I’ll admit it. I’ve been on a time travel kick. My last post covered a playlist with Nolan’s best examples of time trickery. Where that list was about manipulating time for the viewer, this playlist is about travelling through it.
This all started when I was scrolling through my digital movie library, and came across Looper. Instantly, I thought, yes! This is what I need / want right now. Then it happened. Then I wanted more time travel, and apparently Emily Blunt, and the rest of this playlist is history.
Looper (2012) – Trailer
Looper is towards the top of my favorite time travel movie list. Between it’s time travel plotting (and perfect explanation), well paced action, and setups that payoff nicely, it’s a balanced story that can be retapped again and again. I’ll admit the JGL / Bruce Willis makeup does look a little goofy, but that doesn’t slow down the rest of this time travel must watch. Just another great title in Rian Johnson’s already stacked credits.
Edge of Tomorrow (2014) – Trailer
I’ll say it. I’m a Tom Cruise fan. Say what you will about his personal life and antics in the past, he’s been involved in some of the greatest (and / or most memorable) movies of our time. Plus, he does his own stunts. You don’t get that very often in our green screen era of filmmaking. Edge of Tomorrow is an action version of Groundhog Day meets the machines at the end of The Matrix: Revolutions. Plus, Emily Blunt! There is absolutely nothing to lose here.
Predestination (2014) – Trailer
This might be one of the most underrated, under the radar, forgotten, time travel flicks out there. Based on the short story by master sci-fi writer Robert Heinlen, “‘-All You Zombies-’” (1959), Predestination is one of those movies where you get to the end and go, wait, what? No clue how this movie didn’t make more of a splash, maybe the content was a little too confusing? Or too much for audiences? Or ahead of its time (I know, I know)? If you’ve read the short story (if you haven’t, do that first please) it’s understandable to think why mainstream audiences may not enjoy or get how this one plays out. Apparently, Playboy passed on publishing it back in 1959. I can somewhat understand why they would. Next to, or along with, The End of Eternity (Asimov, 1955), it’s one of my favorite time travel stories, and a must-read for time travel fans.
If I could go back in time, I might cut down the amount of times I used the word “time” in this post. Next time.
