A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, Queens in the 1970s and 80s, to be exact, I sat around with my buddies talking about what it would be like in the year 2000. After all, that seemed like centuries away. Thanks to The Jetsons and other futuristic shows and movies, we all thought we would have flying cars and possibly live in a colony on the moon. I'm outside everyday. It ain't exactly looking like The Fifth Element out there. I'm still sore about this, by the way, Anyhoo, at some point, we started imagining that the impossible might happen. Some kooky teacher told us that one day we would all be able to communicate with one another instantly through our computers. Of all the wacky things I heard that had to be the goofiest...oh, wait. Just scratch this whole paragraph from memory.
And this is why you should do a rough draft before you just start typing up a post. Man, I'm an ID 10 T.*
Hey there, boys and girls...yes, I'm starting over...it's time for another round of Thursday Movie Picks hosted by Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves. Head on over to her site to check out the rules and regs for entering this thing and get crackin'. This week's theme is "Science Fiction Movies." Here's the catch: the movies cannot be about space or involve aliens. Fair enough. I've flipped the switch on my automated shovel, set on 'deep,' of course, and come up with these...
Rollerball
Made in 1975
Set in 2018
In this dystopian future, literally the entire world is run by large corporations in the planet's most popular sport: Rollerball. It's heavily based on roller derby, of all things, but contains elements of football, hockey, and includes guys that ride motorcycles. The point is it's an incredibly violent game in which death is not an uncommon occurrence. Jonathan E. (James Caan) is the best player of all time, but the corporation that runs things wants him to retire. He doesn't want to. Big evil corporation vs. the rebel stuff ensues. It's a fun slice of 70s sci-fi with some interesting things to say about the power amassed by corporations and our collective addiction to sports. If you decide to give this one a go, make sure you pick up this version and NOT the dreadful 2002 version.
Videodrome
Made in 1983
Set in 1983 (???)
I know, you love The Fly, Scanners, and Dead Ringers. That's all fine and dandy, but if you ask me this is David Cronenberg's masterpiece. It's about Max (James Woods), a guy that runs an obscure network that shows the most perverse stuff it can find. One day he gets a videotape...yup, a videotape, showing what looks like an actual snuff film. For the uninitiated that's a film showing someone being killed. Aside from the obvious, watching this stuff has strange effects on people. In fact, the tape itself seems to take over people. This is a movie straight from all of our nightmares about the effect of television on our very souls. It's something we've debated since the first TV found a spot in someone's living room and continue to discuss today. And the practical effects are flat out disturbing. (my full review)
Robot & Frank
Made in 2012
Set in "The Near Future"
Frank (Frank Langella) is a senile old man, to put it bluntly. When it becomes apparent, he can no longer function on his own, his adult children decide to get him a robot that will serve as his in-home care provider and companion. It will make sure he gets his meds, help out around the house, and stimulate Frank's mind in an effort to keep it sharp. Soon, Frank is as lucid as he's been for quite some time and wants desperately to go back to work. The problem is that Frank's old job wasn't like most of ours. He was a burglar. This is a very fascinating movie that touches on healthcare issues, familial responsibility to the elderly, the rapid growth of technology, and finally, the meaning of friendship. (my full review)Check out other Thursday Movie Picks:
*ID 10 T = idiot
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