Steampunk Cinema Recommendations
Yesterday’s steampunk personality quiz had an overwhelming show of Swashbuckling Airship Pirates. Out of almost 200 people taking it, 32% wanted to navigate the skies with their clockwork parrot.
As such, I thought I’d tailor today’s recommendations to your various personalities.
(P.S. If you haven’t taken the steampunk personality quiz, then you should! It’s fun!)
So for all you Swashbuckling Airship Pirates, I present Stardust. A naive hero must leave his home and enter the magical world nearby to retrieve a star for his true love. But, er…it’s problematic when the star turns out to be a human girl and a nasty witch is out to get her too. Honestly, Stardust is one of my All Time Favorite Movies. I ♥ it so much, and I really think you will too!
Now, for our Inventive (and slightly befuddled) Tinkerers out there, I present Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Three daring orphans in an alternate Victorian setting have to battle their wicked (and face-changing) guardian to protect themselves and their ample inheritance. This film has lots of resourceful inventing plus lots of action and a rocking steampunk theme song.
For my Downright Bonkers Scientists, I recommend a modern take on steampunk: Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Dr. Horrbile is in lurve, his nemesis is foiling his every evil move, and he just wants to get accepted into the Evil League of Evil. Did I mention this a musical? ‘Cause it is, and it’s AMAZING.
For my Perfectly Polished Aristocrats, I direct you to the romantic and whimsical film The Illusionist. More Victoriana than steampunk, this movie spins the tale of a magician and his forbidden love with the Austro-Hungarian Emperor’s fiance. I love this movie–like LOVELOVELOVE it.
And for my No-Nonsense Tough-as-Nails Officers out there, I suggest another modern steampunk (okay, so it’s more “dieselpunk“) tale: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Evil scientists bent on world destruction stand no chance against Sky Captain (played by Jude Law–swoon!) and spunky Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow–she’s 100% awesome).
Finally, something that will appeal to everyone: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. With gadgets, adventure, and well-known Victorian characters galore (from Dorian Gray to Captain Nemo), this movie is as steampunk and gaslamp fantasy as it gets. It’s my go-to example when people don’t understand the definition of steampunk. Plus, it has Sean Connery in it, and that pretty much makes it an automatic WIN.
Some other steampunk/Victoriana/gaslamp movies you might enjoy:
- The Prestige
- Howl’s Moving Castle
- Firefly (and the movie Serenity)
- Sherlock Holmes
- Atlantis
- Treasure Planet
You tell me: Have you seen any of these films? Did you love/hate them? And do you have any steampunk/Victoriana/gaslamp movies you recommend?
♥ DON’T FORGET to check out my Leviathan giveaway and my A Great and Terrible Beauty giveaway (which are both still running and open internationally). ♥
February 18, 2011 @ 9:50 am
You know, I never really considered any of those movies to be steampunk, but now you mention it, they totally are! I love every single one of those movies, except Sky Captain…something about Jude Law’s face just doesn’t sit right with me. I know, weird.
I’m SO glad you know Dr Horrible, Sooz. If I could watch any YouTube clip over and over, it would be that. Also, I went through a League-of-EG phase, I’m not gonna lie. Probably had something to do with Dorian Grey. Flaky and old, but oh-so deliciously evil. Thanks for the post! 😀
February 18, 2011 @ 11:16 am
Hmmm, well that is Jude Law’s loss, Caitlin. 🙂
And the fact that you had a League of E.G. phase has just made my whole WEEK. YES. I did too (but it was for Shane West–my teenage self had no ability to discern good/bad acting).
AND YAY FOR DR. HORRIBLE! We have to spread the word!
February 18, 2011 @ 11:41 am
The Illusionist and Sherlock Holmes are the only movies I’ve seen. Though the idea of air pirates sound fun!
February 18, 2011 @ 11:44 am
You MUST see STARDUST! It’s AMAZING! Seriously, I can’t emphasize just HOW AMAZING it is! It’s be Neil Gaiman (which makes it an instant WIN), and it has Claire Danes (another instant WIN, IMO).
Let me know if you watch any of the others and what you think!
February 18, 2011 @ 1:18 pm
Ooh all of these look awesome! *runs to netflix* I <3 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. One of my all-time favorite movies!
February 18, 2011 @ 3:35 pm
Yes! The LEAGUE seems to be coming in pretty popular…alas only one movie was made. 🙁
And boy do I wish Netflix existed here. ::waves fist at sky::
February 18, 2011 @ 4:00 pm
I was an Aristocrat, but I would be a SPUNKY ADVENTUROUS aristocrat. Similar to a certain Eleanor. >.>
I LOVE Stardust and Howl’s Moving Castle. And LOEG is so bad it’s good as far as I’m concerned. 🙂
February 18, 2011 @ 4:07 pm
HAHAHA. It IS kinda terrible but wonderful.
And YAAAAY to spunky, adventurous aristocrats! 😀
February 18, 2011 @ 4:21 pm
I adore TREASURE PLANET — one of my favorite movies ever. And oh gosh, HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE fills me with so much joy, although I do prefer the book to the movie.
Thanks for these recommendations, Susan! Definitely have some movies to check out now. :]
February 18, 2011 @ 4:23 pm
Yes, I must say I <3 HOWL the novel even more than I <3 HOWL the movie. Howl's character is just so....SWOON-WORTHY!
Let me know if you like any of these movies!
February 18, 2011 @ 4:44 pm
I loved Stardust! Such a great movie.
February 18, 2011 @ 6:00 pm
Oh yeah! Has that guy who played Tristan been anything else? He’s ADORABLE.
February 18, 2011 @ 5:47 pm
Wow, never expected to have seen so many on that list. I saw Stardust, the Illusionist (twice. I <3 Paul Giamatti, what can I say?), Howl's Moving Castle (OMG that movie is so incredible it cannot be expressed), the Prestige (three times. Would rewatch endlessly if I could), Sherlock Holmes (I was so pleasantly surprised by that one), and the Treasure Planet.
Great list, by the way. ^^
February 18, 2011 @ 6:02 pm
YAY! I’m so glad you like SO many of them!! 😀 I can’t even COUNT how many times I’ve watched THE ILLUSIONIST!
February 18, 2011 @ 5:48 pm
Hi Susan
I just awarded you one of my On Target blog awards. Catherine
Check it out at:
http://catherinestine.blogspot.com/2011/02/more-blog-awards-on-target-pay-it.html
February 18, 2011 @ 6:01 pm
AW! Thanks, Catherine! I REALLY appreciate that! 😀 😀
February 18, 2011 @ 6:01 pm
“The Illusionist” is one of my favorite movies. Illusion works. “The Wild Wild West” was a great steampunk television show. You can watch full episodes for free here: http://veehd.com/search?q=%22wild+wild+west%22
Select the flash versions, not the divx.
February 18, 2011 @ 6:03 pm
Oh, TRUST ME, I know original WILD WILD WEST. I grew UP on that show…and used to have the HUGEST crush on James West.
Maybe that show planted the seeds for my future steampunk love…:)
February 18, 2011 @ 7:17 pm
Oh my gosh, my English teacher has that poster of THE ILLUSIONIST up in her classroom. Have no idea why.
Oh, and was it just Brandi and me who ended up as officers? (Which you guys should all reconsider, because, c’mon, knowing how to shoot and sporting leather all day is pretty wackin’ cool!)
February 18, 2011 @ 10:02 pm
Hmmm…well, there were other officers (about 14% of 200 people who took it), but it looks like only you and Brandi took charge and declared your status! 😉
February 18, 2011 @ 7:56 pm
WILD WILD WEST…oh boy, we’re going way back. Used to watch it all the time.
February 18, 2011 @ 10:04 pm
Haha! I talked to an agent (who had called to offer me rep because STEAMPUNK IS VERY HOT RIGHT NOW ;)), and we spent a good 10 minutes praising WILD WILD WEST! Why oh WHY did Will Smith have to make that dreadful version…? The show was sooooo freakin’ good! Alas. ALAS.
February 18, 2011 @ 9:18 pm
Thanks for mentioning A Series of Unfortunate Events!!! I read all the books and saw the movie on opening night when I was a kid! 🙂
February 18, 2011 @ 10:04 pm
YES! That series is SO amazing, and the movie was SO well-done! More people need to read/watch it!
February 19, 2011 @ 12:26 pm
Oh I loved ALL of those films. Stardust was so underrated, maybe because the (I thought) way cuter guy in the prologue should’ve had the lead 🙂 but still awesome. Sherlock Holmes isn’t steampunk but it has the right vibe, and was brilliant. Also anyone who liked The Illusionist would probably like The Prestige too.
February 19, 2011 @ 12:37 pm
You’re right that the first guy was WAY cute. 😉
But I have to say, the NEW Sherlock Holmes (by Guy Ritchie) is definitely steampunk. Original Sherlock Holmes — no, not at all. 😀
February 20, 2011 @ 5:35 am
GREAT PICKS! I’ve seen most of these movies. LOVE the Firefly series and the Serenity movie. Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog is EPIC! In fact the only thing I haven’t seen is Stardust. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks, Susan!
February 20, 2011 @ 10:14 am
Let me know what you think when you see it!! I was SO not expecting much, and then I was totally BLOWN away!
February 27, 2011 @ 6:34 am
Oh, so much love for the movies on this list, and especially for Stardust! It was one of the few movies I’ve seen that was quite different to the book, yet totally worked. So much fun!