The Lawnmower Man (1992)

 

I am definitely already feeling some seasonal depression as Halloween has come and gone.  While I like to think with my movie choices and writing,  I live that 365 days a year,  there is an emptiness when spooky season ends that seems to last a few months.  Trying to keep my mind from the doldrums, I decided to revisit the 1992 sci-fi entry The Lawnmower Man.

Plot: A simple man is turned into a genius through the application of computer. 

This sci-fi entry may appeared dated with the visual effects of 1992, but that does nothing to bring down the truths lining this story.  Technology is our nemesis and in many ways we have behind slaves to the technology.  To me,  this is more of a drama dealing with moral and ethical problems that lie in many parts of science. In some ways,  much of this was demonstrated during the pandemic as many scientists played on their "so called"superiority in knowledges as a way to manipulate the world. Maybe we would have all benefited from watching this one again during those dark days.  But, enough of that rambling.  The performances were outstanding and the storyline was nuanced and true.  Yes,  the visual effects of the day make it feel out of touch, but they were pretty interesting for the day.  If you haven't watched it,  check it out. 

Crowley (2009)

With yesterday being my birthday, I decided to take a break from the computer after dinner. Yes, I did watch some more of Ash vs. Evil Dead and some homework, but other than that there was no writing or creative moments. Tonight was different, as I decided to find something a little darker than my recent entries. My selection for the evening was the 2009 entry Crowley (AKA Chemical Wedding).

Plot/ In 1947, noted Neo-Pagan Aleister Crowley dies. In Cambridge, 43 years later, with the help of a computer, Crowley's spirit takes over the body of Haddo, a mild-mannered, stuttering don. Over four days, as Crowley prepares for an occult extravaganza, bodies pile up, Crowley's elect engage in rites of passage, and Lia, a red-headed campus reporter, sniffs out a story that puts her in grave danger. Mathers, a scientist recently arrived from Cal Tech, may hold the key to her destiny.

It is funny, as Crowley (the man and his works) has come up in many conversations over the past week, so it was awesome to sit back and enjoy a movie with him and his works at the core. Yes, this movie will not be for everyone, and I am sure there will be many that are offended by some of the material, but that is to be expected will the subject matter. Personally, I enjoyed it tremendously, especially the mixture of Satanism and sadism sprinkled inside. As a low budget entry, there was a lot to like with an interesting storyline, some intriguing theories, and some decent performances. Yes, there were some confusing moments, the pace started in a slow manner, and some of the scripting was uneven, but again, for a low budget entry, it was not bad. In the end, this may not be for everyone, but if you sometimes enjoy a trip into the dark arts or some surrealistic worlds, give it a shot. You could do much worse.

Dark City (1998)

Sometimes, I regret some of my choices, since they are journeys deep into the bowels of misery. Of course, that is my fault, as I tend to be impulsive when I see something instead of searching out something better. Fortunately, there are times when I decide to dig deeper, and find a movie that is worth watching, and at times, even inspirational. That was the case tonight, with the 1998 Sci-Fi entry, Dark City.

Plot/ A man struggles with memories of his past, including a wife he cannot remember, in a nightmarish world with no sun and run by beings with telekinetic powers who seek the souls of humans.

After suffering through that very forgettable Hellraiser installment, I was happy to break out Dark City. This is both one of the best, and one of my favorite Sci-Fi films of the 1990s. Honestly, I have no idea why it never reached anything other than cult status, it is worthy of so much more than that. Cold, dark, atmospheric, and complete with outstanding performances, a layered and complex script, and most importantly, a thought provoking storyline that leaves you inspired by what can be accomplished with originality within a Sci-Fi landscape. Even the ending, which still feels a touch out of place, can do nothing to derail the impressive gothic world created in the entertaining feature. In the end, Dark City is one of the most underappreciated Sci-Fi movies in the genre, and is cinematographically above many films that many place above it. If you have not seen this brilliant entry, search it out and give it a shot. You will not be disappointed.

The Matrix (1999)

Hello again, and welcome to 2015. Having taken a few weeks off to enjoy the holiday season, and so some travelling, it is time to jump back into the world here at The Ringmaster’s Realm. 2014 was a great year, and there was a lot that I will miss, but I am sure that this year will be even better. To start the year off with a bang, I decided to venture deep inside a Sci-Fi classic, the 1999 hit The Matrix.

Plot/ A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.

I ventured back into the Matrix for the first time since I saw it when it came out. When I saw it then, I was amazed at the effects and how impressive every detail was. Now, while the effects are still stunning, the story definitely took on an entirely different meaning with the overall importance of the films message breaking through. Everything in this movie works, with a solid cast combining outstanding performances, over-the-top special effects, a detail driven storyline that continues to grow philosophically deeper the more times you see it, and the atmosphere is tight, which allows the characters to come to life within the fantasy elements of the movie. While the movie does have confusing moments and runs a touch long at 136 minutes, those are but minor flaws inside one of the most impressive Sci-Fi flicks of the era. In the end, if you have not watched this one, you are wrong; go out, find it, and watch it as soon as possible. If you are like me and have not revisited this one in some time, look it up; you may be surprised at what you find inside.

Inception (2010)

Today was graduation day at the institute and the final members of my first real class graduated. While the ceremony was nice, and I am sure that the five that are heading out will do great things, it is a bit sad that they will not be around, as they were definitely a joy to have in the classroom. Moving on, if you have read my blog over the past three years, you would know that I am not the biggest fan of the blockbuster flick, and honestly prefer the indie movement. Yes, I do watch a blockbuster from time-to-time, but I usually do not enjoy them. Today, as the last day of the quarter wound down, I allowed my class to pick a movie for the afternoon since all of their grades were published; their selection, the action-adventure-science fiction blockbuster Inception.  

Plot/ In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job to date: Inception.

Sometimes films come along that truly define a genre, and now, after watching this one, I believe that Inception will define this genre for generations. When a movie tries to peer into the subconscious, they are always interesting, and to an extent, surreal. Somehow, this one took the cues from movies past, amplified it, and created its own dimension on the screen. The storyline is tremendous, extremely complicated but interesting, one that will draw you in, the acting is solid, there are some top-notch performances, and the cinematography and production are outstanding with the action sequences and soundtrack mirroring the mood of the film perfectly. On top of that, the special effects are amazing, and crafted well within the layers of the film. On the downside, this is definitely a hard film to understand fully in one viewing, and with such a long run-time, it may be hard to watch multiple times to discover all of the intricacies that I am sure exists within this world. In the end, some more character development would have made the film perfect, but when that is the major flaw, what more can one ask for. This may be one of the best action or science fiction films to be released in sometime and must be seen to be believed. If you have not seen it yet, you must see it. Honestly, I wish I would have watched it earlier.

Game Box 1.0 (2004)

I was trying to find something to watch with the daughters and decided upon the 2004 video game gone awry flick Game Box 1.0.

Plot/ A reclusive video game tester discovers a revolutionary new console system with the power to feed on the player's most intimate hopes and fears a virtual reality trip to remember.

Anytime I grab a random PG-13 flick to watch with the daughters, I tend to quiver a little always expecting the worse. But, sometimes, you can be surprised. This is one of those movies. Yes, it is far from perfect with of the typical low budget flaws like uneven acting, predictability, and cliché scripting. However, in this flick the pacing was awesome and some of the effects were solid. I actually could not believe how much I enjoyed this virtual reality sci-fi adventure. Check it out, it is actually pretty good.