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The steampunk genre offers a cool and unique aesthetic based on a pretty important moment in time for humanity, but a problem many steampunk stories end up falling to is that they glamorize the Victorian Era that inspired them. In the process, these movies ignore the imperialism and racism of the time to simply look at all the cool technology.
That's not the case with Steamboy.
Get started by logging in with Amazon or try a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime. Login with Amazon Try a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime. Re-login required on Woot! For benefits to take effect. Sinister 2 ist ziemlich einhellig in Feuilleton wie Filmzeitschriften verrissen worden. Zwar handelt es sich hier nicht um einen Meilenstein (aber das war auch der erste Sinister schon nicht), aber etwas besser als die Kritiken nahelegen ist er dann doch.
Steamboy is Katsuhiro Otomo's second feature film, and the follow-up to his masterpiece, Akira. At first glance, the two movies couldn't be more different. Gone are the neon-lit streets of Neo Tokyo, the hyper-violence, the government mistrust, and the themes of rebellion and authoritarianism. Instead, we get muted earth colors that reflect the limited technology of the time, a brighter and more upbeat tone, and an optimism for the future aided by wonderful technology.
The film follows 19th-century boy inventor Ray Steam, who is entrusted with his grandfather's greatest invention, a 'steamball' capable of generating great power. The steamball is the target of a sinister corporation that wants to use its power to make money and sell war machines — in the name of advancing science, of course.
There's a sense of accessibility to Steamboy that Akira lacks at times. This steampunk adventure is far more straightforward than the gargantuan tale of Tetsuo and Kaneda. (There's also the fact that this is an original script rather than an adaptation of a 2000-page-long manga.)
Sinister Amazon Prime Video
Steamboy is more akin to the kind of blockbuster we get in the West, rather than most anime films that make it stateside. The villains are clearly defined, the hero doesn't have any big flaws, the end goal is spelled out from the get-go, and the philosophical conundrum at the core of the film is simple enough to grasp, yet complex in its repercussions.
The result is a film that feels accessible for audiences who may not be familiar with anime beyond the works of Studio Ghibli. Steamboy is filled with blockbuster-style action, but it's also thought-provoking in a way you only get in Japanese anime.
This dilemma at the center of the film is all about the role science and technology should have in society, which perfectly fits the steampunk genre's setting of the Industrial Revolution, yet is seldom explored in the genre. Is progress for the sake of progress enough? Or should we make sure science serves the betterment of humanity? Steamboy has a clear answer in mind that feels right at home with other anti-war, pro-nature anime films like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and The Wind Rises.
The end credits make this clear by showcasing the technological wonders that came out of the late 19th century (tweaked a bit with some steampunk aesthetic) like the Eiffel Tower, the lightbulb, and eventually the airplane, only to follow these up with shots of the Hindenburg disaster and the trenches of World War I. In this regard, the film does share some similarities with Akira in how they portray the horrors of using technology and science to wage war. At one point Steamboy almost argues for a father to murder his own son because he's become a warmonger — take that, Disney!
It's hard not to expect Steamboy to be a visual masterpiece after Akira redefined what you could do with animation. Thankfully, the film absolutely delivers.
There's a sense of scale nearly unprecedented in the genre. When the film reveals its version of the giant tarantula from Wild Wild West, you actually feel the weight and danger of it as the camera constantly zooms in on the tiny and fragile humans being crushed and blown to pieces by all the war-machinery on display.
Steamboy remains one of the most expensive anime movies ever made, and every cent is fully on display, with over 180,000 drawings and 440 computer-generated cuts making for a near-perfect blend of traditional and computer animation that no modern CGI movie can replicate. At the same time, stunningly creative camerawork that pans, spins, and rotates along with the action would be impossible to do in fully 2D animation.
While cyberpunk is a genre that originated with a lot of ethos but devolved into just a pretty aesthetic, steampunk never really had much ethos to begin with (in film, at least). Katsuhiro Otomo's Steampunk breaks the mold by actually providing some poignant commentary on its setting and genre, while still making for a high-thrill blockbuster-scale steam-powered ride.
Steamboy is streaming on Amazon Prime until April 1.
‘Sinister' may, at times, simply come off as another one of those clichéd horror movies that are often held back by their jumpscares. But along with that, the film also packs some surprisingly good plot twists and a terrifying overall atmosphere. Not to mention, Ethan Hawke‘s impeccable performance further heightens its 'creep' factor. So if you haven't seen it yet, you can check it out on all the streaming platforms we've mentioned below.
What is Sinister About?
‘Sinister' revolves around a true-crime writer named Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) who moves to a new home with his wife and kids. Unbeknownst to his family, the family that had previously lived there was murdered, all hung by ropes on a tree in their backyard. For his next novel, Ellison Oswalt intends to investigate this murder. But the deeper he delves into the mysteries of these murders, the more he realizes that all of these are somehow linked to many other cult-like murders that have previously taken place in several different similar households. Things get even creepier when he discovers several reels of Super 8 mm footage in his attic that have recorded murder footage depicting several of these families. Believing that all this could help him write his next bestseller, Ellison relentlessly digs deeper into them. Little does he realize that a supernatural force is tailing him.
Is Sinister on Netflix?
From October trick-or-treat originals like ‘In the Tall Grass‘ to horror classics like ‘The Ring,' Netflix has it all. Offering more scares than ever, Netflix now allows you to stream both ‘Sinister‘ and ‘Sinister 2.'
Is Sinister on Hulu?
Be it schlocky gore-fests like ‘What We Become,' contemplative thrillers like ‘Misery,' or tense social satires like ‘Parasite,' the vast repository of movies on Hulu has something for every taste. Unfortunately, as of now, ‘Sinister' is not available on the streaming service.
Is Sinister on Amazon Prime?
Especially when it comes to the horror genre, Amazon's video service has been constantly updating its catalog with new favorites like ‘Hereditary‘, ‘A Quiet Place‘, and ‘Midsommar.' ‘Sinister' is not available on Amazon yet, but you can still stream many other quality horror films that the streaming platform boasts.
Where Can I Stream Sinister Online?
Apart from all the options that we've mentioned above, you can also rent ‘Sinister' and ‘Sinister 2' on Amazon, Google Play, Apple Store, Fandango Now, and Vudu, where the two films are available in both SD and HD formats.
Sinister Amazon Prime
Is Sinister Out on DVD and BluRay?
There's a sense of scale nearly unprecedented in the genre. When the film reveals its version of the giant tarantula from Wild Wild West, you actually feel the weight and danger of it as the camera constantly zooms in on the tiny and fragile humans being crushed and blown to pieces by all the war-machinery on display.
Steamboy remains one of the most expensive anime movies ever made, and every cent is fully on display, with over 180,000 drawings and 440 computer-generated cuts making for a near-perfect blend of traditional and computer animation that no modern CGI movie can replicate. At the same time, stunningly creative camerawork that pans, spins, and rotates along with the action would be impossible to do in fully 2D animation.
While cyberpunk is a genre that originated with a lot of ethos but devolved into just a pretty aesthetic, steampunk never really had much ethos to begin with (in film, at least). Katsuhiro Otomo's Steampunk breaks the mold by actually providing some poignant commentary on its setting and genre, while still making for a high-thrill blockbuster-scale steam-powered ride.
Steamboy is streaming on Amazon Prime until April 1.
‘Sinister' may, at times, simply come off as another one of those clichéd horror movies that are often held back by their jumpscares. But along with that, the film also packs some surprisingly good plot twists and a terrifying overall atmosphere. Not to mention, Ethan Hawke‘s impeccable performance further heightens its 'creep' factor. So if you haven't seen it yet, you can check it out on all the streaming platforms we've mentioned below.
What is Sinister About?
‘Sinister' revolves around a true-crime writer named Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) who moves to a new home with his wife and kids. Unbeknownst to his family, the family that had previously lived there was murdered, all hung by ropes on a tree in their backyard. For his next novel, Ellison Oswalt intends to investigate this murder. But the deeper he delves into the mysteries of these murders, the more he realizes that all of these are somehow linked to many other cult-like murders that have previously taken place in several different similar households. Things get even creepier when he discovers several reels of Super 8 mm footage in his attic that have recorded murder footage depicting several of these families. Believing that all this could help him write his next bestseller, Ellison relentlessly digs deeper into them. Little does he realize that a supernatural force is tailing him.
Is Sinister on Netflix?
From October trick-or-treat originals like ‘In the Tall Grass‘ to horror classics like ‘The Ring,' Netflix has it all. Offering more scares than ever, Netflix now allows you to stream both ‘Sinister‘ and ‘Sinister 2.'
Is Sinister on Hulu?
Be it schlocky gore-fests like ‘What We Become,' contemplative thrillers like ‘Misery,' or tense social satires like ‘Parasite,' the vast repository of movies on Hulu has something for every taste. Unfortunately, as of now, ‘Sinister' is not available on the streaming service.
Is Sinister on Amazon Prime?
Especially when it comes to the horror genre, Amazon's video service has been constantly updating its catalog with new favorites like ‘Hereditary‘, ‘A Quiet Place‘, and ‘Midsommar.' ‘Sinister' is not available on Amazon yet, but you can still stream many other quality horror films that the streaming platform boasts.
Where Can I Stream Sinister Online?
Apart from all the options that we've mentioned above, you can also rent ‘Sinister' and ‘Sinister 2' on Amazon, Google Play, Apple Store, Fandango Now, and Vudu, where the two films are available in both SD and HD formats.
Sinister Amazon Prime
Is Sinister Out on DVD and BluRay?
‘Sinister' is also available on both DVD and Bluray. You can order your copy here. Even when it comes to the sequel, ‘Sinister 2,' you can find its DVD and Bluray versions on Amazon.
Can I Stream Sinister Online For Free?
Unfortunately, as of now, you cannot stream ‘Sinister' for free on legit streaming platforms. However, if you're not a subscriber yet, you can use Netflix's free trial to watch both ‘Sinister' and ‘Sinister 2' on the streaming service.
Sinister 2 Amazon Prime Video
Read More: Best Horror Movies on Netflix
