Top 5 Tuesday- Movies Based on 19th Century Sci-fi

When you think of Frankenstein's monster, do you see a mental picture of a green, hulking creature with a long forehead, and a bolt through its head? How about H.G. Wells’ Time Machine? Do you imagine the machine looking like a wooden, Victorian sled with an intricately designed disc on the back? If you do, you’ve probably been influenced by the movie adaptations of some of sci-fi’s early classics. The best of these films were just as iconic as the books they portrayed, and helped add to the cultural recognition of the stories.

Here are five of the very best film adaptations of 19th century sci-fi. This list is in chronological order of the production dates of the films.

1.Frankenstein (1931)-

This classic of cinema brought the vision of the green-skinned, long-faced monster into the public imagination- mostly due to the efforts of makeup director James P. Pierce. It was directed by James Whale, and starred Colin Clive as Frankenstein, and Boris Karloff as the monster. Though it may not have followed the plot laid out in Shelley’s novel, it captured the thematic heart of the story.

2. The Invisible Man (1933)-

This innovative film was also directed by James Whale. Based on H.G. Well’s 1897 thriller, it starred Claude Rains as the scientist whose creation drove him to insanity.... and invisibility.

3. War of the Worlds (1953)-

Not only was this quintessential alien invasion novel a success when H.G. Wells published it in 1898, and a sensation when Orson Welles sent it out on the airwaves, but it also made an impact on the world of cinema. Directed by Byron Haskin (surprisingly not named Wells), and starring Gene Barry, and Ann Robinson, it amazed movie viewers with its startling special effects, and sympathetic look at the human protagonists.

4. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)-

Directed by Richard Fleischer, and starring Kirk Douglas, James Mason, and Paul Lukas, this classic Disney film brought Jules Verne’s undersea adventure to life in vibrant technicolor.

5. The Time Machine (1960)-

Directed by George Pal, and starring Rod Taylor (and a beautiful and iconic time machine model), this film updated the classic tale to play to the hopes and fears of the space age audience, all the while retaining H.G. Wells’s (yes, him again), inventive concepts of the future.

What classic sci-fi films have shaped the way you view the books they came from? What else should I have put on this list? I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Also, the next post on this blog will be my fiftieth, and I will post it on the year anniversary of Potassium With a Capital K. It’s going to deviate a bit from our sci-fi history series, but it should still be fun. I’m very excited. Thanks for reading!

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Top-5 Thursday- Interesting Sci-Fi Movies Coming Out in 2015

 

Hello again everyone! I hope you had a merry Christmas, and that 2015 is going well for you so far. Sorry this post is so late. I was busy practicing my sweet hoverboard moves and getting my license to pilot a flying car. If you run into time between your awesome 2015 adventures, and decide you want to see a movie, I have compiled a list of sci-fi movies coming out this year that I think look interesting.

Here it is!

5. Tomorrowland-

Now, I don’t think I’m going to see this movie in the theaters, but I do want to see it at some point. I’m not expecting it to be a blockbuster hit, or a great movie, (you never know; it may surprise me), but I am drawn to the space age aesthetic of the film. And, Tomorrowland has always been my favorite part of Disneyland.

4. Jurassic World-

As bad of an idea as actually opening Jurassic Park is, this movie may still have potential. A little genetic engineering, a lot of great soundtrack. I’m up for it. At least there will be cool dinosaurs.

3. Chappie-

This looks to be one of the more intellectual sci-fi movies of the year. We’ve explored the idea of creating life and consciousness before, but it is always a fascinating study. I’m not prepared to agree with the messages, morals,and meanings presented in this movie, but they could lead to good thought and discussion.

2. Avengers: Age of Ultron-

I, for one, enjoy rogue AI stories. And Avengers movies. I am very excited for this.

1. Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens-

If you’ve been following the blog on Facebook at all, you know how excited I am for this movie. When I first heard that Disney bought Star Wars and was going to make more movies, I thought it was a practical joke for two weeks. Then, I was mad. Then, I went back and forth between thinking Abrams could make a great Star Wars movie, and worrying he would mess it up, (like Star Trek. Wait, did I just say that out loud? Oops…). Now, I’m mostly just excited. Whatever skepticism we Star Wars fans may have over this movie, I know we are all going to squeal like fangirls when that music starts and the opening scroll appears onscreen.

So, what do you think? What are you planning to see this year? What are you planning to avoid? And, what did you think were the best movies of 2014? Let me know in the comments!

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora