Reply #6: 2001 and even 2010 were commercial successes,

[kentauros]

and yet there's still plenty that isn't explained to the audience. Look at any science fiction movie that relies on technology not known currently and how much explanation goes into it in the movie. Rather, it is mentioned and accepted within the story. No explanation needed. Do most audience members understand what warp drive or hyperspace is? Not likely, but they accept it as a form of faster-than-light travel. They don't need to know how it works, and they're fine with that.

With Ringworld, you do the same thing. Present these technologies evolutionary realities as existing and accepted to the characters within the story and the audience will as well. As with any story, the characters are what drive the interest in reading it or viewing it. To me, this movie Skyline doesn't appear to be all that character-driven. From the little info given so far, it appears to be yet another "aliens destroy the world" movie where character-driven storylines aren't that important, but special effects are.

As for how the religious right would react to these better stories: who cares? I doubt they accepted the concepts of evolution in 2001, or even the somewhat positive use of religion in Contact. They're not the majority of movie-goers. Let them get upset; it'll sell more tickets ;)