What Filmic Future Earth Would You Visit?

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FSTargetDrone
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What Filmic Future Earth Would You Visit?

Post by FSTargetDrone »

Okay, you are granted the chance to visit three TV/Movie depecitions of a future Earth society. Do you want to visit Los Angeles in 2019 as seen in Bladerunner? How about floating around for a bit in Waterworld? Or is Lucas' vision of life mostly underground in THX-1138 more to your liking?

Where do you want to visit?

Assume you will be able to leave any time you wish, and even if you are harmed or killed, you will be returned to your present situation on Earth without delay. Note that I say "visit" because I don't want anyone to be forced choose where he or she might want to spend the rest of his or her lifetime. I might like to spend a few weeks poking around a dystopian Australian outback, but I wouldn't want to stay there. Though if you do want to stay there, by all means, feel free. You just aren't forced to.

Please choose a specific film within a series if so applicable. For example, 2001 is not allowed (though set in the future from the time it was produced), because we never see "future" civilization (or its remains) on Earth. Conversely, 2010 is permitted, because we do see civilization on "future" Earth, if only briefly.

Likewise, Planet of the Apes is allowed. It doesn't have to be a human (well, at least not predominately) future civilization. Just something seen on Earth.

I'm going to also make a potentially unpopular ruling, but Alien, Aliens and Alien3 are not permitted, because although we see obvious evidence of humans near Earth, we see no civilization (or the remains of it) on Earth, in any of those films. However, even though it's among my most hated of movies, the world of Alien Resurrection is permitted, because we do see this at the end of that abortion of a film:

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Obviously there is society/civilization on Earth in the first 3 films. We just don't see it in those movies. And both AvP films are set in the present day, so no go there. I assume Predator is set in the then-present day, but Predator 2 is clearly in some future.

And Back To The Future Part II is allowed, but not Part I. Each of the Matrix series is permitted for what should be obvious reasons. And so on.

Oh, and please no animation. I don't remember if Final Fantasy <stifling the bile in my throat as I think of it> shows anything of Earth, but even if it did, I've reserved the right to arbitrarily exclude animation for the purposes of this topic. Similarly, though Akira shows lots of stuff on Earth, it's not allowed in this discussion. As interesting as it might be, I want to limit this to live-action, filmed depictions of Earth. And yes, movies made on videotape count, before any smart ass asks. :) TV is okay, as long as it's live action (Star Trek's numerous series, etc.). If there's any other movie that pops up that seems to violate my absurd terms, I'll leave it to a hand-picked and utterly ruthless panel of judges to consider.

So, with those stringent and stifling rules in place, I choose these three:

Blade Runner. I'd like to wander the streets and explore the near-constant rain washing down on that urban decay mixed with massive structures and fly above it all in my Spinner.

I, Robot. I want to a world with consumer-grade robots. Lots of them!

I am Legend. Thought I haven't seen this, I'd like to wander around near-deserted world. Just for a week or so.

* * * * *

(I hope this is appropriate here, and not more suited to OT, but since a lot of these depictions of a future Earth might naturally fall under sci-fi, I thought this might be the best forum?)
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Post by Ryan Thunder »

What about The Time Machine?
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Post by FSTargetDrone »

Ryan Thunder wrote:What about The Time Machine?
Sure, if you like. You can choose any depiction of Earth as long as it's on Earth, below ground, in the air, whatever.
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Post by Gil Hamilton »

The Fifth Element, easily. :D
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Post by JGregory32 »

I know you said no animation but I have a great reason for including this one.

Bubble Gum Crisis (Original Version): My reason? Sex Androids... come on you know you want it. ;-)

On a more serious note, I'd like to see see the world of Ultraviolet and play with the cool toys. On the other hand it might be kinda cool to dress up and join the crowd in V for Vendetta.
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Post by Shroom Man 777 »

JGregory32 wrote:On the other hand it might be kinda cool to dress up and join the crowd in V for Vendetta.
And get arrested and Gitmo'ed for the crime of GODLESSNESS? Screw that.
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Post by Decue »

Star Trek earth would be nice, and Warhammer: 40k earth and take a guided tour to the Golden Throne if I can find one...
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Post by Argosh »

Gil Hamilton wrote:The Fifth Element, easily. :D
Yes, Fifth Element, but after the movie. :wink:
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Re: What Filmic Future Earth Would You Visit?

Post by Darth Wong »

FSTargetDrone wrote:Where do you want to visit?
Star Trek future Earth is totally lame fiction, but it would be a pleasant place to visit, at least for a short while. The same is true of Demolition Man future Earth, although in the case of Demolition Man, it was deliberately lame for the purpose of the story.
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Post by Shroom Man 777 »

Still, it'd be interesting to try Demolition Man's Elektrosexors! (those hat things)
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Post by tim31 »

At least they didn't have to put money in the swear jar in Star Trek.

I'm with The Fifth Element. Flying cars, forgotten layers of cities, entire bays dammed, drained, and dug out for living space.
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Post by FSTargetDrone »

Hm, I've never seen The Fifth Element. Perhaps I should, if only to see what some of you are talking about.
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Post by Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba »

FSTargetDrone wrote:Hm, I've never seen The Fifth Element. Perhaps I should, if only to see what some of you are talking about.
Combine Blade Runner Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and Coruscant. Mix and add Bruce Willis.
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Post by Shroom Man 777 »

As a New York Cab Driver Who Saves The World.
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Post by Ghost Rider »

Star Trek would be relaxing place to visit. Funky cuisine, aliens wandering about, dumb clothes though...but it would nice.

Fifth Element NYC is Las Vegas meets Coruscant. Fun to visit, never to stay. And screw driving, maybe I'll stay on the funky cruise liners they have.
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Post by FA Xerrik »

I'd put my vote in for Tron. Barring the near-catastrophe with the MCP almost taking over everything, it seems like a nice place to live. Nearly on par with modern Earth, but with cool lights everywhere and VR gaming. Good deal.

Honorable mention for Dune, but of course we never actually see Earth so that doesn't count per the OP.
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Post by FSTargetDrone »

FA Xerrik wrote:I'd put my vote in for Tron. Barring the near-catastrophe with the MCP almost taking over everything, it seems like a nice place to live. Nearly on par with modern Earth, but with cool lights everywhere and VR gaming. Good deal.

Honorable mention for Dune, but of course we never actually see Earth so that doesn't count per the OP.
Tron is.. interesting. I thought about it while typing the OP and initially, I couldn't decide one way or t'other if it fit my parameters, though I was leaning towards not.

What does the jury think? Does a computer-generated world contained with computers housed on Earth fit the spirit of the OP?? The "Real World" portions are apparently set within then-present day Earth, but the Computer World does depict a parallel (of sorts) society/civilization/whatever "on" Earth. In the "future"??
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Post by FA Xerrik »

I was under the impression that the Tron world was set in an undefined near-future. Similar, but not identical, to the contemporary time (Tron was made in the early '80s I believe). Not unlike The Running Man I think. Perhaps I was mistaken about the timeframe?
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Post by paladin »

Futurama would be my choice.
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Post by andrewgpaul »

FA Xerrik wrote:I'd put my vote in for Tron. Barring the near-catastrophe with the MCP almost taking over everything, it seems like a nice place to live. Nearly on par with modern Earth, but with cool lights everywhere and VR gaming. Good deal.

Honorable mention for Dune, but of course we never actually see Earth so that doesn't count per the OP.
IIRC, Earth was lost and/or uninhabitable by the time of Dune.
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Post by FSTargetDrone »

paladin wrote:Futurama would be my choice.
Great, but I was hoping to exclude animation for the purposes of this thread. Choose again!
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