By Ryan Keating-Lambert
To get you in the mood for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd, check out this list of gorgeous titles guaranteed to give you some feels. Unlike the Earth, not all of these titles are heading for doom and gloom. From Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke to Aronofsky’s Mother!, there’s something here for everyone.
10. Lost in Space (2018 – )
Not a film, I know. But this underrated re-imagining of the classic sci-fi series about a family searching for a new home in space, is often fobbed off as mere ‘family friendly fun’, and sometimes it’s exactly that. But Lost in Space also takes its time to build nail-biting tension and atmosphere, and is capable of appealing to fans of multiple sub-genres of sci-fi, even sci-fi horror. It also has impeccable art direction and visuals, and Parker Posey’s version of ‘Dr Smith’ is just wonderful.
Where can I watch it? Netflix
9. Love, Death + Robots: Fish Night (2019)
Created by David Fincher (Mindhunter, Gone Girl) and Tim Miller (Deadpool), Love, Death + Robots is an anthology of animated stories FOR ADULTS, and is guaranteed to be impress you (probably more than anything else you’ve seen recently). ‘Fish Night’ is one episode you don’t want to miss. A short but beautiful hallucinatory tale of the nature we’ve left behind and our utter lack of respect for it. Its haunting depiction of a ghostly ocean in the Californian desert will stick with you for some time.
Where can I watch it? Netflix
8. The Host (2006)
Fans of the Oscar-winning Parasite will love this South Korean monster movie also directed by Bong Joon-ho. The Host is set around a dysfunctional Seoul family who are forced to track down a vicious mutant of a monster living in the Han river (a direct result of polluted waters) after the beast kidnaps their youngest girl. It’s equal parts horror and comedy and boasts yet another brilliant performance from Joon-ho regular Kang-ho Song.
Where can I watch it? Netflix
7. The Fountain (2006)
Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain is a masterful piece of thought-provoking cinema about death and rebirth, portrayed both literally and figuratively through sublime performances from Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz, ageless art direction and practical ‘petri dish’ visual effects around its Tree of Life. It’s one of the director’s most underrated works, and an essential watch. And the soundtrack by Clint Mansell and prog rock band Mogwai is also spectacular.
Where can I watch it? Amazon Prime Video
6. Our Planet (2019)
This relatively new documentary series is narrated by the one and only David Attenborough and picks up where the remarkable Planet Earth series left off – expect even more epic landscapes and animals encounters so close that you’ll be left spellbound. Our Planet also doesn’t shy away from showing the consequences of our actions. There’s a particularly brutal scene involving a colony of walruses which will haunt you forever. Have the tissues handy.
Where can I watch it? Netflix
5. Princess Mononoke (1997)
This 1997 Hayao Miyazaki classic focuses on a 14th century battle for harmony between humans and the gods of the forest. Beautifully animated, as most of these films are, and absolutely teeming with environmental and political subtext, Mononoke is a standout film in the Studio Ghibli series and also boasts an all-star English voice cast, including Claire Danes, Billy Crudup, Minnie Driver, Billy Bob Thornton, Gillian Anderson and more. If you haven’t seen this, then what on Earth are you waiting for!?
Where can I watch it? Netflix
4. Snowpiercer (2013)
Also directed by the great Bong Joon-ho, and filmed in Prague, Snowpiercer is a remarkable action/adventure film set around an uprising of the working class on a high-speed train housing and protecting the last remnants of humanity from Earth’s second Ice Age. With an all-star cast including Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton, this is your new favourite film.
Where can I watch it? Netflix
3. Wall-E (2008)
This EXTREMELY underrated film went somewhat under the radar upon release in 2008 but has since become one of the most significant of its genre for its unique approach to the Pixar film, authentic use of emotions, and scarily accurate vision of the future – an uninhabitable Earth left behind by a bloated tech-obsessed human race. You can’t deny that there’s a certain likeness to modern day, and it’s only going to get more relevant as the years go on, plus WALL-E is ridiculously cute.
Where can I watch it? Rent on Apple iTunes
2. The Land Before Time (1988)
This animated classic is one of the most popular dinosaur films of all time and has made every child of the ’80s sob uncontrollably at some point. The lovable crew of dino babes in The Land Before Time have also captured the adoration of generation after generation of children, and despite many failed Hollywood attempts to replicate the film, nothing has ever come close to Don Bluth and Steven Spielberg’s original. This is nostalgia at its finest.
Where can I watch it? Netflix
1. Mother! (2017)
Those of you who know me won’t be surprised that this is on the list. Mother! sees Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem star in a surrealist and thrilling allegorical tale of Mother Earth that’s almost impossible to categorise. Also directed by Darren Aronofsky, there’s enough going on in this film to be able to pick it apart for days. Aronofsky’s signature use of sound and invasive cinematography also make it one hell of a sensory experience. Check it out, but do so with caution – it’s one hell of a disturbing trip.
Where can I watch it? Rent on Apple iTunes
Feature photo: VIX
Movie Barf 