carla's sci-fi movies
i wanted to talk about some of my top sci-fi movies of all time & what i like about them. today i chose three for a simple topic of discussion:
Gattaca (1997)
The Vibe: Sleek, retro-futuristic, and deeply existential. Quick Summary: Imagine a future where your genetic code dictates your entire life, and if you’re born naturally without DNA editing, you're basically a second-class citizen. It follows Vincent (Ethan Hawke), an "in-valid" who desperately wants to be an astronaut. To beat the system, he assumes the identity of a paralyzed genetic elite (Jude Law). It’s a beautifully shot, incredibly tense thriller about human willpower beating tech. Some of my favorite cinematography. The best part? Danny DeVito was a producer.
2. 12 Monkeys (1995)
The Vibe: Grungy, chaotic, and completely mind-bending. Quick Summary: Bruce Willis plays a convict in a post-apocalyptic future where a deadly virus has forced everyone underground. Scientists send him back in time to stop the outbreak, but the time machine isn't down to an exact science and drops him off too early, landing him straight in a mental asylum in 1990 instead. He meets Jeffrey (Brad Pitt, and my dad said the director took away his cigarettes on set to get him to act like that), and he's WILD. "Get out of my chair!" It's great, and everyone should at least see a clip of Jeffrey. It’s a tragic, gripping loop of a movie that keeps you guessing about what’s actually real.
3. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
The Vibe: Beautiful, devastating, cyberpunk fairy tale. Quick Summary: My favorite sci-fi done by Spielberg. (I have to word it like that because the Indiana Jones series exists and those are very dear to me). "David" is a prototype android child built with the capacity to feel real, unconditional love. When his adoptive human family believes he's a danger to their biological son, he's abandoned, and goes on a massive journey across a flooded future world in a futile attempt to become real. The world and environment are astonishing, and the special effects still hold up today. I actually couldn't believe how good it held up when I re-watched this one with my grandmother in Pennsylvania last week. Jude Law is in it too, but I'll leave his character as a surprise.
