Gattaca: 10 Reasons It's One Of The Most Enduring Sci-Fi Films Ever
The sci-fi genre has become stuffed with all sorts of movies, books, and video games. However, even though it was made in 1997, the sci-fi film Gattaca has stood the test of time. This sci-fi wonder stands out from the crowd of other sci-fi movies. If you haven't seen it, you have a definite treat waiting for you.
Gattaca is an enduring film that does not lose its luster over the years. Of course, don't just take our word for it. We highly encourage everybody to dig up this underappreciated movie and give it a look for themselves. Read on if you want to know why Gattaca is long-standing and beloved gem of a sci-fi film.
10 Poses Lasting Questions About Genetic Engineering
To this day, Gattaca is shown in high school science classrooms in order to illustrate the potential societal dangers of genetic engineering. As with any fictional work, some aspects of the issue are exaggerated. Still, Gattaca poses intriguing ethical questions. By highlighting the topic, the movie allows for intelligent debates about the benefits and consequences of altering genes. When the film released in 1997, the subject matter was just coming to light in the public's mind; in 2020, the discussion is still ongoing.
9 It's A Suspenseful Thriller
One way that a film can leave a lasting impression is by keeping viewers on the edge of their seats the entire time while watching it. As well as being a phenomenal sci-fi movie, Gattaca has roots in the thriller genre as well. Vincent Freeman, the main character, has to spend his life pretending to have a perfect genetic makeup. He does this by assuming the identity of someone else. Therefore, concealing his "invalid" genes is a constant struggle, a facade he has to keep up in order to achieve his dreams.
8 Considered A Cult Classic
Funnily enough, nothing cements a film's enduring quality so much as being considered a cult classic. Gattaca did not do too well at the box office when it initially released. However, it's critical reception was mainly positive. Fans of the sci-fi genre also found the intellectual thriller to be an enticing watch.
It might not have been a blockbuster film that made waves when it released, but it is a movie that has endured. If you haven't yet seen Gattaca, you will be delighted to be a part of the niche community that has fallen in love with the film.
7 Provides A Close Look At Inequality And Class Privilege
Societal inequality is a theme that persists in real life as well as in fictional universes. It's a universal theme. By having this very theme be a central portion of the movie's conflict, Gattaca makes its story relatable even though it takes place in a fictionalized future. Whether it is race, income, or geographical location, everyone on the planet has likely experienced the detrimental effect of inequality. Vincent's struggle to overcome the societal rules that have placed him at the bottom of the pyramid is a fight we can all understand.
6 Fantastic Cast
Another reason that Gattaca is such a long-lasting sci-fi darling is that it contains a fantastic cast. Ethan Hawke stars as the determined Vincent with dreams of going to space. Uma Thurman plays Vincent's co-worker, Irene, who shares the same dream. Jude Law plays Jerome Morrow, the "valid" donor of genetic leavings that Vincent uses to assume a new identity. Even by today's standards, this is a star-studded cast. Not only are these actors well-known, they are also incredibly talented.
5 Thematic Comparisons Between Vincent And Jerome
Movies in general do well when they "show don't tell." This means that instead of directly stating a theme or a key plot point, they show it through the art of film-making and storytelling.
The disparity and similarities of the "valids" and the "in-valids" are perfectly illustrated by the juxtaposition of Jerome and Vincent. One is a "valid" that ended up becoming marred by his desire to be perfect, and the other is an "in-valid" who became greater than what his genes predisposed him to be.
4 The Ending
Nothing gives a film a lasting impact than the impression its ending leaves on audiences. Gattaca's ending is superb. Despite the dismal prospects laid out before Vincent at the beginning of the film, the ending instills in viewers a sense of hope for not only his future, but for the future of this society at large. Cracks are clearly beginning to form in the public's mindset that a human's genes determine his or her position in society. Vincent's story is emblematic of a larger change that is likely going to occur.
3 A Unique Title
An intriguing title should be a must for all sci-fi films. Gattaca's title is a great example of this. On the surface, it's the name of the space company that Vincent works for. However, it is also comprised solely of letters that stand for nucleotide bases of DNA. The G, A, T, and C stand for guanine, adenine, thymine, and cytosine respectively. This clever spelling is a nod toward the actual science that inspired the premise of the film. Avid viewers can puzzle this out with the barest of high school educations.
2 Dystopian Future
Nothing screams sci-fi like a dystopian future. A dystopia is a society that is scarred by some terrible post-apocalyptic flaw. In the film 1984, society is unjust because of the authoritarian state in place. In The Matrix, society has been demolished thanks to rampant AI. Gattaca features a unique dystopian future where people are sculpted to be the perfect human, and if they do not get this genetic engineering done to themselves, they are considered inferior or inhuman. Dystopian societies are terrifying concepts that thrill sci-fi enthusiasts to the core.
1 The Indomitability Of The Human Spirit
Aside from the intriguing premise of the movie, Gattaca endures as a sci-fi classic because of its message promoting the human spirit. It proudly declares that nothing can stop a person if they are determined enough to achieve their goals. Every card was stacked against Vincent at the beginning of the film; everything stood in his way. But he did not let that prevent him from going to space. His dreams were as far-reaching as the stars, and the film reinforces the notion that base genetics could not determine his fate.
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