MC Inventory: Best Dystopia Film

[dreamdead]

So with all of YA literature trying to capitalize on some form of dystopic futurescape, let's move things toward films. Let's hear your favorite film that engages in dystopia... what about that film engages you?

[Spun Lepton]

I adore stories set dystopian futures, picking one will be tough. If we were choosing novels, 1984 would be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, the movie was pretty bleh.

Think I'm gonna have to go with Blade Runner. Specifically the Final Cut, where everything seems to finally click. I love the landscape design, the retro-futurism, the bleak and somewhat nihilistic tone of the story. Love it.

[Spinal]

For me, Metropolis sets the standard. It masterfully crystallizes much of what is unjust about the human experience into an accessible resonant allegory.

[Winston*]

Brazil. It's funnier than Metropolis.

[Ezee E]

Children of Men.

[Dukefrukem]

Too many to choose. The End of Evangelion, Equilibrium, The Matrix, 12 Monkeys....

Might have to go with Brazil since it would be highest on my all time list.

[D_Davis]

Akira

[Dead & Messed Up]

Akira.

TETSUOOOOOOO!

[Spun Lepton]

TETSUOOOOOOO!

AAAAHHHH KANEDAAAAAA!!!

[D_Davis]

TETSUOOOOO!!!!

[Skitch]

Akira of course. It has a comment for everything...government, military, bureaucrats, politics, religion, education, medicine, science...

I AM...TETSUO.

[chrisnu]

Brazil

[Irish]

Mad Max.

Most dystopian stuff portrays people living under someone else's bootheel, but still surviving, still suffering under the veneer of civilization.

"Max" doesn't bother much with that. It contains a society in massive, obvious decay. Some parts still clinging to civilization, but all of it unceasingly violent and dangerous. (It's also more Western than Sci-Fi, another counter to other cinematic dystopias).

Plus: A burnt out, cowboy-cop who becomes a much, much bigger piece of garbage than the criminals he's chasing by the end of the film.

Most of these movies end on a downbeat. They're cynical and black-hearted. But lot of them try and have it two ways, give the audience something to cling to, a small shred of hope ("Blade Runner," "The Matrix", "Brazil", and "Children of Men" all do this to some degree).

But "Max" doesn't give much outside satisfying the audience's need for violent revenge. It's pretty ugly through-and-through.

[Russ]

A Boy and His Dog


http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff324/astrojester/aboyandhisdog_zps0e229a07.jpg


http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff324/astrojester/aboyandhisdog2_zpsd57ec6b1.jpg

[D_Davis]

What distinctions, if any, do you all make between Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic fiction?

[Dead & Messed Up]

Dystopias are usually signified by an organized society that's troubling in key ways (Logan's Run, Metropolis), whereas post-apocalyptic stories have a "frontier" mindset (The Road Warrior, I Am Legend). And obviously one type requires an apocalypse. The two can and do intersect, with some frequency (Akira).

[Watashi]

V for Vendetta

[Robby P]

I don't care much for Boyle's recent movies but 28 Days Later is a really terrific movie that has unfortunately been endlessly aped by inferior creative teams since its release which I think has diluted the movie's appeal in some people's eyes (the movie feels less fresh and innovative now than it did back in 2002). I caught it on the tele the other day and I still think the third act is fitting and appropriate although I understand why some people get turned off by it. Still, in terms of its dystopian nature nothing tops the feeling of immense dread and loneliness that you experience when you first see Jim wandering the empty streets of London. It is enthralling filmmaking and in my estimation the highlight of Boyle's admittedly uneven career.

[MadMan]

I echo Spinal's pick of Metropolis. Without that brilliant film we don't even have the genre of sci-fi. Well that and the classic A Trip To The Moon.

[monolith94]

Yeah, I'll go with Brazil.

[Qrazy]

I just want to mention L'idee (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145834/) because it hasn't been yet.

Also I don't consider post-apocalyptic necessarily dystopic, but in the realm of post-apocalyptic, Visitor to a Museum.

[Winston*]

I just want to mention L'idee (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145834/) because it hasn't been yet.

Plot Keywords:
female nudity | female frontal nudity | based on novel
:lol:

[Dead & Messed Up]

Simpler distinction I thought of today: dystopias are about a perverted society, post-apoc are generally about an absent society.

[PURPLE]

2012 Republican National Convention

No, but, in all seriousness, 2013 United States House of Representatives, Republican Caucus. 24 hour coverage of this one, too. The following films are about what the above theatrical productions are working toward, in order of events:

The Third Generation
Songs from the Second Floor
The Round-Up
Underground
Quest for Fire

[Raiders]

La jetée