As I get older, the more picky I am about the films I see in the theater. Movies that really require a big screen to fully appreciate, I make an extra effort in attending (typical big-budget special-effects or action-packed films, for instance). Outside of that, I find that a large number of the films I do get to see are of the quirkier set, and most dystopian films fall under that umbrella since the dystopian theme adds a spin to the typical drama.
Omega Man was the second attempt to make a movie out of the book "I Am Legend". The first (The Last Man on Earth) starred Vincent Price and inspired George Romero's Night of the Living Dead. The third was Wil Smith's I Am Legend, currently in theaters.
I saw Omega when I was younger and I really don't remember much except that Charleton Heston makes it with a black woman, which I thought was remarkable for a film of the time (not that I knew much of films of the time).
My sister and cousin absolutely adore the source material for "I am Legend", so I'm sure to read that sometime this year. The themes they told me that the story covers intrigue me! When I started seeing trailers for the Wil Smith movie (I find him extremely likeable, even if the movie around him is sort of crap), I was definitely "Oo! Oo!". But then my sister saw it and waved me away from it.
Oh, Heston is in Omega Man? He's just... such a turn-off for me and as I get older, the more I dislike him in his work (although I do appreciate the works he's been in).
I've seen half the movies on this list, and most of the ones I haven't seen are ones I'd like to.
Wings of Desire is so, so beautiful. It's one of my favorite movies, though I would not really call it a dystopic film, or at least not a science-fiction one. It is meditative and gorgously shot -- it's almost like poetry. I really can't recommend it highly enough. (Plus you get an awesome cameo from Peter Falk.)
I have not seen City of Angels, the remake starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. Once you see the original, you'll realize how heretical it was to remake it.
Oh, I've heard of City of Angels and it's not my kind of film... but I'm definitely willing to give Wings of Desire a try, since it seems there are folks out there to recommend it.
I've bookmarked this, being a dystopian fanatic and have yet only seen like, three. A few thoughts:
- A Boy and His Dog is sort of wack, despite (because of?) being based off a story by Harlan Ellison; I've heard it's wicked mysogynist.
-Several thoughts about PKD-based films: Loved Total Recall. Loved it. I've analyzed Blade Runner to death in film classes, as it's the perfect example of a postmodern film, but it's not all that exciting. I still look forward to the new cut release. I was always bummed that more people didn't do Minority Report as a fandom. I adore it despite plotholes. Anderton/Agatha's still in my interests.
- Soooo, we can have Twelve Monkeys, but not La Jetée? Riiiiight.
- Metropolis is weird. Battle Royale is breaky.
I feel like there's more dystopian films I liked better than some of these, but I think I may be getting it confused with books and things that I want to be movies. I would put Falling Down on the list, though, as that totally broke my brain when I was younger.
You know, I can TOTALLY see Minority Report as a fandom! I just remember walking out of the theater and thinking, "That film was so... BLUE." Totally threw off my willing suspension of disbelief. I liked the techy aspects of it, and the science bits of it, the themes and concepts were awesome, but I didn't like Tom Cruise! (I thought Colin Farrell was brilliant, though. His American accent is stunning.) Perhaps, I'd like it more with a different actor? I never understood why people think he's good looking. I just do not see it at all. He's too freaking squarish. I think that now that he's older, he's better in harder, unlikeable characters. He's great in Collateral. I like his action stuff (for the most part) since he doesn't have to emote too much in those.
I don't think La Jetée fit in their criteria, which I think were looking for feature-length films. Maybe that's just me. I saw Twelve Monkeys first and although I appreciate the source material, it doesn't speak to me as the viewer in the same way that Gilliam's
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Wings of Desire is a fabulous film, but I think it's sequel is even better. Watch both. I think you'd really dig it. But I would hardly call them dystopian. Whenever I see schnapps, I now shout "firewasser!" thanks to those two films. :)
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I saw Omega when I was younger and I really don't remember much except that Charleton Heston makes it with a black woman, which I thought was remarkable for a film of the time (not that I knew much of films of the time).
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Oh, Heston is in Omega Man? He's just... such a turn-off for me and as I get older, the more I dislike him in his work (although I do appreciate the works he's been in).
Reply
Wings of Desire is so, so beautiful. It's one of my favorite movies, though I would not really call it a dystopic film, or at least not a science-fiction one. It is meditative and gorgously shot -- it's almost like poetry. I really can't recommend it highly enough. (Plus you get an awesome cameo from Peter Falk.)
I have not seen City of Angels, the remake starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. Once you see the original, you'll realize how heretical it was to remake it.
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- A Boy and His Dog is sort of wack, despite (because of?) being based off a story by Harlan Ellison; I've heard it's wicked mysogynist.
-Several thoughts about PKD-based films: Loved Total Recall. Loved it. I've analyzed Blade Runner to death in film classes, as it's the perfect example of a postmodern film, but it's not all that exciting. I still look forward to the new cut release. I was always bummed that more people didn't do Minority Report as a fandom. I adore it despite plotholes. Anderton/Agatha's still in my interests.
- Soooo, we can have Twelve Monkeys, but not La Jetée? Riiiiight.
- Metropolis is weird. Battle Royale is breaky.
I feel like there's more dystopian films I liked better than some of these, but I think I may be getting it confused with books and things that I want to be movies. I would put Falling Down on the list, though, as that totally broke my brain when I was younger.
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I don't think La Jetée fit in their criteria, which I think were looking for feature-length films. Maybe that's just me. I saw Twelve Monkeys first and although I appreciate the source material, it doesn't speak to me as the viewer in the same way that Gilliam's ( ... )
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The sequel sounds quite amusing.
I've always wanted to see Until the End of the World and The Million Dollar Hotel, both made by the same directer, but never had the opportunity. Hmm!
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