Bladerunner 2049

"Blade Runner 2049," directed by Denis Villeneuve, is a sequel to the 1982 film "Blade Runner." Set in a dystopian future, it continues to explore the world where bioengineered humans known as replicants are used for labor and combat in off-world colonies. The film follows a new Blade Runner, LAPD Officer K, who discovers a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. His discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.

Like its predecessor, the film explores the ethical implications of advanced technology, particularly the creation and treatment of replicants. It questions the moral responsibilities of creators towards their creations and the consequences of using technology to play God. It challenges the notion of identity, particularly through the character of K, a replicant, who grapples with his existence and the realization that his memories, which he thought were unique to him, may not be his own. Throughout the film, characters struggle with loneliness and the desire for connection, whether it's K's relationship with a digital companion or Deckard's isolation. The scene where Joi, a programmed “girlfriend”, tells the main character, “You look lonely, I can fix that.” is one of the most famous scenes to date, and for good reason. The one person pushing him to believe he is more than just a replicant, telling him he is special, and giving him a real name is just a program designed to be everything he wants to hea’, playing into his fantasy of being something greater.

The Platform

The film is a stark allegory for social and economic disparity. The levels of the platform represent different social classes, with the upper levels having abundant access to food and resources, while the lower levels struggle for survival. This setup reflects the real-world issues of wealth distribution and class divide, suggesting that if people on the upper levels consumed only what they needed, there would be enough for everyone, drawing a parallel to global resource consumption and sustainability.

The film is a stark allegory for social and economic disparity. The levels of the platform represent different social classes, with the upper levels having abundant access to food and resources, while the lower levels struggle for survival. This setup reflects the real-world issues of wealth distribution and class divide, suggesting that if people on the upper levels consumed only what they needed, there would be enough for everyone, drawing a parallel to global resource consumption and sustainability.

It explores the extent to which people will go to survive when resources are scarce. The film questions moral choices under extreme conditions, examining how quickly societal norms and ethics can collapse in the face of survival. One of my favorite movies I would definitely recommend watching it.

Ready Player One

Ready Player One" is a science fiction movie directed by Steven Spielberg and based off of a novel written by Ernest Cline. The story is set in the year 2045, where the world is gripped by environmental issues and overpopulation. The novel centers around a teenager named Wade Watts, who, like most of humanity, escapes the grim reality of the world by spending his time in the OASIS, a vast virtual reality universe. Upon Halliday's death, the creator of the OASIS, it's announced that he has left an Easter egg inside the OASIS, and the first person to find it will inherit his massive fortune and control of the OASIS itself. The story follows Wade Watts, a young man from the slums, who joins the contest as his avatar Parzival. He and his friends, known as the High Five, race against time and the corporate army of Innovative Online Industries (IOI), led by the villainous Nolan Sorrento, who wants to control the OASIS for profit.

The OASIS serves as a means of escape for a society struggling with various crises. The novel explores the implications of virtual reality as both a sanctuary and a form of addiction, questioning the balance between digital and real-world experiences. It explores themes of identity, both in the real world and virtual world, questioning how digital avatars and online personas can both mask and express true selves which is very pertinent in today’s social climate. We have companies like Meta and Apple already creating a very similar world to the one of Ready Player 1, who’s to say we won’t end up there?

Maze Runner

Maze Runner is a science fiction film based on James Dashner's novel of the same name. The story follows Thomas, a teenager who wakes up in a mysterious, moving elevator with no memory of his past, except his name. He arrives in a place called the Glade, a large open area surrounded by towering stone walls, inhabited by other young males who also have no memory of their past.

The Glade is enclosed by a giant maze that changes shape every night. The inhabitants, known as Gladers, have been trying to find a way out through the maze for three years but are hindered by deadly creatures called Grievers. Thomas's arrival triggers a series of changes and challenges: the first girl arrives in the Glade, the maze's patterns change and the Grievers become more aggressive.

The constant struggle to find a way out of the maze and the challenges the characters face in doing so oscillate between hope and despair, reflecting the human condition when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The revelation that the maze is an experiment conducted by a mysterious organization called WCKD introduces the theme of manipulation and control. The characters grapple with the realization that their lives are being controlled and that the maze is a test. This is yet another example of how a dystopian society could be formed. (this movie is also based off of a book which I also really enjoy)