Home

Modern Sci-Fi Masterpieces... Mostly

image by Veronica V. Jones

Post-Blade Runner Science Fiction Standouts

Angry Kaneda from Akira.
Akira
An alien? from District 9.
District 9
Carl Urban as Judge Dredd from Dredd.
Dredd
Rufus Sewell as John Murdoch in Dark City.
Dark City

A short while ago, The AV Club celebrated the release of Blade Runner 2049 with a list of The 35 best science-fiction movies since Blade Runner. I’ve added The Host to my must-see list, and will try yet again to stay awake for all of Brazil, but I’ve seen the other 33. With that knowledge, I humbly offer a few replacements.

I know I deeply hated A.I. Artificial Intelligence, but all I can remember is the horrible, pointless ending. Let’s replace this film with Akira. Those kids have it pretty rough too, but at least there’s a little light at the end of the Neo Tokyo tunnel. OK, a lot of light.

Of course Jurassic Park was groundbreaking, but I can’t really consider a little genetic hand waving real science fiction. Karl Urban as the judge named Dredd was a much more satisfying resurrected dinosaur.

I know I’ve watched Upstream Color, and I’m sure I could watch it a few more times without understanding anything at all about it. It might’ve touched on themes of transformation, so I’d recommend District 9 instead.

Finally, I have to ask again… haven’t you guys ever seen Dark City?

Written by in March of 2019. Last edited March 2019.

Related Features

The Next Doctor’s Steampunk Christmas

David Morrissey as the titular next Doctor in the Doctor Who Christmas episode David Tennant as the Doctor, and Velile Tshabalala as Rosita in the Doctor Who Christmas episode Dervla Kirwan as Miss Hartigan in the Doctor Who Christmas episode

Leaving The Discovery Undiscovered

Rooney Mara resting her head on Jason Segel's shoulder at the beach, looking sad.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Dredd

Karl Urban as Judge Dredd Olivia Thirlby as Judge Anderson Lena Headly as MaMa

Sarah Connor Reboots Terminator Franchise

Lena Headly as Sarah Connor Thomas Dekker as John Connor Summer Glau as the Terminator Cameron.

A Summer of Science Fiction Love

Skeet Ulrich as survivor Jake Green Colin Ferguson as Sheriff Jack Carter Anthony Michael Hall as the psychic John Smith.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *