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sci fi

“Tribes of Europa” is tropey but tantalizing Euro sci-fi

Tribes of Europa (Netflix)
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Philip Koch’s post-apocalyptic series gives us teens, tropes, and teases galore, finding glimmers of potential even as it hews creakily to formula.

Clint Worthington Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021

“The Expanse” and “Mobile Suit Gundam”: two sides of the sci-fi coin

The Expanse // Mobile Suit Gundam
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Fans of Amazon’s premiere science-fiction series would do well to spend their time between seasons catching up on its anime forebears.

Grant Posted on February 7, 2021February 7, 2021

“Little Fish” is a pandemic-set love story you don’t have to throw back

Little Fish (IFC Films)
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Olivia Cooke and Jack O’Connell shine in a melodramatic, but immersive romantic tragedy that mimics the isolation and loss of our current moment.

Oluwatayo Adewole Posted on February 7, 2021February 7, 2021

The Expanse Season 5 Finale Recap: “Nemesis Games”

Expanse Season 5 Finale
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The fifth season of The Expanse ends on a more muted note, giving beloved characters rushed-by-real-life exits and setting up bigger stakes for the end.

Clint Worthington Posted on February 3, 2021February 3, 2021

Sundance 2021: “In the Earth” never fully blossoms

In the Earth
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Ben Wheatley’s pandemic-shot sci-fi effort is a derivative and predictable trip through the fog despite a few choice moments.

Matt Cipolla Posted on January 29, 2021February 3, 2021

“Resident Alien” phones home, but it can’t quite find a signal

Resident Alien
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Alan Tudyk hams it up as an alien on a secret mission in a small town in Syfy’s mismatched fish out of water comedy.

Ashley Lara Posted on January 28, 2021January 28, 2021

The Expanse Season 5 Episode 7 Recap: “Oyedeng”

Expanse Season 5 Episode 7
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Naomi has a rude homecoming, as the show narrows its focus to a family fighting for its very soul.

Clint Worthington Posted on January 14, 2021January 15, 2021

“Outside the Wire” is a droning, ideologically confused sci-fi thriller

Outside the Wire
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The Netflix Action Movie Industrial Complex continues abated with a deeply mediocre military thriller that can’t get a handle on its lukewarm critique of drones.

Clint Worthington Posted on January 13, 2021January 12, 2021

Gerard Butler and his family find comet ground in “Greenland”

Greenland
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Shockingly, the long-delayed comet disaster movie finds remarkable pathos and strong performances from Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin.

Sean Price Posted on December 19, 2020December 18, 2020

“Skylines” is effective, propulsive sci-fi action schlock

Skylines
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The unlikely science fiction franchise changes pace with a lean and mean action thriller filled with economically effective visuals.

Justin Harrison Posted on December 18, 2020December 18, 2020

“Divine Love” feels oddly platonic

Divine Love
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Gabriel Mascaro’s sci-fi drama is an eye-catching effort that doesn’t have as much to say as it thinks it does.

Matt Cipolla Posted on November 11, 2020November 10, 2020

“Jason X” goes to space and sucks on so many levels

Jason X
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New Line sends Jason to the final frontier, and sends all the thinly-drawn characters and low-budget kills of the franchise with him.

Clint Worthington Posted on May 27, 2020May 27, 2020

“The Vast of Night” is a fuzzy, evocative sci-fi debut

The Vast of Night
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Andrew Patterson’s tale of strange goings-on in ’50s New Mexico is full of detail, even if it doesn’t reach its full potenial.

Michael Snydel Posted on May 27, 2020May 27, 2020

“Blood Machines” is a trippy, cosmic synth-wave opera

Blood Machines
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Shudder’s latest is a synthwave sci-fi opera is thinly plotted and unapologetically lurid, but packed with gorgeous grindhouse visuals.

Clint Worthington Posted on May 21, 2020May 20, 2020

Capturing Dystopias: “Snowpiercer” and “Westworld” cinematographer John Grillo

Snowpiercer Cinematography
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The cinematographer behind much of HBO’s Westworld and TNT’s Snowpiercer talks about the rocky road to filming two disparate sci-fi dystopias.

Clint Worthington Posted on May 18, 2020May 18, 2020

“Snowpiercer” goes off the rails far too quickly

Snowpiercer
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TNT’s adaptation of the French comic and Bong Joon-ho film struggles to stretch its high-concept premise across an entire series.

Clint Worthington Posted on May 17, 2020May 17, 2020

“Solar Opposites” is more bright, brazen work from the “Rick and Morty” team

Solar Opposites
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Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan’s Hulu series looks at human folly from an alien—and fittingly cynical—perspective.

Sean Price Posted on May 6, 2020May 5, 2020

“Westworld” season 3 finale questions the nature of its programming

Westworld Season 3 Finale
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Season 3 finally comes to a shuddering halt, bogged down in the same plotting problems it spent all […]

Clint Worthington Posted on May 4, 2020May 4, 2020

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