Summary

fit outoverlooked sci - fi movies Roger Ebert lovedis a good way to find oneself obscure , forgotten , or underrated entertaining films . Ebert was largely involve as the greatest film critic of all time , and much of this was due to his model sense of taste for tone movies . For decades , Ebert single - handedly dominated public perception on quite a number of films . At the same time , like any critic , Ebert ’s subjective tip of view did n’t always fit in with most viewers ' experience .

Indeed , there areterrible movies that Roger Ebert loved , and some of the films he did n’t wish have really aged well . However , even though his reviews moved against the lunar time period from time - to - time , Ebert ’s view apply weight because of his vaporous love . Even if he hated sure movies , he made sure to also write about the ground why others might enjoy them . This is why -although Ebert had no specific predilection in terms of musical style - his review style line up deep with those who love science fabrication . While Ebert ’s movie reviews were n’t always agreeable , audiences and industry professional alike consistently looked forwards to his critical reading of new sci - fi human race .

There are a numeral of film that renowned film critic Roger Ebert disliked when they were first free . However , many are now view classics .

Dr. Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland) injecting John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) with a mysterious substance in Dark City

10Cloud Atlas (2012)

4 Stars

Cast

Roger Ebert praisedCloud Atlasfor its challenging narration structure and optical spectacle , describing it as a daring cinematic experimentation . Ebert appreciatedCloud Atlas’interconnected storytelling and the actors ' versatile performance across different timeline and grapheme . While receipt its complexness , he also recognized that it can be gainsay to come after . “On my 2d viewing , I devote up any attempt to work out the coherent link . “Despite his reservations , Ebert called it"a manifestation of the magical , dreamlike qualities of the film . “Notably , Ebert also gaveCloud Atlasall covet 4 stars , even though it was a box office disaster that ’s typically categorized alongsidemovies that are too complicated to revel .

9Dark City (1998)

AlthoughDark Cityis a cult sci - fi moving picture with very little mainstream appeal , Roger Ebert commended director Alex Proyas for creating an immersive world that blended sci - fi and film noir . Impressed byDark City’sintricate patch and bewitch visuals , he report it as"not only a beautiful film but a generous one , which supplies rich depth and imaginativeness and many more point than are really necessary to tell the chronicle . “While recognize the influence of other pivotal works , Ebert appreciated the moving picture ’s unparalleled take on existential theme and the nature of reality , and even noted how it accomplished whatThe Matrixalso achieved but"earlier and with more feeling . "

A sci - fi and neo - noir classic , Dark City ’s ending continues to outrage its audiences , with fan take care for answer to the mysteries it set up .

8Total Recall (2012)

3 Stars

Roger Ebert ’s critical review of the 2012 adaptation ofTotal Recallleaned towards criticism . He note that Colin Farrell is objectively a better doer than Arnold Schwarzenegger - but also that"Schwarzenegger is more of a movie presence and better suited for the role of a hurt bull trip around in the china shop of his memories . “While recognise the advancement in special effects , Ebert believed that the cinema ultimately fall brusque of first moment . At the same clock time , while Ebert said that the remake did n’t resonate with him"the way the 1990 film did,“he still prize it as a successful and worthwhile Philip K. Dick adaption that merit 3 star .

7The Andromeda Strain (1971)

While it ’s one of thebest Michael Crichton sci - fi moving-picture show , The Andromeda Strainremains one of the most overlooked launching in the genre . This did n’t stop Roger Ebert from celebratingThe Andromeda Strain ’s reality , production invention , and its successful attempts"to create a plausible environment"for spaceman in deep quad . At the same time , he feel that it lacked in terms of create a more emotionally piquant experience due to its focus on scientific processes . Yet , Ebert also noted howThe Andromeda Strainis a film with"buried levels,“urging viewers to look beyond the plot of land and plight with its interpretations of stilted intelligence and human dwelling house in the future .

6Equilibrium (2002)

Despite Roger Ebert ’s assorted feel aboutEquilibrium , he saw it fit to confab the moving-picture show with 3 full stars . Ebert noted the clear influence of other dystopian classics like1984andFahrenheit 451,but suggested thatEquilibriumdidn’t bring much new to the table . However , like many viewers , Ebert was impressed by the motion-picture show ’s visual aesthetics and stylistic activity scenes . Though he had reservations about the film , Ebert fully resonated withEquilibrium , particularly loving"the sneaky way Kurt Wimmer ’s movie advances its philosophy in between gun battles . “Overall , Ebert sawEquilibrium ’s " pure kinetic energy"as an appropriate fomite for depicting socially relevant dystopia .

Equilibrium is a unique sci - fi dystopia picture with a good deal of natural action . What other movies , like Surrogates or Divergent , would Equilibrium ’s fans relish ?

5Monsters (2010)

3 1/2 Stars

Roger Ebert praise the cleverness ofMonstersdespite its limited budget , acknowledging conductor Gareth Edwards for his dual role as both director and visual effects artist . Over a decade later , Ebert ’s observance on howMonsterstackled America’s"current border office and the arguing over undocumented aliens”- and wars"where expensive and innovative aircraft are used to raise missiles at enemies who are mostly invisible”- still remain relevant . While recognizingMonsters’strengths , Ebert also point out its deliberate tempo , noting that some viewers might find it slow . However , he argued that the dim pace give up for a bass exploration of the grapheme and the globe they inhabit .

4The Cell (2000)

Considering the movie ’s less than stellar reputation , viewers may be surprised thatRoger Ebert gaveThe Cella 4 - star review , and even called it"one of the best films of the yr . “Aligning with contemporary film critic who arguewhyThe Cellwas forward of its time , Ebert loved the film not just for its wild and haunting visuals , but also because it’s"a story where we care about the characters ; there ’s a lot at stake at the end , and we ’re involved . “Whereas many foundThe Cellto be too ostentatious when it came out , Ebert was impressed by the spectacular visual image of the film ’s judgement - sharing tech and premise .

3Timecrimes (2009)

Over the twelvemonth , Timecrimeshas receive wildly mixed reexamination , and among those to praised the movie ’s merits is Roger Ebert , although he did it in a elbow room that properly pays protection to this confusing time change of location film . According to Ebert , Timecrimesis"a secular chess game game with nudity , voyeurism and violence , which make it more boring than most cheat games but less boring than a lot of moving-picture show . “Citing his personal love of fourth dimension traveling paradoxes , Ebert apprize the film ’s ability to deliver suspense and complexity within the constraints of its budget , finally recommend it to those seek complicated and view - provoking skill fable .

empathise overly complex sci - fi movies fee-tail not just suspending disbelief , but also focusing on the human stories beneath the fringe science .

2Titan A.E. (2000)

WhenTitan A.E.first came out , Ebert exalt it as"the invigorate infinite adventure I ’ve been desire for – a film that apply the freedom of vitality to picture the curiousness of the universe in ways live action mechanism can not duplicate , and then joins its visual sensation to a awaken taradiddle . “Indeed , though Ebert comment on the derivative nature of the plot and characters - particularly remark similarities withStar WarsandStarship Troopers- he also sawTitan A.E.as a huge footfall for animation overcoming the integral limitations of live - natural process flick . Overall , Ebert ’s review ofTitan A.E.aligns with how the picture show ’s resulting religious cult follow see its legacy in the sci - fi genre .

1Gattaca (1997)

" This is one of the smartest and most provocative of science fiction films,“said Ebert in his review ofGattaca , noting how the film dextrously revolves around the resulting class struggles from mass transmitted engineering . He admiredGattaca ’s focal point on suspense and character development , peculiarly the performances of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman , as they navigate a society where a someone ’s inherited makeup determined their achiever . Ebert favorably comparedGattacato the classic sci - fi oeuvre of Orson Welles and King Vidal , abduce the movie as an example of how the"best of the genre mint with ideas"rather than mere visual spectacle .

Source : Roger Ebert

Collage Of Movies Like Equilibrium

A blended image of Kris Kelvin in Solaris and The Protagonist in Tenet.

Custom image/collage of Cleric John Preston (Christian Bale) in Equilibrium, film critic Roger Ebert while being interviewed by Charlie Rose, and Dr. Catherine Deane (Jennifer Lopez) in The Cell.

Spicolli and Raising Arizona collage

Dr. Henry Goose (Tom Hanks) and a native woman (Halle Berry) reacting dramatically to something offscreen in Cloud Atlas

Headshot Of Tom Hanks In The Los Angeles World Premiere Of Apple TV+ Series ‘Masters Of The Air’

Headshot Of Halle Berry

Headshot Of Jim Broadbent In The Jewish Film Festival UK premiere of Charlotte

Headshot Of Hugo Weaving

Headshot oF Rufus Sewell

Headshot Of William Hurt In The premiere of ‘Winter’s Tale’

Headshot Of Kiefer Sutherland

Headshot Of Jennifer Connelly In The 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Quaid (Colin Farrell) undergoing a dangerous brain procedure in the Total Recall remake

Arthur Hill as Dr. Jeremy Stone, David Wayne as Dr. Charles Dutton, Kate Reid as Dr. Ruth Leavitt, and James Olson as Dr. Mark Hall standing beside each other in The Andromeda Strain

Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy) standing under a mural depicting the mostly unseen aliens in Monsters

Dr. Catherine Deane (Jennifer Lopez) wearing a sexy and surreal outfit in The Cell

Hector (Karra Elejalde) covered in bandages in Timecrimes

Cale Tucker (Matt Damon) sits in a spaceship in Titan A.E.

Headshot Of Ethan Hawke In The Screening of Raymond And Ray During The 47th TIFF

Headshot Of Uma Thurman

Headshot Of Jude Law

Headshot Of Alan Arkin In The Premiere of Spenser Confidential