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Reality-Twisting Sci-FiApr 02 '01 (Updated May 13 '01) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line A good science fiction film should be able to make me forget I'm in 2001, while relating to my fears, emotions, or imagination. A good science fiction film should be able to transport me into the future or a different reality, make me forget I'm in 2001, while relating to my fears, emotions, or imagination. I like a sci-fi movie to be exciting, have a decent plot, and make me think. If a movie is claiming to be futuristic, I want to see the future, not the present all prettied up. In no particular order, here's my picks. Total Recall I like movies that make me confused. Is Arnold in a Recall adventure or reality? My friends and I energetically debated the early statement about blue skies on Mars since this doesn't occur until later into the movie and Arnold doesn't know that this is his ultimate goal. The idea of ancient aliens creating an atmosphere on Mars was interesting. The action was exciting including the little midgit with a machine gun, Sharon Stone sparring with Arnold, the tracking device in his nose, and the exploding head at the Mars starport. The puppet baby coming out of the guys stomach was silly. Pi Math, madness and God. This recent independent film grabbed my attention with its techno soundtrack and a plot focusing on math, spiritualism, and obsession. Max, the lead character, is a mathematical genius completely obsessed with finding an elusive numeric pattern that may unlock the secrets of the stock market, the Quran, and possibly other of life's mysteries. He sees mathematical patterns everywhere, especially in natural spirals from cream mixing with coffee to his fingerprint. His obsession leads him to drastic measures. Time Bandits When I was a child, I always wanted to be swept away into a fantastical adventure. That's why this fun movie by Terry Gilliam is one of my favorite in this genre. A band of (midget) bandits use a sacred map stolen from the Supreme Being to travel through time and plunder different places. The bandits first come across a present-day English boy, Kevin, who joins them on their travels. There are many splendid scenes like when they are locked in a hanging cage in a vast black sea of nothingness or when God's large, looming face chases them down a long corridor. Among some of the characters they come across are Robin Hood and a Roman warrior nobleman played by Sean Connery. eXistenZ This is another movie that has the viewer questioning reality. If you like video games, particularly RPGs, check this movie out. It's about a multi-player game that plugs into each user's spine and gives the users a complete sensory game world. Each user has a role to play and must successfully complete tasks to win. It's funny when the users encounter game characters who are in an idle mode and must be activated by saying a phrase or completing an action. Jennifer Jason Lee, Jude Law, and William Dafoe are cast. Blade Runner Living in L.A., I thought the futuristic, noir-ish city with Pacific Rim influences and hovering vehicles could possibly exist in the (relatively) near future. Harrison Ford plays a Blade Runner, a bounty hunter after human-like androids called replicants. The replicants, with a four year life span and used as planetary slaves, seek their makers to extend their life span. The replicants are not mere machines acting without conscience, through the last living replicants played by Rutger Hauer and Sean Young, we see that they value life and its beauty as humans do. Akira The only animated feature on my list. It's about children with ESP capabilities who fight to save a post nuclear, neo-Tokyo from a biker gang and its leader who has gained special powers from a government experiment. Frenetic action scenes with a plot. It is also interesting to see how Japanese movies such as Akira deal with catastrophes and the unique Japanese awareness of tragedy of enormous proportions after living through their nuclear holocaust Matrix Humans are just batteries. Wouldn't it be great to find a standalone, internal power source with low emissions and maintenance? That's what we are, we just don't realize it because are minds are in the Matrix living in an alternative reality. When some users break out into the "real" reality, they find it less than pleasant compared to the Matrix. Keanu Reeves is definitely not the best actors around, but he can be fun to watch. Yuen Wo Ping, one of the best action sequences choreographer (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Iron Monkey), has the characters excitingly mixing up martial arts and gun play. Starship Troopers This is one of my weakest picks, but the main reason I chose it is because of how it shows men and women in the future. I cannot stand it when movies proclaiming to be futuristic show women in 20th century roles. For instance, in the 5th Element women are once again the stewardess, the cashier, or other stereotypical, low power roles. This is not the future, this is a stale past. Starship Troopers have women on the football team and captains of starships. The co-ed barracks show men and women living and showering together without harassment or thought. I also liked how the aliens weren't necessarily the "bad guys", they were defending from our intrusion. Terminator Series The first was a love story with a grim futuristic outlook of technical monsters exterminating the human race. Kyle travels to the past to find, Sarah, a love he has yet to meet while protecting her from the Awwnold, the android. In the sequel, Sarah escapes from a mental hospital to assassinate the makers of the androids while a white LAPD cop gives chase (now that's scary). Lots of action, time traveling confusion, and a strong female lead. Star Wars Trilogy Everyone has seen this, so I don't have to say much. These movies brought us the Force, Light Sabres, Darth Vader, Yoda and unfortunately the Phantom Menace. Please, George, put more heart into the prequels and let the actors act without being upstaged by Jar Jar Binks. And while you're at it, a villian that scares me because of his actions not because the emperor says so. notable others: Contact - I really like reading Carl Sagan like Pale Blue Dot. This movie was 80% great, the ending however was so anti-climatic. I didn't like to be left wondering what the aliens looked like, and I sure didn't want to see, after her worm hole ride, her dad. Wrath of Khan & First Contact are my top Star Trek movies. I haven't seen these movies for awhile and they didn't have enough impact on me presently to make the list.  |
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by lindaohio
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