The Machine
Another movie that resists the dreaded “Why must we play God?!” reflex present in so much sci-fi; where Europe Report explores the galaxy, Caradog W. James’s The Machine stays on our own planet with a Blade Runner-esque examination of artificial intelligence and what it means to be human. The cyborgs in this movie are among my favorite ever committed to film: the way they speak is a real stroke of inventiveness. Bonus for Arrow fans : Caity Lotz plays the main android.
Snowpiercer
There was a time I would not shut up about Snowpiercer, and it is still that time, because Snowpiercer is amazing. Since this is an action-oriented list, I’ll direct your attention to the axe fight scene (above, in part), where director Bong Joon Ho masterfully stages a battle between a band of scrappy rebels led by Chris Evans and the balaclava-clad soldiers of the dictator Wilfred, all on an itty-bitty train car.
Dredd
If you’ve been meaning to get around to watching Dredd, which flopped in theaters but has since gained a huge cult following on home video release, you might want to do it now–it leaves Netflix Instant on February 23rd. Thankfully, that leaves you enough time to watch Grumpy Cat Karl Urban: The Movie on V-Day, and watch it you should. Lena Headey as a sneering, diabolical villain! Domhnall Gleeson doing what Domhnall Gleeson does best (show up in every single movie ever)! And a bonus for my cynical and/or asexual friends: Zip-all in the way of romance subplots.
Hellboy
Hellboy’s not just red like hell. He’s red like hearts. Red like Valentine’s Day, you might say. And the romance between him and the fiery (harr harr) Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) is one of the most touchingly emotionally authentic relationships in any superhero movie. Also: kittens! The above clip is a promo for Hellboy II: The Golden Army, but can you blame me for using it?
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The strongest entry in the Hunger Games franchise so far, Catching Fire ditches its predecessor’s shakycam and tells a complete, contained, interesting story, something Mockingjay: Part 1 was unable to do. (Trilogy. Say it with me: “TRIL-O-GY.”) Who can forget the utter BAMFiness of Jena Malone as Johanna Mason, or the delightful gender role reversal represented by the damsel’ing of the emotionally sensitive male lead Peeta Mellark and his constant need for rescue by the stoic action hero Katniss?
Spartacus
Whoops, I’m cheating. Spartacus is a TV show, not a movie. But it’s perfect for this list, because it’s violent, it’s entertaining, and it has a tendency to tend towards the cheesy. Is Spartacus a 300 knock-off? Yeah, a little. (SO. MANY. OVER-SATURATED, SLOW-MOTION BLOOD SPLATTERS.) But it also has engaging characters, a more diverse cast than you’ll find in 90% of other shows, an honest-to-God canon gay ship for those of you gritting your teeth at mainstream media’s frequent queerbaiting, and, most importantly: Lucy Flawless Lawless.
Rebecca (@RebeccaPahle) used to work for The Mary Sue before she cruelly abandoned them for Film Journal International, where she is currently the Assistant Editor. She also writes for Pajiba and Phactual in addition to her personal website, Cinefeels.
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