Movie Mondays: Sci-fi (Part 1)

Creatively inspirational movies

I recently met group of artists who gave me a tour of their studio/office. My favorite part of the tour was a room they had designated for inspiration. It housed a growing library of books, music, tv shows, and movies, where any of the artists working there could partake in enjoying and gathering inspiration from different forms of media. I loved the idea. Currently, I don't have enough space for a inspiration library but I could at least plan for one. I set out to create a list of my own creatively inspiring movies. I didn’t realize how many come up with, until I sat down to write it. So I’ve created movie mondays where I’m share 5 title from different genres.

I’ve been a huge fan of the science fiction genre since I was a kid. I used to watch everything sci fi movie I get my hands on, no matter how terrible it was. Today I have more discerning taste and I tend to go for more stylized movies. These are a few of the Sci fi films that inspire me today (in no particular order).

Le voyage dans la lune (A trip to the Moon)

This movie is the tale of thrilling adventure to an dangerous alien world, told through the use of movable painted set pieces. I marvel not only at how much could be achieved that early in film history, but also at its ability stand the test of time. To this day, the image of the bullet shaped rocket hitting the moon is the eye is iconic.

Fifth Element

I love a grimey future movies and this one is quintessential. Over the years I become more and more fascinated by special effects make up. And this movie has some of the best creature design and alien make ups for it's time. Not to mention the imaginative and amazing costume design of Jean Paul Gaultier that only enhance the larger than life characters everywhere in this movie.

Gattaca

Not every futuristic movie I like is grimey. This is one exception to the rule with its use the lighting and cinematography to create shiny and clean vision of the future. The color scheme reflects beautiful, melancholy story that unfolds in this scary version of events where genetic modifications in the human race are used to determine the quality of life of everyone and which paths are open to them.

Donnie Darko (Director’s Cut)

The eighties is one of my favorite eras for fashion and music and in this movie they add to the moody and dark atmosphere that surrounds Donnie Darko, the main character, as he tries fights against the end of the world, under the influence of Frank, the ten foot tall bunny rabbit.

Blade runner

Another quintessential grimey look into the future. A host of eras collide to inform the costume design set pieces and reflect the mashup cultures as globalization forces different ethnicities together. The underly poetic theme make this one of the most quotable movies I’ve ever seen.