We’re back with another Netflix and Chill but this time we’re going to be taking a closer look at the sci-fi genre.
Now I’m a huge fan of sci-fi and what’s not to love. It really does take you somewhere else and takes suspending belief to a whole new level.
Science fiction unlike fantasy usually has a grounding scientific facts, theories or what if’s. This makes it possible to imagine what it would be like through story telling.
There are of course different amounts of sci-fi, there’s time travel, aliens and sometimes just a subtle touch of sci-fi.
First up is possibly one of my favorite sci-fi films in recent years, Looper. What a film!
Looper is set in the future but not so far in the future that time travel has been invented but it has been invented in their future. You still with me?
In this world time travel is possible in the future and you can only travel back in time. So how do they use this discovery? To kill people.
The Mob of the future send people back in time where they are ‘taken care of’ and the body disposed of. Viola-no evidence. But when one of the young assassins (Joseph Gordon Levit) finds his next hit to be an older version of himself (Bruce Willis) everything turns into chaos.
Added into the mix is the fact humans have developed very subtle telekinetic abilities, but only some and they are looked down upon. This film really is a great sci-fi film and I couldn’t recommend it more.
Next we have District 9 and just wow, this actually started out as a short film by the director Neill Blomkamp to showcase is CGI skills but was so good people just started throwing money at him to make it a feature.
Set in present day-ish in South Africa an extraterrestrial race have came to earth but their space ship has broken down (bummer) so are forced to live in slum like conditions.
The conflict between them and the human race has never been more fragile, as one government official finds himself infected with their biotechnology and where he finds himself in a sticky situation.
With an outstanding breakthrough performance from Sharlto Copley, who was in the original short film this really is an eye opening use of the sci-fi genre.
Finally, a little touch of the subtle sci-fi if you’re maybe not a huge fan of the genre or need easing in. Limitless with none other than the man of the moment-Bradley Cooper.
Limitless is set around one man Eddie who is a struggling writer who cant catch a break, but imagine if there was a pill that you could take that would make you function at your full potential or even limitless potential, would you take it?
Well Eddie does and finds himself in the fast lane to success and not even the sky is the limit. But nothing is that simple and he quickly finds himself mixed up with the wrong people and in some serious danger.
A fast paced film that has you hooked from start to finish and also wanting some of what Eddie has.
There’s three incredible sci-fi films and of course they’re all available on Netflix. That should keep you going and hopefully set you off on a little sci-fi binge.
Enjoy!
WORDS BY STUART GRAHAME
Stuart is one of our regular hosts and over the years has become something of an expert in dating. Watch out for his regular posts full of dating tips and advice.