Fantastic Voyages: Strange and Forbidden Worlds

About this course:

Since the beginning of cinematic history, Hollywood has transported us to strange and forbidden worlds. Some of those films have launched us into the future, while others have led us to isolated realms hidden from us in our own time. A few have survived as classics, not only because they deliver irresistible entertainment, but because of what they have to say about us in our own world in the here and now. In this course, we screen five films, each an adventure in its own way: Things to Come (1936), written by H.G. Wells, a startling glimpse into the future that foretold WWII and imagined an apocalyptic aftermath; Lost Horizon (1937), the unforgettable story of those who discover Shangri-La and are forever changed by it; Forbidden Planet (1956), a sci-fi classic about a voyage to a mysterious planet with a deadly secret; The Man Who Would Be King (1975), a Rudyard Kipling saga about two friends who discover a lost civilization that is oddly linked to their own destiny; and Blade Runner (1982), a visionary look at a dystopian world threatened by AI replicants. Throughout, we analyze the art and craft of the visionary filmmakers who bring these worlds to life, as well as discuss the lasting resonance of these films.