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

Mr Robot’s Fantastic World of Science Fact

Rami Malek as Elliot. Portia Doubleday as Angela. Christian Slater as Mr. Robot. Portia Doubleday as Angela and Carly Chaikin as Darlene. Martin Wallström as Tyrell.

Michael Dashow

A well-dressed gentleman in a steampunk spacesuit gazes at a martian mountain. A hapless man is berated by a well dressed tentacled horror in the office. Amanda, a steampunk beauty in a leather corset and elaborate tattoos. A woman coyly stands in the forest while a hooved and horned creature approaches. A woman with long red hair and wearing burnished leather brandishes a smoking gun.

Rise of the Lycans Provides Fine Underworld Foundation

Underworld 3's Michael Sheen as Lucian, in leather and looking mean. Underworld 3's Rhona Mitra as Sonja, glowering. Underworld 3's Bill Nighy as Viktor, enjoying an aperitif.

Wah Chang

Wah Chang with lamp sculpture Captain Kirk holding a phaser, as designed by Wah Chang. Lt. Commander Spock holding a tricorder, as designed by Wah Chang. A Talosian from Star Trek's original pilot The original Gorn, as designed by Wah Chang. The alien puppet Balock, as designed by Wah Chang's studio.

The Dark Knight Illuminates Heroism and Humanity

Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne. Heath Ledger as The Joker. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent. Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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