Eight Sci-fi films of the 00’s

Star trek (2009)

Director: JJ Abrams

Staring:  Chris Pine

              Eric Banna

              Bruce Greenwood

Plot: A modern update to the classic Star Trek franchises, following the adventures of a young James T Kirk. And the crew of the USS Enterprise and their first mission out, fighting against the crazed 23^rd century Nero, trapped a Romulian from the 23^rd century, seeking revenge on the Enterprise and Spock, for the destruction of his home world. A Star Trek film for people unfamiliar with the  mythology, fast paced, witty and very much a film for non-fans of the series. JJ Abrams best film to date, ten times better than Cloverfield.

Watchmen (2009)

Director:  Zack Snyder

Staring: Matthew Goode

              Jeffery Morgan

              Patrick Wilson

Plot: In an alternate 1985 superheros are no longer the stuff of comic books, but true life individuals.

Some have retired and hung up the cape and hood, others are government sponsored agents.

The cold war is only heating up, America has won the Vietnam War, and Richard Nixon has been reelected for a third time.

But the world is on the verge of collapse, and only the Watchmen, second generation vigilantes can stop it.

But their greatest threat may in fact be from one of their own.

A faithful adaptation by Zack Snider, a superhero film, that deliverers raw human emotions, and a world not too much unlike our own. Showcasing the flaws and struggles of the men and women behind the masks; with rapist, psychopaths, fetishes and a slipping grip on human nature.         

                

Sunshine (2007)

Director: Danny Boyle

Staring;   Cillian Murphy

                Chris Evans

                Michelle Yeoh

Plot: It’s 2057; our sun is dying, the international crew of, Americans, Britain and Chinese glide silently on board the Icarus Two, to launch a last ditch effort to “reignite” the sun, by using a thermal nuclear bomb with the mass of Manhattan island.

Well trying to uncover the mystery of their lost comrades of the Icarus one. 

Sunshine is British director Danny Boyle’s first attempt in the genre of science fiction.

A masterpiece worthy enough to be compared to Stanly Kubrick’s 2001: A space Odyssey.

Serenity (2005)

Director: Joss Whedon

Staring: Nathan Fillion  

              Gina Torres

              Summer Galu

     Plot: Based off of Firefly the short lived television series, that aired for one season. The big screen continuation “Serenity” is a quirky little science fiction gem. Expanding upon the mythology of the Firefly universe, the film follows the exploits of the crew of the Serenity; a mix of pirates, cowboys, mercs and preacher men.

 As the band of misfits fight against men driven insane by prolonged isolation in space, and the all powerful, power hungry interstellar government known as the “Alliance. And their shadowy agent, hunting them at every corner of known space. 

Children Of Men. (2006)

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Staring: Clive Owen

              Julianne Moore

              Michael Caine.

Plot: Set in 2027 eighteen years after the last child has been born, humanity now faces extinction, as the world falls into chaos.

Governments around the globe have fallen into anarchy, as cities erupt into flames, and the last survivors of humanity fight for whatever little resources remain.

Britain due to its position in the Atlantic Ocean is the last official government abed a fascist one.

A burnt out, ex-political activist is contacted by his ex-girlfriend whom he has not seen in 20 years to secure the transport of a young pregnant refuge, the first woman to bare a child in nearly two decades.

A mix of George Bush era politics, and the rising tide of terrorism, “Children Of Men” is a ghostly mirror image of the current geopolitical landscape, only taken to a frightful extreme. A modern science fiction classic. 

A Scanner Darkly (2006)

      Director: Richard Linklater

      Staring: Robert Downey JR

                   Keanu Reeves

                   Winona Ryder

                    Woody Harrelson

Plot: Set in the not to distant future in Southern- California, America has lost the war on drugs; to a highly addictive and  mysterious drug called “Substance D”. An undercover detective begins to slowly sink into despair and paranoia, as he starts to question his reality and true identity. Based off of Philip K Dicks best selling novel “A Scanner Darkly” is a dive into the world of drug culture and the future of the  war on drugs, with a mix of government paranoia and espionage 

 a film that oddly enough seems to be incredible plausible.  

The Animatrix (2003)

Directors: Various.

Staring: Various voice actors.

Plot: Set between the first and second installments of the Matrix trilogy, the animated sequel/prequel expands upon the mythology of the Matrix.

With various stories set, before and during the events of the first film.

The short animated stories each with their own unique art style depict various events of the Matrix Universe.

From the fall of man kind and the birth of the Matrix; and its various time periods within the artificial computer generated reality.  

 A far better film than the highly overrated Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revelations  

V For Vendetta (2005)

Director: James McTeigue

Staring:  Natalie Portman

               Hugo Weaving

               John Hurt

Plot: A disfigured, shadowy urban terrorist, in Britain seeks to destroy and

destabilize, the Neo- Fascist government; in a not to distant future.

 Based off one of the best graphic novels of all time .V for Vendetta delivers a modern classic of rebellion and revolution, a “1984” for a new generation.  

Detailing a future that is a ghostly repeat of early 20^th century Nazi Germany, with references from the holocaust, and nightmarish take on Americas war on terror.   

Harvey Milk Speech: Words that everyone can relate to.

My personal favorite animated films from Japan (So far)

My personal favorite animated films from Japan

Now everybody in the States knows or at least has heard of Japanese Animae, an art forum that unlike animation here in the U.S caters to not only the youth of Japan but adults as well. The boundaries of animation that have restricted the art forum here in the west are virtually non-existent in Asia. In the West most animated films are usually rated, PG or PG13 and have little to offer to a more adult audience.

AKIRA 1988

In Japan however this is not the case, films like Akira, a cyberpunk exploration into the realm of metaphysics, is not for your average 12 or 13 year old viewer. And is by far one of the best animated films of all time, acclaimed   both in Japan and in the U.S as well, for its complex and thought provoking plot, of a near God like being hidden within a government controlled facility. 

Released in 1988 Akira is set in a dark pot war Japan of 2019. Were a third world war  has once again destroyed much of Tokyo, the survivors of the third nuclear holocaust, struggle to overcome, an oppressive government, a struggling economy, and a near collapse of organized society.  Neo-Tokyo an artificial man made island in the middle of Tokyo bay is a victim of wide spree violence and poverty, where organized biker gangs wreak havoc upon society. One member of such a biker gang Tetsuo Shima, who like Akira a child captured by the Japanese government in the mid 80’s, begins to developed near God like powers. This particular piece of art is a great way to introduce your self into Japanese animation. My only hope for this movie is that the live-action remake set to be release in fall of 2011 does the original martial justice. 

JIN ROH 1999

Another example of dystopian animated films would Jin Roh or the Wolf brigade, released in 1999, Jin Roh unlike Akira, is more of a true dystopian, along the line of 1984 or V for Vendetta. There is little to nearly nothing of a metaphysical subplot to it. However Jin Roh is more of an alternate future inspired by the chaos and turmoil of post World War Two Japan. Struggling to deal with its occupation and reconstruction.

But in Jin Roh time-line, WWII went in an entirely different direction, rather then being conquered by the United States in 1945, the Third Rich, having not been destroyed by the allied powers, has claimed control over its former ally.

 The color palate of grays, and dark blues, along with highly advanced military power armor used, by the capital police; a sort of offshoot of the SS evokes the felling of a fascists regime. The film deals with political and social chaos, as splinter cells of organized civilian lead terrorist groups, seek to over through the puppet government. And restore Japan to its former imperial glory; well an internal power struggle already threatens the stability of the regime. I would personally recommend this film if you are a fan of the dystopian genera (like me) my only hope for this film, is that it will never be remade for an American audience, a remake is always a let down, and I do not wish to see this film destroyed.

 ANIMATRIX 2003

Now a personal favorite of mine going along with the theme of dystopian-esq future, would have to be the Animatrix released in 2003, as a sort prequel to the Matrix Reloaded, the Animatrix deepens the mythos set up in the first film, in a series of short stand alone tales set with in the Matrix world.

 The first two “The second Renaissance” tells the story of the world before the matrix, set some 200 hundred years before the first film.

The two part story describes the collapse of mankind into a world of decadence, and the second part tells of the war between man and machine that eventually leads to the creation of the Matrix. The lengths of each story runs anywhere from 10 minuets to 20 minuets, each with a different art style and visual brilliance.

 I personal prefer the Animatrix over its two sequels. My one wish for this film is that the Wachowski brothers decided to release a second animated short.  

        

 THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME2005

Now for a much lighter animated film I would recommend The girl who leapt through time, recommend to me a be a close friend. This film does not offer much originality in the animation style, however what it lack in originality it makes up for in the plot.

As the title hints at, yes this is a time travel movie, but not in the sense of back to the future.  

 The film follows the life of a Japanese high school girl Makoto Konno, and her misadventures life. Until one day she stumbles across an advance piece of technology that is able to send the user back or forward in time, she is able to use the device to change any event of situation that is more fitting to her liking.  However the consequences of doing so are great then she ever expected. It is a heart warming coming of age type story. The plot is simple yet thought provoking; I would recommend this film just for the acting alone. Yes that may sound odd but to convey emotions using only ones voice is an impressive feet of acting. The girl who leapt through time is a mix of humor and teenage rebellion. And unlike my previous three posts in this blog, it will not leave you wondering. In short; The girl who leapt through time is a perfect starter film for the  casual viewer.

In short the above four films are all great and unique in their own way, but as I am still discovering new anime films all the time I am sure will have more to add in a few months. But for the mean time if you are anything like me a lover of films, then I would recommend any of these for your viewing pleaser.

Every Zombie Death in "The Walking Dead"

The Korean beauty: Lee Young Ae

The Korean beauty Lee Young Ae, an actress who I can only compare to Audrey Hepburn in the grace and class she portrays. 

Although unknown here in the states, Miss Lee is somewhat of a super star in her home Nation of Korea. Her beauty is not so much that of a sexy Hollywood starlet, but that of a classical well mannered and talented woman. I have a bit of a crush on her because of this, her films all of which I have seen, include Joint security Area, One fine Spring Day, and Lady Vengeance. She is a woman loaded with talent, fluent in Korean, English and German, a true gift to the world in the sense that she has the ability to act in a verity of films, from different nation. Both in  Asia, Europe and the U.S.  Her fame is only growing and I hope to see more amazing films of her in the coming years. But for now I would highly recommend the films she has done with Korean director Park Chan Wook. A good introduction in Miss Lee’s films would be ether JSA or Lady Vengeance, trust me you will fall in love with her,just as I did.   

Sucker punch

Sucker Punch the latest film by Zack Snyder , acclaimed director of 300 and Watchmen, staring Vanessa Hudgens  as Blondie, Emily Browning Baby Doll, Abbie Cornish as Sweet pea, Jena Malone as Rocket and Jamie Chung as Amber. The film tells the story of a young women who after her beloved mothers death is sent to a mental clinic by her abusive step father. Well imprisoned with in the asylum she begins to invasion her self and friends as an elite fighting force, fighting there way through a series of obstacles in order to gain there freedom. The alternate world they imagine is in fact the key to their freedom in the harsh reality they are forced to live in.

Since I first saw the trailer released back in mid October I knew this was going to be the one film I just had to watch next year. The reasons well just see for your self, trust me this movie will be a visual feast for the eyes and senses. It is safe to say that this will be Zack Snyder’s best film to date, unlike his previous films such as Dawn of the Dead, a remake of the original 1960’s classic zombie film, and 300 and Watchmen both of which are adaptations of two amazing graphic novels. Sucker Punch will be his first original project 
 I will write more about this film at a later date, but for now I will leave you with a little taste of this amazing movie.

The Vengeance trilogy

The Vengeance trilogy

Are a series of Korean films directed by Park Chan Wook, a man whom I can only compare to Stanly Kubrick or Ridley Scott, in his ability to turn a film into a master piece, in color design, and story telling.

The Three films with in the series, tell three separate stories of two men and one women seeking revenge on those who wronged them.

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

 Is a decent inro into  the series

However the second one

Old Boy is a dark and twisted story of revenge, murder mystery and incest.

 The last of the series Sympathy For Lady Vengeance tells the story of a woman wrongfully imprisoned for kidnapping and murder.

The beautiful Lee young Ah (Whom I will be talking about in a later post)  

Plays the lead role, an actress that I greatly admire, not only for her grace but her charm as well. If you have not seen these film I would recommend you watching them, and unlike most film series, every movie is a stand alone film, so you do not have to watch it in any order at all.