15 replies to this topic

[justinb]

I am going to keep the list of films free from "non-transhuman" films.

Documentary

Immortality Institute Film: Exploring Life Extension
Film Mission


Fiction

2001 Space Odyssey
A work of sheer genius, from one of the greatest filmmakers that ever lived... I don't want to say even a word about the plot that might spoil your brilliant experiance of this film.

Blade Runner
Director Ridley Scott's hauntingly prescient vision of the not-too-distant future stars Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, a retired police assassin, or "blade runner." The Los Angeles of 2019 is a dark, polluted, overcrowded dystopia dominated by cloud-piercing buildings and looming neon billboards, the air dense with acid rain and flying traffic. World-weary Deckard has been called out of retirement to liquidate four escaped "replicants"--genetically derived androids of great strength, intelligence, and nearly-human emotion who serve as slaves and prostitutes in the off-planet colonies.

Gattaca
In the 21st century, genetic engineering makes possible the creation of biologically superior human specimens ("valids"), who then grow to positions of power and prestige. Would-be astronaut Vincent(Ethan Hawke) born the old-fashioned way, can only hope for a janitorial position at the elite Gattaca Corporation--until he buys the blood, urine, and identity of a perfect but paralyzed athlete.

Ghost in the Shell
Another visually sensational animated film from the producers of the acclaimed "Akira." Major Motoko Kusanagi is a beautiful cyborg who works for Section 29, Japan's secret police force, in the year 2029. Motoko's supervisor, Aramaki, orders her to find Puppet Master, a sinister computer terrorist.

and many more... post your additions, I will add them if I think they are necessary.

All film descriptions taked from rottentomatoes.com

Edited by justinb, 13 April 2005 - 10:31 PM.

[Lazarus Long]

OK from a historical Sci Fi perspective I suggest Metropolis, The Shape of Things to Come, The Day the Earth Stood Still and Forbidden Planet.

http://www.filmsite....ci-fifilms.html

I suggest the Terminator Series and of course 2001 A Space Odyssey belong on the list too as exemplary of the classic dystopic cyborg threat.

I think it was mentioned in a different thread on literature but I also suggest the Mars series by Kim Stanley and the Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card.

There are a lot more I can suggest, which should be no surprise coming from a guy using a Heinlein character for a screen name but I should include of course the Foundation series by Asimov and many of the Heinlein Methuselah's Children stories.

I did enjoy the Dan Simmons' Hyperion series but I also suggest we not ignore the classics like Huxley, Wells, and even Verne.

Oh yeah and how could I forgot Vernor Vinge and Phillip K. Dick.

[justinb]

Most of the authors that you mentioned haven't had their books made into films, so I wont list them.... they are great none the less!

[Lazarus Long]

Actually Phillip K. Dick is the author of the novel used for Blade Runner and also the short stories that are the source for Total Recall and Minority Report

"Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"
http://www.brmovie.c.../BR_FAQ_PKD.htm

"We Can Remember it for you Wholesale" (Total Recall)

"Screamers" (Minority Report)

Oh yeah Heinlein and Asimov have had some horrible versions of their work done recently; I Robot last summer and of course Starship Troopers. There is talk about both Ender's Game and Stranger in a Strange Land being made into films soon.

[Lazarus Long]

BTW, they are announcing that The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" will be released by this summer. I will be curious to see how well they treat the subject.

[justinb]

Hehe, thanks for your correction of my error.

BTW, they are announcing that The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" will be released by this summer. I will be curious to see how well they treat the subject.

Have you seen the trailer for it? It looks great.

[Omnido]

Dont forget Vannila Sky, i.e its conclusion.

[justinb]

Dont forget Vannila Sky, i.e its conclusion.

Yeah, it's conclusion blew.

[antilithium]

Don't forget Ghost in the Shell.

I understand most people aren't too keen on animation. However, you shouldn't miss out on this one.

[justinb]

Don't forget Ghost in the Shell.

I understand most people aren't too keen on animation. However, you shouldn't miss out on this one.

HOLYSHIT!! How could I have forgotten Ghost in the Shell!! That is the best animated film and probably one of the best films ever made!

[JMorgan]

I've never actually watched 2001: A Space Odyssey without falling into unconsciousness. And I love movies.

My brother would recommend Strange Days, though I have not seen enough of it to remember much about it.

[justinb]

I've never actually watched 2001: A Space Odyssey without falling into unconsciousness.  And I love movies. 

My brother would recommend Strange Days, though I have not seen enough of it to remember much about it.

Strange Days is about experiancing other people's experiances via an advanced computer (using quantum principles) that you wear on your head (its like a VR headset).

Quote taken from Rottentomatoes.com

It is 1999, and urban society is little more than a vast wasteland of anarchic violence. Seedy, burnt-out ex-cop Lenny Nero caters to the sensation-seeking citizens by dealing in "clips": virtual reality sequences where the user can "re-live" the experiences of another, including robberies, rape and murder. But Lenny's life is turned upside-down when two rabid cops, who want an incriminating clip that Lenny possesses, begin to pursue him. Furthermore, Lenny, with the help of female bodyguard Mace, is desperately searching throughout the chaotic enclaves of L.A. for his ex-girlfriend Faith, who he still loves.
Everything comes to a head at a wild, tremendous -- and turbulent -- New Year's Eve party that will usher in the new millennium.

[REGIMEN]

Although these may not deal outrightly with "immortality" they do share some allegory with issues surrounding it:

Fantastic Planet
Superior beings overtaken through their one weakness by lesser beings...slight similarities to the inevitable situation of us'n'them in the event of 'immortality' becoming available

Light Years (aka: Gandahar)
"Ganhadar is an idyllic paradise where it's people have mastered both themselves and their environment. Everything exists in perfect harmony with the world, providing enlightenment for both the body and soul. Paradise is lost when a malevolent force begins to attack the outlying regions of the planet, attacking small villages and turning their people into stone. Sylvain is dispatched by the Council of Women to find out what is menacing the peaceful world. He is later attacked by strange bird-like creatures, rendering him unconscious when it falls on him. He wakes up in the presence of deformed figures, who are not the enemy, but instead mutated products of ancient scientists, perhaps during the search to perfect everything. He escapes and watches metallic drones, who are the attackers, passing through a metal doorway of some sort. From here he discovers the Metamorphisis, a gargantuan brain mass. He returns to the capital with Arielle, but not too soon to find it being attacked by the Men of Metal. The Metamorphisis and the Men of Metal are from a thousand years in the future. Sylvain is placed in suspended animation for a millenium, while the Metamorphisis destroys the world. When he wakes up, the Metamorphisis has become a sick, evil thing. It's cells have degraded and the stone people are brought into the future, re-animated, and then killed off to be used in the brain tissue. Sylvain must destroy the brain in order to change history, but is it possible?" [from www.imdb.com]

Heart of Glass (Herz Aus Glas)
Captivating. The loss of a 'technology' that is heralded by a figure that represents the unknown side of man and nature swallowing up the semblance of security that it once provided...

Holy Mountain by Alejandro Jodorowsky
A lot of religious symbolism, but it is apt in describing how we arrived at our present state in our Western culture so heavily influenced by biblical organizations and then how we can move away from the memes that necessitated the birth of a movement for infinite life by stripping the present amalgamated state of its inefficiencies and delusions.

Weekend
Absurdities and disparities of 'Us against Them' being just as strong/preserving/justifying in 'Us against Ourselves'(self and in-group)...

They may not be flashy or linear but they are certainly thought provoking puzzles with myriad available ponderings that relate to philosphical concepts on perpetuity of self, the politics of application of immortality science (or even just your own strong opinions; also misunderstandings in this area), and other struggles that could arise along the way and after this pursuit for indefinite lifespan.

There are plenty more I could list but there would be too much unpalatable philosophising about perspectives/issues too particular. ('Evangelion' series, 'Stranger Than Paradise')

Edited by liplex, 18 May 2005 - 07:18 PM.

[JMorgan]

Hmm... Justin, you seem to have edited your post and removed films from the list. I thought some of those were really good. Why the removal?

[justinb]

Hmm... Justin, you seem to have edited your post and removed films from the list.  I thought some of those were really good.  Why the removal?

I didn't think they had enough transhuman elements to them.

[LifeMirage]

Anyone ever see Zardoz?

Sean Connery delivers a powerful performance in this fantastic vision of a future world divided into two societies. The Vortex is an isolated, heavily guarded, lush community of immortal scientists and intellectuals called the Eternals. Outside the Vortex lies a desolate world laid to waste by war and pollution, peopled by the Brutals, primitive savages and killers who worship a fearsome god, Zardoz. But one rebellious Brutal (Sean Connery) is determined to survive on his own terms, which could threaten the balance of civilization…and possibly destroy it.