Posted on 07/06/2023 4:06:26 PM PDT by sphinx
Yes, science fiction is rooted in profound origins, examining humanity’s deep-seated fear of itself and the intimidating possibility of worlds unknown. But the last two decades have seen a metaphoric rush on sci-fi storytelling that’s left the once niche subgenre a supersaturated movie market. On the one hand, that’s produced an onslaught of sci-fi(ish) titles that aren’t always up to snuff. But on the other, it’s prompted some of the best sci-fi films ever made. Masterworks like “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Nope” both arrived this year, and top our list at number five and number eight respectively....
Simply put: In determining the 50 best sci-fi movies of the 21st century, you must draw a line in the sand — even if that’s the sands of Arrakis. To that end, a few rules have been set.
No fantasy-centric superhero movies will appear here, and the same goes for those space-borne fantasy franchises “Star Wars” and “Star Trek.” For an action, horror, or animated movie to make it onto this list, it needs to be firmly rooted in sci-fi origins and make notable use of the tropes and themes therein.
(Excerpt) Read more at indiewire.com ...
One of the first movies to use a black actor in a white role (Ford Prefect)
I've seen one: Idiocracy—it figures!
I'd really like to see two of the top five, though: Spotless Mind, and Everything Everywhere.
Three memorable ficks: Interstellar, Passengers, The Martian.
Not on the list.
I’m not saying they are all-time greats, but they were better than a lot of films on the list.
Gravity was good.
BLADERUNNER 2049-—
Captivating
.
Watched a dozen times, Easy.
Valerian was not good, or maybe it was so bad it was good.
Casting the two leads was bizarre.
The Matrix Resurrection made the list, so I stopped at 50.
The book, The Martian, was awesome, the movie was just okay.
That scene was obviously pilfered by the Hanna-Barbera animation team for an episode of Jonny Quest. Not as scary as the original, but quite creepy.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
I suspect that the sci-fi genre will continue to tilt toward anime (and not just Japanese) for source material. Likewise, there will be more anime crossovers to live-action sci-fi franchises (Example: Blade Runner: Black Lotus).
Two out of three of The Cornetto Trilogy:
“Shaun of The Dead” and “The World’s End”.
👍
These are movies post 2000. I’m not a sci fi fanatic, but I do have some affinities. 19 movies over 23 years isn’t much of a feat.
Bookmark
I haven’t seem but a few of those listed.. District9 was pretty good.
I dont know if mine are Sci-fi.... That VR computer game movie “Ready Player One” was really good. Another Computer Game Movie - “Free Guy” was great!
I always watched “Real Steel” The Robot boxing movie, any time I saw it playing.
“In Time” With Justen Timberlake, where people didnt use money anymore, but had tradeable “time” on their wrists...
I suspect the genre will continue to decline since the movie script writers are inspired by earlier movies, not literature.
Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus, by Mary Shelley, was published in 1818
You just reminded me of another interesting movie:
Prometheus.
In Time was a great concept.
Ready Player One pushed the 80s nostalgia too far, IMHO.
I kind of liked Surrogates with Bruce Willis. Not great, but watchable.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.