First let me point you towards Stevee at Cinematic Paradox who writes about watching Battle Royale for the first time. Being a teenager myself when I first saw this movie I guess I was the target audience, or at least I would have been if I was Japanese, and I absolutely loved it. I didn't really consider the science fiction/dystopia element just accepted that perhaps this could happen and with the growing gulf in understanding between one generation and the next in Japan it might be soon.
As far as dystopian visions go this is a plausible Societal change and serves to create a powerful statement whilst at the same time working as fantastic entertainment.
Next up is The Void who will take you on a journey to La Jetee, the brilliant short film from Chris Marker that is comprised of a selection of still photographs and a voice over. You may or may not know but this short heavily influenced David Peoples when he wrote Twelve Monkeys for Terry Gilliam. The first time I watched this film I didn't realise it had been the basis for Twelve Monkeys and the whole way through I was noting how similar it was, right down to camera placement and mise-en-scene, not just story. After a little research and putting my mind to rest I watched it again without having to think about Twelve Monkeys. A incredibly powerful piece of cinema that creates a mood like no other movie can, Marker gives us a post-apocalyptic dystopia.
The incredibly talented Alex over at Film Forager spends some time with everyone's favourite gun enthusiast Charlton Heston with her take on Soylent Green - beware spoilers for those of you who don't know what Soylent Green is yet. I think it's all good fun for early 70s science fiction, my favourite part, being the noir fan that I am, is the performance of Edward G. Robinson and the brilliant riot scene. Another movie that ends with Heston screaming too. A fine example of a Corporate dystopia thanks to the evil company that seems to run the show in the world of Soylent Green. Based on the novel Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison, this is a book I can't wait to find.
Got any links you want to share? Drop them in the blahs and I'll add you to the post.
