The greatest dystopian films
Following up on yesterday's post about scary kid's animated features, we continue our exploration of fearsome cinema by contemplating this list of the 50 greatest dystopian films from Snarkerati.
I take issue with some of the films, especially for quality, and would add more of my own (what about the BBC's Nineteen Eighty-four?), but it's a good list as these things go.
It's interesting how many are industrial or postindustrial in focus. There aren't many films about very political dystopias - nothing on death camps, for example, or war as dystopia. And simply being alive in many medieval societies could be counted dystopic, much of the time.
It's probably not a good sign that I've seen 45 of the 50.
(thanks to Jesse Walker)
"It's probably not a good sign that I've seen 45 of the 50." Depends. Is it a good sign if you have a Zombie Plan?
Posted by: Tanya | October 02, 2007 at 14:45
Wings of Desire dystopian?!? what were they smoking?
Posted by: saramin | October 02, 2007 at 18:17
I can't believe they didn't include Tetsuo, Iron Man!!!
Posted by: saramin | October 02, 2007 at 18:21
It was kind of interesting how they used the Rotten Tomatoes ranking as the metric for creating the top50 list. I'm with you, slightly disturbed that not only have I seen 45 or so of these, but that I count many of them amongst my all-time favourites. Don't worry, be happy!
Posted by: Scott Leslie | October 02, 2007 at 23:14
Hmmm, no George Romero at all???
Even if you discount the Living Dead trilogy for some spurious reason (and Dawn of the Dead is dystopian to say the least), then what about the Crazies?
:)
Posted by: Owen Kelly | October 03, 2007 at 04:23
Not a bad list, but where's Wild Zero? Looking forward to the day we get sub-genres like a dystopian vampire screwball comedy. Just be certain that Matt Keeslar is in the lead and I will be so there.
And Battle Royale and V For Vendetta were better in graphic novel form, though I'm glad to see A Boy And His Dog on that list.
Posted by: Alexandra Kitty | October 03, 2007 at 16:19
Tanya, of course I have a zombie plan.
saramin, I didn't get the Wings of Desire angle either. Tetsuo would be nifty on this list.
Will do, Scott. I try to show maximum happiness for the benefit of the surveillance cameras.
The Crazies is perfect for this idea, Owen! Doesn't hit the technological-industrial theme - interesting.
I've never seen Wild Zero, Alexandra. :(
Posted by: Bryan Alexander | October 04, 2007 at 07:43