Next is a 2007 film starring Nicolas Cage as a magician that is pursued by the FBI, because of his ability to see into the future. Actress Julianne Moore plays the agent that is seeking to catch Cage, so that she can prevent an imminent terrorist attack on the United States.

The film overall was pretty good. It made clever use of Cage’s ability to see into the future and had some pretty coll special effects. For some reason, the film didn’t do all that well in the box office market, though it was heavily promoted.
It’s still a good movie to watch; even own, if you’re into mild sci-fi films.

Budget: $70 million
Director: Lee Tamahori
Starring:
Nicolas Cage
Julianne Moore
Jessica Biel
Thomas Kretschmann
Michael Trucco

Independence Day is the 1996 Blockbuster film starring Will Smith and Directed by Roland Emmerich. When this film was released, it was some of the best special effects and action that most people had seen up to that point. The films plot, characters, and the way events unfolded were awesome. What makes this film even better, is that soon, it will be considered the first film in a TRILOGY. That’s right, they are producing two more Independence Day films – set for 2013 & 2014.

The film also won an Oscar for it’s visual effects.

Overall, this film is awesome – great to watch and own. In a few years I’m sure you’ll be able to own the box set as well.

Budget: $75 million
Director: Roland Emmerich
Starring:
Will Smith
Bill Pullman
Jeff Goldblum
Mary McDonnell
Judd Hirsch
Robert Loggia
Randy Quaid
Vivica A. Fox
Margaret Colin
Adam Baldwin
Brent Spiner

The Day after Tomorrow is a 2004 film starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Dennis Quaid. Through a series of spectacular special effects, Roland Emmerich shows the earth changing from the world we know now; and into a type of planet in the middle of a new ice age. All of this takes place over a matter of days and not years like you would imagine.

The story centers around discovering the anomaly, then focuses on saving as many people as possible; including Jake Gyllenhaal, who is trapped in NYC with friends.

Overall, a really good film, very entertaining.

Budget: $125 million
Director: Roland Emmerich
Starring:
Jake Gyllenhaal
Denis Quaid
Emmy Rossum
Sela Ward
Austin Nichols

The Postman is a 1997 film starring Kevin Costner; and taking place in the near future — after an apocalyptic war.

This was one of those films that people either really liked or really didn’t. While the film came with a large price tag and it didn’t recoup it at the theater when the film was release; it was at the time considered a flop. Though over the years, the films been on almost every television station.

The film is about a now defunct United States, where Kevin Costner is a traveling actor and con, just trying to survive. At one point during the film, he finds an old Postal Worker Uniform, puts it on, and begins posing as a new Postman for the New United States Government. It just escalates from there.

Overall, it was a really good movie. Very long movie, but still good.

Budget: $80 million
Director: Kevin Costner
Starring:
Kevin Costner
Will Patton
Larenz Tate
Olivia Williams
James Russo
Daniel von Bargen
Tom Petty
Giovanni Ribisi
Peggy Lipton

Aeon Flux is a 2005 film that most people never heard of or choose not to remember. While the producers spent loads of cash on special effects and cast, they forgot one thing, to make sure the story was good. The film flopped.

It stars Charlize Theron as Aeon Flux; she’s an assassin and is supposed to kill the leader of the government. Only when she goes to do so, she seems to recognize the leader and fails to carry out her mission. Since she failed to kill her mission, now the rebels want her dead, and people come after her, etc, etc…

It’s such a banged up movie, it’s really not worth writing anymore about. Save your money and time – the films terrible.

Budget: $62 million
Director: Karyn Kusama
Starring:
Charlize Theron
Marton Csokas
Jonny Lee Miller
Sophie Okonedo
Frances McDormand

Moon is a 2009 film starring Sam Rockwell. What makes this film so great; a. the story b. the very well done special effects. The story is about a company man that is on the moon finishing up a 3 year contract. Besides doing his job, all he thinks about is getting home to his wife and daughter.

The problem – he’s in an accident while checking on one of the mining vehicles and is rescued by —– himself. Or as we later learn – his clone. You’ll have to watch the film to find out the rest!

The special effects are excellent; the producers and directors took full advantage of the 2008-2009 union strikes and got work done for the film that otherwise would have cost them more than they had. The result is this beautiful film with great moon shots, special and visual effects. All done on a tiny budget.

Great film to own!

Budget: $5 milllion
Director: Duncan Jones
Staring:
Sam Rockwell
Kevin Spacey
Dominique McElligott

The Island is a 2005 Michael Bay film about a group of people that think they are survivors of a surface apocalypse. they live underground waiting to win the lottery, that will someday take them to the only inhabitable surface area -the island.

Only thing is, the lottery is really your death ticket and there are no winners.

The film was really good and interesting from a futuristic point of view. Some of the audience didn’t care for the film, though it seemed to be one of those films where they really couldn’t explain why. Either you like it or you don’t.

It’s loaded with eye candy for both men and women, with a really good plot and plenty of twists and turns.

A very good rental or own.

Budget: $122 million
Director: Michael Bay
Starring:
Ewan McGregor
Scarlett Johansson
Djimon Hounsou
Sean Bean
Steve Buscemi
Michael Clarke Duncan
Ethan Phillips
Noa Tishby

Signs is a 2002 film, starring Mel Gibson as a simple farmer trying to raise his kids. Then one day, they discover a crop circle in their corn field. Trying to figure it all out and what it might mean, Gibson has to deal with keep his kids grounded and the line of people that want to ask him what he knows.

Soon, we learn that the crop circle was the fun part as news reports start pouring in about alien landings all over the place. One of the people Gibson knows, points out that they may be afraid of water, since all of the landings have been away from lakes and oceans.

Eventually, an alien does make it to Gibson’s farm; tries to kidnap his son, but the clever Gibson remembers the ‘water.’
Using the half empty water glasses, that just happen to be on top of everything in the house, Gibson defeats the alien, gets his son back, and saves all their lives.

Overall, the film was good. Upon intially seeing it, I did feel like the trailer and advertising was a little misleading. The film focused a lot more on the family and not so much on action. Those action scenes that did come up felt rushed, pushed, and some even felt staged (check the block).

Still a good film though, just wanted more from M. Night Shyamalan.

Budget: $72 million
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring:
Mel Gibson
Joaquin Phoenix
Rory Culkin
Abigail Breslin
Cherry Jones

Apollo 13 is a 1995 film, directed by Ron Howard and staring Tom Hanks. It is the true story about the Apollo 13 moon landing mission how things went terribly wrong for astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert.

On their way to the moon a small explosion blows a hole in the side of their space craft during routine testing and maintenance. This explosion not only cancels any chance that they may have of landing on the moon, but also may be the event that sparks the first American astronauts lost in space. Using their training, and abilities to imagine solutions to great problems, the astronauts and the supporting crew on the ground, come up with ways to help get the Apollo 13 crew home safely.

This is a great film, that goes step by step into the accident that took place in space and about the men and women working behind the scene went through to help bring our astronauts home safely. A must buy.

Budget: $62 million
Director: Ron Howard
Starring:
Tom Hanks
Bill Paxton
Kevin Bacon
Gary Sinise
Ed Harris
Kathleen Quinlan
Mary Kate Schellhardt

I, Robot is a 2004 film starring Will Smith as he tries to solved the murder of a scientist. In the future, the world is filled with Robots; they work and live side by side with humans. During Smith’s investigation, he begins to suspect that maybe the scientist was killed by one of the Robots. This isn’t suppose to be possible, since all the Robots are governed by three rules, they can’t break. But want if someone changed the rules or they can break them? That would mean the rest of the humans would be in danger.

During the course of his investigation, people and Robots try to stop his efforts, even to the point of trying to kill him.

Overall, the film is great and makes a great rental or to own.

Budget: $120 million
Director: Alex Proyas
Starring:
Will Smith
Bridget Moynahan
Alan Tudyk
James Cromwell
Bruce Greenwood