Hey hey!
Time flies and so do topics in this academic year!
Well, as you know, after covering some topics, I usually feel like recommending a movie that I have really enjoyed and that is somehow connected with said topic.
I guess that there are numerous titles and classics that have dealt with scientific progress and technology and its influence on mankind, and also lots of movies about the future world, sometimes with a neutral or positive outlook, but quite often with a negative one (The Matrix, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner, A Clockwork Orange, Gattaca, Mad Max, Robocop, 12 Monkeys, Total Recall, and a big big etc.) These films depicting a rather bleak vision of the future belong to a genre called "Dystopian" (I think the term is related to George Orwell's classic novel 1984). God, I really love this genre and you bet that the movies mentioned are superb ones. The thing is that you may have probably seen most of them, as they are pretty popular flicks (and if not, you should, for they are GREAT), and you know that I like trying to be original and coming up with titles you may be unfamiliar with.
Well, today's recommendations are, not one, but two:
Kathryn Bigelow's 1995 Sci-Fi/Cyberpunk/ Thriller "Strange Days" is one of the least known movies in her filmography. She made quite a couple of fantastic action movies in the eighties (such as the Vampire thriller "Near Dark") and nineties (the all-time classic "Point Break", with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze). She became, however, a much renowned director thanks to later films like the Award-winning "The Hurt Locker" and "Zero Dark Thirty". It is their less pretentious, more purely action films like the ones I listed before the ones which I prefer, to be honest. Anyway, just try this flick and tell me what you think about it. The cast (featuring Ralph Fiennes, the superb Angela Bassett and the always sexy Juliette Lewis) is great and the story, gripping enough to ensure a good time on a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Dig it, for sure.
My second recommendation are the 1st and 2nd series of the AWESOME BEYOND WORDS Black Mirror series (consisting of only three episodes each). I mean, Strange Days is sort of a personal favorite of mine: I enjoyed it a lot and it's a semi-classic in my book, but I doubt it will go down in the history of cinema like, say Kubrick's films; however, if you haven't seen these contemporary classics, masterpieces of TV/cinema/ fiction, whatever..., I urge you to do so! So good! As any other dystopian film/story, they are really dismal, cheerless, gloomy and probably, not the best option if you're planning to watch with a carton of pop-corn and the company of your kids. But great, nonetheless? You bet they are! One of the best broadcasting creations of the past 2 decades, if you ask me!
Enjoy and, as usual, don't forget to leave your opinions in the comments box!
WRITTEN BY TATYANA ARNALDOS JURADO
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen 'Strange Days' before and the truth I haven't heard about it whatsoever. It's tremendously difficult understanding plot of story, when you only are able to understand only some parts of the flick.
There are many things which I don't understand i.e those experiences which are recorded and he watch with that 'strange thing' on the head, are they happening in real time???-Just after he see rape and murder of the girl, this very girl appear corpse! Also some of these experiencies have to being past because he also remember to his girl and what he did with her... I don't know, I am not clear ... Is he an ex-cop??... I LOVE acting of the protagonist, it's absolutely incredible as this guy transmit intensity in every shot, knowledgeable of with only a look he is able to transmit feelings of the protagonist, -the way he takes care of her- the way he looks her absolutely hypnotised in the club while she is singing...- Not to mention that, on top of all that, this guy has a INCREDIBLE foregrounds of a complete and pure BEAUTY.
I'll tell Angela Bassett that she rub overacting, but even so ,she do a decent role- in my book-, and Juliette Lewis is more worried by exhibit herself, than by being believable -sorry about that-
In general, it has liked me, except any unpleasant scene I have enjoyed it a lot, especially the end (I don't want to spoil the film for the ones who want to see it, but I'll only tell you that I KNOW IT)!! hahaha I KNOW IT...
I'll try seeing the others series OK? and in that case I'll comment them soon.
Will we see any flick of the era 2000? hahaha
Hey! I'm glad you semi-enjoyed it, Tatyana. As I said, "Strange Days" might not go down in history along Blade Runner or The Godfather, but it's one of those obscure 90s movies whose aesthetic I completely dig, so that makes me pretty biased!
DeleteAnyway, I absolutely agree with you that is a pretty fast-moving/hard-to-follow flick. But again, on the whole, I like it pretty alright.
I understand why you liked Ralph Fiennes so much, what a stunning presence the guy has! I dug Angela Basett and, well, Juliette Lewis looks so sexy in this movie, that she could get away with her not-too-stellar acting skills!
Feedback:
"The truth is that I HADN'T heard anything about it AT ALL"
"... understanding THE plot or story"
"... and he WATCHES with that strange thing on HIS head"
"Just after he SEES the rape and murder of the girl"
"The same/ this very girl appears dead?"
"... REMEMBERS his girl and what..."
"I love the protagonist's acting"
"... incredible HOW this guy TRANSMITS..."
"... the way he looks AT her..."
"Foregrounds" is fine, but "this guy has incredible CLOSE-UPS of complete and pure beauty"
"Angela Bassett BORDERS ON overacting"
"She PLAYS/DOES a decent role"
"... more worried by/about EXHIBITING herself..."
"In general, I'VE LIKED IT! apart from some unpleasant scene"
WRITTEN BY TATYANA ARNALDOS JURADO
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about of what rang a bell the word 'dystopian' and it was in the Sci-Fi vocab movies- I remember that it didn't have a translation...-
I'll only comment the chapters of the first serie, I'm sorry haven't enough time to see the rest one, I'll try anyhow.
I completely agree with you that they are dismal , cheerless, gloomy, but not all of them I've liked equally. For example 'The National Anthem' likes me, but you recognize me that its plot is a little 'heavy' -not english heavy but ours spanish heavy- All the topic of manipulation of mass media, inherent morbidness , psychological abuse, peer pressure,... I don't know.
Apart from that, I don't understand the reaction of the woman at the end of the chapter...Could you explain me, please? She don't forgive him what he did, or what she can't forgive is that he spent almost an hour go on and go on...?That was a little bit strange, wasn't it? hahaha.
About 'Fifteen Million Merits' I'll say that it LOVED me ¿Where has been this jewel hidden??It's AWESOME, GREAT, GRIPPING!!Although with things that I don't understand which, if you don't mind I would like to know!
It's like a 'Gran Hermano' or a talent show, isn't it?with a lot of CGI use, it's an unreal world, somber, but where apples are incredibly green, there are great alarm clock, everything with a futuristic view- although vending machine get blocked in the same way that ours ones... ha!
It seems that they can't go out of there and have to cycling every day to get points for everything they need , right?(Has you seen all these flicks in english??For me, they would be difficult to understand even in spanish... hahaha) Then she do a casting and have a juice, that I think it might have any kind of drug, right? That song that Jessica Brown sing is GORGEOUS, the jugde tell her that it isn't the most magic sonic in the word -but I do looked like it myself and I recognize that I did more than
a bis......'I know I won't ever let you go Oh, it's more that I could ever stand Oh but anyone who knows what love is... will understand'....... I can't get it out of my head!! I sing it everywhere,- when I assure that anybody can listen me-hahaha
And he 'wxx....' judge tell her that could be too much sexy and that anyone man would imagine her in a 'special and dirty' way... ¿HOW CAN HE SAY THAT?? The same old story, I would
remove to that gender half of theirs hormones, they would be happier and we also. And later he sent her to porno chanel? It's a pity...
It has loved me especially, after I see it, I cost a big effort get back to my reality.
'The Entire History of You' liked me but less, the standar was really high... hahaha. Is incredible that you can being doing a thing and being remind other one at the same time.
He has a incredible jealous, which they seem weren't baseless, he even doubt of being father of the baby? The end seemed me a little bit dull. It would be great can to delete all bad experiences, if so we would be happier
And please, clear me the ? ones... This is a difficult thing!!
I'm glad YOU LIKED/LOVED them! (not "they have liked/ loved me!!!!!). It is funny though, that your favorite episode is "Fifteen Million Merits", as it is the one fans of the series tend to like the less (including me!)
DeleteBooks are divided into chapters, but series are into EPISODES.
"... I have only seen the episodes of the first SEASON/ SERIES"
"not English (capital E) heavy, but OUR Spanish "heavy")
"She DOESN'T forgive what he did..."
"I LOVED fifteen million..." OF COURSE!!!!!
"Although vending MACHINGES get blocked in the same way as ours"
"HAVE you seen all these flicks in English" (Remember, capital E!)
"Then she DOES an AUDITION"
"the song that Jessica Brown SINGS"
The next bit (but I do looked like...) is too unclear/ literal for me to even understand, can you rephrase it, please??
"when the judge TELLS!!!! her"
"that she could be much SEXIER and that any man could imagine her in..."
Spelling: porno CHANNEL
"The STANDARD was really high"
"IT is incredible"
"that you can BE doing one thing and BE reminded of ANOTHER (one) at the same time"
"He IS incredibly jealous/he has terrible JEALOUSY"
"which seem weren't baseless"
"The end seemed TO ME a little bit dull"
"It would be great TO BE ABLE to delete..."
And yes, I'll clear everything, if you promise me not to make THESE MISTAKES (3rd person singular!) again!!!!!
;-)
WRITTEN BY TAYANA ARNALDOS JURADO
ReplyDeleteHey, ultimately I've taken time to see them, I don't know how I've done it but if you want you CAN.
Well, in my book, this second batch had less quality and it didn't captivate me like the first one did-sorry-
I'll start speaking of 'Be right back' (the best one of these last ones, undoubtedly) ;He died in his way home and she realized that she's expecting a baby -sob story- , but then an action figure is sent to home and when he/it downstairs is a clone of him!! -well, a clon in a improved version I'd say, hahaha- and in spite of being unreal he bleed like a human! It's good that finally she didn't
'commit suicide' to clone, I knew it, I think also that I'd prefer having him like this that don't have him.
'White Bear' seemed really difficult to understand (I see flicks without subtitules, in kamikaze mode)
I wouldn't understand what happened to the girl, everybody is recording but anybody help her, that
kind of piece of jigsaw puzzle, I don't know, everything is really strange...
Did she murder to her daughter and to his fiancé? Did he abuse of her daughter? They are screaming 'murderer'... I don't know.
It's like a 'Truman Show', where everything is agreed and nothing is real. And everything is put for it happen day after day... What a strange episode it is, Javi! I bet it is your favorite, isn't it?
And in 'The Waldo Moment', it seemed easy to understand (surprisingly easy) BUT its plot didn't captivate me even a second. The only thing that draw my atention was that a guy said something like 'Abba would believe in Angels' -It seems that the director of the serie is a Abba fan, because this very song 'I believe in Angels' appears in 'Fifteen Million Merits' and I still can't get it out of my head!... ... I have a dream, a song to sing, to help me cope, with anything... this one along with 'Anyone who knows what love is' (how I do for get a song out of my head?Anybody knows how do it??hahaha)
Definitely, for me the best episode is 'Fifteen Million Merits' and how many flicks with music score, it
will remain in my memory.
PD. THIS IS A CALL TO ALL INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS, I KNOW WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF EXAMS BUT PLEASE YOU DON'T MISS 'FIFTEEN MILLION MERITS', IT IS SO AWESOME, GRIPPING,...IT'D BE A REALLY PITY THAT YOU DON'T SEE IT, INDEED. DON'T MISS IT, PLEASE.
And mainly thanks to Javi because if hadn't been by you, I wouldn't have see it, THANKS!!!
Thanks again, Tatyana, aka the voracious writer for your always supercool comments on the blog.
DeleteI'll stand by my point in that the second series manage to outdo the first. "The white bear" is horrifying enough, in a good way, but I like the other two episodes as much; that "Waldo" episode is nothing short of genius! And "Be right back" is really nice as well.
Feedback time:
"and when he IS/GOES downstairs"
"he BLEEDS like a..."
"... she didn't finally MAKE HIM COMMIT SUICIDE"
"I'd prefer having him like that THAN NOT having him"
"... everybody is recording but NOBODY HELPS her..."
"Did she murder her daughter" (without TO)
"... everything is MADE/SET UP to happen in a day"
"AN Abba fan"
"... and, AS MANY OTHER flicks with music on THEM, it will remain"
Thank you for taking your time and watching them, Tatyana!