Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

For me, like many sci-fi fans I imagine, the original Blade Runner is one of those films as near to perfect as we can hope for... so I wasn't that sure it really needed a sequel.

After Denis Villeneuve's almost three-hour magnum opus had washed over me I was still wasn't wholly convinced that we needed a Blade Runner sequel, but Blade Runner 2049 is still a mighty impressive piece of work.

While it may lack the finesse and subtlety of the original, it has an interesting and challenging story to tell, woven around the spine of a techno-noir thriller.

Ryan Gosling stars as K, a replicant blade runner whose job is to 'retire' rogue replicants (artificial life forms created as a 'slave' class to do the jobs humans didn't want to or couldn't do).

What should have been a routine case leads K to discover a hidden box, which contains clues to a shocking revelation that will "break the world".

Soon, he is following a trail of breadcrumbs, pursued by shady forces, and on the hunt for long-vanished blade runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) and maybe answers to questions he has about his own creation.

Blade Runner 2049 does an amazing job of extrapolating forward 30 years the technology we were shown in the first movie, rather than simply splicing in whatever shiny effects the computers of 2018 can create, compared to the film-making tools of 1982.

This allows for creative use of holographic technology (such as K's beautiful 'girlfriend' Joi, played by Ana de Armas, and cameo appearances from Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and Frank Sinatra) while still relying on print photography to play a major role.

Villeneuve's mastery of Hampton Fancher and Michael Green's smart screenplay means the 164 minute film never drags; nothing feels like padding, even when we are simply revelling in the mise-en-scene (which is almost as beautiful as the original, but not quite) and cyberpunk atmosphere rather than cracking on with solving the mystery.

Had this, somehow, been a standalone movie, it would have been churlish to pick holes in its splendour, but Blade Runner 2049 will always be compared to its predecessor and always comes up that tiniest smidgen short (none of the villains, for instance, are as rounded and interesting as Roy Batty; there are no speeches quite as magnificent as "tears in rain" etc).

That said, aided no doubt by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch's soundtrack that strikingly evokes Vangelis along with plenty of visual nods to the original, Blade Runner 2049 is an amazingly absorbing film that does a damn fine job of entertaining its audience.

The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)

In the near-future, the Earth is teetering on the brink of apocalypse, with energy shortages driving countries to increasingly desperate measures to survive.

Meanwhile, in orbit, as society breaks down below them, an international team of scientists - on the massive spacestation Cloverfield - are attempting to fire up The Shepherd, a particle accelerator that could could provide unlimited energy for the planet and save mankind.

Unfortunately, after two years of failure, just as the scientists think they've got The Shepherd working - something goes horribly wrong...

The station loses sight of Earth as bizarre phenomena begin to plague its crew, and down on the planet chaos erupts.

Full marks to producer JJ Abrams for keeping The Cloverfield Paradox pretty much off the radar until it appeared on Netflix this morning.

A companion piece to the original Cloverfield monster movie, this light-weight slice of fun makes liberal use of weird science to explain the goings-on of the first movie, while serving up a pulpy action horror tale of its own.

With echoes of Event Horizon and recent episodes of Star Trek: Discovery, The Cloverfield Paradox is a fine example of the "haunted house in space" sub-genre.

Occasionally formulaic and occasionally surprising, the breathless adventure is broken up with a sprinkling of thematic nuggets ranging from the strength of familial bonds, and heroism and sacrifice, through to moments of delightful dark humour.

It's also one of those wonderful works of sci-fi and horror that you can't really say anything about without spoiling the surprises.

Just sit back and enjoy.

The Cloverfield Paradox isn't high art, but it's a fun romp and proves that there's still life in this odd, episodic, franchise.

Evolutionary Biology on Mars - TEDx Talk By Scott Solomon

As society slowly progresses in establishing themselves outside planet Earth, Professor Solomon takes a look at what would happen to humans from an evolution standpoint if we were to start residing permanently on Mars.

Taking a look at all the adaptations that we would go through, the question then arises, would we even be humans then?

Scott Solomon teaches ecology, evolutionary biology and scientific communication as a Professor in the Practice in the Department of BioSciences at Rice University. He received a doctorate in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior from UT Austin where his research examined the evolutionary basis of biological diversity in the Amazon Basin. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.