2036 Origin Unknown (2018)

I know, I know, I haven’t been around the blog as much as I had intended, but that is all for a good reason. A few months ago, I got contracted to start a series of stories for an Instagram based app called texties.lol and I have been hard at work bringing my Man of Cloth character and the world of Summit View to life. So far, it has been an extreme success and I signed on for a second installment. I have also been busy working on my pop culture and vintage toy store, something that I hope will take off and allow me more freedom in the future. With that, you will be seeing some changes to The Ringmaster’s Realm, as it will serve as the headquarters for both my movie reviews as well as store announcements with cool finds and item listings, so stay tuned. Well, enough on that, the next movie for review is the 2018 science fiction entry 2036 Origin Unknown.

Plot/ After a failed mission to Mars, A.I./ARTI is now used for the 2036 mission with a few human supervisors. A monolith of unknown origin is found there. It will have a big effect on Earth.

Being a fan of the genre, I really wanted to love this one. Unfortunately, I could not truly get into it as much as I thought I would. The story and plot really don’t add anything to the genre that we haven’t seen before. In fact, much of the movie sets up to be far more confusing than it should have been. The pacing is slow, there is no real action, too many things are left open to interpretation and are never explained in detail. I did like the use of AI and found it interesting that this is another example of how filmmakers turn the keys to everything over to a machine. Personally, I must agree that it will end badly when that happens. There is also a solid baseline of tension layered throughout, even if the entire storyline is predictable and lacking depth. In the end, this is far from a perfect movie, but there is at least some unanswered questions that make you think. While I would not completely recommend it to everyone, it does make a good backdrop if you are trying to get some work done.

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

I know, I got rolling with the blog and then drifted off. I didn’t mean to, but I was in the middle of finishing up a contract for some radio-drama’s and needed to focus on those. While I was working though, I was able to watch a few flicks. One of those was the 2017 sci-fi entry Blade Runner 2049.

Plot/ A young blade runner's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former blade runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years.

As a fan of the original Blade Runner, I decided to stay away from this one for a while. Unfortunately, I discovered that was a huge mistake and should have embraced this film from the start. Even as a long movie, this one pulled me in and made me want to watch and see what happened throughout the layered story line. At the same time, I could see why there were some complaints, as it was not quite the action film the trailer popularized, and some could find it a bit slow. For me, the outstanding cinematography provided the perfect vehicle for the story, allowing both the light and dark of this world to come to life seamlessly, the performances were solid, and the cast did a great job at bringing everything together in a way that would appeal to fans of the original and those who never experienced the 1982 classic. Yes, the run time and lack of action may turn some people off, but those are only small issues and are easily overlooked. In the end, any sci-fi fan should not only enjoy this film, they should demand that same quality at of all films in the genre. This is one of the best sci-fi films to come out in some time and it is a movie that must be seen. If you haven’t watched it yet, you are really missing out.

Morgan (2016)

After watching The Shelter, I was looking to find something more conspiracy related. Unfortunately, the movie I was searching for was out. Instead, I decided on the 2016 entry Morgan.

Plot/ A corporate risk-management consultant must decide whether or not to terminate an artificially created humanoid being.

When I saw this one on the shelf at Family Video, it looked interesting. In some ways, the advertised premise reminded me of the storyline from Embryo that I watched earlier in the week. While what I found was somewhat similar, this one was overall a lot more thought provoking and darker. Besides the interesting storyline, it featured some solid performances, a talented cast, and an intense and somewhat dark atmosphere. Yes, the ending was a bit of a let down and some of the characterizations were flat, but overall those elements did little to bring the movie down. In the end, this one has a nice mixture of horror and science fiction elements and is a fun watch, especially if you are stuck in the middle of a blizzard or deep freeze. Stay warm out there!

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

After diving into a documentary last night, I wanted to finish off 2016 with one of my favorite movies of the year and a movie that everyone should see. What is that movie? It is arguably one of the best movies to be released all year, Rogue One!

Plot/ All looks lost for the Rebellion against the Empire as they learn of the existence of a new super weapon, the Death Star. Once a possible weakness in its construction is uncovered, the Rebel Alliance must set out on a desperate mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. The future of the entire galaxy now rests upon its success.

Being the first Star Wars movie to take place outside the existing familial storyline, it was interesting to see what Gareth Edwards would create to fall into this important canonical spot. What I found was an amazing entry that fit perfectly into the given timeframe and created the prequel that many of us have longed for. Rogue One has so many elements that are impressive and more importantly creates an adult oriented film that is darker and shows the harshness of the Empire and the horrors of what a true rebellion would be. The performances are outstanding, the action and pacing flowed in a way that was on par with the classic Star War entries (especially Empire Strikes Back and A New Hope), and the storyline was perfectly placed within the confines given as a direct lead-in to A New Hope (plus seeing Grand Moff Tarkin was a great surprise). While some of the CGI was a touch shaky and the addition of some of the fighter footage, as homage to A New Hope was not needed to complete the project, they were but minor flaws. In the end, Rogue One is one of my favorite entries in the saga falling second only to the best in the series Empire Strikes Back and is a movie that must be seen by everyone (not just Star Wars fans).  

Ex Machina (2015)

In finalizing the flicks that I watched this weekend while working on some homework, I was left with just one to review. That movie it the thought provoking artificial intelligence flick Ex Machina from 2015.

Plot/ A young programmer is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breath-taking humanoid A.I.

While the subject matter in this one is somewhat familiar, it is done in an extremely effective and deep manner that makes you think. It was definitely one of the most thought provoking movies I have seen in quite a while. Everything really works with a dark and haunting atmosphere, emotional (and outstanding) performances, a fascinating score that echoes the atmosphere, and some extremely detailed special effects that were truly worthy of all of the accolades that they received. Sure, the ending may not be for everyone, but personally, I loved the darker tone that they ended on. In the end, this was one of the most entertaining and captivating movies I have seen in some time. If you have not seen it, give it a shot.

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (2009)

Over the weekend, I took a few days away from the blog to focus on homework and writing the short film script that had kicked my butt over the week. Now, with a new week starting and my homework behind me, I decided to jump back in with the 2009 SyFy Channel entry Battlestar Galactica: The Plan.

Plot/ When the initial Cylon attack against the Twelve Colonies fails to achieve complete extermination of human life as planned, twin Number Ones (Cavils) embedded on Galactica and Caprica must improvise to destroy the human survivors.

After holding out for some time because I am a huge fan of the original series, I decided to venture into some of the newer Battlestar Galactica mythos with this entry. While I do understand that I may have to come back to this one after watching the series (and miniseries), I at least found this entry interesting with some outstanding performances and striking visuals. I will admit that I found some of the film disjointed and uneven. Of course, this could be from not watching any of the modern adaptations. In the end, this one is not my favorite entry, and does nothing to erase my memories of the classic Battlestar Galactica from my youth.

The Zero Theorem (2013)

Every once in a while, I enjoy taking a trip into the surreal worlds that could develop in our future. While many people find this type of film fantasy, I honestly believe that much of what we view as science fiction today will be reality in the future. One such movie I recently stumbled across is the 2013 flick The Zero Theorem.

Plot/ A hugely talented but socially isolated computer operator is tasked by Management to prove the Zero Theorem: that the universe ends as nothing, rendering life meaningless. But meaning is what he already craves.

When I sat down to watch this, I honestly expected an interesting journey into a dystopian future, but I found something that was more captivating and philosophical. While the movie was a touch confusing (especially early on), the individual payoff is worth wading through those moments. The viewer is the one that is left to make their decisions and find the answers to the dynamic questions posed within this surreal world.  Yes, this one will not be for everyone, but if you decide that you want to travel into this dystopia, you will find a bizarre world that boasts color, character, and philosophy. In the end, this movie has a much deeper message and meaning than most of the movies that come out and will definitely not appeal to everyone. If you do enjoy this type of movie, than you will find it extremely thought provoking and entertaining. However, if you are looking for just something for entertainment, you may want to look in a different direction.

Transcendence (2014)

Sci-Fi flicks are always hard to figure out. Sometimes they present storylines that are so far out, there is no way they could be true. Other times, they tackle subject matter that could become reality (or already exists), a fact that can make for an eerie trip into its world. Next up is another Sci-Fi movie, the 2014 A.I. entry Transcendence.

Plot/ A scientist's drive for artificial intelligence, takes on dangerous implications when his consciousness is uploaded into one such program.

I remember seeing the trailer for Transcendence and hoping that it would be awesome. While I missed it in theaters, I was able to finally grab it at Family Video. Unfortunately, it did not live up to what I was hoping for. Sure, the movie was not terrible, as it did have some solid performances, decent cinematography and direction, and an interesting (yet disjointed) storyline. However, the uneven script featuring unrefined story layers draws it down and leads to uneven event pacing throughout, which suffocates the atmosphere. In the end, while this movie is far from great, it also does not rise to the potential that it contained. Yes, it had some entertaining moments, but it is in no way anything memorable.

The Machine (2013)

The Fourth of July is often one of those days that cause mixed emotions. While I enjoy the cookouts and relaxation, the drunks with the fireworks on every corner can make it a touch annoying. But, I would prefer dealing with those idiots more than dealing with a totalitarian society that wants to control everything… Oh wait this is the Obama administration. Next up for review is the 2013 Sci-Fi / Thriller The Machine.

Plot/ Two artificial intelligence engineers come together as they work to create the first ever self-aware artificial intelligence. Things go wrong when the Ministry of Defense takes over and advances the researchers' work to the next level, teaching the AI to kill with its new and nearly indestructible body.

Sci-Fi films have been all over the place recently, with the art of the Sci-Fi / Thriller almost non-existent. That was definitely not the case with this low budget but stylish independent flick. There was a lot to like in this one with a thought provoking storyline, solid acting, and an atmospheric realm. Sure, there were some scripting issues and the ending felt a bit abrupt, but those were not a deal breaker. In the end, this was an entertaining flick with some nice visual elements. If you are a fan of the Sci-Fi / Thriller genre, give this one a look.