PICK OF THE WEEK: 11/28/08

APPLESEED

As I am not the most knowledgeable person on the subject of anime, I will nevertheless go so far as to say that this is one of the most intriguing and ingenious depictions of what animation technology and good writing can potentially produce.
Appleseed is set in the future where mankind has started and finished WWIII. Much like the Matrix or Equilibrium style movies, humans have realized that their predisposition for violence and aggression will eventually lead them into extinction. So with new technological developments, the humans create a species of human looking robots to govern and safekeep humanity.
Most of the plot revolves around the struggle between the human run military and the rest of the robot run government.
The action is breathtaking and unlike anything out there in cinema today. As this post will be a little dated, I will say that the sequel, Appleseed: Ex-Machina, that was just released on DVD is also superb, but the original is still on another level entirely.
Released in 2004.

FLATLINERS

What to say about this movie. Engrossing is a not often word used these days to describe movies, so I'll start with that. A great look at life, love, the sins of yesterday and the hopes of tomorrow. Flatliners delves into not just the science fiction aspects of life after death, or of coming back from the dead, but also looks at spirituality, religion and modern science in a way that forces the viewer to consider these things from another perspective.
The movie is set in a somewhat ambiguous setting, dark and morbid at times, but it all adds to the story and the development of each character as they each battle with some negative aspect from their pasts in search of salvation.
Maybe not a date night movie, but definitely a good stay at home for rainy, dreary day.
Flatliners stars Keifer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, William Baldwin, and Oliver Platt.
Directed by Joel Schumacher and released in 1990.