1528 – Faust (2011)

spacetime coordinates: early 19th century Germany

Faust (Russian: Фауст) is a 2011 Russian film directed by Alexander Sokurov. Set in the 19th century, it is a free interpretation of the Faust legend and its respective literary adaptations by both Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as well as Thomas Mann. The dialogue is in German. The film is the final part in a series of films where Alexander Sokurov explores the corrupting effects of power. The previous installments are three biographical dramas: about Adolf Hitler in Moloch from 1999, Vladimir Lenin in Taurus from 2001, and the Japanese emperor Hirohito in The Sun from 2005.

The project, described in 2005 as “loosely based on works by Goethe and Thomas Mann”, was announced by Sokurov in 2005 as “a very colourful, elegant picture with a lot of Strauss music and a smell of chocolate.”

Jay Weissberg wrote in Variety: “The influence of Flemish and Dutch painting on Sokurov’s work has never been clearer than in Faust, with its deep debt to the witchcraft paintings of artists such as David Teniers and Herri met de Bles.” (wiki)

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1515 – Underwater (2020)

spacetime coordinates: 2020’s. Kepler 822, a research and drilling facility operated by Tian Industries at the bottom of the Mariana Trench + one mile across the ocean floor..

Underwater is a 2020 American science fiction horror film directed by William Eubank and written by Brian Duffield and Adam Cozad. The film stars Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, Jessica Henwick, John Gallagher Jr., Mamoudou Athie, and T.J. Miller. It follows a group of scientists at the bottom of the ocean who encounter a group of creatures after an earthquake destroys their laboratory. (wiki)

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1513 – Planet of the Humans (2019 documentary)

Planet of the Humans is a 2019 American environmental documentary film written, directed, and produced by Jeff Gibbs. It is backed and promoted by Michael Moore, who is also the executive producer. Moore released it on YouTube for free viewing (for 30 days) on April 21, 2020, the eve of the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day.

One of the film’s main claims is that some environmental leaders and organizations in the United States who promote green energy have actually been promoting biomass energy, largely meaning burning trees instead of fossil fuels, which is neither carbon neutral, renewable, nor sustainable. The film also claims that wind power and solar energy cannot produce enough energy to save the planet from the climate crisis, and still require fossil fuels due to intermittency. The film has been widely critized for its misleading and outdated commentary. 

Jeff Gibbs has said that the film is designed to prompt discussion and debate beyond the narrow issue of climate change and to look at the overall human impact on the environment, including issues such as human overpopulation and the contemporary extinction crisis in which half of all wildlife has disappeared in the last 40 years, and whether green technology can solve these issues. (wiki)

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chemurgy

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1512 – 1917 (2019)

spacetime coordinates: April 1917, the Western Front in northern France

1917 is a 2019 war film directed, co-written, and produced by Sam Mendes. The film stars George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, with Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch in supporting roles.

It is based in part on an account told to Mendes by his paternal grandfather, Alfred Mendes. The film tells the story of two young British soldiers during the First World War who are ordered to deliver a message calling off an attack doomed to fail soon after the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line during Operation Alberich in 1917. (wiki)

historical accuracy

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1510 – Fantastic Fungi (2019 documentary)

Fantastic Fungi is a 2019 documentary film directed by Louie Schwartzberg. The film combines time-lapse cinematography, CGI, and interviews in an overview of the biology, environmental roles, and various uses of fungi.

[Reception] Critics praised Schwartzberg‘s time-lapse cinematography. Some critics found the narration unnecessary. (wiki)

Paul Stamets with Laricifomes officinalis aka agarikon

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The Kingdom: How Fungi Made Our World (2018 documentary) 

The Magic of Mushrooms (2014 documentary)

The Triumph of the Fungi: A Rotten History (2006 book by Nicholas P. Money)

1509 – The Invisible Man (2020)

spacetime coordinates: 2019 San Francisco

The Invisible Man is a 2020 science fiction horror film written and directed by Leigh Whannell (upgrade). It follows a woman who believes she is being stalked by her abusive and wealthy boyfriend even after his apparent suicide. She ultimately deduces that he has acquired the ability to become invisible. The film stars Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer, Michael Dorman, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. It is an international co-production of the United States and Australia.

The development of a new film based on H. G. Wells‘s 1897 book began as early as 2006. The project was revived as part of Universal’s shared cinematic universe in 2016, intended to consist of their classic monsters, with Johnny Depp attached to star in the title role. After The Mummy was released in 2017 to critical and financial failure, development was halted on all projects. In early 2019, the studio changed their plans from a serialized universe to films based on individualized story-telling and the project reentered development. (wiki)

franchise future

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1502 – Bloodshot (2020)

Bloodshot is a 2020 American superhero film based on the Valiant Comics character of the same name. It is intended to be the first installment in a series of films set within a Valiant Comics shared cinematic universe. Directed by David S. F. Wilson (in his feature directorial debut), the film stars Vin Diesel, Eiza González, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell, and Guy Pearce. It follows a Marine who was killed in action, only to be brought back to life with superpowers by an organization that wants to use him as a weapon. (wiki)

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