Movies like Neocron [Archive] - Official Neocron Forum

Izeo

01-12-11, 18:13

Hi,

Neocron's atmosphere is my favorite setting in both games and movies.. even if it is a bit specific: post-apocalyptic sci-fi dystopian cyberpunk? Assuming this community likes movies with similar themes, it'd be cool to make a list of ones that we might like.

Of course it doesn't have to fit the genre exactly - a lot of mine don't. Will add to this post.

--

Blade Runner (1982) If you haven't seen it, just get out.
Mad Max 2: Road Warrior (1981) And the others, but 2 is my fav.
Total Recall (1990)
Pandorum (2009) Doesn't exactly match, but has cryostasis, sci-fi, and shit gone bad. I love this one.
Judge Dredd (1995)
They Live (1988) Doesn't match - crazy movie, but I assume NC fans should enjoy it.
The Matrix (1999)
Equilibrium (2002) An old favorite. =)
Book of Eli (2010)
The Road (2009)
Children of Men (2006)

William Antrim

01-12-11, 18:26

I think you have all of the ones I immediately thought of, plus a couple more. I will add more if I can think of any later on.

Drachenpaladin

01-12-11, 19:46

Hmm.. dunno for sure but whats with:

John Carpenter’s Escape from New York
starring Curt Russel.

Also, thought about animes?

Ghost in the Shell and Akira are 2 really awesome pieces!

Kamuix99

01-12-11, 20:45

I think you can add "The Fifth Element" as a movie and "Armitage" as a anime.

Drachenpaladin

01-12-11, 20:48

Yep ArmitageIII is also a good one.

Izeo

02-12-11, 19:59

I just watched "Soldier" with Kurt Russell for the first time and it blew my mind. What an amazing movie. I can't believe it has a 5.6/10.0 on imdb. Whatever. It was great and I'm glad I watched it. Going to see Escape from New York as well, now, which is another one I regret having not yet seen.

I can't believe I forgot about The Fifth Element, haha!

I'm only a casual anime watcher so I haven't seen many, but I have seen Akira, and I have to agree it's incredible.

I'd add these, along with "I am Legend" and "Surrogates", the latter which I have not yet seen, but I heard it uses some of the same music from Neocron's soundtrack, which might be interesting. I'd add them but it appears the Edit button is missing. And a lot of the Moderators' PM inboxes are full. :S

I'm sure there are more. :]

flib

02-12-11, 21:15

Biglines

02-12-11, 22:02

Everything has a low score on IMDB.
it's mostly niche and scifi films that get rated lower than deserved on imdb, and some blockbuster films that get rated too highly, but I find that for most of the movies that are in between those categories the ratings are quite often helpful

I would add firefly (serenity if you insist on movies :p), and pitch black/chronicles of riddick, though it's hard to come up with more movies than the OP :p

zii

02-12-11, 22:12

Funny, I thought of firefly when I started reading the thread, and you've added it. Serenity was great, but the relationship between the engineer and the doctor was a little distance when compared to the end of the series. Of course, there were some comics inbetween.

Another one was the third Reddick, with the NecroMuncers or whatever these were called.

Doc Holliday

02-12-11, 22:44

akira was so good asa akira added it to her porn star name. and shes fuckin fly. i wont link her stuff for fear of a ban but google her. you can see what i mean.

zii

02-12-11, 23:45

akira was so good asa akira added it to her porn star name. and shes fuckin fly. i wont link her stuff for fear of a ban but google her. you can see what i mean.
About as off-topic as it gets. (Other than a film reference).

Doc Holliday

03-12-11, 12:16

:( did u want a picture?

ghost in the shell was good too. one of my favourite all time films.

ps. there is another mad max in production.

Iceflower

03-12-11, 19:22

In no particular order regarding the date of release:

Screamers (1995) B-Movie based on the short story “Second Variety“ by Philip K. Dick. The movie shifts the plot away from Earth to another planet, Sirius 6B. Thrives heavily on atmosphere.

M.A.R.K. 13 – Hardware (1990) Post-apocalyptic Sci-Fi movie. Intriguing dark, gritty setting, great start, loses momentum about 1/3 way into the movie. Features Carl McCoy from Fields of the Nephilim, Lemmy Klimister from Motörhead as well as Iggy Pop as the voice of Angry Bob.

Immortel (Ad Vitam) (2004) Directed by Enki Bilal, who wrote the “Nikopol” comic books the movie is based on. Movie offers less complexity than the comic books though, and “Casshern” (2004) made better use of digital backlot in comparison. However, nice dark atmosphere overall.

Babylon A. D. (2008) Based on “Babylon Babies“ by Maurice Georges Dantec, though it differs from the books in many aspects. Mediocre at best, but cast, settings and atmosphere are great. Me personally, I liked that the movie features K-1 champion Jérôme Le Banner as the cage fighter Killa, but that is beside the point.

The Inhabited Island (2008 / 2009) Post-apocalyptic movie based on the novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. Movie sticks so true to the book that without knowing the novel it is can be difficult to understand and may seem incoherent and confusing at times. However, with the almost mandatory prior knowledge, the movie is very enjoyable.

Regarding animes:

Both “Armitage” and “Ghost in the Shell” have sequels. Ghost in the Shell: Innocence in particular is well worth watching, it is just as great as the original.

Vexille (2007) Promising story, yet never lives up to its full potential. Nice eye candy though, with some action sequences well worth watching.

Appleseed Ex Machina (2007) Sequel to “Appleseed” from 2004, sort of a remake from an anime from the 80's that again is based on a manga series of the same name. Paper thin story, characters lack depth, but great action and funny dialogues.

Jin-Roh (1999) On the surface, it has not much in common with Neocron aside from the exoskeletons somewhat resembling Tank PAs. However, the power struggle between different agencies and underground terrorists reminds me very much of Neocron's faction system. In any case, the movie is a stunning masterpiece well worth watching.

Are short movies allowed, too? If so, here are three examples:

The Silent City (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeF-tDhGtvI)

Bunker (French with English subtitles) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek3yNDa3qAU)

Somnolence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4aC1S3-wuY)

edit: Fixed some typos (knowing myself, despite the fixes the text is still swarming with typos still - oh well...) /edit

Biglines

03-12-11, 19:48

you people are so bad for my productivity... now I have to go and check out these movies for myself (though I have of course already seen a significant portion of them)

gamefreak

03-12-11, 21:06

Resident Evil: Afterlife

Izeo

05-12-11, 19:26

Unfortunately, I don't seem to be able to edit the first post, but here is an updated list. Thanks everyone for the additions. I'm also adding "Natural City". Definitely not as incredible as Blade Runner, but it is very Blade Runner-esque.

Got messy editing, let me know if I missed any.

======== MOVIES ========

Babylon A.D. (2008) - Based on "Babylon Babies" by Maurice Georges Dantec, though it differs from the books in many aspects. Mediocre at best, but cast, settings and atmosphere are great. Me personally, I liked that the movie features K-1 champion Jérôme Le Banner as the cage fighter Killa, but that is beside the point. -Iceflower
Blade Runner (1982) - Cyberpunk, dystopia, replicants, noir, suspense. A beautiful movie with an involved plot about a police agent whose job is to retire (assassinate) replicants.
Book of Eli, The (2010) - Post-apocalyptic, wasteland, raiders. A book must be delivered to a location in the west coast of the wasteland that was once America.
Children of Men (2006) - Future, outbreak, rebels, anarchy. Not post-apocalyptic, but might as well be.
Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
Equilibrium (2002) - Utopia, dystopia, rebels, action. Action-heavy but touching movie about a Utopian society where all forms of art are illegal.
Fifth Element, The (1997) - Utopia, dystopia, cyberpunk, action. Crazy futuristic movie about a cab driver who becomes accidentally involved in the search for a powerful weapon.
I Am Legend (2007) - Post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, outbreak. A scientist who is alone in an abandoned city tries to develop a cure for an outbreak.
Immortel (Ad Vitam) (2004) - Directed by Enki Bilal, who wrote the "Nikopol" comic books the movie is based on. Movie offers less complexity than the comic books though, and "Casshern" (2004) made better use of digital backlot in comparison. However, nice dark atmosphere overall. -Iceflower
Inhabited Island, The (2008/2009) - Post-apocalyptic movie based on the novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. Movie sticks so true to the book that without knowing the novel it is can be difficult to understand and may seem incoherent and confusing at times. However, with the almost mandatory prior knowledge, the movie is very enjoyable. -Iceflower
Judge Dredd (1995) - Megacity, wasteland, mutants, robots. Lot of inspiration for Neocron from this one!
Mad Max series (1979/1981/1985) - Post-apocalyptic, dystopian, wasteland. Part 2, Road Warrior, is a must.
M.A.R.K. 13 - Hardware (1990) - Post-apocalyptic, sci-fi. Intriguing dark, gritty setting, great start, loses momentum about 1/3 way into the movie. Features Carl McCoy from Fields of the Nephilim, Lemmy Klimister from Motörhead as well as Iggy Pop as the voice of Angry Bob. -Iceflower
Matrix, The (1999) - Cyberspace, dystopia, action.
Natural City (2003) - Dystopian, cyberpunk, cyborgs, action. Korean with subtitles. This might as well be "another story in the Blade Runner world". It's not as good as Blade Runner, and is a bit overly sappy at parts, but I found it very much worth the watch.
Pandorum (2009) - Cryostasis, sci-fi, mutants, post-apocalyptic. A ship from Earth is en route to Tanis, a habitable planet like Earth.
Pitch Black (2000)
Road, The (2009) - Post-apocalyptic, wasteland. A father and son travel south, across the wasteland of America.
Screamers (1995) - B-movie based on the short story "Second Variety" by Philip K. Dick. The movie shifts the plot away from Earth to another planet, Sirius 6B. Thrives heavily on atmosphere. -Iceflower
Serenity (2005)
Soldier (1998) - Future, sci-fi, wasteland. An obsolete soldier, assumed dead by the military and dumped on a landfill planet, must protect the peaceful inhabitants he's discovered there.
Surrogates (2009) - Not sure, but it uses music from Neocron!
They Live (1988) - Sci-fi, dystopian, horror, corruption. This one's weird, but reminds me a bit of the tyranny of CityAdmin. It's different, but I imagine NC fans would like it.
Total Recall (1990) - Sci-fi, mutants, protective megacity. Crazy movie.

======== ANIMES ========

Appleseed Ex Machina (2007) - Sequel to "Appleseed" from 2004, sort of a remake from an anime from the 80's that again is based on a manga series of the same name. Paper thin story, characters lack depth, but great action and funny dialogues. -Iceflower
Akira
Armitage
Ghost in the Shell
Jin-Roh (1999) - On the surface, it has not much in common with Neocron aside from the exoskeletons somewhat resembling Tank PAs. However, the power struggle between different agencies and underground terrorists reminds me very much of Neocron's faction system. In any case, the movie is a stunning masterpiece well worth watching. -Iceflower
Vexille (2007) - Promising story, yet never lives up to its full potential. Nice eye candy though, with some action sequences well worth watching. -Iceflower

======== SHORT FILMS ========

Bunker (French with English subtitles) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek3yNDa3qAU)
Silent City, The (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeF-tDhGtvI)
Somnolence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4aC1S3-wuY)

Marc Hoover

05-12-11, 21:43

In Time

Morpheus

06-12-11, 13:24

Blade Runner (1982) If you haven't seen it, just get out
Don't watch the Directors Cut, it's crap.

Try to find the original cinema release U.S. or International from 1982.

Basically they are the same, but in the original release you can hear Deckers mindthoughts spoken by himself, which i personally find awesome and also important for the storyline. They removed that in the directorscut, so the movie is almost silent...

Geist-[uTw]-

06-12-11, 14:28

Resident Evil
Code 46

William Antrim

06-12-11, 20:05

Don't watch the Directors Cut, it's crap.

Try to find the original cinema release U.S. or International from 1982.

Basically they are the same, but in the original release you can hear Deckers mindthoughts spoken by himself, which i personally find awesome and also important for the storyline. They removed that in the directorscut, so the movie is almost silent...

At the time of production Harrison Ford was asked to put the voice over into the film. He personally thought it would make the character a bag of shit and therefore did the voice in the cheesiest possible way. His thought was that if he did this the producers would not add it. However they loved it and added it.

Unfortunately I tend to agree with Mr Ford. It ruins the film. The directors cut is much darker and more foreboding but personally I prefer the newest version as I am a massive fan of the films and indeed the book. If you need the cheesy dialogue to explain stuff to you then ok but I prefer the grittier ending where he actually fights with Roy Batty on the roof of the hotel.

However if you have not seen Blade Runner and you can watch and enjoy either of the first two versions then you should definitely watch the last one. It completely changes the film in its entirety and actually puts it back into a similar vein to the book. I won't ruin the ending by explaining it but it is, in my opinion only, seriously fucking cool.

Biglines

06-12-11, 20:09

how did it originally end? (read the book and saw the newest version, never the original)

Izeo

06-12-11, 22:08

Dribble Joy

06-12-11, 22:38

Unfortunately, I don't seem to be able to edit the first post,
Unlike a lot of forums, this one disables editing by regular users after one hour (afaik).

On topic: As mentioned numerous times, Blade Runner has obviously influenced the design of NC.
Ghost in the Shell film, while I prefer the tv series, the atmosphere the first feature length adaptation is darker and the music is epic.

Brammers

07-12-11, 13:47

Hmm, I've seen various Blade Runner version over the years. Overall, the non-narrative version gives the film a darker feel.

I''ve got the current Final Directors cut from 2007 on blu-ray. I'll tell you, it is certainly a visual feast for the eyes!

Izeo

07-12-11, 19:26

As mentioned numerous times, Blade Runner has obviously influenced the design of NC.Judge Dredd as well :)

I had only originally seen Judge Dredd when I was little, so when I watched it again a few years ago, I was surprised (happily) by the design of "Mean Machine" Angel. I loved it, and I love how that influenced the design of NC mutants.

Damn, knew there was one I forgot. Watched the Aeon Flux movie with Charlize Theron as well recently and it slipped my mind.

By the way, I watched those three short films, and Hardware recently. Hardware was a wreck, yet awesome, at the same time. You're right, the beginning is really cool. One thing I didn't understand is the significance of the shot of the nomad wandering back into the desert at the end. There were a handful of times I went "huh?" in the movie, but that part must've had some intentional meaning. I just didn't get it.

I loved the cheesy gore, and some small details, like when she opens the fridge -- you can see Fallout-ish post-apoc products like "Synthmilk" and such.

The three short films were pretty cool. Bunker was pretty strong. Silent City was interesting but I feel they can get away with too much story-wise since it's a short film. I do hope they release something else about Silent City.

William Antrim

07-12-11, 20:42

how did it originally end? (read the book and saw the newest version, never the original)

SPOILER ALERT

It ends the same but they cut about 20 minutes out of the film which shows you that Deckard is actually himself a Replicant. He is the missing one but he doesnt realise. He is the same as Rachel and so when he realises this he goes on the run with her knowing that they dont have alot of time left.

I can't decide whether he loves her or not or has developed feelings like he is trying to prove about her but this is the entire reason why Gaff spends the film following him around. (the Spanish looking guy who keeps making the origami swans). Gaff is basically saying to Deckard, I am watching you and when you have finished this job I am going to retire you.

That is the reason, or so I am led to believe, that when Davey Holden gets 4 in the chest from Leon; Bryant recruits Deckard with that famous speech and so he puts Gaff onto his tail to make sure he does the job.

Either that or they don't know he is a replicant. I couldnt work this part out but essentially yeah thats the "newest" ending.

nikkon

07-12-11, 22:25

i didnt see johnny mnemonic on the list just thought id add :)

Geist-[uTw]-

07-12-11, 23:45

Interesting, most of these films can be found on youtube :)

Biglines

08-12-11, 00:12

SPOILERS

ah so it's actually more like the book (tho i can't remember if he's actually a robot in the book or not, tho i think he ran off with her, it's been a while (hundreds of books ago ;))

Izeo

08-12-11, 06:42

Thanks for the additions again. It's been soooo long since seeing Johnny Mnemonic that I don't even remember what it was about. All I remember is the short clip where he's spinning a paper clip with his mind or something. (maybe that's not even right). I'll have to watch it again.

I just bought the Riddick trilogy for like 10$! Gonna watch them tonight probably. :)

Also, a friend showed me this a few days ago. It's a very short audio trailer for an old Jean Claude van Damme movie called Cyborg. He told me the movie is really cheesy, violent, and just bad, but I'm going to watch it anyway. That said, we both think this audio trailer is cool, hence why he showed me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kRf4dBdCIY

dodgefahrer

08-12-11, 12:03

Thanks for the additions again. It's been soooo long since seeing Johnny Mnemonic that I don't even remember what it was about. All I remember is the short clip where he's spinning a paper clip with his mind or something. (maybe that's not even right). I'll have to watch it again.

I just bought the Riddick trilogy for like 10$! Gonna watch them tonight probably. :)

Johnny Mnemomic was about a guy smuggling software with an implant in his brain and downloaded too many datas^^.

Riddick Triologie? Wonder whats the 3rd movie since i only know "Pitch Black" and "The chronicles of Riddick".

Geist-[uTw]-

08-12-11, 13:06

Geist-[uTw]-

08-12-11, 13:07

Johnny Mnemomic was about a guy smuggling software with an implant in his brain and downloaded too many datas^^.

Riddick Triologie? Wonder whats the 3rd movie since i only know "Pitch Black" and "The chronicles of Riddick".

There is an animated movie of riddick, called dark fury

Biglines

08-12-11, 13:48

-']There is an animated movie of riddick, called dark fury
any good?

Geist-[uTw]-

08-12-11, 15:21

In my opinion: yes, worth seeing

It starts directly after the first movie Pitch Black

dodgefahrer

08-12-11, 17:33

Ok if u mention "Dark fury" yeah i remember that....was a bit weird and odd but still worth to watch it. (Loads of crazy people in it^^)

Oh btw seems like they are actually working on a real 3rd Riddick movie (cant wait to see it)

Biglines

08-12-11, 19:11

Iceflower

08-12-11, 20:28

Nitpicky comment about Blade Runner:

SPOILER

At least in the director's cut Gaff knows hat Deckard is a skinjob. Deckard dreams of a unicorn several times, and Gaff knits an origami unicorn, revealing that the dream is implanted just as Rachel's memories are.

/SPOILER

One thing I didn't understand is the significance of the shot of the nomad wandering back into the desert at the end. There were a handful of times I went "huh?" in the movie, but that part must've had some intentional meaning. I just didn't get it.
Seeing how the movie fell apart story-wise, I am inclined to regard the zone tramp simply as an attempt at a somewhat circular story telling as well as a sort of indirect final scare: Who knows what he will dig up and bring to an unsuspecting city next time around.

Speaking of movies missing the mark, if you intend to watch Babylon A. D., search for the 101 minutes long version. While it is still far from saving the movie (it starts out quite intriguing only to crash and burn once they have left the submarine), it is less annoying as well as sticking closer to the book. Yes, singular, speaking of books there was a typo, and fwiw, the book left me rather unimpressed, too many annoying clichés, drop dead boring dialogues and stereotypical characters with zero depth were just not my cup of tea.

Anyway, BTT. I was not sure whether to add those initially, but kept thinking that I should have, so here are a few more additions to the list:

Rollerball (1975) Global corporations specializing in providing one certain product reminds of NC's factions, and while not having a cyberpunk setting, Jonathan E.'s fight against the corporations is classic cyberpunk stuff. I know the so called "remake" from 2002, but that disgrace has absolutely nothing in common with the original intelligent movie and I prefer to pretend it does not exist.

Stalker (1979) The setting reminds me of NC's wastelands. Furthermore, the movie is a worthy adaption of "Wayside Picnic" (yep, the Strugatsky brothers again).

Moon (2009) Going on a stretch here, but once again, corporations' influence on human life and society keeps reminding me of the themes one can find in NC.

I am tempted to throw Westworld (1973) and its 1976's sequel Futureworld into the mix as well, but I guess that might be a little too far-fetched regarding Neocron. Besides, I am extremely biased here, after seeing Yul Brynner's performance as the gunslinger I will never again be able to consider any Terminator even remotely menacing.

Also, I missed to mention my favorite commercial :D

Adidas Commercial by Neill Blomkamp (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmd8BDiB-qU)

Morpheus

13-12-11, 14:17

... He personally thought it would make the character a bag of shit and therefore did the voice in the cheesiest possible way ... Unfortunately I tend to agree with Mr Ford. It ruins the film ...
I must admit, i saw the german translation which did not sound cheesie to me at all. But i will have a look into the english original, for my personal proof :)

... Admittedly, the concept of hearing his inner thoughts is interesting ...
it is

Br Morph

ashley watts

15-12-11, 14:53

The best movie ive watched that resembles neocron the most would have to be Total Recall

William Antrim

15-12-11, 21:02

Got to be one of the greatest short stories I ever read too Ash. I loved that film.

Not really a spoiler Iceflower... a keen observation in my opinion.

In the book he doesnt run off with her as the book is all about him getting himself a real sheep. It is a completely different plotline to the film. The only similarities are the fact that the space shuttle crashed after being jacked on mars and the six skinjobs come to earth. After that it goes off on some quasi-religious tangents and involves fake police stations, fake sheep and some serious hill climbing and having rocks thrown at you.

Edit: Rollerball - James Caan I believe? Awesome film anyway, very violent for its age and despite everyone looking like they were either in Logan's Run or Buck Rogers I thought it was pretty brilliant!

Johnny Nemonic (sp?) is Keanu Reeves (pre-Matrix) I think. I don't remember much about the film other than it was pretty grim and reminded me of the Snes version of Shadowrun.

Now that was a game and a half (Snes version).

Drachenpaladin

17-12-11, 22:44

Maybe something for the list? Something i just came accross, wasn't able to watch it but make yourself an opinion by the article^^

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I.K.U.

Drachenpaladin

23-12-11, 03:05

Ok, a serious entry this time.

Mardock Scramble (2011) - Anime.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardock_Scramble

Dribble Joy

23-12-11, 10:07

Battle Angel Alita? Not the naff OVA but the manga.

Chuck Norris

23-12-11, 20:30

Battlefield Earth (2000)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_considered_the_worst#Battlefield_Earth_.282000.29

http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/Battlefield_Earth_movie_Poster.jpg

Dribble Joy

23-12-11, 20:46

Get out.

Asleifson

24-12-11, 03:13

Repo Men (2010) - implants galore - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1053424/

safetycopy

08-01-12, 14:54

Cashern http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405821/
Sky Blue http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0353014/
Renaissance http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386741/