The best sci-fi movies to rewatch for the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing
It’s one small step to your couch, but one giant leap into the world of sci-fi
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Moon Landing, Young Post’s cadets are sharing their favourite sci-fi movies, from superheroes in space to alien invasions on Earth.
My favourite sci-fi movie has to be Christopher Nolan’s Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. It’s one of my favourites because of its pure ingenuity; the plot line is wholly original, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Though topics of “entering the subconscious” and “dream-sharing” have been explored in many other films, Inception takes them to a whole new level with its own twists, involving the characters’ complicated emotions (such as trauma) along the way.
Jasmine Wang, 16, Sha Tin College
Arrival ranks top of my must-watch film list. Unlike other sci-fi films about alien spaceships arriving on Earth, this is not an Armageddon-style movie. Its linguistic elements are also fascinating. The plot centres around linguist Louise Banks, who has been given the task of communicating with a surprisingly friendly alien species. By learning their language, Louise is able to prevent a terrible disaster. I love the film’s message that human nature can be more dangerous than any weapon.
Nester Chik, 17, Sing Yin Secondary School
Guardians of the Galaxy follows the crazy, 80s-bop-filled escapades of space adventurer Peter Quill, and the misfits he meets along the way: Rocket, a grouchy raccoon, Groot, a surprisingly eloquent tree, Gamora, a badass green assassin, and Drax, a warrior with a soft side. Oh, and did I mention Groot? Together they form a dysfunctional but loving family, and while trouble follows everywhere they go, they always have each others’ backs.
Divina Samtani, 16, Kellett British International School
My favourite sci-fi movie is Passengers, because I love the way it combines subtle romance with science fiction in its story about a voyage through space. There are many moments in the film that keep you on the edge of your seat, from the sparks that fly between the main characters, to the slightly more worrying sparks coming from their spaceship. The movie may get flack for not being purely science fiction, but I like the fact that it is more than just a sci-fi movie; it’s a great one to sit and watch after a long day of studying.
Zachary Perez Jones, 14, South Island School
My favourite sci-fi movie is Tron: Legacy. I personally prefer the quality of the special effects in newer movies (shallow me), so for that reason alone, this reboot beats the original. But I also really like the plot; it has the right amount of twists without seeming unreasonable, and the fact that romance barely appears until the end is really refreshing. I also like that the movie ended ambiguously, leaving room for the audience to interpret events for themselves.
Leanne Jackson, 16, Sha Tin College
Instead of recycling the tired “save the Earth from destructive forces” plot of many modern sci-fi films, Moon focuses on a single astronaut named Sam Bell, whose three-year shift at a lunar mine is finally nearing its end. Sam Rockwell, who plays Bell, masters the subtlety of the film’s philosophical themes, delivering a performance which is not just poignant, but spellbinding. While the film may raise more questions than it answers, it is sure to serve as a conversation starter about the ethics of our scientific advances.
Natalie Kainz, 17, King George V School
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Rise of the Planet of the Apes shows us the power of nature – and what happens if we meddle with it. When a chimp born in a testing lab is exposed to a new drug, he develops extremely advanced capabilities, leading to a battle for supremacy between apes and humans. In addition to its powerful message about the role of humans on Earth, the film is just a great watch. The incredible CGI makes it stand out from other sci-fi fantasies.
Taina Puddefoot, 19, Hong Kong International School
I love watching films and have probably seen hundreds. I’m fond of period dramas and crime thrillers, but science fiction is a genre I don’t usually explore. I did, however, recently watch Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, and it made a big impression on me. I enjoyed its themes of morality and humanity, as well as the elements of film noir. In fact, it is considered the first neo noir film, making it revolutionary. Definitely check it out.
Hana van de Wiel, 17, UWC ISAK Japan