Looper Review

        Somehow, I completely missed this film when it came out 10 years ago. I mean, I saw the commercials, but it didn’t really catch my interest. Years later I realized that Rian Johnson had a hand in Looper. Now, some people know who he is because he made a polarizing Star Wars movie. Anyways, Looper is now part of an ever-expanding list of my favorite movies. 

1. Story

        This one is very straightforward. One would think since this one involves time travel it would be hard to follow. Fortunately, Looper has a unique spin of time travel. We follow Joe, he’s considered a looper. A contracted killer who murders a target from the future. You see, time travel has been outlawed in the future, but a group of killers called Gat Men send the loopers criminals to be disposed. 

One day, Joe is assigned to kill his future self. This is probably the most original time travel story that I’ve seen so far. The most difficult part of making a time travel movie is to not make it hard to follow. It’s extremely easy to have it be understandable, but if you try to add more layers or rules to it, the movie will just be a chore. 

        Give credit to Back to the Future and the last Avengers movie, it tries to streamline their time travel aspect. Here, it’s probably the most original. For one thing the film takes place in a futuristic Kansas City. Well, the only flying thing is what appears to be a motorcycle. Nevertheless, how we see time travel being used is only in the future. It doesn’t go into detail exactly how it works, but it’s really the teleportation that we see. 

        Just to elaborate more on the time travel aspect, I’m going to talk about my favorite scene. This is going to be hard to follow but bear with me. Joe’s friend is supposed to kill his older self, which he doesn’t. As his older self is wandering the city, he sees changes in his body. Right down to progressively losing fingers, limbs, and his nose. That moment is the main highlight of the film. It does something new to the time travel motif by introducing some body horror. Adding the inherent danger to time travel.

        The last thing I want to bring up is that this film also has mutants. Well, the only power we see is that a select few can levitate objects. You would think that it’s probably the only futuristic thing in the whole story. Trust me and I’ll say that it’s an important plot point. One that gets the ball rolling when it involves the main character and his older self. 

2. Joe

        This is probably the first movie where it has an older version of the main character. With today’s movies involving multiverses, this one plays it straight by having Joe’s older self appear in the present. Both Joseph Gordon Levitt and Bruce Willis play the same character, but what makes it interesting is that they’re not the same. Let’s dub the present and future Joes as A and B. Joe A is very efficient as a looper and is addicted to drugs. 

        Joe B is set in his ways, since he’s attempting to kill the person who’s dubbed the Rainmaker. We get moments where they interact, but it’s clear that Joe A tells B that he wants to alter his future. B won’t allow him. What’s interesting is that it’s not very action oriented, meaning that A and B don’t meet up constantly and get into fights. 

        What they represent is an old philosophy teaching called Predetermination. I brought this up when I talked about Minority Report. To put it simply, it’s like a cause and effect, but you can’t make any changes where the cause can alter the effect. Here, Joe A is attempting to protect a mother and his son from B. Not knowing that B already has a future and doesn’t want it to change. 

3. Rian Johnson

        Having watched The Last Jedi and Knives Out helped me notice a recurring motif when I spotted it in Looper. One thing I noticed Johnson use is what I call an expanding flashback. What I mean by that is we get a scene of Joe B’s life before sending himself back. We see alternate looks into his life how his choice drastically changes. It’s the thing I noticed when watching both Jedi and Knives Out. How those movies use the motif is by expanding on a flashback to make it vague and then clearer in the story. 

4. Overall

        I love this movie. Looper is highly original with what it’s got and is one of the best film for the young director. 

District 9 Review

        We’re almost done with looking at the evolution of sci-fi. It’s been unique watching the films throughout the decades. While not all of them, but the significant ones to really make a mark on the genre. District 9 is the one that is held in high regard as the best of the 2000s.

1. Wikus van de Merwe

        This film starts like no other sci-fi film. We see that a UFO hovers above a section of Johannesburg, South Africa. Malnourished aliens dubbed Prawns are discovered and have been placed in District 9. From there, we follow the Wikus as he works for the weapons contractor Multinational United. He’s assigned along with others, to relocate the Prawns to another section. 

    

        While attempting to get a signature from the Prawns, he unintentionally handles an unknown equipment. Which ultimately leads him to go through a metamorphosis, physically and mentally. This character is interesting. He starts as a humble worker and has an understanding of the Prawns. Although, he mostly speaks down to them when attempting to talk to the species. 

        His best moment is when he goes through the changes with his body. It’s very Cronenberg with its body horror. I'll explain who David Cronenberg is, he’s a director that got famous with his brand of horror called Body Horror. Think of the body going through immense exaggerated body mutilations. Anyways, the way it’s presented here is mostly grounded. Not amped up, but we see bits of it where it’s shocking to say the least. 

        To expand more on Wikus’ is that he sees what it’s like to be someone who isn’t human. Throughout the film, we see that the Prawns are frowned upon among the South Africans. It’s obvious social commentary with what’s going on. Anyways, he as an exile has to adapt by living as a Prawn and attempting to right the wrongs that he did so he can get help.  

        I might as well talk about the obvious social commentary that the film has going for. What I find interesting is that while there's a discrepancy between the ethnic races, they belittle the aliens since they think they're freaks. The humans either want to study the aliens, or attempt to use their weapons by getting their blood. 

2. The Prawns

        These aliens are unique for one thing. Just looking at them, they look like a combination of a cockroach and a crustacean. Which explains why they’re pejoratively called Prawns, since they’re environment is covered with filth and dilapidated shanty towns. They have very expressive eyes which aren’t big. But you can guess just how they feel by looking at their eyes as they emote. 

        One of the key things that makes this film work is that the Prawns have personality. For instance, the main Prawn that we follow is nicknamed Christopher Johnson. Wikus notices that it’s very smart with what’s going on as the humans are attempting to relocate the aliens. There’s even moments with it and it’s offspring. 

        The best moment is when we have moments where it expresses frustration. As I mentioned earlier, Wikus was exposed to an alien device. Johnson needed that device so that it and it’s kid can go back home. It’s those little moments of character development which I like since it gives the aliens character and screen time so we can have some level of empathy. 

3. Mockumentary

        If you watched bits and pieces of the film, you start to figure out that it has a documentary feel to it. Right down to the interviews that we see in the beginning. Since it’s like a documentary, this type of film is called a Mockumentary. It’s a type of film where it parodies a documentary film. While it plays it straight, what makes it work is that the camera work is kinetic. There’s never a moment where the camera stands still. The action never gets too incomprehensible or hard to follow with the camera shaking a lot. 

4. One Trick Pony

        The film was a darling when it came out. I think it was partly due to Peter Jackson having his name on the poster and in various ads. While he didn’t direct the film, I feel that his personal touches in terms of story and character where in the film. And of course it made bank, grossing 200 million on a 30 million dollar budget. It’s an accomplishment for any film to outperform in that level. 

        With that, Neill Blomkamp made more films such as Elysium and Chappie. Which weren’t as good as District 9. The frustrating thing is that he probably had a lot of oversight in terms of filming his debut. While I don’t know if he did, it’s understandable when he’s inexperienced with handling a big project. 

        With the success, he probably assumed that he make the same magic. With Elysium and Chappie, the level of quality started to wane. That’s why I call him a One Trick Pony, since he doesn’t have that talent yet to consistently nail down another successful sci-fi film. 

 

5. Overall

        District 9 is the best sci-fi film of the 2000s. It can be interpreted in any way you can think of, but it’s relatable when a species just wants to go home. 

Independence Day Review

        My first faintest memory of Independence Day was at a Target. I remember seeing the VHS copy that had those front covers where the image “moves”. I kept moving it to see the White House being blown up. It wouldn’t be years later where I catched the reruns of the movie in pieces. Now that I watched all of it, I can at least say it’s one of those movies where it’s the right kind of cheesy. Here’s what I think. 

1. Earth vs. The Flying Saucers

        You can look back at any period in movies and find those sci-fi ones that involves an alien invasion. It’s practically a sub-genre at this point with no name. I mostly call it the “Invasion” movie because it involves aliens wreaking havoc and humans fighting back. Now, there are those which take a unique turn by making the aliens friendly. Films like Close Encounters, Contact, and Arrival have it be where aliens are making contact and we have no clue how to deal with it. 

        Anyways, ID4, as how it was marketed, is very basic in terms of plot. Aliens have descended down to Earth to do what else? Destroy everything, by having massive saucers parked in the heavily populated cities. There isn’t one character that we follow, it’s what I call an ensemble film. Think a really large cast of characters. But an ensemble where the characters aren’t deep but are just tokens of what they are. Like we got the tv operator, a president, a U.S. Marine pilot, and so on. 

        The whole plot is interconnected, inevitable leading up to one location for the obligatory final battle. What I like about this one is that it doesn’t take itself seriously. There are moments of cheesiness where the film has Jeff Goldblum’s character figuring out when the aliens will strike. Now, it’s a bit of the stretch that him and not a guy from the government has it down to the exact minute when the Aliens will attack. 

        More so that he basically informs the president on what the aliens are planning. Instead of you know, his entire cabinet and military officials. Like, the whole film could’ve been crap like a massive stretch of movie logic being thrown out. It goes there sometimes, but not at the detriment of the whole movie. The film works by being active, something goes on that it never misses a beat when the saucers land. 

        Since I brought it up, I might as well talk about the characters. If you don’t know what a token character is, think of them like caricatures. There’s nothing deep or interesting about them, just their qualities practically define them. Among all of them, Will Smith’s character has charisma. I mean duh, he is Will Smith but, his personality separates himself from the others. They’re mostly just there, and the thing I noticed the most is that they all have arcs. 

        It seemed like a checkbox where the characters finally overcome the thing that has them stunted. Such as when the president has a low approval rating, he’s the one to lead a fleet of jets against the enemy. More so with Randy Quaid’s character, he was allegedly abducted. He flies a jet and gets vindicated when he delivers the finishing blow to the alien ship.  

        And I guess that’s where people have problems with the film. I can understand that there’s big leaps in logic, or that stuff happens in the most perfect way you can imagine. To that, I think that’s the point. I think this film is like the next evolution for those pulpy B-Movie types from the 50s and 60s. Like of course it’s silly to have the commander and chief lead a squadron to battle. And that’s exactly the point, it’s a silly movie for people to stuff their face of popcorn. For instance, the way Goldblum’s character figures out a way to lower the Alien’s shield is to give it a virus. It’s so bonkers crazy. A human made virus manages to mess up an advanced piece of intergalactic tech? That’s where it got me sold on the whole thing. 

2. Change in Blockbusters

        This movie made bank in the box office. And probably the downside of this movie is that it led to the dumbing down of the blockbusters that followed. You had for a moment disaster films popping up left and right in the 90s. In terms of plot, it’s extremely convenient how the whole story lines up for the characters to do a heroic thing. And the level of destruction is amped. Those can be mostly attributed to this movie, since c’mon the explosions were the cherry on top for this movie. Hell, the shot of the White House being blown up is one of the most famous shots in special effects. 

        Just the way the story was presented, it was a premonition of what was to come for blockbusters in the coming years. Not to talk smack to the good blockbusters, but I think the impact that this film had it where the whole plot or story had to be simplified. Heavy on the spectacle, but low on the brain neuron trying to process the many, many lapses in storytelling and character developments.

3. Overall

        Independence Day is a product of the time. Not that it’s a bad thing, but it showed the human persistence against an existential threat. In the cheesiest way possible. 

Total Recall (1990) Review

 

        We’re in the 90s now, and Total Recall might be the best sci-fi film I’ve seen in that decade. This would be the second Paul Verhoeven film that I’ve watched for this initiative. I’ve talked about Robocop last summer. So, it would only make sense to talk about another great Verhoeven film. 

1. Doug Quaid

        This film is considered Schwarzenegger’s best, considering that his forte is action movies. Regardless, we see Quaid wanting to go to Mars. He’s been having recurring visions of being there with a mysterious woman. Quaid ultimately decides to have memories implanted from the company called Rekall. And what happens next is just a roller coaster.

        The best thing about the film is that it’s more than just a sci-fi movie. It’s a psychological thriller that happens to take place in Earth and in Mars. It fits with what’s going on with Quaid and his journey. At first he’s just a regular guy who wants to venture out from Earth. He has a pretty wife and a stable job, but wants more. Soon, the whole film pivots him to be the mistaken protagonist. Meaning that, he’s mistaken as a spy even though Quaid’s not aware. His whole life may have been a lie. 

        Other than the main theme of the film that I’ll be talking about, this is Arnold’s best film. For one thing he’s charming. It’s his personality that makes his character likeable that we honestly want to root for him. The best example is when he reaches Mars and into a seedy section underneath the surface. After he’s been confronted by various mutants, he gives money to a little girl who is one.

        Lastly, the action in this movie is intense. The movie has moments of levity to have everybody breath from the many gunfights. It’s very grounded since there isn’t blasters, just upgraded guns with bullets. And of course, Quaid having to outmaneuver the enemy. It's the best moments in the film since, he has to think of his heels. And he he has various tech that he’s gifted when he becomes the hero. One of them being a hologram display, it’s used perfectly that he uses it twice and the foot soldiers still get fooled. 

2. What’s Real?

        Now I can talk about the real secret as to why the film still holds up 30 years later. It’s the theme of uncertainty for Doug since he’s roped into a situation where he and by extension us question if the actions that are being presented is really happening. Like, one could interepret the film by being a fantasy and upending the usual action movie. Beat for beat, the hero fights the bad guy and gets the girl. 

        This film has those elements, but it’s never explicitly clear if this is real. Compounding it is that Quaid is also referred to as Carl Hauser. The whole movie could be interpreted as any other way where it doesn’t feel off. And that’s what makes it great is that this film can fit into any type of sci-fi sub-genres. 

        Now, and this is my interpretation, but I think the film is just a product of Rekall. They specialize in having people living out a fantasy, so it makes sense that everything that happens to Quaid is by design. He decides to be a spy, and that’s the whole direction the film goes. It never feels like a tonal shift in the least bit, but it plays it straight since Quaid is embroiled with a Martian conspiracy. 

3. Mars

        It makes sense that the whole film takes place underneath Mars. Nobody can breath in the surface, and one of the faintest memories I had with the movie was just looking at the memorable death scene where the main bad guy’s eyes were bulging out. Aside from childhood visual trauma, there’s more to having the film taking place in Mars. 

        As you see in the movie, Earth looks clean. Well, as one would think how it’ll look in the distant future, without flying cars. It looks affluent, right down to the taxi drivers being robotic. When Quaid goes to the fourth planet, it’s a hell hole. Since there’s constant firefights among the resistance and the authority figures on Mars. 

        What makes it work is that it’s literally a comment on class. With Earth looking nice, and Mars being well you know. And I think it’s compounded with it’s use of mutants. They’re second class to the new inhabitants just by how they look and with their mutant abilities. It all ties in with Quaid’s new role as a hero. While I believe that his new role is tied to the implanted dream, I think it also works to help the mutants gain what they want what Earth has. Which is to be able to breath air. 

4. Overall

        Total Recall is one of the best sci-fi films to kick off the 90s. This is Schwarzenegger’s best film of all time. 

Back to the Future Review

 

        Spielberg dominated the 80s in a way that no other director has come prior or since. Aside from making his movies, he also produced films that have become classics. Some may accuse him of ghost directing since the movies have his distinct touch. Back to the Future is the quintessential time travel movie that is timeless. And to put it simply, it’s one of my favorite movies. 

1. Marty McFly

        What can I say about Marty? He’s probably the most likeable protagonist that you can find in any movie. From the start, he is chastised from the principal saying that he’ll end up like his Dad, by doing nothing in his life. Marty is the perfect example of being an underdog. One instance is when he and his band perform in front of school officials for prom, only to be turned down.

        Interestingly, he helps the eccentric scientist Doc Brown. Marty just goes along with what he’s doing, such as testing a new time machine. It’s never really explained as to why Marty assists Doc, but they have a good chemistry among them. Really the movie shifts gears, so to speak when we see the time machine. It’s practically a part of pop culture, but what makes the DeLorean work is that it acts like a commercial and poking fun at it. I’ll explain later in the next tab. 

        How the movie treats the time travel is done so well with Marty. Literally, he’s a fish out of water when he’s in the past. Everything is alien to him since the things that he knows don’t exist. Not only is the film strictly sci-fi, it also uses comedy to its fullest. The moment where his own mom has the hots for him never feels cringey in the least bit. Like, of course Lorraine gets fond of him, but never in a sense where it’s perverted. 

        I think the best moment is that he takes the initiative to right the wrongs of the past. Since he’s in the 50s, he can at least make a difference, for better and worse. What I mean is that his actions have the consequences we see in the beginning and in the end. Like attempting to get his Dad to get with his Mom. Which I’ll explain now in the next tab.

2. Courage and Fear

        Aside from Marty being a fish out of water, I feel that the film is really about the ideas of Courage and Fear. Courage in a way that Marty never gives up. Like I mentioned before, his band gets rejected to play at a dance. There’s a vindicating scene where Marty just wails on the guitar that is awesome and hilarious. I think this overall idea helps Marty be a well-rounded character because he has urgency. 

        With the threat that he’ll be wiped away due to a time paradox, Marty coaches his dad to be able to stand up for himself. And we see just how bad George gets it in school. Marty even sees it in the beginning when the villain Biff walks over his dad. The bonding moment feels cathartic since Marty wants to at least help his dad. 

        Now let’s talk about Fear. Another aspect of the film that I kept noticing is that there’s failure that’s permeating in the film. It relates to fear so let me explain. Obviously, the DeLorean is supposed to represent that since it’s faulty when Marty wants it to work. And Doc feeling like he hasn’t accomplished much. Lastly, Marty attempting to get Lorraine and George together, but circumstances impeding that. 

        Marty is the anthesis of that since he has the motivation to not be like his parents. The little moments where he coaches his Dad to be more assertive is fun and endearing. It never feels selfish where Marty wants to change his family which I like. But it’s that urgency that he wants to right the wrongs that his family and he did so that everything can be normal. 

3. Legacy

        Can you really say much about how much influence this film had on the public? One would think that it would be a one-off movie, but it had sequels where it’s not on par with the original. And they’re not terrible, like it felt obligatory to have Marty go into the future and in the Wild West. 

        Kind of shock that it also inspired the adult swim show Rick and Morty. Technically, the animated short "The Real Animated Adventures of Doc and Mharti" is spoofing the very idea of Back to the Future. Which prompted co-creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland to make the show as twisted and demented as you think. 

4. Overall

        Back to the Future is one of the great sci-fi films of the 80s. It never feels dated which makes it timeless. Also, it’s one of the few movies to not have gotten a remake, and I’m glad.