There are certain movies that appeal to us geeks more than others and that contributed to our undefinable geek culture. Movies like Sneakers, The Matrix and War Games inspired us to look into technology and brought out our inner geek.
In the following months there are a few obvious (and some less obvious) movies that you don’t want to miss. From the much talked about ‘The Social Network‘ to the still largely unknown ‘The Adjustment Bureau‘, here is my top 10 list to watch:
Middle Men
Our Take: this movie has everything geeks love: a history of the World Wide Web, lots of money, some technology and the stuff that made the Web big; no, not the LAMP stack but ‘Cyber Sex’. An amazing story of the first internet entrepreneurs who started offering online, ehm, entertainment and found lots of money, and a fair bit of problems in the process.
From IMDB: “Chronicles Jack Harris, one of the pioneers of internet commerce, as he wrestles with his morals and struggles not to drown in a sea of conmen, mobsters, drug addicts, and pornstars.”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1251757/
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Up next: Inception
Inception
Our take: The effects are amazing, the technology is inspiring and the story will keep you glued to your seat too. How much longer will it be until the iPhone comes with an iNception App? I know we would buy one. Just don’t hold it THAT way.
From IMDB: “In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job till date, Inception”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/
Up next: Toy story 3
Toy Story 3
Our take: Another classic from the ‘other’ Steve Jobs company. Toy Story is THE movie that got it the whole 3D movement started so you just can’t miss this one. Buy it ‘for your kids’ and then watch it yourself. For extra amusement watch the first 2 films first so you can see the advancement of technology reflected in the special effects.
From IMDB: Andy is now 17 and ready to head off to college, leaving Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the toy-box gang to ponder their uncertain futures. When the toys are accidentally donated to the Sunnyside Daycare center they’re initially overjoyed to once again be played with, but their enthusiasm quickly gives way to horror as they discover the true nature of the establishment under the rule of the deceptively welcoming “Lotso” Bear. Now, all of the toys must band together in one final, crazy scheme to escape their confines and return home to Andy
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435761/
Up next: Predators
Predators
Our take: I owned the original Predator movie, on Betamax. My only other two movies were Animal House and Once upon a Time in America. So more than often I would end up watching Predator. The gadgets the alien uses were cool and frightening but had these recognizable flaws. Can’t see the human once it is covered in mud? It didn’t specify THAT when I bought it!
The new version promises to be equally exciting (watched the trailer yet? Cool!) and introduces Adrian Brody as the hero. Brody? yeah, the geeky guy with the funny nose. Hows that for Revenge of the Nerds?
From IMDB: Chosen for their ability to kill without conscience, a group of killers, some trained and some who are not, must endeavour the alien race of predators that have set out to target them as prey. Dropped into the vast jungle of a distant world, these human predators must learn just who, or what, they are up against, and that their ability, knowledge and wits are tested to the limits in the battle of survival of kill or be killed
Up next: Devil
Devil
Our take: This is one of those movies you know will scare your socks off. Besides, it features Open Source Advocate Chris Messina as one of the actors. Hmm what, not the same guy? Says who???
From IMDB: A group of people trapped in a elevator realize that the devil is among them.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1424381/
Up next: The Social Network
The Social Network
Our take: If you are on facebook, you must see this movie. In fact, probably every person who is on facebook is going to watch this movie, all 500 million of them.
From IMDB: On a fall night in 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius Mark Zuckerberg sits down at his computer and heatedly begins working on a new idea. In a fury of blogging and programming, what begins in his dorm room soon becomes a global social network and a revolution in communication. A mere six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history… but for this entrepreneur, success leads to both personal and legal complications.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285016/
Up next: Tron legacy
TRON: Legacy
For your entertainment, the original Tron trailer:
Even more entertaining; a slightly NSFW and not too funny Tron girl movie:
Our take: the remake of a classic movie (1982! Were you even born then?) that showed us what it could be like to live in a virtual world? Hell yeah! We are going!
From IMDB: “Sam Flynn, the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant, father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104001/
Up next: Jackass 3-D
Jackass 3-D
Our take: want to LOL, ROFL and have milk squirting from your nose? This is the movie to wath, ‘Like’ on facebook and retweet.
From IMDB: Nothing yet. Still in production. You’ve seen it here first.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1116184/
Up next: RED
RED
Our take: Bruce Willis being chased by a ‘high-tech assassin’? This is going to be as good as Swordfish. Expect lots of ‘realistic’ computer screens made in Excel and gadgetry designed by people who haven’t seen the iPhone yet. You will enjoy it because you won’t enjoy it. Right? Right.
From IMDB: When his idyllic life is threatened by a high-tech assassin, former black-ops agent Frank Moses reassembles his old team in a last ditch effort to survive.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245526/
Up next: The Adjustment Bureau
The Adjustment Bureau
Our take: this is a story based on a Philip K. Dick story. That should be enough to get your heart racing. Other movies that were based on Philip K. Dick stories? Oh, all the ones you love, like Blade Runner, Minority Report, Total Recall and a bunch more you most likely own on DVD.
From IMDB: “The affair between a politician and a ballerina is affected by mysterious forces keeping the lovers apart.”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1385826/
I’m sure I have missed a few that shouldn’t have been missed. Let me know in the comments!
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