humanity of these characters from Sci-Fi flicks. And in turn, this is the precise factor that helps the audience connect with the characters.
5. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Lastly, in the movie, Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), it was more than just a delight to witness Andrew Garfield’s character on the big screen. However, Ned’s grandma didn’t give two sh*That’s about it (lol).
So when Peter shot his webshooters at the wall (and bread) to ‘prove’ that he’s the real Spidey, things happened. Ignoring how a multiversal clone of her grandson’s best friend was in her house, Grandma Lola focused more on cobwebs. Believing she won’t be able to clean that part of the ceiling, she orders Peter to get the cobwebs off for her. This particular instance was able to highlight how the elderly have different priorities and would always think practically.
6. Ivory Night Movie (In Production)
In Nath Milburn’s movie featuring Ivory Nightingale, her character is surely a treat for the eye. Not only does she embark on cosmic adventures, but a crew of muppets also accompanies her. Though they do add a comical element to the movie itself, one only goes into wondering how Nightingale would bring balance to cosmic chaos.
Other than that, her status as a multimedia content creator bridges the gap between present-day reality and a fictional universe.
Now that you know about the integration of humor into modern-day Sci-Fi movies (and a little information on Ivory Night at the Center of the Galaxy)— let’s move on to the aspect of music.
See also: The Downsizing Revolution: Trading Square Footage for Quality of Life
Not Simply a Noise: Music as a Storytelling Medium
Music scores were actually created before for the purpose of adding to the fighting sequences of Sci-Fi movies. But since godliness isn’t the priority anymore, the same goes for personalized background scores. Now, creators tend to add music that already has value in pop culture.
Whether it’s Deadpool dancing to NSYNC’s ‘Bye, Bye, Bye’ in Deadpool vs Wolverine (2024), or Thor making a lightning entry to the Bifrost with Led Zeppelin’s ‘Immigrant Song’ playing in the background— the magic remains all the same.
Frankly, Deadpool doesn’t give two sh*ts about who he’s killing. His unhinged character particularly enjoys fighting off his enemies. The same goes for the morally-driven Thor, whose dutiful Asgardian genes compel him to defend his people from the wrath of Surtur.
As evident by the song composition of these tracks, they go perfectly well with the personalities of the protagonists. And the same goes for their surrounding characters.
Music Used In Other Famous Sci-Fi Flicks
If you take Loki’s smirk (expressing how proud he is of his brother) before the beat drops for the ‘Immigrant Song’, then you know that it highlights reconciled differences between the two brothers. It has become a cultural representation of brotherly bond and sheer might.
Though it’s not disclosed yet, the songs that’ll be featured within the Ivory Night flick, one can surely expect its song choices. With its director drawing huge inspiration from Barbarella, Moon, and The Three-Body Problem, there is no harm in guessing if the movie’s official soundtrack will feature the retro music genre.
Similarly, Quicksilver’s famous slo-mo sequence from X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) features Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). The track plays as he saves the inhabitants of Professor X’s School for Gifted Youngsters from the mansion explosion, in a very nonchalant way. The lyrics ‘I travel the world and seven seas’ shone a subtle light onto the time-travelling power of this character.
(You might spot similar signs in Ivory Night at the Center of the Galaxy!)
Ending roll credits also serve as good closures to fantastic Sci-Fi flicks. Take Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016), Endgame (2019), or Superman (2025), for example. They feature the Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Bop, Redbone’s Come and Get Your Love, and Teddybears’ Punkrocker. These tracks have become classics for representing the three protagonists (Spidey, Star-Lord, and Superman) in their franchises.
Sci-Fi Narrative: How Was It Before?
The traditional narrative of Sci-Fi was quite rigid. A hero meant to serve a glorious purpose or sacrifice the love of his life while saving the world. The modern-day audience is fed up with these cliché plot structures.
The heroes were written down as symbols— someone meant to be admired from afar. And though the viewers did briefly enjoy this narrative, it wasn’t enough to help them actually ‘connect’ with the character.
If music and humor were used in the movies, they were rarely ever remembered for their effectiveness or lasting impact.
Noting that, the audience doesn’t want the protagonist to cry about the rest of their lives in regret. Nor do they want seriousness or a black-and-white reality to persist within the narrative.
After all, real life’s already too much of a hassle to deal with.
The audience wants a light-hearted escape that doesn’t entangle them in the abyss of seriousness. But that too, at a condition.
The depiction mustn’t feel too distant from reality. Not too close. Not too far either. Just at the right distance.
The elements of humor & music help creators depict the fictional reality of Sci-Fi heroes without alienating them from the audience.
So, Where’s Sci-Fi Headed from Here?
It can be quite difficult to assume where Sci-Fi exactly goes from this point on. But in all fairness, seeing how the evolution has been so far, it’d be safe to say this.
It’s headed in the right direction.
The reason to support this idea is that creators and film directors like Ivory Night at the Center of the Galaxy’s Nath Milburn are bridging the gap between fiction and reality with the use of music and humor. If you’re a devoted cinephile, then you know what the deal’s all about. Sci-Fi flicks having the foundation of relatability are essentially the backbone for well-deserving viewership.
Keeping that in mind, the seamless blending between human emotions and fictional realities has proved to be a great escape from the busy lives of the audience. No matter where you look within the intergalactic abyss, human emotions and instincts remain the same. This way, the chaos is digestible, and so is the music during random fight sequences.
If you’ve watched a number of Sci-Fi flicks already, then you might enjoy the upcoming Ivory Night Movie, where Ivory Nightingale fights off AI entities far off in the universe. Its retro design, brilliant humor, and matching music title sequences make it a movie worth waiting for.
Want to get more info on this? Check out their website today.
