Enemy Mine

Enemy Mine
(1985) [Trailer]
Director: Wolfgang Petersen [IMDB]

This was a big favorite of mine as a child and back then it was one of my favorite sci-fi films. It has been a long time since I've seen it, but thanks to Twilight Time, it's now available on blu-ray and it looks spectacular.

Synopsis: In the future, Humans are at war with the Dracs and when Dennis Quaid (the Human) crash lands on a deserted planet with Louis Gossett Jr (the Drac) they have to learn to live with one another. Do they become friends or will their hatred grow? Watch the movie and find out you inquisitive fuck!

This movie rules very hard.... from beginning to end, it's a certified banger and just as good as I remember. Its major strength is that it takes a solid science fiction universe and instead of loading it with tons of flashy space battles, it focuses on two characters and builds them up in an impressive manner. You become so invested in these two that you start to forget that this is all taking part in the future. Their conflict is an obvious allegory for racism here in the present, but it doesn't bang you over the head with it in my opinion. I'd highly recommend this film if you're the least bit interested in sci-fi, it's a winner in my book.

Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas
(2012) [Trailer]
Directors: Andy Wachowski (IMDB), Lana Wachowski (IMDB), Tom Tykwer (IMDB)

They should have hired Eddie Murphy for this movie.

Synopsis: We are all connected... each other's actions affect another in the past, present and future... or at least I think that's what this movie was trying to spit out.

I really dug this film, but I must say it's one I think I need to rewatch. It's extremely ambitious and very epic... which you might  have been able to gather by looking at the film's run time. I referenced Eddie Murphy earlier because he is the king at playing multiple rolls in one movie, which pretty much everyone in Cloud Atlas does. It's a cool idea and fairly well executed. I thought everyone also did a great job with their roles, the stand outs being Hugo Weaving, Jim Broadbent and Tom Hanks. The special effects were superb and are what you would expect from the Wachowskis. The negatives for me would be the interweaving story lines, they are all over the place and some felt more relavant than others to the overall plot. Again, I think on a rewatch it might help solidify everything... plus I was about 10 minutes late which could have possibly helped with wrapping my head around everything.