Steampunk Movies

[Flick James]

Lately, for reasons I can't explain precisely, I have an interest in Steampunk genre type stuff. You know, that alternate Victoria-era vision of the future that grew to prominence in the early 90's, with lots of weird gadgetry, gears, pipes, valves, etc.

Any suggestions on movies to watch? It's never been a particular interest in the past but is sort of a current mild fascination, so I can't say I know the sub-genre very well. I don't mind more recent titles, but older ones that don't rely on CGI as much would be preferrable.

[Skull]

Quite intresting; for the last 5 or 6 years there has been a movement towards steampunk.

In my book "Lifelines", I've also used a few elements of steampunk as the rebirth of the new world, although it's was influenced by an assumed aristocrat who liked the gothic victorian image and it seemed to clash very well with dadaism, another influence in the story... *There is a part in my story that the zombies were reconstructed into art works* [influence from Man Ray's photos]

My next book is loosely based upon the 1893 worlds fair with is something like what steampunk could look like if it was real and I been thinking of using a steampunkish angle.

As for the steampunk; gee holy cow... this is one of the most diffictult source material I had to reseach. Metropolis (1927), The Time Machine (1960), Master of the World (1961) and Time After Time (1979) are great glimps into the world of steampunk. If you have not seen Metropolis by now then maybe it's time to watch it.

Wild Wild West the TV show and the 1999 movie are good steampunk references.

Van Helsing, The Golden Compass (didnt see), Sherlock Holmes (the one with Robert Downey, Jr. and the made from Asylum) and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (didnt see... It was on my instant watch queue for a long-long time, now it's off the netflix instant queue...) can be noted as steampunk films.

Hammer films seem to capture the victorian gothic look and a few of their "monster stories" are steampunkish, especially the Frankenstein stories.

:)

[Flick James]

I know, Skull, I wondered if it might be a tall order. I've seen examples of it in more recent movies. I liked The Golden Compass, which is a decent example of what I'm talking about. City of Ember is another one that fits. It was a mediocre film but had a great steampunk atmosphere. The Wild Wild West film was horrid, but the original series was amazing.

The problem is that Steampunk as a subgenre came into prominence in the early 90's, and it wasn't really in films much. You saw it more in things like music videos (Smashing Pumpkins comes to mind), video games (Myst and Riven), but not much in films, other than the "here and there" examples you mentioned that don't carry the Steampunk label, per se. By the way, I love Time After Time.

It's interesting that you mention dada. It got me to thinking. Some of the college intellectuals I hung out with in the 80's were well aware of dada, before the Steampunk sub-genre took hold in popular culture. It makes me wonder if the college kids of the 80's were who partially engineered it's popularity in the 90's. A point to ponder.

[Rev. Powell]

CITY OF LOST CHILDREN is a great movie with a fascinating steampunk design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNYG9cXTSds

BRAZIL has a somewhat steampunk look (but I'm sure you knew that already).

SKY CAPTAIN may be steampunk but it's not worth seeing IMO.

There's an anime called STEAMBOY---I haven't seen it but it's a perfect example of the genre.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kaC9sV9KKE

Many people have described parts of SUCKER PUNCH as steampunk, but again I haven't seen it.

[InformationGeek]

Anime is sort of a big fan of steampunk stuff.

Castle in the Sky is steampunk.  I mean, check out some of the flying technology in the film.  It's rather impressive.  The warship Golitah is pretty cool looking.  Also, Howl's Moving Castle is also pretty steampunkish as well, but most of the advance technology is created from or runs on magic.  A tv show example would be Steam Detectives, which is pretty much a noir steampunk show.

[The Burgomaster]

How about 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA?  Or any of those British/Amicus/Doug McClure type movies from the 1970s, such as:

* AT THE EARTH'S CORE
* THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT
* THE PEOPLE THAT TIME FORGOT
* WARLORDS OF ATLANTIS
* WAR GODS OF THE DEEP

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

Steamboy for sure... this is on my must see list.  How about "The Iron Giant"? 
-Ed

[Jack]

Vidocq had a steampunk feel to it, except it wasn't futuristic.  Just full of steel and fire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRhGMy7E_CU&feature=player_detailpage

[RCMerchant]

FIRST MEN IN THE MOON (1964)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3MlEKC6lbY&playnext=1&list=PLA13ED236AB995333

[Skull]

Vidocq had a steampunk feel to it, except it wasn't futuristic.  Just full of steel and fire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRhGMy7E_CU&feature=player_detailpage

cool I have this movie on our netflix instant play queue as Dark Portals... it looks really good.

[dean]

That's funny since I've been reading alot of steampunk themed tumblrs lately with some awesome outfits!  I've been tempted to buy some merchandise, like a discombobulator or something just for fun [essentially re-designed nerf guns with a steampunk tilt]

I can't think of many Steampunk films beyond those already listed.  Hellboy I and II and Firefly the TV series have some similar elements in their visual design, though I certainly wouldn't call them steampunk...

The only two I can think of off the top of my head is The Rocketeer and The League of Extraordinary gentelmen, though the movie wasn't horrible, it's nowhere near as awesome as the comics.

In fact there are alot of steampunk comics out there that are fun:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotham_by_Gaslight

That was one example of Batman reimagined as steampunk.



There's also a hell of a lot of Steampunk star wars which is pretty cool.

Here's a couple of favourite examples:

http://www.igeektrooper.com/2011/02/steampunk-star-wars/


http://zouchmagazine.com/art-shots-a-steampunk-star-wars/

[Jack]

Vidocq had a steampunk feel to it, except it wasn't futuristic.  Just full of steel and fire.

cool I have this movie on our netflix instant play queue as Dark Portals... it looks really good.

Yeah, it's very style-heavy, but has quite an interesting story as well.  I enjoyed it a lot.

[Skull]

Vidocq had a steampunk feel to it, except it wasn't futuristic.  Just full of steel and fire.

cool I have this movie on our netflix instant play queue as Dark Portals... it looks really good.

Yeah, it's very style-heavy, but has quite an interesting story as well.  I enjoyed it a lot.

Cool... it might be the mood I'm looking for my next story. Since my next book project is during 1893...

[Hammock Rider]

Mr. Hero The Newmatic Man was a cool steampunky comic from Neil Gaiman. I liked it. I'm surprised no one has ade it into a movie yet since steam punk is a genre that has it's own line of clothes!

http://www.clockworkcouture.com/



http://www.steampunkemporium.com/steam.php

[JJ80]

Perhaps "Perfect Creature":

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403407/faq#.2.1.6