No, I’m not talking about Transformers 4. Today is the official U.S. release date for two films which will likely be regarded as cult classics of the sci-fi genre: “Radio Free Albemuth” and “Snowpiercer”. I’ve had the good fortune to have had the opportunity to see preview screenings of both films and can attest to their quality and excellent screenplays that are as intelligent as they are provocative.

Radio Free Albemuth, a film I’ve previously written about here, is possibly the most faithful cinematic adaptation of a Philip K. Dick novel, and while Snowpiercer may not follow its source material (Jacques Lob’s “Le Transperceneige”) as closely, it’s an excellent movie nevertheless. Korean director Bong Joon-ho, has made great films in the past such as “Memories of Murder” and “Mother”, but with Snowpiercer he manages to balance large scale Hollywood-style spectacle with the emotional intensity of his earlier work while getting excellent performances from English-speaking cast members such as Tilda Swinton, John Hurt and Ed Harris. It’s an odd coincidence that Snowpiercer and Radio Free Albemuth share the same U.S. release date since they’re not only the best science fiction films to come out in quite some time, but are also dark metaphors for the current socio-political moment (but not without a glimmer of hope).

To get an idea of what to expect from these films check out the reviews and trailers linked below to learn more about the projects:

http://totaldickhead.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-first-look-at-radio-free-albemuth.html

http://chycho.blogspot.ca/2014/05/may-i-recommend-post-apocalyptic-movie.html

According to the official Radio Free Albemuth website, June 27th also marks the day of significant events in history including:

In 1905 – Russian sailors mutinied onboard the Battleship Potemkin (the basis for Segei Eisenstein’s landmark film

in 1929 – the first color television was demonstrated

in 1942 – FBI captured 8 Nazi saboteurs from a sub off Long Island, New York.

1969 – Police raid Stonewall Bar in Greenwich Village, NY, hundreds of gay patrons protest against police for 3 days

1990 – Salman Rushdie, condemned to death by Iran for his novel The Satanic Verses.

Birthday of anarchist Emma Goldman, blind-deaf author Helen Keller, and the great Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski