I'm often asked, "What's your fave sci fi film?" and invariably, it will be either Aliens, Alien or one of the Star Wars films. There is a huge genre to choose from and Ridley Scott will be always top of the charts for me. But lately, its really become a one horse race by more than a length.
Blade Runner is consistantly right up there in the top two, but now it must be relegated to a definite close second to its own sequel; Blade Runner 2049.
I watched it with some trepidation and not inconsiderable nervousness, as Scott has seemingly dropped the ball with the last two films in the Alien franchise and even Star Wars has begun its mutation into something other than Lucas would have produced.
However, I was more than pleasantly surprised, more like mesmerised, especially on the second viewing. Villaneuves slow pacing and hypnotic visuals, tying into the established look of 2019 L.A and the expanded replicant universe which grew from the 1982 original, serves to enthrall and engage the viewer.
Without giving anything away for those who have yet to witness the cinematic spectacle, it is visually stunning and aurally entrancing. The film shows a wonderful stylistic evolution from the first film, without moving away from the dystopian multi-cultural society shown in Blade Runner, but now adds the expanded replicant strand to civilisation. Whereas Nexus 6 were more prominently used off-world, thirty years later, new model replicants have become part of the fabric of everyday life.
Its fascinating to see Ryan Goslings character's close relationship with an A.I, an earlier iteration of artificial conciousness to the much further evolved replicants.
Beautifully realised and managing to answer some of the mysteries alluded to in the first film, it also creates some of its own and leaves the way open for a final piece of a possible trilogy.
If a third film is planned, it really would have two tough acts to follow, as for me 2049 is far and away, my favourite science fiction film of all time. So far anyway..
One's favourite SF films tend to be the SF movies first seen.
ReplyDeleteIn my case it was George Pal's 'War of the Worlds', Disney's '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' and the amazing 'Forbidden Planet'.
All three were brilliant use of colour.
As a child some SF was X rated though the b/w 'Devil Girl from Mars' was considered safe enough to frighten small kids.
For older movies "Things To Come" is hard to beat, both visually and thought provoking.
Star Wars is pretty tame compared to any of these in my opinion.
2049 is an amazing movie Bill I agree. Ryan Gossers was surprisingly well-suited to the role. It is one the best soundscapes I've ever heard and the noise created by the Spinner car engines was sensational. The photography was ace. All in all a superb flick and Roger Deakin's photography oscar last night was well deserved.
DeleteI have to admit to never having seen Things to Come Terran! I've seen clips but not the whole, which I ought to. I love the others you mention especially Forbidden Planet. Not seen Devil Girl from Mars. I have a feeling the late great Gerry Anderson had a hand in it too. Is that right?
ReplyDeleteI just checked and Gerry Anderson was Sound Editor on Devil Girl. I saw all of the films I mentioned when I was seven years old. They all encouraged me to read. '20,000' I have read many versions as the original translation into English is deadly. The movie would have been perfect if Kirk Douglas and Peter Lorre weren't playing their roles as comedy and the damm seal was just annoying Disney.
Delete'War of the Worlds' was better in book form as I'm a Londoner and updating the story to LA in the USA didn't feel right. The book for 'Forbidden Planet' was actually written after the movie!
'Things to Come' was just perfect, Raymond Massey and Ralph Richardson were great and it was faithful to the book. It was shown on TV a lot in the 50's before the rule that movies had to be 10 years old or more before being shown on TV was lifted. It was always scarry to watch the years roll by on the screen when we were actually living them.
So Gerry was involved. Great research Terran. I hadn't realised that Things to Come was a novel. I would like to read that. I seem to recall that Forbidden Planet was loosely based on Shakespeare's The Tempest.
DeleteThe story is based on the works of H.G. Wells. Like most movie adaptions it picks and chooses what to use. The book was pretty accurate in it's fortelling of events. If only Shakespeare watching was as much fun as Robby the Robot.
DeleteI love HG Wells. I shall out for Things to Come. My face HG story is The Cone, a tale of furnace-based revenge!
DeleteHaven't seen 2049 yet, but looking forward to it! :)
ReplyDelete