Moon (2009) Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is on a three-year mission to the moon where he and a robot named GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey) will mine helium-3 for use in fusion energy production. After an unexpected accident, Sam discovers he’s a clone used by Lunar Industries to save labor costs. At the end of his… Continue reading I am not the angel on the true moon
Tag: Science Fiction
Lucky Mary took a machine with her to the sun
Mary Poppins (1964) Julie Andrews won an Oscar, and she’s been nominated two other times, but since the mid 1980s, her films have been almost exclusively children’s fare like the Shrek series and The Princess Diaries (2001). I wish she hadn’t been typecast in wholesome, family films because in Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), S.O.B. (1981), and Victor / Victoria… Continue reading Lucky Mary took a machine with her to the sun
The Genius made a deal with the devil to avoid dying on the battlefields of Earth
Faust (2011) Mauricius agrees to help Heinrich Faust win the affection of his beloved Gretchen in exchange for his soul. There are plenty of better adaptations of the Faust legend, including the 16th century play by Christopher Marlowe. This film by Alexander Sokurov can’t decide if Mauricius is the devil or just a very talented man… Continue reading The Genius made a deal with the devil to avoid dying on the battlefields of Earth
Garrincha went on a fantastic voyage to the stars; it ended in a massacre
Fantastic Voyage (1966) Working in the Soviet Union, scientist Jan Benes has discovered how to miniaturize items permanently. He escapes to the west to share this information, but an attempted assassination causes a blood clot in his brain and leaves him comatose. A submarine containing several scientists is shrunk to a micrometer and placed inside… Continue reading Garrincha went on a fantastic voyage to the stars; it ended in a massacre
Diana had a Selfish Giant and Kept Her a secret
The Selfish Giant (2013) When Arbor and Swifty are suspended from school, they begin collecting scrap metal and selling it to Kitten, a local dealer. When he notices Swifty’s affinity for horses, Kitten allows him to work with several of his. A jealous Arbor steals some scrap from Kitten to sell elsewhere. When Kitten finds… Continue reading Diana had a Selfish Giant and Kept Her a secret
Stalking a serial killer in the wild west
Stalker (1979) The eponymous stalker guides The Writer and The Professor to The Room, a magical place in the middle of a heavily restricted area known as The Zone, where your innermost desire becomes reality. The Writer is afraid he’s lost his inspiration and wants to use The Room as a muse. Initially reluctant to… Continue reading Stalking a serial killer in the wild west
DNA testing the men of the Robinson clan
Gattaca (1997) In this version of the future, genetic testing determines everything. Vincent Anton Freeman (Ethan Hawke), wants to be an astronaut, but is denied this opportunity because his genetic code indicates weakness and a limited lifespan. In order to pursue his dream, he assumes the identity of Jerome Morrow (Jude Law) who has a perfect genetic… Continue reading DNA testing the men of the Robinson clan