1652 – “This is not your world:” Extinction and Utopia in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind by Gregory Marks (October 2020)

This paper was originally presented for Gothic Nature III: New Directions in EcoHorror and the EcoGothic, in October 2020.

repost from: https://thewastedworld.wordpress.com/2020/10/31/nausicaa-extinction/

“As I will argue, the Nausicaä manga (1982-1994), continued by Miyazaki in the decade following the film’s release, systematically undoes the utopianism of its cinematic adaptation.[2] While the film ends with Nausicaä’s messianic rebirth as the mediator between humanity and nature, the manga continues on to disturb the very notions of an independent ‘humanity’ and an undisturbed ‘nature.’ Nausicaä discovers not only that the ‘natural’ world of the mushroom jungle is itself an anthropogenic creation meant to purify the earth, but that the pure earth would be uninhabitable for she and her fellow ‘humans’—because they too were altered to live in a toxic environment. As the monsters of the antediluvian world emerge from their crypts to destroy the earth once more, Nausicaä battles to save a world without a future.”

1651 – Palm Springs (2020)

timespace coordinates: November 9 2019 Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs is a 2020 American romantic comedy film directed by Max Barbakow. It stars Andy Samberg & Cristin Milioti, and follows two strangers who meet at a Palm Springs wedding only to get stuck in a time loop. (wiki)

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1650 – Possessor (2020)

timespace coordinates: alternate 2008 London

Possessor, known in the United States as Possessor: Uncut, is a 2020 science fiction horror film written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg. An international co-production of the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, the film stars Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Rossif Sutherland, Tuppence Middleton, Sean Bean, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. (wiki)

<< 882 – The Minds of Men (2018 Documentary)

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1649 – Salyut-7 (2017)

timespace coordinates: The Soviet Union, June 1985 / Soyuz T-13 mission

Salyut 7 (Russian: Салют 7) is a 2017 Russian disaster film directed by Klim Shipenko and written by Aleksey Samolyotov, the film stars Vladimir Vdovichenkov and Pavel Derevyanko. The story is based on the Soyuz T-13 mission in 1985, part of the Soviet Salyut programme; it was the first time in history that a ‘dead’ space station was docked with, and brought back into service. (wiki)

development   /   technical and historic accuracy

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1648 – The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

timespace coordinates: 1899, alternate Victorian Age world

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a 2003 dieselpunk superhero film loosely based on the first volume of the comic book series of the same name by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, directed by Stephen Norrington. It was the final live-action acting role for Connery before his retirement in 2006 and death in 2020.

As with the comic book source material, the film features prominent pastiche and crossover themes set in the late 19th century. It features an assortment of fictional literary characters appropriate to the period who act as Victorian era superheroes. (wiki)

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1647 – The Fountain (2006)

timespace coordinates: 16th century. conquistador Tomás Verde in New Spain, neuroscientist Tom Creo working on a cure in 2005, 26th century space traveler Tommy in a self-contained biosphere bubble. flying in outer space toward the golden nebula of Xibalba

The Fountain is a 2006 American epic romantic drama film written and directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. Blending elements of fantasy, history, spirituality and science fiction, the film consists of three storylines involving mortality and the resulting loves lost, and one man’s pursuit of avoiding this fate in this life or beyond it.

Production mainly took place on a sound stage in Montreal, Quebec, and the director used macro photography to create key visual effects for The Fountain at a low cost.

HUGH JACKMAN and RACHEL WEISZ star in Warner Bros. PicturesÕ and Regency EnterprisesÕ sci-fi fantasy ÒThe Fountain.Ó Photo: Intelligent Creatures Inc. PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE USED SOLELY FOR ADVERTISING, PROMOTION, PUBLICITY OR REVIEWS OF THIS SPECIFIC MOTION PICTURE AND TO REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE STUDIO. NOT FOR SALE OR REDISTRIBUTION.

The design of the space traveler’s ship was inspired in part by Biosphere 2 near Tucson, Arizona.

Critics’ reactions to the film were divided, but it has gained a cult following since its release. In December 2008, Aronofsky expressed interest in reassembling The Fountain, not as a director’s cut, but as an alternate story that combined theatrical footage and unused footage. (wiki)

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1646 – Bronson (2008)

timespace coordinates: 1970’s – 1980’s Britain

Bronson is a 2008 British biographical crime film directed by Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn. The film stars Tom Hardy as Michael Peterson, known from 1987 as Charles Bronson.

Bronson told The Times “I honestly believe nobody on the planet could play me as Tom did. He is more like me than I am”, (wiki)

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