Mike Goes To Movies

Ad Astra (2019) Ad Astra is a profound film, one that, over time, pulls you further and further into its vast black-hole of philosophical and existential ideas and quandaries. It is that rare, elite-level of science-fiction that viscerally reflects the public consciousness of today. It is as beautiful in its presentation and visuals as it is in its thematic explorations. Though the plot works perfectly well on a surface level it is in its deeper discussion that one will reflect on the film and ponder many questions of life for long after the credits end. Minor Spoilers Below: Much credit must be given to director and co-writer, James Gray, for taking on this large-scale and, at the same time, very personal tale. The film takes place in a time when the planet is being hit with interstellar surges that threaten all life on earth. Astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) is tasked with traveling to the outer reaches of space to confront the source of these surges, which is a now-dorman...

Blade Runner 2049 (2017) In every way, Blade Runner 2049 is an astonishing film. You could watch it with the sound off and visually take it one of the most beautifully shot films of the past twenty years. Or, turn the sound on and you will experience one of the best science-fiction films of all time. No, I am not going to get into debating whether this is better than the original or not. However, 2049 is one of the rare examples of a sequel (35 years after the original no less) that does not exist solely to return to a beloved story to make money, but one that very much has its own story to tell - one that is complete and moving and profound, while also expanding upon (and elevating) the lore and themes of the original. I think credit must firstly be given to the combination of director, Denis Villeneuve, writers, Hampton Fancher (who also wrote the original) and Michael Green, and cinematographer, Roger Deakins. Without any of these individuals the film would very likely not be ...

Movies About Dystopian Futures! Okay, so for this list I tried to really hone in on the true meaning of 'dystopian'. These films are not just dark sci-fi films, but, these are films that are truly dystopian: where the end of mankind is more-or-less at-hand. Nevertheless, you will see that within this parameter that the films below are still quitevaried; there are large-scale blockbusters, action films, intimate thrillers, and even an animated family film! And, as with all great dystopian sci-fi, each of these films, in their own ways, has a unique and interesting message to impart on us viewers about the potentially catastrophic direction our world may be headed towards - duh duh duhhh!  As always, let me know your thoughts below! Note: Matrix would be on here but I've already highlighted enough on this account... for now...   Other notables: The Hunger Games (2012-2015), The Matrix (1999),  Gattaca (1997),  Metropolis (1927), Akir...

Love, Death & Robots (2019) Love, Death & Robots is the highly-anticipated Netflix anthology series headed by directors, David Fincher and Tim Miller. It is a re-imagining of sorts of the Heavy Metal reboot that the two had, for long, planned on making. The series is eighteen standalone science fiction stories, each brimming with violence, nudity and profanity; though the series is animated in gorgeous fashion, it is definitely not for children. As with most anthologies, LD+R can be somewhat of a mixed-bag; for every successful segment, there is likely an equally weaker one. The genres range from strictly action, to philosophical and existential, tense thrillers or straight absurd comedies, all within a unique sci-fi setting. As mentioned, one area where the series succeeds across the board is in its highly diverse and exceptional animation. You can see from this images that the segments range from fully-rendered and realistic computer animation, classic hand-drawn ani...

Interstellar (2014) To me, Christopher Nolan's ambitious space-epic, Interstellar , is a bit like The Goog - a signature dish from a great ice cream place in my hometown. What the hell is The Goog? Well, it is  a deluge of dessert delicacy - it is a gargantuan upside down blueberry shake, with a hot fudge sundae, and bananas, all topped with whipped cream. Yes... that obviously sounds incredible. And it does taste good for the most part... But in reality, every time I've ordered The Goog I've ended up receiving a horrible stomach ache about halfway through and ultimately unable to finish it. Sadly, the Goog just tries too hard; it's just too much 'good' for one thing. Like The Goog, Interstellar tries its hand at being a little of bit something for everyone. It is a lengthy three hours and yet it still feels like its overflowing with plot points, tones and themes. The film should be commended for its high ambitions, and, most of the time, Nolan has been ab...