Entries Tagged 'Science Fiction' ↓

IMDB: The Jacket

Basic Plot: An amnesiac war vet, mistakenly sent to an institute for the criminally insane, is subject to cruel experimentation. The idea is loosely based on a Jack London story, which is based on the tale of Ed Morrel.

Outburst: From the intro’s juxtaposition of chaotic war footage and classical soundtrack, I knew I was in for a dark, surreal ride. This is the unintentional doppelganger of the movie Jacob’s Ladder, with a science-fiction, mystery slant instead of demonic horror.

— Charlie Kaufman fans, and folks who have always wanted to see Jacob’s Ladder but who don’t see merit in pissing themselves with fear, will appreciate this film.

Wikipedia Entry: The Jacket (film)
Wikipedia Entry: Ed Morrell

BUY IT NOW! The Jacket (DVD)

IMDB: Inception

Basic Plot: In a world where thieves can steal ideas using dreams, can they also plant new ideas in your head and make you believe they are yours?

Outburst: Complex and bizarre, with stunning visual effects and lots of action. There are overtones of the Matrix, various philosophers, and a good bit of Hollywood charm. My biggest problem with the movie was the idea of a ‘kick’ — that one would automatically wake when experiencing falling (more specifically the sensation known as a hypnic jerk). I’ve experienced dreams in which I’ve fallen to the bottom and neither awakened nor died as urban legend would have you believe. Otherwise, this is a beautiful and original concept film, destined to be a science fiction groundbreaker.

/DVD/CULT — This is a complex, cerebral movie concept brought to life. It’s easy enough to follow the first time if you are paying attention, but it would probably benefit from a second or third viewing. I smell the makings of a cult classic provided they don’t screw it up by adding cheesy sequels.

Official Site: Inception
Wikipedia Entry: Inception

BUY IT NOW! Inception (2-Disc Ed.) [Blu-ray]
BUY IT NOW! Inception (DVD)

IMDB: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Basic Plot: After discovering his ex-girlfriend has undergone a procedure to have him erased from memory, the socially awkward Joel Barish decides to do likewise.

Outburst: This is the strangest, and possibly one of the most original, romance movies I have seen. It’s nice to see actors display awesome portrayals of roles we do not associate with them.

/CULT — It’s a great cerebral date movie, or a movie to watch together with your significant other. Good for those of us in imperfect relationships; the characters are so dysfunctional it won’t leave you feeling unfulfilled.

Wikipedia Entry: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
BUY IT NOW! Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (Widescreen Ed.)

IMDB: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Basic Plot: Based loosely on the X-Men comic books and movies, this is the origin of the character Wolverine.

Outburst: What’s up with the bad special effects; is it a lighting problem? Some of the scenes are obviously fake, and some are obviously shot in a Hollywood studio with painted backdrops. And bits of dialogue are, um, weak. Numerous plot inconsistencies between this and other X-Men movies and the fact that some of the characters seem to waffle in their actions for no reason make this the weakest of the X-Men series so far.

— Taken as an alternate universe Wolverine story, it’s okay for a mainstream movie. Unfortunately, those who love Wolverine (aka the target audience) will be disappointed in the fact that this doesn’t match the storyline of any of the comic books or the preceding X-Men movies.

Wikipedia Entry: Wolverine (movie)
WATCH IT NOW! X-Men Origins: Wolverine

IMDB: Daybreakers

Basic Plot: In a world populated by vampires, one researcher is recruited to help save mankind.

Outburst: A great movie, despite Willem Dafoe’s painfully fake accent and numerous scientific/plot inconsistencies. Why do all science fiction movies have to feature modernistic and retro 50′s furniture and clothes? I’ve landed in the vampire Matrix.

— If you like bloody vampire movies and sci-fi, this one’s a must to see. If you need for your vampire movies to make scientific sense (unimpeded by the supernatural and unexplained) you’ll want to move on.

Official Website: Daybreakers
BUY IT NOW! Daybreakers [Blu-ray]

NASA’s silly sci-fi film list — 2012 the most flawed (w/ Video)

(PhysOrg.com) — At a conference held at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, NASA experts have voted 2012 the most scientifically flawed and absurd science fiction film ever made.

IMDB: Monsters

Basic Plot: A newspaper reporter must get the boss’s daughter home across a zone infected with alien life.

Outburst: This is not a scary movie, but more of a suspense-filled romance story. You will be amazed at what can be produced with an ultra-low budget and just two crew members. I was impressed by the acting.

— Slower to progress than what most modern audiences are used to, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Official Website

IMDB: The Book of Eli

Basic Plot: A lone man fights his way across a post-apocalypse America to find a safe resting spot for a special book.

Outburst: If you haven’t guessed that the ‘secret book’ is a Bible within 30 minutes, you really need to crawl out of that hole. Despite the visually stunning austerity and awesome fight scenes, having Christian theological stories imbedded into movies sold to me as classic mainstream leaves me feeling cold.

— As a violent Christian metaphor, it’s a solid two-stars and probably worthy of adding to your collection for the wonderful characters and cinematography. Otherwise, it’s just an interesting time killer worth seeing only once.

BUY IT NOW! The Book of Eli [Blu-ray]
BUY IT NOW! The Book of Eli (DVD)

IMDB: The Matrix (1999)
IMDB: The Animatrix (2003) — cartoon shorts
IMDB: The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
IMDB: The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

Basic Plot: A computer hackers discovers his world is an illusion run by machines and enlists with human rebels in a war to save humanity.

Outburst: So I put these all together, because really these are best watched as a set. “WHAT!?” you say, “the sequels didn’t compare to the first, how could you?” Sure, when you watch it for visually stunning and original special effects, the later movies seem a little mundane. When you look at them as an attempt to elaborate on a philosophically cyclical construct presented in the first movie, they are enriching. If you don’t understand what I’m talking about, read more literature.

/CULT/DVD — Get it, love it, read more Socrates and Keats.

BUY IT NOW! The Ultimate Matrix Collection [Blu-ray]

IMDB: Avatar

Basic Plot: Humanity attempts to take over a alien planet. A disabled soldier is torn between the desire to follow orders and the need to protect the world he has come to be a part of.

Outburst: Am I the only person not totally blown away by this movie? Okay, so I didn’t get to see it in IMAX 3-D with the dorky glasses. The special effects are still stellar, but a few times I could tell where objects were placed or moved to enhance the 3D effect, just like in those ridiculous rides at theme parks. Once you get past all the glitz, the plot itself is rather mundane.

/CULT — Folks who want to paint themselves blue notwithstanding, this is just an average-good movie. It’s pure Hollywood entertainment.

Official Avatar Movie Website
Wikipedia Entry: Avatar

BUY IT NOW! Avatar (2Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray]