Love steampunk movies and anime?
Hi everyone and welcome to genre suggestions.
Now as every other channel on youtube loves to cover either Star Wars or Marvel, today
I thought I would
make a video -focusing on a less well-known genre, Steampunk.
*So what exactly is steampunk?*
While many associate Steampunk with steam, clockwork, and the colour brown. In a nutshell,
steampunk
is modern technology powered by steam with the aesthetic of the mid-late 19th-century
British Victorian
or American wild west.
The term was originally coined in the late 1980s and since then has evolved into other
genres such as-
dieselpunk. With that been said I�m going to be extending my movie selections to include
some arguably
dieselpunk-ish films as the steampunk genre is so niche. And as always, I�ll put in
links for where you can
get these-movies on amazon.
So first up is Steamboy Set in 1860s Britain, a young inventor named
Ray receives a mysterious package from his grandfather
Lloyd Steam -- The package contains a device called a Steam Ball a tiny ball that turns
out to be an
immensely powerful engine. With a mysterious foundation after this technology, Ray gets
caught in the
middle of a deadly conflict over this revolutionary advance in steam power.
From the director that brought us Akira; Steamboy -- as the title makes pretty clear -- is the
epitome of
steampunk, where you can expect to see all kinds of quirky gadgets n� devices, and
yes, lots and lots of
steam.
I mean there are so many things going on in this anime, from the ideological implications
of the misuse of
steam technology. To a boy being dragged into a theoretical squabble between his grandfather
and
father.
Sure the overall premise is a little unoriginal and the main character is predictable and
not exactly what I
call unique. However, that doesn�t stop Steamboy from been an enjoyable watch and
a must-see for fans
of the steampunk genre.
Hugo The film follows Hugo, an orphan boy who lives
in the walls of a Paris railway station. Secretly spending
most of his time maintaining the station's clocks, while hiding from the stations mean
railway inspector. The story kicks off when Hugo gets caught
up in a mystery involving an astonishing, yet broken
Automaton left by his late father.
OK, so the story is set after the age of steam, however, I think it�s the abundance of trains,
clockwork, and
automaton that gives this film a very steampunk feel.
Directed by Martin Scorsese and filled with great performances from Ben Kingsley, Christopher
Lee, and
Asa Butterfield, Hugo is a movie with a lot to love
but just a heads up to some of you -- its first act is fairly slow paced with lots of
shots of Hugo making his
way through clockwork tunnels! However it's a very heartwarming and impressive family
film, and even
though this isn�t the type of movie I would normally watch, it held my attention really
well. Sure it�s not
what I would call a true steampunk film but that doesn�t stop it from being a must watch
movie.
The city of lost children In a futuristic dystopian city, a daemonic
scientist who cannot dream named Krank -- kidnaps children to
tap into and steal their dreams. When the little brother of a circus strongman named
One is kidnapped; One with the help of a little girl and some
other eccentric characters -- track him down and, try to put an
end to Krank and his clone henchmen. The French stylistic cult classic that oozes
originality -- The City of lost children is one of those films that
boasts both a unique plot and visuals. I suppose the best way to sum it up would be a bit like
Guillermo del Toro meets Terry Gilliam in terms of style
and quirkiness. Now some might say this is better-labeled
as a dieselpunk as the antagonist lives on an oil rig, but the
Victorian-ish costumes, setting, and set design do meet my steampunk criteria.
However, the movie does have a few pacing issues and some more casual viewers might
find it to be a
little bit too strange or awkward. But if you want a dark, visually amazing movie, set
in an intriguing world.
Then give The city of lost children a try. Last Exile
Set in a world called Prester, an organization only known as "the Guild" has a monopoly over
all-airspace.
And as flight is the dominant mode of transportation, this mysterious corporation has complete authority
of the skies. The series follows Claus and Lavie, two childhood friends who�re determined
to follow in their
father's footsteps and become couriers. But when the duo encounters a mysterious girl,
they are thrust
into the middle of an endless battle between two countries.
As one of the few steampunk themed anime available Last Exile is as true to the genre as possible
with
its huge skyships, character design, and steam based weapons. ��
I mean the attention to detail in this anime is brilliant from the character development
to the plot. Which
unfolds at a relatively slow but enjoyable pace. Of course, as this is a series and not
a film it has a lot
more time to work on these things, however the 1st rate drama and great visual design
make last exile a
must-see series for fans of steampunk.
Mortal Engines
Set in a post-apocalyptic world hundred of years after civilization was destroyed. Cities
are now mobile
and roam the countryside on tracks, consuming each other for resources. The film follows
an outcast, a
mysterious assassin, and an outlaw - Who team up to try and stop London, �a giant, predator
city on
wheels from consuming everything in its path.
One of the biggest box office flops of 2018 Is Mortal Engines a great movie..? No. Is
it so bad it�s good..?
Not really... Did I put it in because it's new and steampunk-ish.? Maybe.
I think I�ve picked it mainly due to my love of the crazy idea of London been mobile
and literally hunting
down small towns in Europe. It�s such a crazy far fetched premise that I just think
everyone should watch
it for the odd experience. �
Now I�m not promising that you�re going to love or like it- but it�s fun, outrageous
and has some really
interesting ideas that unfortunately fall a little flat due to the main story been a
bit lame and cliche. Hellboy 2 The Golden Army
When an exiled elf prince breaks an ancient pact between humans and elves, declaring war
against humanity, he attempts to assemble an unstoppable
force of clockwork soldiers known as the Golden Army. It�s now up to Hellboy and his team
to stop this mad prince from summoning this army, saving
humankind from total annihilation.
One of the more underrated comic book movie franchises; Hellboy 2 has fun characters,
a solid story and
a pretty good villain that for some weird reason reminds me of a very pale Tom Cruise.
The cinematography for this movie really is quite stunning where it's almost worth watching
it for that
alone. That combined with some well-timed comedy Hellboy 2 provides you with essentially
everything a
Del Toro & steampunk fan could possibly-want.
OK, the movie does have its flaws such as its weak romance subplot, but besides that,
it's a fun movie
that hopefully won�t have its reputation ruined by the most recent 2019 reboot.
Castle in the Sky Set in an alternate history in a world filled
with airships and planes. A young girl is wanted by the
government for her mysterious crystal amulet. Evading her pursuers she meets a boy who dreams
of
discovering the flying castle LapuDa Laputa. The two decide to journey together to discover
this castle
However, they soon find the government is right back on their trail.
A lighthearted adventure film for all ages - before Studio jee-blee Ghibli was considered
an international
success Castle in the sky is a near perfect balance of entertainment for both kids and
adults alike, with its
lovely animation and great main villain. ��
While the main characters are a bit on the weak side and the chase scenes in the first
half of the film can
be a little frustrating at times. Castle in the sky has some great twists and world building.
However, I
honestly think the Dub does not do it justice and as always, I recommend watching it in
its original
language. ��
20k leagues under the sea Set in 1868, shipping lanes within the Pacific
Ocean are been disrupted by rumors of a sea monster
attacking ships. In response, the U.S government sends a ship to investigate these mysterious
sinkings to
disprove the monster�s existence. After months of searching, they encounter and try
to help a merchant-
ship under attack, But things don�t go too smoothly for our brave crew.
Arguably an old fashioned sci-fi, that over time has evolved into a form of steampunk.
Disneys 20,000
Leagues Under the Sea is a relatively faithful adaptation of the classic Jules Verne-book.
The films 1950s
practical effects and acting all have that special charm to them. OK sure, its visuals
are of course a little
dated but in my opinion still, look-great.
And as far as I�m concerned it's a well-paced, well-acted film, that has a great cast who
hold your
attention with their quirks and funny one-liners. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a great family
adventure flick with cool visuals that's fun to watch and is definitely worth checking
out.
I don�t know about you guys, but it just doesn't sound right to me. However, I do think
Mark Hamill does a
good job.
Hey everyone and, that�s it for this weeks selection. Hopefully, I�ve presented you
with at least one new
movie or series to watch. And, if you want to help me select the next movie genre been
covered, I�ll be
making a poll for you to vote on. With that been said should I make another steampunk
selection? Or
perhaps cover crime drama or something completely different? Either way, let me know by leaving
a comment below.
Love steampunk movies check these anime out