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

Arne aka Ratscape

A lovely blue woman's face with white white markings, aka Zhaan. Batman holds Catwoman's arm as Catwoman holds a string of pearls. Circa 1967 Rosario Dawson as a Vulcan wearing a blue Starfleet uniform. Jemma Simmons smiles, carrying six blue test tubes with a shield logo visible within the tubes. Spider woman standing tall, with hands on hips.

Cosmic Sin: Truth in Advertising

Bruce Willis Perry Reeves Frank Grillo C. J. Perry

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.

Anry Nemo

A wind-whipped pirate with a dagger in his teeth clutches a small chest.

District 9 Delivers Raw Action with a Conscience

 Agent Wikus on the run, under the shadow of the nonhuman mothership. Agent Wikus attempting to evict a nonhuman from District 9. The nonhuman Christopher looks anxiously out of a window.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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