dystopian – cinemescope

100 Word Review – Cloud Atlas

April 9, 2016April 7, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Sci Fi, UncategorizedTagged Action, adaptation, adventure, Ben Whishaw, British, David Mitchell, Doona Bae, Drama, dystopian, Fantasy, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, James D'Arcy, Jim Broadbent, Jim Sturgess, Romance, Sci Fi, Susan Sarandon, Tom Hanks, Tom Tykwer, Wachowski Brothers, WachowskisLeave a comment

Adapted from David Mitchell’s novel and directed by Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run, Perfume:The Story of a Murderer) and the Wachowskis (The Matrix, V for Vendetta), this film is extraordinary.

There is no describing the plot. It crosses time and space in seconds, covering both the past, present and future as well as alternate worlds.

The cast is fantastic (Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Hugh Grant, Doona Bae, Jim Broadbent, Susan Sarandon) and the cinematography is exquisite. There is simply too much to see to take it in with one viewing. This film is Romantic with a capital R.

100 Word Review – The Running Man (1987)

November 26, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Sci FiTagged 1980s, Action, adaptation, Arnie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, dystopian, future, Sci Fi, Stephen King, Steven E de SouzaLeave a comment

Arnie really is wonderful, isn’t he? If you were ever in doubt, watch this film.

Set in a dystopian future, Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and forced to participate in a public execution disguised as a brutal gameshow.

Based on the novel by Stephen King (The Shawshank Redemption, The Shining), it was adapted by Steven E. de Souza (Die Hard, Commando). Think an adult 1980s Hunger Games, but with more gore and less characterisation. There’s explosions, plenty of shouting, people in leotards and enough exploding heads to keep any Arnie fan happy.

100 Word Review – Starship Troopers (1997)

August 19, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Sci FiTagged adaptation, dystopian, Edward Neumeier, Neil Patrick Harris, Paul Verhoeven, Robert A Heinlein, satire, Sci Fi, violence, war1 Comment

This is glorious in both its satire and its exploding giant bug aliens.

Set in a militaristic dystopian future, Earth is at war with a race of bug aliens. A group of friends work their way through the ranks in the hopes of destroying the alien threat.

Adapted from Robert A Heinlein’s novel by Edward Neumeier (Robocop) and directed by Paul Verhoeven (Total Recall, Robocop), upon its initial release the satire was missed by many who criticised it as a glorification of war.

It achieves the perfect balance between violence and politics, showing one up by use of the other.

100 Word Review – Total Recall (1990)

July 6, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Sci FiTagged 1990s, Arnie, Arnold Schwartzenegger, dystopian, future, Michael Ironside, Paul Verhoeven, Philip K Dick, Sci Fi, Sharon Stone2 Comments

Based on Philip K Dick’s story, We Remember It For You Wholesale, this is Arnie at the very peak of his brilliance.

Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) can’t afford to go to Mars, but he can afford to have an adventure implanted into his memory of being a spy on Mars. But is it really a false memory? Why are people trying to kill him. He must get to Mars!

Full of the paranoia typical of Dick, and the explosions and shouting you get in every Arnie flick, all tied together by the satirical vision of director Paul Verhoeven (Starship Troopers).

Under 5 Words – Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

June 12, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in Sci Fi, Under 5 WordsTagged Action, adventure, Charlize Theron, dystopian, George Millar, Michael Bay, Nicholas Hoult, post apocalyptic, Sci Fi, Tom HardyLeave a comment

Michael Bay’s wet dream.

“My name is Max. My world is fire. And blood.” – Mad Max

Reviewed by Melanie Allen

IMDb

Cinemescope

100 Word Review – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)

April 26, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged Action, adaptation, Donald Sutherland, dystopian, Elizabeth Banks, future, Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sci Fi, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson1 Comment

You’ve seen the first one and the second one.

You are ready to follow Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) into District 13, the heart of the resistance. What will Snow (Donald Sutherland) do to punish her betrayal? Does she really have the moral high ground? Is she fit to be Mockingjay?

Heavily built on the sturdy foundations of the previous films, don’t start with this one. However, it takes a good hard look at the intricacies of rebellion and the power of propaganda which is covered so well in the book (Read. The. Books.).

It’s the things we love most that destroy us.

100 Word Review – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

April 25, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged adaptation, Donald Sutherland, dystopian, Elizabeth Banks, future, Hunger Games, Jena Malone, Jennifer Lawrence, Panem, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sci Fi, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Woody Harrelson1 Comment

Sequel to The Hunger Games (2012), Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) has survived her first Hunger Games, but will she survive the scrutinising gaze of The Capitol and Panem’s terrifying leader, President Snow (Donald Sutherland).

With all the drama and almost as much of the politics as the books (read the books!), this opens up Panem in a way the first film couldn’t.

The cast is fantastic (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Jenna Malone) and the visuals are just as breath-taking. Prepare yourself for media spin, duplicity and rebellion.

Nobody ever wins the games. Period. There are survivors. There’s no winners.

100 Word Review – The Hunger Games (2012)

April 22, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged adaptation, Battle Royale, dystopian, Elizabeth Banks, future, Jennifer Lawrence, Sci Fi, The Hunger Games, Woody Harrelson4 Comments

Read the books.

But, also, watch the film. It’s not as good, but still brilliant.

Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers her life in place of her sister’s when she is chosen to participate in The Hunger Games, a barbaric event designed to keep the masses in line in this dystopian future.

Yes, there are similarities, but it is more than an Americanised Battle Royale. Children are killing children to survive, but for the sport of the Capital. Battle Royale may be gruesome, but this is emotionally brutal.

Elizabeth Banks and Woody Harrelson are both stunning in their supporting roles. It’s magnificent.

100 Word Review – Insurgent (2015)

April 21, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged adaptation, divergent, dystopian, future, insurgent, Kate Winslet, Sci Fi, Shailene Woodley, teen, Theo James1 Comment

So, I probably should have seen Divergent (2014) first, but this film definitely holds up as a stand alone film as well as part of a trilogy (albeit in four parts).

In a dystopian future, a community is split in to groups based on personality types. But Tris (Shailene Woodley) is different. Together with Four (Theo James) and co., they must fight against the tyranny of Jeanine’s (Kate Winslet) regime.

Although this does sound like every other teen Sci Fi, it stands out for its 3D characters, emotional gravitas (they have sex and it’s not a big deal!) and genuine suspense.

100 Word Review – V For Vendetta (2005)

March 29, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words...Tagged Alan Moore, dystopian, Guy Fawkes, Hugo Weaving, London, Natalie Portman, V, Wachowski Brothers2 Comments

It is a dark dystopian night, in a future London when Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) first meets V (Hugo Weaving). Dressed in a long black cape and wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, V is vaudevillian, a visage, a vigilante intent on shining a light on a villainous workings of the British government and burning its totalitarian walls to the ground.

Based on the iconic graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd, this Wachowski Brothers’ adaptation currently sits at #146 of IMDb’s Top 250. As a film it stands alone as the perfect way to spend a November evening.