Who doesn't like a good movie, and never more close to home than now, that imagines our individual ability to persevere over dystopia? Believe it or not, there was a time in movie history where these types of films were seen as fiction and not perceived as a "how to" manual. I know, that's a reality whoopsies, right? No matter the state of things, these "wonderful" films are innovative, groundbreaking, and have stood the test of time. Gather round as SpeekyGeeky helps guide you through part 1 of our 13 favorite Science Fiction films from 1980-Ghost of Future's now! Go ahead, pull realities strings, see how things unravel all on your own. What are you waiting for? Keep reading!
WARNING: THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
13. Palm Springs
This one has a lot going for it to make the perfect movie. Andy Samberg? Check. Groundhog's Day Formula? Check and popcorn standing at the ready. Without giving away spoilers, the movie takes the classic science fiction trope of trying to stop the cycle of an endless day (a trope that has become an all too true reality for many of our quarantined lives) and goes completely off the rails with it, in the best way possible. NOICE!
12. Interstellar (2014)
Answering that age old question of "what would happen to my family if I go gallivanting in space for some me time." Not amazing things, it turns out. Let's just say it's "time" meets "space" and the viewer leaves the winner.
No pulling punches, this is a pretty long and equally science-dense film, you are probably going to want to go into this fully unaltered so you can keep up, even though at times you will certainly feel under the influence by the sheer intensity of the hallucination-like visuals. One part father-daughter relationship story, one part galaxy adventure, one part inner workings of space-time and questioning the fabric of why and how things happen. Bring a friend who likes to talk philosophy, getting ready for some deep questions.
11. Death Race 2000 (1975) &
Death Race 2050 (2017)
Yeah, so we cheated a bit here and threw in a bonus film, but honestly with Roger Corman at the helm of each, it feels less like an additional film and more like a natural continuation of off the wall insanity that only he can provide, served up to...ahem.. overdrive.
The franchise that introduced a point system for running over grandma and grandpa. All the charm of Roger Corman's first biting social commentary film, for a brand new deranged generation. Original film Death Race 2000 does not need to be watched in advance, but should be for the full appreciation of this masterpiece.
In the "future" year 2000, the most popular sport is the Transcontinental Road Race. Teams compete and earn points for generating the fastest time while simultaneously mowing down the most innocent pedestrians.
Off the wall and colorful characters, nail-bitingly fun, absurdist deaths, it had all the components of "The Hunger Games" before Katniss and tributes were even dry ink on Suzanne Collins typewriter.
10. Hardcore Henry
This is the next evolution of film, and it is certainly an experience. This 1st person action, makes it feel as if you are actually engaging with the film, it is the first time I have ever left a movie feeling like I didn't just watch it, but that I was a part of it (which, given the scope of the film, I now have an ever present unclean feeling that just won't scrub off no matter how hard I try).
With the ever increasing integration of augmented reality into our every day lives, we very well could see film historians of the future pointing to this film as an example of the ushering in of a new arena of the film experience.
9. 28 Days Later
Well I certainly see this movie in particular in a much different manor having quarantined for most of 2020. It would be easy to mistake this for just another zombie film, because technically these aren't zombies. They are fully functioning people with severe uncontrollable rage issues, which is what makes this so horrifying! At the heart of this film, the infected are still fully aware of the atrocities they are committing, they just can't stop themselves from doing it. Again, to reiterate, not zombies, hordes of fully functional humans whose only driving force is to kill you. So maybe too close to home than we'd like.
8. Fight Club
Speaking of too close to comfort. That this movie made the list...let's just say I am Jack's complete lack of surprise. So much to unpack here, but it's never YOUR opinion, it's always A opinion. So what makes this film so great? Is it that it spoke to a cultural sense of ennui, giving a sense of purpose to a generation lost in the woods? Was it that it took viewers down a rabbit hole that promised to take away everything so that they could be free to do anything? That it questioned all of their life choices and showed them there could be more? It's hard to know for sure, because to say anything breaks the first rule about the movie. You DO NOT TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB.
7. Deadpool (and, again indulging a cheat here... Once Upon a Deadpool: Deadpool 2)
It's "The Mask" meets the world of Superheroes...kinda...sorta. Wade Wilson isn't your typical superhero, he is a 4th wall breaking assassin who on occasion also has morals. It's irreverent, at times it's endearing, but you better believe you'll have your fill of dick and fart jokes...snicker...fill of...ahem.
Once Upon a Deadpool is one that is particularly close to my heart in that it cuts the film to be more kid-appropriate by very tongue-in-cheek use of the same Princess Bride formula, and absolutely does not disappoint, even if you had already seen the original Deadpool 2 sans edits, it feels like a brand new and incredible movie.
6. Kick-Ass
What's better than a wish fulfillment movie of a nerdy teenager who decides to stand up to the injustices in the world and become the world's first superhero? How about an adolescent swear-happy katana wielding girl who puts the Punisher to shame (dare you to call her a "side-kick", see what happens). Some of Mark Millar's best work propped right up on the screen for your viewing pleasure. More than awesome, it's Kick-Ass!
5. Wreck-It-Ralph
Please insert one quarter to continue. The movie that comes the closest to allowing viewers to explore what it would be like to actually exist within a videogame as one of it's characters.
A brilliantly crafted love letter to the world of gaming, with enough easter eggs sprinkled in it would even overwhelm Yoshi. There is a scene in particular where we see all our favorite villains in a support group, giving us a glimpse what it must be like to be perceived as a villain in some other hero's story. Whether you are a loyal and active gamer, or simply enjoy all the feels that accompanies a Disney flick, its imaginative landscape and host of familiarly troped characters pulls viewers in as easily as quarters into a slot. No game over here, only story beginning. I'm gonna PICK it!
4. Battle Royale
A whopping 10 years before Hunger Games was just a horrifying thought in the back of Suzanne Collins head, Battle Royale was pitting teens against one another for sport to the gleeful onlooking of spectators. There probably is a much longer discussion to be had about why we gravitate toward this type of dystopian scenario time and time again and what it says about our own societal shortcomings of throwing the younger generation to the wolves as retribution for the sins of what came before, but for now let's all look at the shiny murder porn and leave meaningful discussions about the accountability of maintaining a sustainable future for the sequel I guess?
3. Unbreakable
Like The Sixth Sense which came out just before this film, M. Night had presented himself as a director who was going to leave you with a twist. But this movie masterfully presented itself as not only one of the best movies of the past 30 years, but also one of the best hero origin films in cinema up until that point. With this film, the twist was the genre itself.
2. The Matrix
If you take the blue pill, this description ends. You'll wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe about this movie. If you take the red pill, you stay in wonderland, and I will explain how deep this rabbit hole of awesome goes. The Matrix is the very definition of Deux Ex Machina, it's Wizard of Oz pulling back the curtain on the world we think we know, and challenging us to imagine something greater.
1. Turbo Kid
It Oozes 80's dystopia in such a loving way, that unless you happened to look at the year the movie was made, you'd swear you were brought back in time...to the future!
What I adore is that Turbo Kid felt like it could have easily been the brainchild of Cannon films, Roger Corman, and Lloyd Kaufman. The desolate backdrop is beautifully and unflinchingly captured and paired with an unusual yet endearingly haunting love story as they innocently journey into chaos.
The music score is immaculately tuned in and it is pivotal toward progressing forward this bonkers and Jodorosky-esque offbeat plot. The story culminates in a healthy dose of over the top gore that would put a young Peter Jackson to shame. This is one you'll find yourself watching over and over, and encouraging others to watch...just like I'm doing now.
#Listicle #top13 #mrgeek-e #geekblog #Roger Corman #Turbo Kid #The Matrix #Unbreakable #MNightShyamalan #BruceWillis #SamuelLJackson #BattleRoyale #WreckItRalph #Kick-Ass #Deadpool #FightClub #28DaysLater #HardcoreHenry #Dystopia #FirstPerson #DeathRace2000 #DeathRace2050 #Interstellar #Palm Springs #ScienceFiction #DavidFincher #Pandemic
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