Awesome Sci-fi

Science fiction is loaded with depictions of artificial intelligence – usually becoming sentient and running off the rails. BuzzFeed’s Professionals Review asked an AI scientist for her take on the on-screen tech, and how far away we are from such realities.

(SPOILERS) Science fiction movies often explore human tendencies. But Alex Garland’s adaptation of Annihilation tackles large ideas: duplication, self-destruction and mutation. Lessons from the Screenplay looks at how the film manifests its themes.

(PG-13: Language) In the not-too-distant-future, a lonely man finds himself addicted to an implantable product that allows him to have the constant companionship of a group of virtual friends. A creepy Black Mirror-esque tale from students at animation school Gobelins.

(PG-13: Language, Gore) Robert Pattinson and Andre 3000 star in Claire Denis’ science fiction thriller. In High Life, a group of death row criminals are sent to space. Their goal is to investigate a black hole outside the solar system. Premieres 11/7/18.

“Sometimes I see things need fixin’… I do what I can.” Spend a minute getting to know the 13th Doctor. Jodie Whittaker’s take on the Time Lord seems a whole lot less snarky about saving the universe than Peter Capaldi did. The new Doctor arrives on BBC on October 7, 2018.

“Please rise to greet our Legislature.” The science fiction thriller Captive State explores a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an alien race enforces their utopia on our planet. Stars John Goodman, Vera Farmiga, and Ashton Sanders. Premieres 3/29/19.

Director Fleur Fortuné’s short sci-fi film feels more like an episode of Black Mirror than an ad for a personal investment app, but that’s exactly what it is – a sophisticated promotional spot for KOHO that envisions a future where big money banks steal our dreams – literally.

There are obvious reasons why works of science fiction are often set in dystopian scenarios. The setting makes for struggle, and magnifies our present problems and fears. But CineFix adds that it also gives us hope that love and kindness are the solutions.

Now that fans have embraced the fact that The Orville is more sci-fi adventure than comedy, we can expect the second season to include even richer stories of the starship crew as they explore strange new worlds and boldly go where no Star Trek series has gone before.

Filmmaker Fergal Costello had a couple of days to kill when he was off from work, and decided to use the time to shoot a short sci-fi comedy in his uncle’s garage. The result is a clever and amusing clip about a man who can’t be bothered to heed a simple warning label.

Our first look at martial arts master Jackie Chan’s sci-fi action flick, about a policeman on the hunt for a mechanically-augmented villain, and a young girl carrying a bio-chemical invention that everyone wants. Yeah, we just want to see Jackie kick some ass too.

A adopted boy stumbles onto a mysterious and haunting scene and uncovers what appears to be some sort of alien weapon. When his ex-con brother comes home, he finds himself in trouble with a gang, and they go on the run with the weapon as their primary protection.

Clive Owen stars in this sci-fi thriller about a future in which our lives are are live-streamed to the authorities, violating all privacy, but providing detectives with a great crimesolving tool – at least until someone starts to mess with the data. Coming soon to Netflix.

Jason Statham stars in this popcorn film about a group of undersea explorers whose vessel is attacked by a 75-foot-long prehistoric shark known as the Megalodon, a creature who then comes to the surface to cause real havoc. You’re gonna need a MUCH bigger boat.

“This is just a body. It’s not bad or good – that part’s up to you.” Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, and Mahershala Ali star in this live action adaptation of the cyberpunk manga Battle Angel Alita. It’s about a cyborg who is resurrected and becomes a bounty hunter.

A wonderful fan film follow-up to the 1980s classic Gremlins. Writer and director Ryan Patrick manages to pay homage to the original, retaining its darkly comic spirit, charming practical visual effects, and adding a fun new twist to the story.

ArtStation is an online community for professional visual artists. The site has set up a publishing arm, and this is their first book. Project 77 features the dystopian sci-fi world of ArtStation member Martin Deschambault, enriched with short stories by Jeffrey Campbell.

One of this year’s Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments is a doozy – a detailed miniature version of Ellen Ripley as she prepares to take out the alien queen from the comfort of her trusty P-5000 Powered Work Loader exosuit. Get away from our Christmas lights, you bitch!

(PG-13: Language) A totally average man falls hook, line, and sinker for a cheeseburger, and ends up being interrogated by aliens looking for answers to important questions about carbon-based lifeforms. It doesn’t weirder than Daniel Bracey’s sci-fi comedy short.

While only a handful of us will likely subscribe to CBS All Access to watch every episode of Star Trek: Discovery, there are still plenty of places we can rewatch The Next Generation. Screen Junkies is here to remind why we loved the NCC-1701-D and its motley crew.

Glenn Close, Willem Dafoe, and Noomi Rapace star in this Netflix release about a future in which overpopulation is controlled by strict limits on reproduction. But one man hides his secret septuplets by only letting them go out one day per week, and sharing a single identity.

(SPOILERS) “Using an exploration of where we might be, to explore where it seems like we’re heading, in order to reveal exactly where we are.” CineFix compiles their favorite sci-fi films. They chose lots of obvious classics, but they also tipped their hat to many modern films.

(Gore) Sigourney Weaver stars in the first short film from District 9 director Neill Blomkamp’s Oats Studios. Set in 2020, Rakka presents the invasion of Earth by a brutal alien race through different perspectives. You can support Oats by buying their films’ assets on Steam.