Tag: sci-fi

Daybreakers (2009)

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This is a sci-fi vampire movie that manages to straddle being very smart and pretty damned cheesy. However the action is solid, it features three excellent actors, and the gore is plentiful. I am also a sucker for movies with a Blade Runner influence. Daybreakers is a bit of a rollercoaster ride however. One moment you will notice the very insightful social commentary, the next you will be rolling your eyes at something ridiculous. The good news is that there’s a good chance you will remain entertained throughout.

Available on 4K UHD / Blu-ray from Lionsgate.

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The Invisible Man (1933)

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A scientist discovers how to make himself invisible, and the process drives him into a mad crime spree. This may be the most high profile film discussed on this site, the National Film Registry considers it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” I decided to feature it anyway as this movie is a real standout among all other films I’ve seen from the ‘30s. The script is adapted from a book by H. G. Wells, as well as “The Murderer Invisible” by Philip Wylie. Wells didn’t appreciate the fact that director James Whale made the doctor a madman, but I feel that was a wise choice. Who but a lunatic would perpetrate such dastardly deeds? The special effects were ages ahead of their time and still look great 80+ years later, but that isn’t all this film has to offer. The Invisible Man is a perfectly paced, and gleefully negative, horror film balanced with a sense of humor. All the performances are great, and Claude Rains is perfect in the lead role. His ranting voice alone is like no other. Yes, of course, don’t miss out on James Whale’s Frankenstein movies, but I rate this one a notch higher. I suggest checking out the 1998 film Gods and Monsters too, as it is a good dramatization of the director’s life.

Available on UHD / Blu-ray from Universal.

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Stalker (1979)

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I’ve avoided recommending this one for a while as it’s very well known among art film and SF fans. However I will wager that there’s a big group of people born after 1999 that have never experienced this Soviet cinematic masterpiece. This is based on the book “Roadside Picnic” by The Strugatsky Brothers and the plot is simple: There’s a place called The Zone, where magical things happen. It is very dangerous to travel there. Two men hire Stalker to guide them. Strange things occur. This is my favorite Andrei Tarkovsky film, likely because it coincides with, and reflects, the original industrial music era. Right when Throbbing Gristle was in full swing and SPK was getting started, this movie came out in theaters. Anyone familiar with those groups will see how this film looks like root industrial music sounded – dark and decayed. In fact, the early post-industrial group Laibach sampled sounds from Stalker on their fantastic song “Brat Moj.” In my universe this movie is one of the greatest ever made, and the story behind its production is totally insane. I’ll let you investigate that on your own AFTER you watch this film. One word of caution if you’ve never seen a Tarkovsky movie before, the pace is deliberately very slow. Your patience will pay off big time.

Available on Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.

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The Mist (2007)

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This is the original movie version of Stephen King’s 1980 novella. I skipped the recent TV series because of the poor ratings. What we have here is neither the best, nor the worst King adaptation. I’d rate The Mist above average among those films. Why the hell am I recommending this? Well, it is creepy as hell if you don’t know what is going on in the plot. At least that was my experience when first seeing the movie. I took a look recently, and it still looked good, in spite of some slightly dated CG. Bottom line, if you missed this one and haven’t read the book, there’s a decent chance you’ll enjoy it.

Available on Blu-ray from ummm… well it’s available anyhow.

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RoboCop 2 (1990)

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The original RoboCop is one of my all time favorite films. RoboCop 3 and the TV series are total crap. RoboCop 2 however is a pretty damn entertaining movie actually. It has all the important cast that survived the first film, the OG Red Dragon from Manhunter (Tom Noonan), and was directed by… Irvin Kershner. Who? Well he was the director of a little film called The Empire Strikes Back. Yep, he was obviously somewhat co-directed by George Lucas, but still, facts are facts. He also did the flawed but entertaining final Sean Connery James Bond flick Never Say Never Again (which was weirdly released the same year as Roger Moore’s Bond in Octopussy). One major bonus here is that FX master Phil Tippett was allowed almost total creative freedom, even to the extent where he directed the visual effects heavy scenes himself. So if you’ve never seen this, or it’s been a while, you’re in for a treat.

Available on Blu-ray from Shout Factory.

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Things to Come (1936)

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I avoided this film for a while, but damn it’s really something special. The story is the unfolding of a century from war and chaos, to utopian innovation. I was already a fan of H.G. Welles adaptations since I was a kid, I’ve read some of his books as an adult, but I never really understood the breadth of his imagination until seeing this movie. Welles wrote The Shape of Things to Come in 1933. If it’s anything like The War of the Worlds, the book is FAR better than the film. In spite of that, to SEE how ‘30s filmmakers applied Welles’ ideas is truly stunning. Things to Come has a far more spectacular look than I would have thought was possible before WW2. In the beginning of the film everything appears like you would expect. As the story moves forward in time, it all becomes more and more wonderfully bizarre, and just keeps getting weirder. The grim war years are particularly something to behold. Bottom line, if you are a science fiction fan, this is essential viewing.

Available on Blu-ray from Criterion Collection.

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District B13 (2004)

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A cop and a former hooligan join forces to stop a disaster. District B13 remains one of the more over-the-top action films I’ve seen in the last 20 years. It’s also on the cheesy and unrealistic side, but if that doesn’t scare you off… buckle up. This movie isn’t even 90 minutes long and the pace is insanely fast. You won’t know what hit you.

Available on Blu-ray from Magnolia.

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Lifeforce (1985)

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An astronaut inadvertently brings back… Space Vampires. This is a personal favorite that nearly qualifies as a guilty pleasure. Lifeforce is very over-the-top, and even cheesy at times, but I think you’ll be too entertained to be bothered. This is one seriously fast-paced blast of an action, sci-fi, horror mashup. Directed by Tobe Hooper, and somehow financed by the Cannon Group with a generous budget, plus the cinematography and makeup effects still look great. They even made a 70mm version of the film, which I’ve seen, and the sound design / score were a delight for my ears. This film also features a surprisingly perfect cast, with a standout memorable moment featuring Patrick Stewart. The last reel of the film is just plain bonkers too. Get ready for a good time if you’ve never had the pleasure.

Available on Blu-ray from Shout Factory.

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Richard III (1995)

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I love Ian McKellan, and he cites this film as his proudest achievement. He was not only the executive producer, he co-wrote the screenplay. The director Richard Loncraine also did one episode of the excellent Band of Brothers mini-series. What we get is a very weird and dark adaptation of the famous Shakespeare play. This one is set in an alternate 20th century, where King Richard is a nazi-styled killer with modern weapons. Yes, you have to navigate the usual convoluted Shakespeare dialog. Trust me, it’s worth the effort. The climax of this film is totally insane.

Not available on domestic Blu-ray.

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1984 (1984)

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This is an excellent adaptation of George Orwell’s essential dystopian novel. It’s also the last appearance of Richard Burton, and he is fantastic. You would never know he struggled to get through each take because of his health. This is also my favorite John Hurt performance. The movie looks amazing thanks to Roger Deakins (DP on Sicario, Fargo, and a ton of others). A rare “bleach bypass” film processing technique was used for that grim, desaturated look. It’s amazing that some scenes were shot on the exact days referenced in Winston Smith’s diary. A ton of care and detail was put into this film, but please read the book first.

Available on Blu-ray from Criterion Collection.

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