Movies for hardcore sci-fi geeks

[Bandersnatch]

Has anyone mentioned or seen "Transcendence"? I am considering streaming it in as AI seems to be "in the wind" a lot these days with dire warnings from Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking but I'd like to know ahead of time a bit of what to expect - a fun ride or foolish scare tactics.

I remember being dissuaded from watching it by generally tepid reviews on RT.

 

[1oldman2]

dire warnings from Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking

I recently read that Bill Gates is echoing the warnings also, Sounds like people "in the know" are concerned so we probably shouldn't turn our backs on AI.

 

[1oldman2]

How about _Robinson Crusoe on Mars_

Ironically I was thinking of that movie just a couple days ago, I remember watching it as a kid and it still strikes me as a great Sci-fi flick. Especially the concept of heating rocks to get breathable air, Pretty cool considering most of the old movies dealt with irradiated mutant crabs rampaging etc. I still consider The Twilight Zone as a good source of older Sci-fi also, plenty of good episodes in that genre.

 

[gjonesy]

Don't know if this qualifies as Sci-fi but its very realistic: Outbreak with Dustin Hoffman

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outbreak_(film)

If a viral apocalypse ever happens this will be the way it goes most likely.

 

[enorbet]

@gjonesy - That movie scares me just to recall it!

 

[gjonesy]

That movie scares me just to recall it!

The concept and the plot, the fact that something like this can really happen, for me made it a great movie. For me its Sci-fi that can become a reality. One of my favs.

 

[SlowThinker]

Has anyone mentioned or seen "Transcendence"? I am considering streaming it in as AI seems to be "in the wind" a lot these days with dire warnings from Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking but I'd like to know ahead of time a bit of what to expect - a fun ride or foolish scare tactics.

It's OK. Fairly logical and interesting, even if I'm not entirely happy with the ending.

 

[enorbet]

@gjonesy - I agree it is great. It wouldn't be so scary if it wasn't. It is scary exactly because it is so well-developed and believable.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

Fantastic Planet will be out on Blu-ray June 14th.

 

[Battlemage!]

Primer is one of my favorite movies ever. The OP spoke of it. If you haven't seen it and can stomach non-linear time, give it a try.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

"Lucy" was, imho, an old-school sci-fi story. Not complicated, but fun to watch.

 

[Hoophy]

Fantastic Planet will be out on Blu-ray June 14th.

I am definitely going to watch this!

Edit: So I just finished watching it, the movie was amazing! Does anybody know of any good movies similar to it?

 

[DaveC426913]

Does anybody know of any good movies similar to it?

Fantastic Planet? I'm not sure there are any movies similar..

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

Am I wrong, or was "Fantastic Planet" inspired by a William Tenn story about humans traveling to the stars the same way Norwegian rats traveled to the New World?

 

[Hoophy]

Fantastic Planet? I'm not sure there are any movies similar..

I agree! Afterwards I proceeded to watch "The Time Masters" but it was not the same...

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

Watched "2001: A Space Odyssey" last night. Still boring. An FX exposition with no real plot or characters I could care about.

 

[DaveC426913]

Watched "2001: A Space Odyssey" last night. Still boring.

That's because you were clean and sober at the time.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

That's because you were clean and sober at the time.

You obviously don't know me.

 

[enorbet]

Watched "2001: A Space Odyssey" last night. Still boring. An FX exposition with no real plot or characters I could care about.

Stanley Kubriick's relationship with author, Arthur C. Clarke, was reportedly a nightmare for Mr Clark on that project and not a little because Kubrick wished to be more vague in the interest of achieving some kind of "Transcendental State" allowing for wider interpretation. In his defense I suppose he is correct that there is no objective way to characterize something completely without precedent, which may indeed require something transcendental. Perhaps I lack those genes but as much as I enjoyed the movie, it wasn't until I read the book that I had the real "Oh Wow!" moment. I feel exactly the same way about "Contact". In both movies the truly Big Picture in the books is lost.

I did rather enjoy 2010 however. I'm still somewhat haunted by "Will I dream?"

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

Stanley Kubriick's relationship with author, Arthur C. Clarke, was reportedly a nightmare for Mr Clark on that project and not a little because Kubrick wished to be more vague in the interest of achieving some kind of "Transcendental State" allowing for wider interpretation. In his defense I suppose he is correct that there is no objective way to characterize something completely without precedent, which may indeed require something transcendental. Perhaps I lack those genes but as much as I enjoyed the movie, it wasn't until I read the book that I had the real "Oh Wow!" moment. I feel exactly the same way about "Contact". In both movies the truly Big Picture in the books is lost.

I did rather enjoy 2010 however. I'm still somewhat haunted by "Will I dream?"

"2010" was criticized for not being "2001B". When I read reviews that stated such I was convinced that it would be worth the price of admission. (I didn't pay to see "2001", they were showing it on the mess deck.)

 

[sunrah]

I don't know if these were mentioned, because I think there not so well known. They're all reasonably low budget too so they won't be to everyones tastes, but they're pure sci-fi.

Code 46 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0345061/
This is a futuristic love story between "genetically incompatible" people.

Europa Report http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2051879/
Really boring space film, which I just loved. Just cool to see space sci-fi which doesn't turn into a gun fest.

Beyond the Black Rainbow http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1534085/
This is a very pretentious but beautiful looking film, but I have no idea what it's really about.

One Point 0 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317042/
I really liked this one, it's full of cool consumer nanotech and corrupt, evil future corporations + the ever weird Udo Kier

Sleep Dealer http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804529/
Is a commentary on the double standards applied to migrant workers, corporate ownership of natural resources and governmental collusion with business.Also Stalker and Solaris (1972) by Tarkovsky are real classics. Stalker is great, but both are kind of slow (and long!).
And most things by David Cronenberg like Videodrome and eXistenz - also Antiviral by Brandon Cronenberg (his son) is worth watching.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

I liked "Europa Report", good take on social interactions in long-term flights. I can imagine someone watchingthat movie and taking notes.

 

[DaveC426913]

Yep Europa Report was ... unusual. But good.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

What was the one with Bruce Dern where they had the last bits of natural terrain in domes out in space?

 

[enorbet]

Silent Running

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

Spasebo!

 

[cube137]

The latest incoming Star Trek movie doesn't have the Borgs. I missed the Borgs. What other movies have such theme?

I guess if we push AI to its maximum limits. We will only produce Borgs-like creatures. If you replace every neurons with electronic circuitry or assemble from scratch the latter. You will never create a fully sentient being with emotions. Or can you? This is why I'm interested in Borgs theme movies to explore the possibilities. I'm very interested in neurosciences.

 

[Borg]

The latest incoming Star Trek movie doesn't have the Borgs. I missed the Borgs. What other movies have such theme?

I guess if we push AI to its maximum limits. We will only produce Borgs-like creatures. If you replace every neurons with electronic circuitry or assemble from scratch the latter. You will never create a fully sentient being with emotions. Or can you? This is why I'm interested in Borgs theme movies to explore the possibilities. I'm very interested in neurosciences.

I'm sure that you will see them again.

 

[cube137]

I'm sure that you will see them again.

I want to be convinced the brain circuitry can create emotions on its own. But then.. if the amygdala was removed, the emotion of fear would be extinguished.. so there seems to be equal weights to each argument. I want movies that can convince me of either. Any such list of movies?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I just watched the first couple of episodes of a series called Black Mirror. It has the flavor of the The Twilight Zone and Outer Limits but focuses on the effects of technology on the human condition. While based on an absurd premise, the first episode was entertaining and... a real porker.

Black Mirror is a British television anthology series created by Charlie Brooker that features speculative fiction with dark and sometimes satirical themes that examine modern society, particularly with regard to the unanticipated consequences of new technologies.[1] The series is produced by Zeppotron for Endemol.

Regarding the programme's content and structure, Brooker noted, "each episode has a different cast, a different setting, even a different reality. But they're all about the way we live now – and the way we might be living in 10 minutes' time if we're clumsy."[2] The series has received critical acclaim, and has seen an increase in interest internationally (particularly in the United States) after being added to Netflix.[3] Stephen King, in particular, has noted his interest in the series.[3][4]

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