cyberpunk movies

hello

these are what I have seen so far:

Bladerunner
Akira
Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the shell is a cyberpunk film, but the other two don't really qualify. Akira deals with genetic experimentation, and has nothing to do with cyberspace, and Blade Runner? No way is that cyberpunk. Cyberpunk certainly, ummm, borrowed a ton of the feel and atmosphere from BR, but the film itself just doesn't deal with computers and cyberspace, save a photo examination on the Esper and some ictures of replicants.

A bit of history....

The term Cyberspace was coined by William Gibson in a short story written after the release of Blade Runner, and Gibson has stated BR was a big inspiration for his stories. Many consider the first real cyberpunk material to be Neuromancer, and I sort of agree, although purists will cite a different story in Gibsons catalog, a bit earlier than Neuromance, but still written after BR. Cyberpunk, by it's very name, should deal at least somewhat with cyberspace in some way, as it's the very nature of CYBERpunk. Gibson isn't called the father of cyberpunk for nothing. BladeRunner (which is my favorite film of all time, and I have seen it well over 100 times) deals with philosophical questions of humanity, memory, and other existentialist questions, and it does so brilliantly. I think it's mistaken for cyberpunk a lot because just about every cyberpunk film "borrows" the amazing production design from BR.

As for decent cyberpunk stuff, check out the following films:

Johnny Neumonic (based on a gibson story) - Not that great, but it's cyberpunk in the true Gibson fashion.

Strange Days - I like this film a lot, save a coouple of heavy handed directoral goofs. Still, a solid film and big time cyberpunk.

Vanilla Sky - Deals with cyberspace, but in a very un-Gibson way, but I would still consider it cyberpunk in it's trappings.

The Matrix - Well, these dudes steal a lot of ideas, and are allegedly in court for aping ideas for the series right now, but, I happen to think the first film is top notch, and clearly cyberpunk. Want to get a general idea for the feel and look of things in Neuromancer? Watch The Matrix. Trinity is a lot like Molly from Neuromance, except that Molley was BAD ASS, had retractable razor claws, cybernetic implants, and takes her clothes off more. I hear Gibson likes The Matrix a lot as well. Well done cyberpunk.

Since you mention GITS, and I presume you dig anime, there is plenty of Cyberpunk stuff in that genre as well, although it blurs the line with BladeRunner-esque storylines as well.

Armitage III (really good, but more of a BR theme)
Bubblegum Crisis (I don't care for the design here, but it's cyberpunk)
Appleseed (Another ho-hum film, but cyberpunk)


Have fun!


Oh, and if you enjoy reading, I suggest you check out William Gibson's Sprawl Trilogy immediately.

Neuromancer
Count Zero
Mona Lisa Overdrive

The definitive Cyberpunk series that strted the whole mess....

__________________

I've read one of them (I forgot which one) and realized how much mythos Shadowrun had borrowed. Concepts like Street Samurai, arcologies and the like.

These are great recommendations, Sedai, thanks

wasn't Hackers cyberpunk, i dunno?

__________________

Undercoverlovers 100 REDUX

It may very well have been UCL. I haven't seen it.


Tender - Shadowrun!! Very cool. I tinkered with it briefly a long time ago, but discovered I had lost interest in the table-top role playing games. Still, the game seemed great, and I hadn't been exposed to the Gibson stuff at that point and thought it was just way out there and cool.

Dig up Neuromancer for it's total purity of essence, it is THE original cyberpunk book, and it's fantastic. The others are cool, but Neuromancer is the bomb.


Ah, thought of another one, but it's just a bad film. GREAT visuals for the time though. I saw it numerous times in the theater when it came out, sort of soaking in all the trippy visuals. The screenplay is awful, though. DO I smell a guilty pleasure?

Lawnmower Man

ANother Anime that is Cyberpunk, and has a Lynchian feel in both design and writing. One of my favorite anime ever.....

Serial Experiments : Lain

I'd include Tron as either an early cyberpunk flick or a precursor to the genre. My favorites are Blade Runner and Strange Days. Also 2046 is about half cyber-punk, half retro, and all gorgeous.

__________________
Review: Cabin in the Woods 8/10

would Virtuosity with Russel Crowe be considered cyberpunk?

__________________
Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

but then what do i know

__________________
Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
Buddha

I just saw Ghost in the Shell II ...

Has a very interesting scene showing the consequences of having an "e-brain".

Was it a good film?

I have been rewatching Lain. So good, so bizzare....