Arrival & 9 Other SciFi Movies That Will Change How You See The Genre
Arrival & 9 Other Sci-Fi Movies That Will Change How You See The Genre
Every once in a while a new sci-fi movie comes along that brings new ideas to the table and alters the perception of a viewer towards the genre.
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The best science fiction movies aren’t the ones that boast high productions. They are the ones that have a tinge of futuristic realism and serve as fictional escapism for viewers willing to explore the depths of their imagination. That explains why it’s a genre that’s hard to pull-off. While stellar visuals of outer space and other worlds can intrigue many, a sci-fi film is no good without creative and never-seen-before ideas.
Every once in a while a new sci-fi comes along that not only brings new ideas to the table but also alters the perception of a viewer towards the genre. Take, for instance, Arrival. It’s a rare film that clocks in just under two hours but presents a stream of thought-provoking questions that stay long after its credits start rolling. That said, along with Arrival, there are many similar sci-fi flicks that seamlessly redefine the genre.
10 Arrival (2016)
What begins as another generic tale of aliens coming in contact with humans, subverts all tropes of the sub-genre and delves into its existential themes. Arrival, in some ways, is almost meditative as it avoids explaining much of its complex plot points. Instead, it only delivers its ideas effortlessly by pushing the boundaries of language, life, and even death.
The film focuses on a linguistics expert named Louise Banks (Amy Adams) who learns to interpret an alien language after mysterious creatures arrive on Earth. With what follows, she ends up learning a lot more than their language.
9 Donnie Darko (2001)
There are a lot of ideas and genres jampacked in Donnie Darko’s runtime of a little less than two hours. Due to this, many viewers might find it hard to wrap their heads around its baffling premise. But perhaps with a second viewing, the film’s time-bending journey, powered by young Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance, becomes much more appreciable.
At its fore is an eccentric teenager, Donnie, who learns that he possesses the ability to control destiny and time. It’s this power that ultimately leads him to a dire choice that could potentially alter the future of the world.
8 Ghost In The Shell (1995)
Ghost In The Shell first premiered more than two decades ago. Yet, after all these years, it doesn’t cease to impress sci-fi fans with its stunning visuals and philosophical underpinnings. Apart from being the inspiration behind many Hollywood films such as The Matrix and Avatar, it is known for its noir tone, through which it portrays a rich futuristic world where a cyborg federal agent named Maj. Motoko Kusanagi struggles to find her identity.
7 Ex Machina (2014)
When it comes to the key concepts of its sci-fi premise, Ex Machina isn’t any different from most other AI-centric movies. However, what makes it stand out is its undertone of themes surrounding the ethical perils of Artificial Intelligence and the state of humanity in general.
Starring Alicia Wikander, Oscar Isaac, and Domhnall Gleeson, the film revolves around a programmer who gets the opportunity to spend seven days at the elegant private estate of magnate Nathan Bateman. Upon arrival, he learns that he was chosen to be the human component in a test that will determine the abilities of an AI robot.
6 The Endless (2017)
Merging sci-fi with Lovecraftian horror, The Endless brings its own creative twist to the “Do-over” time travel trope. Along with that, it also draws subtle allegories to the endless loops of monotony that many get caught up in.
Helmed by indie directors, Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, it centers on two brothers who return to a cult they had escaped when they were much younger. To their surprise, the cult initially seems like a harmless commune, which makes them reconsider their decision of leaving. But the longer they stay, the more they realize that everything in the cult is being controlled by an unknown eldritch cosmic force.
5 Another Earth (2011)
Brit Marling garnered some much-deserved acclaim after her Netflix series The OA premiered worldwide. But even before that, she had created some visually and thematically aesthetic movies; one of which was Another Earth.
Another Earth is among the few movies that are a lot better than most people remember. It received mixed reviews for its offbeat concept, which revolves around the discovery of a duplicate Earth in the solar system. However, in all of its dream-like sci-fi notions, there are hidden metaphors that highlight themes surrounding grief, adulthood, and second chances.
4 Snowpiercer (2013)
Inspired by the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige, Snowpiercer alludes to the real world by reimagining class divides in a train that is circumnavigating a post-apocalyptic world. While the rich accommodate the luxurious first-class cars, the poor rot in the hell-like economy section. But only until they spark a revolution against the rich.
While the visual effects and slam-bang action scenes of the movie are enough to keep most viewers intrigued, the film offers a lot more than that—it is replete with social commentary. All in all, Snowpiercer goes well-beyond its confined setup and never leaves a dull moment.
3 Akira (1988)
Akira isn’t for the weak-hearted. Being the gorefest that it is, the film isn’t for everyone. But more than that, since it’s an adaptation of a plot-heavy graphic novel by Katsuhiro Otomo, the film isn’t bereft of extremely complex plot points. All these elements coupled together could be a big turn-off for many. But that’s what makes it all-the-more brilliant—it only gets better with each viewing experience.
Hollywood now has its eyes set on the film, and rumor has it that its live-action remake is underway. Regardless of whether it’ll live up to everyone’s expectations or not, the original version should be on every sci-fi hound’s watchlist.
2 Annihilation (2018)
Alex Garland may only have a few films and shows under his belt, but his small body of work has some of the most impressive genre-bending sci-fi films. Among them, Annihilation ranks amongst the best.
Masterfully blending sci-fi and horror, Annihilation takes viewers on a journey through a mysterious zone called “The Shimmer” that is replete with unimaginable horrors and reality-bending phenomenons. The movie is abstract filmmaking at its best and allows viewers to run their imagination wild.
1 Looper (2012)
In Looper, Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Joe, an assassin who kills victims sent by the mob from the future. But when Joe comes face-to-face with his own future-self, he begins to reconsider the life he chose to live. While most loopy time travel films run into trouble after piling up paradox after paradox, Looper does a great job at avoiding the same blunders and concludes on a very satisfying note.
From its premise, it might come off as a film that’s hard to comprehend. But the subtleness with which it goes back and forth between timelines makes it quite easy for any average viewer to keep up with it.
Link Source : https://screenrant.com/arrival-sci-fi-movies-change-genre/
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