Are you interested in virtual reality technology? Although it has been around for a few years, this technology is still not very accessible and shrouded in mystery for most people.
For those unfamiliar, virtual reality allows users to immerse themselves in digitally simulated environments, offering an immersive and interactive experience.
Unlike the real world, where we physically interact with objects and people, in virtual reality we use devices such as glasses or special helmets to transport us to digital universes.
If you are looking for more playful examples on this topic, cinema has long been imagining the possible future impact of this intriguing technology. Inspired by this, we have listed 8 virtual reality movies for you to check out!
Virtual reality: the best films
Directed by Steven Spielberg, “Ready Player One” is an adaptation of the book of the same name by Ernest Cline. The film is set in 2045, in a dystopian future where the majority of the population seeks escape in the virtual reality of a game called OASIS.
The story follows a young man who joins other players in search of a secret left by the creator of the OASIS (Mark Rylance), who promises its discoverer a huge fortune.
Loosely based on a story by Stephen King, “The Passenger from the Future” is a science fiction film directed by Brett Leonard and starring Jeff Fahey and Pierce Brosnan.
In the story, a mentally disabled gardener (Fahey) is used as a guinea pig by a scientist (Brosnan) in an experiment on the uses of virtual reality to improve cognitive performance.
The experiments greatly improve the boy’s intelligence, as well as giving him telepathic and psychokinetic abilities. However, the experience spirals out of control and the man becomes unstable and violent.
Also directed by Brett Leonard, “Virtual Assassin” is an action-fiction film starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.
In the plot, a virtual reality system is designed to train police officers in the near future. In this system, a virtual entity of a serial killer (Crowe) is created and initially tested on prisoners. However, the virtual assassin manages to escape into the real world.
From there, a former police officer and prisoner (Washington) is assigned to capture the entity in a deal, as he already has experience dealing with it in tests.
Celebrated for being one of the first to extensively use computer-generated special effects (CGI), “Tron” is an action and science fiction film starring Jeff Bridges.
The story revolves around a programmer and video game developer (Bridges) who is digitized into a virtual world. There, he finds himself in a world of deadly challenges.
The film has a sequel: Tron – Legacy, 2010.
A co-production between Japan and Poland, “Avalon” is a science fiction film directed by Mamoru Oshii (from the cult anime feature film “Ghost in the Shell”). The film is set in the near future, where a military-themed virtual reality game called Avalon is one of society’s biggest vices.
With challenges that can be deadly, the game offers cash prizes to winners, ensuring that the most skilled players support themselves.
The story follows Ash (Małgorzata Foremniak), one of Avalon’s most skilled and famous players, who joins a group of explorers when he discovers a higher-level rumor.
Directed by David Cronenberg, “eXistenZ” is an intriguing science fiction and horror film. The film is set in the future, where gaming devices are biotech and surgically attach to the user’s spine.
In the plot, a renowned virtual reality game designer (Jennifer Jason Leigh) presents her latest work: eXistenZ. However, she suffers an attack by a group of fanatics against this technology.
With the possibility that the game has been corrupted, the developer and his security guard (Jude Law) enter eXistenZ to test its integrity and experience an adventure where reality is uncertain.
The Japanese animated film, “Belle”, is directed by Mamoru Hosoda. The story revolves around a high school teenager living in a small rural town.
Marked by the death of his mother years before, things change when he enters the virtual world called “U”. There, she is a superstar adored by millions. However, a mysterious monstrous creature interrupts one of their shows.
Science fiction thriller film, “Strange Pleasures”, directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Michael Wincott and Vincent D’Onofrio.
The plot takes place in Los Angeles in the last two days of 1999. Although not strictly about virtual reality in the conventional sense of the word, the film revolves around a technology called “Squid”, which allows users to experience directly recorded sensations and experiences from another person’s point of view.
This technology allows for a deep connection with another person’s experiences, including their emotions, thoughts and physical sensations.
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Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
