I love a smart sci-fi movie as much as anyone else. From local epics like Dune to domestic destabilizers like Everything Everywhere All at Once and philosophy-filled dilemmas like Interstellar, the genre offers an escape into the unknown through the known. Science fiction films allow filmmakers to defamiliarize themselves – to make the familiar seem unfamiliar – to offer everyday anxieties and endless existential dilemmas through an intensified lens. I would argue that even the most likely and undeniable science fiction movies, those that seem to be nothing more than big-budget entertainment or a low-budget gimmick, are inherently about the human condition. Its oversized stories, its exaggerated representations of society, its embrace of out-of-this-world imagery are calling cards for what is about the most stimulating and divisive genre out there. A science fiction film not only examines the collective, but also the role we play in that collective.
As a sci-fi lover, I watch recommendations from videos like Dune and Everything Everywhere All at Once and Interstellar. But there is a real treasure trove of films waiting to be discovered by a wider audience that are just as deep, philosophical and entertaining. So, this list includes movies that I think deserve a wider audience. From little-seen gems to unfairly maligned videos, I’ve compiled a list of ten sci-fi videos that deserve another chance. If you’re a Fi fan, put those videos on your list. And the most productive of all? These are videos that are available on major streaming platforms.
If there’s anyone who gets me excited about a science fiction excursion, it’s Luc Besson. He directed one of the most respected science fiction films of the 1990s, The Fifth Element, as well as a beloved cult film, Lucy. But Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is probably the one I like the most, and perhaps the one that has been treated the most unfairly by critics. With a score of 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, this sci-fi adventure film has not gained the critical weight it deserves. This film follows two special agents, Valerian and Laureline (Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne) who have a stolen converter on the planet Mül. This project takes them through a crazy conspiracy as they broadcast a project to Alpha City, a sprawling city where species from all over the universe gather. Fantastic performances abound, with wonderful performances from Clive Owen, Rihanna, Ethan Hawke, Herbie Hancock, Kris Wu and Rutger Hauer. Overall, Besson produces a world that vibrates and hums with life, that paints vividly colored scenes full of memorable characters, that helps keep you invested in the plight of the oppressed and abused, and of the other people fighting for the oppressed. . and mistreated.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.
This is rarely necessarily the fault of someone who never notices The Athroughss. Before its recent upgrade to 4K, you could only get DVD copies of the film. At 140 minutes long, and even with this 4K restoration, it’s still James Cameron’s least popular film on Letterboxd, which is a real shame in my opinion. Because The Throughss comprises some of the most productive scenes and photographs of any of Cameron’s films; yes, a list that includes films like Titanic, Aliens and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. This exciting secret sci-fi expedition follows a deep-sea drilling team led by Bud Brigman (Ed Harris), recruited through the government to participate in a search and rescue project for a sunken nuclear submarine. But tensions rise among the team members (the cast includes Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michael Biehn) as the government’s true intentions are revealed and mysterious forces await them in the depths of the ocean. It’s the kind of movie where you have no idea what’s going to happen next, but your entire time is absolutely invested in the other people and their struggles. It’s an incredible experience.
The Abyss is available to stream on Hulu.
Throughout my life as a moviegoer, I have been drawn to big, expanded spectacles when it comes to science fiction films. But, to be honest, the most productive sci-fi experiences I’ve had have been with smaller films, those that focus on the intimacy of the moment, that draw emotional resonance from life, that go beyond the tropes of the nice . Array A solid experience like Swan Song is completely different but completely welcome, where an actor like Mahershala Ali can flex his dramatic muscles for a plot that is otherworldly but part of this world. This Benjamin Cleary film centers on a loving husband and father named Cameron (Ali) who is diagnosed with a terminal illness. As soon as he hears the news, he is faced with a decision: upgrade with a clone and save his family the heartbreak of wasting it. . . or die. Excellent supporting performances from Naomie Harris, Awkwafina and Glenn Close. This exploration of identity and morality addresses what it actually means to live, forcing a confrontation with the limits of the self and the very essence of our being.
Swan Song is available to stream on Apple TV.
Dune. . . underrated? Yes, I will say it. While everyone was geeking out over Denis Villeneuve’s update of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi epic, I simply wanted to revisit David Lynch’s decidedly strange, visually ambitious, and grandiosely bold depiction of a combative galaxy that bears a striking resemblance to our own fragmented world. . Where Villeneuve opted for a giant visual scale with a more classic Hollywood atmosphere that was compatible with his minimalist and sublime aesthetic, Lynch opted for the summary and the experimental, for ambitious and elaborate sets, for oversized performances that were not afraid to have a laugh. with gender. Overall, I categorically prefer Lynch’s edition of the story. The film follows a young man named Paul Atreides (Kyle MacLachlan), whose family is guilty of ruling the planet Arrakis. But what they don’t know is that a betrayal is brewing that will force Paul to realize his destiny and become a leader for those who are ruled by a totalitarian force. I’ll be here all day in the featured artists directory, adding Kenneth McMillan, Francesca Annis, José Ferrer, Linda Hunt, Patrick Stewart, Max von Sydow; Seriously, I can move on. If you haven’t seen Dune yet because of what you’ve heard, he just enjoys it with an open mind. It’s wild and unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Dune is available to stream on Netflix.
Romance isn’t the central detail of an average sci-fi movie. But films like I Am Your Man bring a much-appreciated twist to the genre, with its combination of humor and melancholy, its strong emphasis on characters and love, its sophistication. but a very impactful environment that is transmitted through the screen despite such a small and undeniable environment. This penetrating film by Maria Schrader follows a scientist named Alma (Maren Eggert) who participates in an experiment to test a humanoid robot designed to be her “perfect companion” named Tom (Dan Stevens). For 3 weeks, Alma studies Tom’s ability to find herself. your emotional desires as you approach your manufactured self. Alma’s adventure is even more applicable now given the unstoppable rise of synthetic intelligence technology, thanks to the solid and detailed performances of the film’s two protagonists, and doubly so. Thanks to Schrader’s empathetic and nuanced direction as he explores our deep preference for human connection in a disconnected, technology-driven landscape.
I Am Your Man is available to stream on Hulu, Hoopla, and Kanopy.
Watching a director in his emerging form is, in my opinion, an engrossing experience throughout. Although I don’t like the film, I feel more connected to a filmmaker who has had a storied and mythical career when I see his concepts come to life naturally. In fact, this was the case for me when I first saw John Carpenter’s Dark Star, a subversive independent sci-fi film shot on a shoestring budget and possessed of the kind of humanistic observation we’d see in movies. Carpenter’s latest films, such as The Thing, Escape. from New York and They live. This first film follows the titular spaceship, whose crew, suffering from boredom, gadget malfunctions, and existential issues, is tasked with destroying volatile planets in the far reaches of the galaxy. But when their AI bomb develops its own brain, it threatens the team’s project and their lives. This early work obviously captures Carpenter’s auteurist tendencies: his adoration of synth music, his no-nonsense, minimalist production design, his dark and absurdist sense of humor. For Carpenter fans, this is a wonderful experience.
Dark Star is available to stream on Peacock, Hoopla, Kanopy, and Pluto TV.
I don’t think any film in the Predator franchise will ever surpass John McTiernan’s original, which devitalizes and demystifies masculinity in such an eloquent and entertaining way, with the creature Predator destroying men who exist in their primitive form, which represents a kind of camaraderie born of a humanity that may seem impenetrable in the moment but can be gently and temporarily shattered. But Predators is another beast, with its gritty realism, its over-the-top performances, its cult nature giving it a very different look, feel and commentary. The action sequences are much more fashionable in their intensity, but director Nimród Antal never sacrifices the oppressive, claustrophobic atmosphere provided by the original. Predators centers on a troop of elite warriors who are mysteriously transported to an alien hunting reserve planet. They soon realize that they are being hunted by a race of complex alien predators and, as they fight to survive, they realize the true nature of their setting and the reasons for their selection. Expect top-notch entertainment from the cast, including Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins and Laurence Fishburne.
Predators is available to stream on Hulu and Max.
There are serious science fiction films that address the nature of everyday life, that offer deep social observation of our political systems, that explore the very being of identity, morality and humanity. And then. . . there are sci-fi movies like Tammy and the T-Rex. And look, I’m not criticizing the movie: I love Tammy and the T-Rex. I think it offers a profound observation about the search for connection and fulfillment in this world. But for director Steward Raffill, getting to such a deep point is neither serious nor laborious, but rather cheesy, absurd, over-the-top and, above all, completely unpretentious. This light-hearted, fun romance follows two teenagers, Tammy and Michael (Denise Richards and Paul Walker), who embark on a crazy experiment when Michael’s brain is transplanted into an animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex. When Tammy realizes what happened, she tries to help Michael get a second chance at life. This cult film has a DIY attitude that’s infectious and easy to watch, with its bright visual color palette and fast-paced, lively storytelling creating a super fun night at the movies.
Tammy and the T-Rex is available to stream on Peacock, Tubi, and Pluto TV.
There are the actors who dominate Hollywood and appear in all the main blockbusters. And then there are the actors who don’t make the flashiest films, but who give the most profound and moving performances that speak to smaller audiences, who undoubtedly prove immortal in the end. This is the case with Fingernails’ two leads, Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed, whose chemistry in this sci-fi romantic drama creates a naturalistic force that feels strangely original even in a futuristic setting, complementing the realism of the film. movie. and drives home his humanist argument. This film’s almost full-length global uses clinical tests to determine whether two other people can share true love. Anna and Ryan (Buckley and Ahmed) probably have the best relationship, but Anna has doubts about the accuracy of her test results. She secretly begins running into the Love Institute, where she undergoes the test, to better understand the process, while she thinks about her future with Ryan. Christos Nikou’s understated direction allows the film’s philosophical questions to take center stage, resulting in an intelligent and eloquent discussion of love and connection in a technological realm.
Fingernails is available to stream on Apple TV.
Like my Dark Star recommendation, there’s something so intoxicating about an old-fashioned low-budget sci-fi experience, about an aesthetic that’s unafraid to mix in campy elements, blend sci-fi and exploitation, that prides itself on stone-cold practical effects. angle of its visual appeal. These are all hallmarks of the sensory delight known as Forbidden Planet, which has enjoyed a cult following (including me) over the years. This sci-fi horror film takes place on the remote research station Xarbia, where scientist Dr. Hauser (Linden Chiles) has created a genetically modified organism called Subject 20, designed to solve the galaxy’s food crisis. However, the creature transforms into a fatal predator that begins hunting the station’s team members, who struggle to engage the creature and survive. From the haunting nature of the film’s electronic musical score, to the immersive ambient sounds and terrifying creature noises, to director Allan Holzman’s exploration of the genre’s tropes, this colorful take on sci-fi stories offers something new and unforeseen for anyone who thinks they know the genre internally. and out.
Forbidden World is available to stream on Amazon Prime and Pluto TV.
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