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Sometimes we all need a little motivation in our ongoing quest to stay eco-friendly. How about go green or witness the utter obliteration of the world as we know it? Okay, so that's a bit much—but it's also generally the go-to scenario for a slew of eco-themed science fiction and fantasy films. Marauding alien-eco invaders, apocalyptic dystopias brought about by our disregarding the environment and villainous earth-wreckers—we're given every reason to keep our planet healthy and green in these often absurd, always enjoyable eco-influenced films.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986): This classic Star Trek flick features the not-so-subtle parable of the dangers of mistreating nature—it's based around the appearance of mysterious whale-like creatures that threaten to evaporate the oceans of Earth. The Trekkers must go back in time to when whales weren't extinct (hint hint) and find one to communicate with the incoming alien doom-bringers. Nerdily entertaining, green-leaning hi-jinks ensue.
Lord of the Rings: the Two Towers (2002): OK, this is more of a fantasy than sci-fi, I know—but it still reigns supreme in otherworldly eco-friendliness. The second installment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy is by far the greenest. Along with being a classic parable of good versus evil like the rest of the films, it brings in a healthy dose of pro-environmentalism with the Ents, the ancient peace-loving tree people whose home is deforested by the evil Sauron. The super simple nature-good industrialization-bad formula is nonetheless effective enough to make one hell of a nature-conquers-man battle scene—where you're doubtlessly rooting for green.
Waterworld (1995): A notorious flop when it was released, this film is just as bad now as it was then. Global warming, which has melted the polar ice caps and flooded the earth completely in Waterworld, is more of a hot button issue than ever. But nothing can change the fact that the acting is hammy, the dialogue is laughably terrible, and the story is overblown and ridiculous. That said, it's a perfect so-bad-it's-good bit of brainless, campy fun. And every movie list should include one of those; even a green one.
Silent Running (1972): Ridiculous sci-fi cult classic about (what else?) a post-apocalyptic dystopia where the only remnants of plant life on earth are some specimens orbiting Saturn in a bio lab of some sort. The scientist overseeing the lab receives dubious orders to destroy them, and then embarks on a mission to save them instead. What this film lacks in subtlety it makes up for in enjoyably over-the-top pro-green antics.
Wall-E (2008): The latest epic green sci-fi film is also perhaps the best. It's an elegant, animated space opera with barely any dialogue—and strangely, it does more to inspire respect for our earth than three consecutive viewings of An Inconvenient Truth.
Well, enjoy—and may the green be with you.
Want to see new-to-green rap star Ludacris and rock star Tommy Lee battle out who can be greener? Check out the newest eco tour on Planet Green TV's Battleground Earth.
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