Starbat's Favorite Steampunk Movies
Alright everybody, Starbat is here! And although the Loonatic has stolen a march on me, I'd like to weigh in on the wide, wonderful world of steampunk movies (I'll be posting a couple books later on as well). In general, my view of the steampunk genre is fairly inclusive, so some of these movies are less steam-y than others, but all of them are great films on their own.
MirrorMask
So once upon a time, I was a weird college student. And one night, despite my packed social calendar (uh huh, yeah, right), I got bored and my long-suffering roommate decided to introduce me to this delightful little film. It's, uh... Well, maybe I shouldn't be starting off with this on a list of "steampunk" movies, but it's a weird urban fantasy, so I'm still putting it on here.
Released back in 2005, this film is pretty low budget in terms of special effects, but it more than makes up for it with flair. The movie is a twisted fairy tale, telling the story of a girl facing the mortality of her mother and wandering into a parallel world of evil queens, strange creatures (Malcolm!), and dream-like illogicality.
And really, it was written by Neil Gaiman and produced by The Jim Henson Company. What else do you need to know?
Snowpiercer
Okay, so my favorite type of steampunk-esque media is actually those that are mashed up with a post-apocalyptic setting. Snowpiercer is definitely on that list, depicting a world where a new ice age has overcome the world, and the last of humanity is trapped together on an enormous, ever-moving train. I would make the case that it is steampunk because of the emphasis on heavy mechanization, combined with a human element that is starkly divided between Rome-is-burning-and-we-are-dancing opulence and cockroach-eating squalor, which can be hallmarks of typical Victorian-era steampunk as well. It's a beautiful and utterly bizarre movie about socioeconomic revolution, ecological destruction, and humanity's willingness to ignore issues far past the point of no return.
Chris Evans shows off some non-superhero acting chops (not that I mind his Bam! Pow! Biff! endeavors), alongside Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, Octavia Spencer, and many others.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
I really, truly, deeply love this movie. It's a true cheese-fest (starring Gemma Arterton, Jeremy Renner, Famke Janssen, and Peter Stormare), asking the audience to consider what would have happened if Hansel and Gretel (following their traumatic gingerbread encounter) decided to spend their lives hunting down witches.
I consider it steampunk because it combines 1800s (rural) settings with stylized versions of more modern things like automatic weapons and insulin injectors (yep, Hansel has diabetes from all that candy. Or something to that effect, I wouldn't say science is a major part of this movie). It's a movie that doesn't take itself too seriously, with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. But the art is gorgeous, with each witch wearing individualized prosthetics and costumes. So really, what better way do you have to spend a couple hours?
Treasure Planet
Some people love it, some people hate it. Honestly, I think a lot of people have forgotten it's existence. Me, I like it, I think it has enough humor and character to be memorable, especially since it's based on such a well-known story. A new Jim Hawkins travels the interstellar seas, looking for treasure and escaping black holes and pirates. The animation is lovely, the landscapes are delightful.
Plus Captain Amelia is fantastic (voiced by the incomparable Emma Thompson):
Is it steampunk? Yeah, in a Disney, post-future, space and aliens and furries kind of way. There's a few metric tonnes of shiny brass used to create robots, pirates, cyborgs, and enormous space-faring sailing ships, and everyone seems to come from a time where England was still an empire.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Also one of my favorite steampunk movies, also animated (but at least there aren't any furries?). This one holds a special place in my heart, partially because I have a long-standing affair with Stargate (the movie, the many series, everything). If you've ever watched the original Stargate movie, you may have noticed the uncanny resemblance between it's protagonist Daniel Jackson and Milo Thatch, the hero of Atlantis: The Lost Empire, which greatly confused me as a child.
But enough about that. Atlantis is on this list because it is a) fun, and b) probably one of the most traditionally steampunk things on here. Set in the early 1900s, it was specifically inspired by the works of Jules Verne, whose futuristic visions are often considered the inspiration behind the modern steampunk aesthesthic.
The story follows a plucky crew attempting to find the lost city of Atlantis, with love, betrayal, and glorious mechanical fish galore, utilizing the voice talents of Michael J. Fox, Cree Summer, and Leonard Nimoy, etc.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
And last but certainly not least, Hellboy II: The Golden Army. In case you get confused by the number of Hellboy movies, I'm specifically referring to the second Guillermo del Toro movie from 2008. While I like a lot of the Hellboy media in general, this was the most steampunk-esque movie I've seen, using some of the same art style del Toro showed in movies like Pan's Labyrinth.
However, it also has an undead German in what looks like an old diving suit, plus a glorious Troll Market, and a fabulous flock of elves (murderous or not, they have great style).
Like most of these movies, Hellboy II doesn't quite check all the boxes for a truly quintessential steampunk movie, but that's what makes them fun. Each has a unique charm, a quirky personality, and beautiful visuals that makes them worth a watch (or a rewatch)!
MirrorMask
So once upon a time, I was a weird college student. And one night, despite my packed social calendar (uh huh, yeah, right), I got bored and my long-suffering roommate decided to introduce me to this delightful little film. It's, uh... Well, maybe I shouldn't be starting off with this on a list of "steampunk" movies, but it's a weird urban fantasy, so I'm still putting it on here.
Released back in 2005, this film is pretty low budget in terms of special effects, but it more than makes up for it with flair. The movie is a twisted fairy tale, telling the story of a girl facing the mortality of her mother and wandering into a parallel world of evil queens, strange creatures (Malcolm!), and dream-like illogicality.
And really, it was written by Neil Gaiman and produced by The Jim Henson Company. What else do you need to know?
Snowpiercer
Okay, so my favorite type of steampunk-esque media is actually those that are mashed up with a post-apocalyptic setting. Snowpiercer is definitely on that list, depicting a world where a new ice age has overcome the world, and the last of humanity is trapped together on an enormous, ever-moving train. I would make the case that it is steampunk because of the emphasis on heavy mechanization, combined with a human element that is starkly divided between Rome-is-burning-and-we-are-dancing opulence and cockroach-eating squalor, which can be hallmarks of typical Victorian-era steampunk as well. It's a beautiful and utterly bizarre movie about socioeconomic revolution, ecological destruction, and humanity's willingness to ignore issues far past the point of no return.
Chris Evans shows off some non-superhero acting chops (not that I mind his Bam! Pow! Biff! endeavors), alongside Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, Octavia Spencer, and many others.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
I really, truly, deeply love this movie. It's a true cheese-fest (starring Gemma Arterton, Jeremy Renner, Famke Janssen, and Peter Stormare), asking the audience to consider what would have happened if Hansel and Gretel (following their traumatic gingerbread encounter) decided to spend their lives hunting down witches.
I consider it steampunk because it combines 1800s (rural) settings with stylized versions of more modern things like automatic weapons and insulin injectors (yep, Hansel has diabetes from all that candy. Or something to that effect, I wouldn't say science is a major part of this movie). It's a movie that doesn't take itself too seriously, with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. But the art is gorgeous, with each witch wearing individualized prosthetics and costumes. So really, what better way do you have to spend a couple hours?
Treasure Planet
Some people love it, some people hate it. Honestly, I think a lot of people have forgotten it's existence. Me, I like it, I think it has enough humor and character to be memorable, especially since it's based on such a well-known story. A new Jim Hawkins travels the interstellar seas, looking for treasure and escaping black holes and pirates. The animation is lovely, the landscapes are delightful.
Plus Captain Amelia is fantastic (voiced by the incomparable Emma Thompson):
Is it steampunk? Yeah, in a Disney, post-future, space and aliens and furries kind of way. There's a few metric tonnes of shiny brass used to create robots, pirates, cyborgs, and enormous space-faring sailing ships, and everyone seems to come from a time where England was still an empire.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Also one of my favorite steampunk movies, also animated (but at least there aren't any furries?). This one holds a special place in my heart, partially because I have a long-standing affair with Stargate (the movie, the many series, everything). If you've ever watched the original Stargate movie, you may have noticed the uncanny resemblance between it's protagonist Daniel Jackson and Milo Thatch, the hero of Atlantis: The Lost Empire, which greatly confused me as a child.
 |
| Part of a comparison of the two movies by zcontium, from their blog at http://zcontium.tumblr.com/post/76243933624/how-atlantis-the-lost-empire-2001-was-base |
But enough about that. Atlantis is on this list because it is a) fun, and b) probably one of the most traditionally steampunk things on here. Set in the early 1900s, it was specifically inspired by the works of Jules Verne, whose futuristic visions are often considered the inspiration behind the modern steampunk aesthesthic.
The story follows a plucky crew attempting to find the lost city of Atlantis, with love, betrayal, and glorious mechanical fish galore, utilizing the voice talents of Michael J. Fox, Cree Summer, and Leonard Nimoy, etc.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
And last but certainly not least, Hellboy II: The Golden Army. In case you get confused by the number of Hellboy movies, I'm specifically referring to the second Guillermo del Toro movie from 2008. While I like a lot of the Hellboy media in general, this was the most steampunk-esque movie I've seen, using some of the same art style del Toro showed in movies like Pan's Labyrinth.
However, it also has an undead German in what looks like an old diving suit, plus a glorious Troll Market, and a fabulous flock of elves (murderous or not, they have great style).
Like most of these movies, Hellboy II doesn't quite check all the boxes for a truly quintessential steampunk movie, but that's what makes them fun. Each has a unique charm, a quirky personality, and beautiful visuals that makes them worth a watch (or a rewatch)!
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