One of the most epic-scale projects I’ve ever seen on TV and a new sci-fi dystopian vision from Alien/Blade Runner-legend Ridley Scott: A wickedly-original evolution of the Netflix age w. beautiful cinematography, despotism, religious allegory. 8.7/10.
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Category: Sci-Fi
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (Ep. IX)
A course-correction after the trainwreck of Last Jedi that retcons ~all its sacrilege, *embracing* series lore instead of erasing it – with fan service abounds, viscerality in pacing, & best cinematography of SW-history – but overstuffed narrative. 7.5/10.
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The Mandalorian (2019)
A bounty-hunting glimmer of hope for the fledgling Disney/Star Wars consortium with Neo-Western undertones, badass Pascal lead, & magisterial set pieces + Baby Yoda, but maddening TV-PG not-dark-enough tone & selective-CGI finesse. 8.7/10.
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2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
A prismatic journey through the events that shaped galactic history posing striking questions about the nature of mankind vs. machine and foundations of civilization, Kubrick’s 2001: ASO is pure science-fiction & The Greatest Film Of All-Time. 10/10.
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Netflix’s Love, Death, Robots (2019)
A visually-breathtaking collection of (genre-diverse, cyberpunk-ish) short films with effectively esoteric, facetious, mature, & socially contemplative sci-fi flair, Netflix’s Love/Death/Robots is a quantum leap for their new-indie catalog. 8.9/10.
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High Life (2019)
Majestically scored in classic Kubrickian fashion with wondrous tone, sentimental father-daughter themes, a fine Pattinson performance, and life-metaphysical musing, High Life is slow, sibylline, stabile, sexy sci-fi allegory by Claire Denis. 6/10.
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Annihilation (2018)
A phenomenally scripted sci-fi saga impressive in scale, visually arresting rainbow-hued cinematography, biological exegesis, multi-layered interpretive symbolism, & mystery/suspense escalation centered by Portman and Garland’s direction. 9.1/10.
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Ad Astra (2019)
Experimental in cinematography stylism delivering some of the most jaw-dropping visuals in sci-fi history with a stellar (solemn) Pitt performance, genre-flipped appreciatory-over-exploratory themes, & emotion-repressive backbone. 7.2/10.
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Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Ep. VII)
A return to the wonder and spectacle that made fans fall in love with A New Hope (albeit ~too similar), The Force Awakens is pure cinematic storytelling. 8.5/10.
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Donnie Darko (2001)
An eerie sci-fi tale steeped in dark atmosphere & schizophrenic idiosyncrasy with demented prophecy-rabbits, synthy distortion in score + stylistic VFX, complex themes, starmaking Gyllenhaal lead, & one of most cryptic plots ever made. 9.1/10.
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