Transcendence
2014 is set to be another fantastic year for the science fiction genre, following on from the string of terrific films that we enjoyed last year.
Over the course of this year, we are going to be treated to a whole host of exciting films from big budget blockbusters to book adaptations, with some of film’s biggest actors and directors on board.
We take a look at some of the sci-fi films that you absolutely cannot miss this year: I have to say, I am excited for them all.
- Transcendence - 25th April
Johnny Depp returns to the big screen this week as he leads an all-star cast in Wally Pfister’s directorial debut Transcendence. This movie may have already struggled with the critics, but it was a movie that I really enjoyed.
Pfister is best known for his cinematography work, but is making the leap to the director’s chair with this project. He has brought together a great cast that includes Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy and Kate Mara.
As Dr. Will Caster works toward his goal of creating an omniscient, sentient machine; a radical anti-technology organization fights to prevent him from establishing a world where computers can transcend the abilities of the human brain.
Transcendence is a fascinating watch that explores some great themes about humanity and technology and just how far technology can be pushed and developed. It also asks the questions, is this right? Have we gone too far?
Transcendence is a movie that I have been looking forward to for some time and, for me, it did not disappoint.
- Edge of Tomorrow - released 30th May
It has been twelve months since we have seen Tom Cruise on the big screen: his last film outing was another sci-fi project Oblivion. This May he is back as he teams up with Doug Liman for the first time with Edge of Tomorrow.
Edge of Tomorrow is a big screen adaptation of All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, and has been adapted for the big screen by Christopher McQuarrie & Jez and John-Henry Butterworth.
Emily Blunt is also on board in a great action packed role for the British actress - seriously, the more I see of this film, the more I am looking forward to it. Liman is a terrific filmmaker, as he returns to the director’s chair for the first time since Fair Game.
Edge of Tomorrow unfolds in a near future in which an alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world.
Major William Cage (Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop - forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again... and again.
It looks like Cruise and Blunt are going to make a great action and alien fighting team, and I can’t wait to see them in action.
- Jupiter Ascending - released 25th July
Andy and Lana Wachowski have made some terrific science fiction movies throughout their careers, and now the directing duo are back with Jupiter Ascending.
Jupiter Ascending is the first film for the Wachowski’s since the fantastic Cloud Atlas twelve months ago - it really was one of the best sci-fi films of last year.
As well as being in the director’s chair, the pair has penned the screenplay. They have teamed up with Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis for the first time, as they take on the central roles of Caine and Jupiter Jones. Douglas Booth, Sean Bean and Eddie Redmayne are all also on board.
In the future, a young destitute human woman is targeted for assassination by the Queen of the Universe, and begins her destiny to finish the Queen's reign.
Any new Andy and Lana Wachowski movie is something to be very excited about, and Jupiter Ascending promises to be one of their biggest and most daring films yet.
- Snowpiercer
I feel like I have been talking about Snowpiercer for an age, and yet we are no closer to seeing the movie released on UK cinema screens: despite playing at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year.
The movie will mark the English speaking directorial debut of Joon-ho Bong, and is a movie that I have been looking forward to for so long. The movie is based on the graphic novel Le Transperceneige, and has been adapted for the big screen by Bong and Kelly Masterson.
Snowpiercer will sees Chris Evans return to the big screen and lead an all-star cast: Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, John Hurt, Ed Harris, Octavia Spencer and Ewen Bremner are all also on board.
Set in a future where a failed experiment to stop global warming creates an ice age that kills off all life on the planet except for the inhabitants of the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe and is powered by a sacred perpetual-motion engine. A class system evolves on the train, but a revolution is brewing.
The movie will drop in the U.S. this summer and, fingers crossed, the UK release will not be too far behind. This promises to be a real sci-fi gem and I cannot wait to finally get the chance to see it.
- Interstellar - released 7th November
If there is one sci-fi film that just about everyone is talking about, then it is the highly anticipated Interstellar. The movie marks the long awaited return of Christopher Nolan to the director’s chair - and that is enough to make you super excited.
Nolan has been behind some terrific films during his directing career, but this is his first film outing since the mammoth success of The Dark Knight Rises in the summer of 2012.
Gravity was THE space movie of 2013, and Interstellar is set to follow in those fine footsteps, as we will be plunged into the depths of space once again.
A group of explorers make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.
As you may expect, an all-star cast has come together to star in the film and work with this fantastic director. Matthew McConaughey will lead the cast and is joined by Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Casey Affleck, Michael Caine and Topher Grace are all on board.
Sadly, we have quite a wait until Interstellar hits the big screen - but it looks like it is going to be worth it.
- The Giver
Another sci-fi film that has been whipping up some major interest and excitement is The Giver, as Phillip Noyce returns to the director’s chair.
Noyce has brought us the likes of Salt, The Quiet American and The Bone Collector over the years, and now he is back with an adaptation of Lois Lowry’s novel.
The haunting story of The Giver centres on Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colourless, world of conformity and contentment.
Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community.
A great cast has been assembled for the film, as Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgard, Brenton Thwaites and Katie Holmes are all on board.
The Giver will be released in August in the U.S. but a UK release date is yet to be announced.
- The Maze Runner - released 10th October.
We have seen a whole host of young adult novels get the big screen treatment in recent years, and The Maze Runner is the latest to be adapted into a film.
The Maze Runner is based on the novel of the same name by James Dashner, and sees Wes Ball make his feature film directorial debut: he has made short films Ruin, A Work in Progress and Jacob: The Movie.
The Maze Runner will Thomas, who finds himself in a community of boys after his memory has been erased. He soon discovers that they are trapped in a maze and realises he will have to join forces with his fellow 'runners' if he is going to escape.
Dylan O'Brien is set to take on the central role of Thomas, while Will Poulter, Kaya Scodelario and Patricia Clarkson will also star.
I have just started reading the book, and it really promises to be an interesting story and concept - looking forward to seeing it explored on the big screen.
Transcendence is released 25th April.
Tagged in Interstellar