With the smash hit of 2023’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, everyone’s been waiting on their third instalment. The movie, Beyond the Spider-Verse, was initially rumoured to be released in early 2024. Still, due to the complex animation style and extensive plotline, it was only natural to be delayed. So it was a treat when the animators announced a short film, The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story, on 27 March 2024.
In collaboration with the Kevin Love Fund, they have created the lesson, “The Hero Within,” a lesson plan with a creative storyboard activity for students who want to express themselves through drawing and writing. The Spider Within revolves around the main character of the Spider-Verse series, Miles Morales, getting overwhelmed with his mountain of responsibilities, both as a teenager in school and as Spider-Man. One of the most unique aspects of Spider-Verse is Miles’ relationship with his parents and how caring they are. Jefferson Morales, his father, immediately senses something is wrong with Miles after he turns down a movie night.
The scene that follows is filled with terrifying imagery of Miles’ inner thoughts and he has an intense panic attack. The animation with the sound design feels as if you can feel his anxiety and stress. He finally reaches out to his dad and opens up about the current state of his mental health. The “The Hero Within” lesson plan aims to get teenagers like Miles to open up to their parents. Mental health can cause people to hold their burdens to themselves and The Spider Within shows us that it’s okay to share them.
Whoever said sequels are not worth it must watchDune: Part Two. The masterpiece of a sequel to the 2021 film Dune (also titled Dune: Part One) has grossed $367.5 million globally. The director of the film, Dennis Villeneuve, shows that the science fiction genre can not only be artsy but also grand. With brilliant sound design and cinematography, Dune: Part Two is a delight for those seeking a thrilling tale of politics, religion and love.
Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya)
Where They Pick It Up From Dune: Part One
The main protagonist, Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, and his mother, Lady Jessica, played by Rebecca Ferguson, seek refuge on the desert planet Arrakis after the devastating events of Dune: Part One, witnessing the loss of their family. Part Two explores the impact left on the duo and the universe as a whole by the death of Paul’s father, Duke Leto Atreides, played by Oscar Isaac. It escalates the long-standing feud between the Harkonnens and the Atreides. It’s hard to top the brilliance of Part One, but Villeneuve has done it again. On top of fleshed-out character arcs, it dives into the different cultures and the surrounding environment’s beauty (and absurdity).
Lady Jessica takes a dangerous turn
The Story So Far
The native people of Arrakis reluctantly take in Paul Atreides and Lady Jessica, called the Fremen. They are divided in their beliefs of the two. Despite this, Paul has an intense romance with Chani, played by Zendaya, and is guided in the ways of the Fremen. Jessica, on the other hand, converts to a Bene Gesserit Reverend-Mother. Their respective arcs highlight a distinct drift between the mother-son duo. Jessica seems to draw in chaos and Paul wants peace in a possible disaster only he can determine. He must choose between loving someone without political advantages or deciding the fate of their universe.
Javier Bardem returns as the Fremen leader, Stilgar, whose fundamentalist beliefs and his growing devotion towards Paul are terrifying and comedic.
Dune: Part Two also introduces significant additions to the trilogy. Notably, Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, played by Austin Butler, is the antithesis of Paul’s story. The bloodthirsty nephew and heir to Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) is a formidable and clever foe. His character adds tension to the stakes and deepens the lore of Dune. The off-screen Emperor Shaddam IV from Dune: Part One finally makes an appearance and is played by Christopher Walken whose presence is demanding and powerful. Opposite him is his daughter, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh). She plays an integral role in the background of the movie’s events. Her intelligence immediately exudes respect from the audience and her actions are like a chess game.
The fight for the universe’s most valuable resource, Spice, that puts a target on Arrakis and their people is a mirror to real-world events. Frank Herbert, the author of the original 1965 novel Dune, did this intentionally through the lens of science fiction. This fight for Spice and the treatment of the Fremen is a terrifying reminder of what people in power will do.
Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) and Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (Austin Butler)
Which Format Does Justice to Dune: Part Two?
The best way to dive into Dune: Part Two is without a doubt on IMAX. The massive screen does justice to the expansive world of Dune and the explosive soundtrack, created by legendary composer Hans Zimmer, enhances the experience. If you are craving or want to be introduced to the science fiction genre, Dune: Part Two has got you covered for a journey you won’t want to miss. Dune: Part Two is paving the way for science fiction in 2024 and sets a precedent for better adaptations.
Sandworms, enormous creatures of Arrakis that move at high speed
The recent moviegoing experience is often overshadowed by event films like marvel and DC blockbusters which are predominantly sci-fi in nature. The genre keeps pumping out these visually overwhelming films that are m mostly backed by captivating CGI characters battling each other somewhere in Space or mostly in the USA. While it is easy to look over the sci-fi genre as popcorn flicks that entertain the masses, there are some hidden gems lurking inside that definitely deserve your attention.
Our relationship with the digital world is rapidly changing. The prominence of AI and machine learning is seemingly beginning to reach the mainstream thanks to tools like ChatGPT. As we all know, films and any form of art actually is a reflection of the society that either showcases people a mirror or predicts the future in some form or the other. The changing landscape of the world surely hasn’t reached the point where a Tony Stark-Esque billionaire is building his very own Ultron in his backroom science lab (or maybe there is? but it surely begs us to ask the question – What if?
This curiosity among humans surely will not be explored for the longest time but there are films that have charted this territory really well. In our 17th anniversary special edition, we wanted to have a look at all the best sci-fi films that sadly remained underrated. Check them out right now –
Snowpiercer (2013)
Bong Joon Ho definitely won all the laurels and even an Oscar for his film Parasite but it was long before that when he directed the post-apocalyptic thriller Snowpiercer. It was based on a French graphic novel and revolves around humanity losing its battle against global warming which results in another ice age. The remnants of humanity take to a self-sustaining circumnavigational train which has a segregated class divide in it. Besides being an interesting sci-fi film, it also is a chilling portrayal of the class divide and how it might stay prevalent even at times of a global wipeout.
Edge of Tomorrow (2013)
Edge of Tomorrow is undoubtedly one of the most underrated films ever by Tom Cruise. The sci-fi time loop film actually ended up being loved more on home video than in the theatres which is surely a tragedy given how good it actually is. It is a smart spin on two sci-fi tropes that are time travel and alien invasion that barely loses its touch through the entire runtime. Plus the lead pair Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt are surely a treat to look at through the crisp runtime of nearly two hours.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
I remember walking into a theatre to watch Blade Runner 2049 as a college student and scratching my head the entire time to figure out what was going on. It was only half a decade later when I revisited the film and understood the underlying themes of existentialism it so beautifully portrayed. The film revolves around Ryan Gosling’s character K who is charged with retiring machines. Here, machines are more human than the people who mercilessly order their deaths. His path soon becomes intertwined with Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) and the two are forced to team up to solve a mystery.
Annihilation (2018)
Paramount studios did not do right by this film as it was released in February, a month that is not associated with blockbusters to any degree in Hollywood. The result? Annihilation became an uncelebrated addition to the list of forgettable sci-fi films when it actually deserves the opposite of it. The film made its way to Netflix just three weeks after its theatrical release where the OTT audience surely appreciated it. The film revolves around a group of explorers entering a mysterious zone where plants and animals are rapidly mutating due to an alien presence.
The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
Another Emily Blunt sci-fi film makes its way to the underrated list. What can we say? She’s a phenomenal actress still waiting for her mainstream appreciation. The film revolves around a United States congressman David who discovers his ‘Free Will’ decisions were actually being dictated by a mysterious group known as the ‘Adjustment Bureau’. When one of the events of David’s life does not go as planned by the bureau, his life goes haywire. The film is not just a fantastic sci-fi watch but also has undertones about secret societies and the notorious Illuminati.
Minority Report (2002)
For a film released in 2002, the Steven Spielberg directorial Minority Report was undoubtedly way ahead of its time. The film was surely a box office success when it was released 21 years back making $358 million against a budget of $102 million. However, its prevalence in recent times stays fairly underrated. The Tom Cruise starrer is set in the year 2054 where a specialized police department titled ‘Precrime’ arrests criminals before a crime is committed by them using a foreknowledge technology called ‘Precogs’. While the film’s main theme sounds pretty straightforward, it dives deep into the mind-bending concepts of determinism, free will, government interference, and citizen freedom.
Arrival (2016)
When we think about an alien invasion film, our perception leans towards over-the-top action entertainers like Republic Day. However, director Denis Villeneuve wanted to bend people’s expectations with Arrival and successfully did the same. The film dives deep into the contemplative nature of an alien invasion rather than an apocalyptic one and emphasizes forming contact with the extraterrestrial. Amy Adams leads the way in this film as a linguistic professor tasked with forming contact with the aliens.
Dune (2021)
Maybe if Dune did not release in the middle of the pandemic then it could’ve received a greater box office reception. However, it failed to get the cash registers ringing as expected even with an amazing critical response. The film is based on Frank Herbert’s novel Dune and primarily covers only the first half of the book. A sequel is in the making and will be released in 2023. Set in the distant future, the film revolves around the noble House Atreides being forced to go to war against the hostile desert planet of Arrakis.
Ex Machina (2014)
Alex Garland’s directorial debut was made on a humble budget of $15 million and managed to not just double its money at the box office but also earn two Academy nominations. The film revolves around the story of a young programmer named Caled who is selected in a lottery to participate in a top-secret experiment revolving around an AI. The film revolves around the AI learning what it means to be a human.
Ad Astra (2019)
There are only a few sci-fi films that are based on the psychological genre. The film revolves around an astronaut who ventures into space research in order to find his lost father. The film will remind viewers of the animated film Wall-E where humanity’s greed has driven it beyond just Earth and onto the Moon.
Her (2013)
Before Joaquin Phoenix ruled the box office with his spine-chilling performance in the film Joker, he made us believe that humans and artificial intelligence can be deeply in love. Her is a refreshing take on the dystopian world trope as it showcases a tender viewpoint of what ‘smart’ devices are capable of. The film is beautiful and packed with raw emotions that are sure to make you tear up.
Lucy (2014)
Scarlett Johansson’s Lucy was made on a modest budget of $40 million but ended up earning a massive $463 million at the global box office. Johansson plays the character of Lucy in the film that gains psychokinetic powers after a bag of drugs is absorbed into her bloodstream. The film explores the limitations of our brain and what can happen once it is unlocked.
Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Moviemaking bigshots James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez joined forces to make Alita: Battle Angel. The film was an adaptation of one of the most beloved mangas of all time. While James Cameron was set to direct the film, he got busy directing the super-successful Avatar franchise.
Gravity (2013)
Gravity managed to bag 7 Oscar wins including Best Directing and Editing, however, still remains criminally underappreciated by the general audience. The film revolves around Dr Ryan Stone on her first space mission who meets with an accident.
The Adam Project (2022)
It is a tragedy that a film featuring Ryan Reynolds, Zoe Saldana, and Mark Ruffalo remains underrated. The film revolves around a time traveller/fighter pilot Adam Reed stealing a jet in order to go back to 2018 and save his wife’s life.
Looper (2012)
Looper is packed with action, thrill and sci-fi mixed in a time loop setting. The film is based in a distant future where time travel exists but can only be afforded by the rich as it’s a luxury. Whenever a mob wants to get rid of someone, it sends the target into the past where the protagonist is hired to finish the job.
High Life (2018)
Robert Pattinson has featured in a number of whacky films before he picked up the mantle of Batman. High Life revolves around the character of Monte and his daughter who struggle to survive in space. While its IMDB rating stands at an abysmal 5.8, it surely is one of the best sci-fi films of all time.
