Melancholia: meditation on depression and cosmic indifference to humanity waylaid by emphasis on shallow characters
Lars von Trier, “Melancholia” (2011) Fed up with the deadbeat rate of intellectual and cultural
Tag: Science Fiction Films
Starship Troopers: a hilarious send-up of US-style fascism and conduct of war
Paul Verhoeven, “Starship Troopers” (1997) Loosely adapted from the Robert Heinlein novel of the same
Finding the Telepathic Cinema of Manchuria: an ingenious look at how a country’s history is made, remade and reinterpreted
David Blair, “Finding the Telepathic Cinema of Manchuria” (2010) After finishing “WAX or the Discovery
Zoetrope: Kafka short story inspires a film about how science, industry, bureaucracy and politics oppress a victim
Charlie Deaux, “Zoetrope” (1999) Based on my favourite Franz Kafka short story “In the Penal
Australian and New Zealand Films
The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello: beautiful layered Gothic steampunk film steers viewers into a heart of darkness
Anthony Lucas, “The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello” (2004) A nominee for a Best
Invention of Love: short film challenges us to rediscover our humanity or allow technology to define us
Andrei Shushkov, “Invention of Love” (2010) Came across this elegant and melancholy film short by
Quasi at the Quackadero: time travel and psychological self-study in a fun fair
Sally Cruikshank, “Quasi at the Quackadero” (1975) Here’s a great little cartoon about a mismatched
The Matrix: film trapped in formula Hollywood action-thriller matrix of convoluted plot, trite message and flat characters
Larry and Andy Wachowski, “The Matrix” (1999) Strip “The Matrix” of its sci-fi trimmings, its
Anxiety about industrialisation and technology and their effects on individuals and society in “Tetsuo: The Iron Man”
Shinya Tsukamoto, “Tetsuo: The Iron Man” (1989) Once again Tsukamoto has remade “Tetsuo: The Iron
The Cathedral: search for life’s purpose and oneness with God isn’t fulfilling in this little film
Tomasz Baginski, “The Cathedral” / “Katedra” (2002) It’s a short film – less than seven minutes