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Science Fiction: Films & TV

They're planning a 4th Matrix film...
 
Perhaps they'll ignore the two sequels and do what they should have done, with Neo discovering that the Matrix itself is a simulation....
 
Anyone get to the end of season 3 of The Handmaid's Tale? Getting a bit tired of Elisabeth Moss's acting, she has two settings, teary and defiant, but at least the grand finale saw the Handmaids sticking it to The Man. Yvonne Strahowski has a more complex character, and she's doing it very well.
 
yes. i stuck it out to the end. it was worth sitting through all those close-up staring shots, for something to actually happen. how it happened was complete bollocking shite, mind, i could point out the lack of back up at the airport, or the way a bunch of young kids could easy trek through the woods at night with no light and on and on, but let it go!

and i cried when moira got on the plane....would they be there...what would we see...?

many people bemoan this series as overly violent, torture porn and so on, but whats interesting is the way, we as viewers, have become hardened to their world, and when we go back to the 'real world' in canada, you suddenly remember is wrong! serena joys face when she realised she was actually a bad guy (woman). and its a complex situation because how much choice did she have?

i hope the next series broadens the story, because yes we've had enough of June staring defiantly.
 
Margaret Atwood has been inspired by this TV series, and has written a sequel book called The Testaments, the rights of which have been snapped up by the makers of the show. I remember being very impressed by the book way back when, but I don't know if I could read another book of it. I'll see what the reviews are like.
 
Aniara: A Swedish film set on board a spaceship transporting Earth refugees to a new life on mars. Based on a poem by Harry Martinson. Poignant opening scenes as the travelers rise on a space elevator to board Aniara, the Mars-bound spaceship, Earth is in ecological ruins and many of the passengers bear facial scars/marks. Tragedy swiftly strikes as the ship collides with space debris. Thrown off course, the Aniara loses it's fuel. A trip which was supposed to last three weeks will now take years.

The ships interior in part resembles an airport terminal with shops, escalators, bars. Ship representatives offer snacks to the passengers because of the inconvenience caused. The living quarters suggest the corridors of a liner with junior crew and passengers sharing bunkbeds. Chaos gradually ensues as panic spreads, a realisation that this might indeed be a long haul. A tyranny is established as the Captain cracks down o dissent.

There is a Mima onboard, a sort of Holodeck AI through which passengers and crew may mentally immerse themselves in a pre-apocalypse Earth environment. At first thee is little interest in this but gradually it becomes a necessity and it's operator Emelir Jonsson and the Mima itself become oveworked and stressed. Jonson and her love for pilot Bianca Cruzerio are central to the developing drama and tragedy.

A dystopian tale set in a closed society where hope is gradually fading. Cults develop, algae which also supplies air to the ship must be depended upon as a foodstuff. As systems fail saboteurs are blamed, the "guilty" are sought and the innocent are punished. Appearances are kept up as the Captain, Arvin Kananian holds dress uniform receptions amidst the chaos.

Elements of Silent Running, High Rise, High Life and even Midsommar appear to coalesce to form a truly original whole. Directors/Writers Pella Kagerman and Hugo Lilja deliver a film which you will ponder upon long after the end credits roll. 8.5/10.
 
I wasn't massively impressed by Aniara, and was surprised it got so many glowing reviews. It's well done, but has such a downer on the human race, it was sternly telling us we don't deserve to survive all the way through. Also, the pornography in it was added from out of the blue. Apparently the poem is a classic in Sweden.
 
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.

ASTSM:F has lots of fun with a UFO flap that descends on the small town near the farm where Shaun lives. As with so many other Aardman films, it is massively visually inventive: I'm sure there will be new things to notice on every re-watch. It is bound to appeal to a Fortean audience, tropes from famous UFO cases, and indeed well-known sci-fi movies, make an appearance: I didn't think I could be amused by yet another rendition of Thus Spake Zarathustra, but an audible guffaw escaped during one outing of it. Other famous scenes are alluded to more deftly. It was nice to catch a fragment of Jeff Wayne, as well. Yes, one or two of the gags descend to Moonraker-levels of laziness - the entry code for the secret base being an obvious low point (although a tremendous visual gag at the same site later on more than makes up for this) - and there's a re-tread - perhaps an homage (a moutonage?) - of a joke from A Grand Day Out . The jokes are relentless, and even the bodily-function-based humour still manages to be funny. A hit for all ages, and the very British humour seems to travel well: I loved it, my teenage daughter M did, and so did my 9yo and her American best friend. Would watch again. And again.
 
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Ad Astra: Very much a one man show by Brad Pitt. Astronaut Roy McBride Pitt) learns that his father (Tommy Lee Jones) who disappeared in deep space years ago may still be alive and his space station orbiting Neptune may be the source of mysterious power surges striking Earth. Along with his fathers old colleague Pruitt (Donald Sutherland), Roy sets off for Mars to attempt to communicate with his father.

This is the new High Frontier. On the Moon Pitt is attacked by space pirates and a battle ensues between lunar buggies which is akin to to Mad Max road wars. A drifting spaceship is inhabited by crazed, lethal monkeys. Fights aboard spaceships conducted with low velocity pistols. The transport to Earth's Moon isn't as luxurious as the 2001 Pan Am Clipper, more Ryanair style as Roy is charged for extras. But the spaceship design is superb in general. As is the miles high signal array that Roy falls from at the beginning. The loneliness of long distance space travel and it's physical and psychological effects are also explored.

Roy has devoted himself to being an astronaut everything else including his relationship with his ex-wife (Liv Tyler) comes second. While Sutherland and Jones have speaking parts Tyler is only seen fleetingly mostly in flashbacks and Ruth Negga also has a minor role. It's likely that some their scenes were cut to ensure a two hour running time.

A Space Opera mixing both old and new SF tropes drawing upon 2001, Solaris, Interstellar and even Apocalypse Now. But Ad Astra, written and directed by James Gray is very much it's own film and really delivers a moving, human story. 8.5/10.
 
^ I was iffy on this because I don't understand pretty leads, but I'ma give it a watch in the cinema on your rec, RM. Besides, Pitt isn't just a pretty face. He's often a classy performer. Loved him in Snatch, for eg.
 
In the Shadow of the Moon: Detective Tom Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook) becomes obsessed with tracking down a serial killer who strikes every nine years on the night of the Blood Moon. The killer, Rya (Cleopatra Coleman) reappears even after Tom has apparently killed her. She uses a strange weapon causing her victims to develop Ebola-like symptoms. The mystery is compounded by the lack of any link between those she kills, a concert pianist, a short order cook, a bus driver. Mixed in with this is a strange physicist, Dr Rao (Rudi Dharmalingam) who may have some answers but has disappeared. Over the years Tom continues to seek a solution to the enigma.

Good SF/Thriller with convincing action scenes and a satisfactory explanation for the events is supplied. A dark film though, some gruesome killings and ethical questions are raised. Elements of 12 Monkeys, Looper and Predestination inform the film but it tells it's own story. Directed by Jim Mickle. 7/10. On Netflix.
 
Don't Let Go: Detective Jack Radcliffe (David Oyelowo) is devastated when his brother's family is wiped out in an apparent murder/suicide. Things take a strange turn when he starts getting phone calls from his dead niece Ashley (Storm Reid). Jack realises that she is calling from the past and sets out to prevent the killings taking place. Interesting time paradoxes result as the action progresses in two timelines. actions in past can affect the future but not always as intended and may result in further changed timelines. A complicated thriller with an overlay of SF/Time Travel Communication keeps the tension going. Some very violent scenes. Writer/director Jacob Aaron Estes delivers satisfactory mystery tale, tying up the loose threads provided you accept the time travel MacGuffin. 7/10.
 
Yes, looking forward to that - though a pity no matter which version it is, it always gets complaints about the ending, despite them being true to the book (as this looks to be).
 
Undone, on amazon.

"UNDONE is a half-hour, genre-bending, animated series that explores the elastic nature of reality through its central character Alma, a twenty-eight-year-old living in San Antonio, Texas. After getting into a car accident and nearly dying, Alma finds she has a new relationship to time. She develops this new ability in order to find out the truth about her father’s death. "

its time travel, its mental health, its spirituality. its also rotoscope animation, meaning its filmed then animated over, giving a hyper-real effect.

i enjoyed this.
 
Gemini Man: Will Smith is a master assassin he can shoot a target on a 238 kph train from 2 km. But he got the victim in the neck instead of the head. Fearing that he's losing his edge he decide's to retire as the Defence Intelligence Agency's ace wetwork man. But discovering that the man he killed wasn't a terrorist sets Smith off on a dangerous path which will lead to his associates being murdered. When normal hitmen can't do the job he faces the ultimate opponent- his younger self.

Some amazing chase scenes especially on motorbikes the younger Smith uses the bike as a weapon, has to be seen. Also the battles along rooftops, in water, even in the catacombs under Budapest. The fight ranges across the world from the US to Colombia to Hungary and back to the US again. Gemini doesn't just stand for Smith's clone, it is also a private security firm run by Smith;s former CO in the Marines. A company used when deniability is essential as well as proving contractors on the ground to supplement US troops. We deep in conspiracy territory in the world of Black Ops and the smoke and mirrors of the intelligence community.

The new special effects are ok, it looks like a young Smith but they could have used his son or a ringer with prosthetics. Director Ang Lee delivers an entertaining SF/Conspiracy Action Thriller. 8/10.
 
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I didn't mind ad Astra but it didn't blow my mind. I like a space movie and I liked the way it depicted space. A lot of people I know have complained about it being 'another Moody guy in space with Daddy issues' though, and I get that.

I rather enjoyed the first episode of Nightflyers but then I read the reviews and they're so poor that they prejudiced me against the rest of the series. I'll keep going and see if it gets worse.
 
James_H said:
I didn't mind ad Astra but it didn't blow my mind. I like a space movie and I liked the way it depicted space. A lot of people I know have complained about it being 'another Moody guy in space with Daddy issues' though, and I get that.

I rather enjoyed the first episode of Nightflyers but then I read the reviews and they're so poor that they prejudiced me against the rest of the series. I'll keep going and see if it gets worse.
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Nightflyers is worth the trip. Ep 6 - "The Sacred Gift" is particularly good imho.

I loved the retro SF parts of Ad Astra, pirates on the moon, lunar-buggy battles, crazed monkeys roaming a drifting spaceship.
 
The Purge TV show is back, and this time instead of setting it on one Purge Night and unfortunately letting the tension peter out over the course of the season, they've started with a Purge, and are going to end with the next year's Purge, with a bunch of intrigue in between. Seen the first episode, and it's promising.
 
Replicas: It's the old Frankenstein tale retold again with Keanu Reeves as Dr Frankenstein (Dr Foster) and Thomas Middleditch as Egor (Dr Whittle). Foster is working on transferring human consciousness to artificial brains, basically uploading the minds of recently deceased soldiers. But the artificial brain is in a robot and when the latest test subject reaches consciousness (a break through) he can't handle it, mutilates his robot face and attacks people. Foster heads off on short break with his family but the car crashes and he's the only survivor. The lab he works in has a sideline in producing clones, consciousness transferal has worked on animal clones but has never been tested on humans. Whittle helps him to transport clone growing Pods (so suggestive of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, will they be the same?) to Foster's home. But their company is in danger of being shut down if the consciousness to robot transfer doesn't succeed! All may be discovered! Oh,and they're one Pod short so it's bye-bye to one off his kids.

It's all a bit far-fetched and more than a little suspension of disbelief is required but apart from a few plot holes it is entertaining. Good performance from Alice Eve as Mona, Foster's wife who is a medical doctor and not that easy to fool. There are also various conspiracies going on at the company Foster works for. Some really violent scenes and a few shocks. All in all an OK SF/Thriller but could have been better. Directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff. 6/10. On Netflix.
 
ramonmercado said:
Replicas: It's the old Frankenstein tale retold again with Keanu Reeves as Dr Frankenstein (Dr Foster) and Thomas Middleditch as Egor (Dr Whittle). Foster is working on transferring human consciousness to artificial brains, basically uploading the minds of recently deceased soldiers. But the artificial brain is in a robot and when the latest test subject reaches consciousness (a break through) he can't handle it, mutilates his robot face and attacks people. Foster heads off on short break with his family but the car crashes and he's the only survivor. The lab he works in has a sideline in producing clones, consciousness transferal has worked on animal clones but has never been tested on humans. Whittle helps him to transport clone growing Pods (so suggestive of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, will they be the same?) to Foster's home. But their company is in danger of being shut down if the consciousness to robot transfer doesn't succeed! All may be discovered! Oh,and they're one Pod short so it's bye-bye to one off his kids.

It's all a bit far-fetched and more than a little suspension of disbelief is required but apart from a few plot holes it is entertaining. Good performance from Alice Eve as Mona, Foster's wife who is a medical doctor and not that easy to fool. There are also various conspiracies going on at the company Foster works for. Some really violent scenes and a few shocks. All in all an OK SF/Thriller but could have been better. Directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff. 6/10. On Netflix.
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The whole plot sounds kinda familiar, although I'm sure I haven't seen that film.
 
Yes, when i read the plot, i thought that sounds familiar, and i just put it back.
Thanks for the review Ramon x
 
Fast Color: The near future, it hasn't rained for 8 years, Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) has extraordinary powers and is being pursued by government agents. She starts to have seizures and causes earthquakes, her powers were subdued by her drug and alcohol use, but now that's she's sober she will have to learn again to control them. She returns to her home where both her mother Bo (Lorraine Toussaint) and daughter Lila (Saniyya Sidney) have telekinetic powers. It's not an original story, both cinema and tv screens have been overrun with tales of Mutants with ESP talents lately. But the story unfolds in an interesting manner here, we see Lila practicing, developing her skills. Ruth attempting to hone and direct her own powers, while Bo claims that she herself is only capable of parlour tricks. Ruth also has to rebuild a relationship with Lila. In the background there is the constant danger of all three of them being seized by federal agents. A Science Fiction story about superhuman powers being passed down through many generations in the same family. Written and directed by Julia Hart. 7/10. On Netflix.
 
Relaxer, out soon in the UK:

It is SF, despite what the trailer says: basically, a man is bet by his brother he cannot beat Pac-Man before the Y2K meltdown. And he cannot move from his sofa until he does. (NSFW trailer, incidentally)
 
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