This past weekend I finally got to watch āWhatever Happened to Monday?ā.
Itās (obviously) sci-fi, but the premise is how a family deals with a one-child policy in the future. It shows some pretty nifty tech, and Noomi Rapace does a brilliant job.
I couldnāt begin a comprehensive list (That would take 100ās of films, and weeks of writing), but here are a few that some of you might not have seen.
Enemy Mine (1985) - About two enemies who are stuck in a situation where they have to work together in order to survive. The acting isnāt stellar, but I loved the story and the message of your enemies are also just as āhumanā as you.
Gattaca (1997) - A movie about perseverance in the face of impossible dreams. In a future where genetics determines your fate, a man decides to shoot for the stars when his āfateā is to be insignificant.
The Martian (2015) - Another about perseverance. This time, a man is stuck alone on mars, and has to figure out how to survive and how to get home.
Iād like to add Bird Box to the list of decent movies.
I know itās a bit āMarmiteā (you either love it or hate it), but I thought they handled the premise quite well, and kept it interesting throughout.
Yes, it has elements of other films in it (strong nod to āThe Mistā, āThe Happeningā and a few others, but it stands on its own.
Some good picks so far; but Iām a bit old school on science fiction films. For pure spectacle, nothing beats ā2001ā; if you can get to see it on an IMAX screen, do so! For a fifty-year-old film, you will be blown away by the visuals, which still work when blown up to seven stories high!
Of more recent films, āArrivalā is the most intelligent and thought-provoking film Iāve seen in years, with interesting perspectives on language and how it affects perceptions. As an object lesson in different world-views, itās hard to beat.
Donāt forget āDark Starā, a mad 1970s student film that came to the attention of a producer who poured money into it. It launched the careers of John Carpenter and Dan OāBannon, and is chock-full of quotable lines.
It also has AI bombs that develop self-awareness. What could possibly go wrong? (Just donāt teach your AI system phenomenology.)