What Movies are Similar to Uglies?
Fans of Uglies (which features a compelling storyline - one set in a dystopian world, with government-mandated cosmetic surgery as the main component) - may find a number of films that offer a similar atmosphere and themes: one that challenges a seemingly perfect utopia. A slew of Movies like Uglies offer similar ideas - with some focusing on how a society attempts to enforce uniformity or even limit freedom.
Fans of dystopian YA can also check out those titles that often show a teenager's journey, exploring those compelling narratives set in an alternative, possibly dystopian, future, often with a protagonist that has a goal: To defy a controlling society, in an effort to regain what was taken or bring a new and improved future - examples include "The Hunger Games" - with a dystopian future with the government controlling events through "The Games" (a gladiatorial fight for survival). The show even takes the lead to introduce characters that are inspired by "The Hunger Games," particularly when it comes to the young adult genre, as we see "Uglies".
What Makes the Movie Uglies So Popular?
Uglies (the Netflix release inspired by Scott Westerfeld's novel), takes on the challenge of exploring a society obsessed with a concept that has captured the attention of a number of audiences: a perfect society, even in its darkest form. With those who watch the show or read the novel there are plenty of reasons why this has become a standout and continues to hold a loYAl fanbase, particularly among those fans of the young adult genre and the sci-fi subgenre.
Those watching will be enticed by the film’s portrayal of a seemingly perfect utopia - where a teenager named Tally has her life flipped upside down. As a main protagonist in Uglies, Tally has been prepared to go through The Transformation (a transformation from being a young "ugly" to becoming beautiful and "pretty" - but with one key twist: There are negative, albeit hidden effects - that have a dangerous impact. This transformation has resulted in a unique perspective on the nature of humanity and freedom, exploring some of the darker themes in the dystopian world. It highlights how this world functions in its seemingly ideal society, how Tally must break away to challenge its foundation.
What Happens at The End of Uglies?
Uglies features a terrible truth at the center of a utopia - and the show centers around Tally’s journey as a protagonist and as someone with the ability to fight against the dystopian system. It does give a unique take on government-mandated cosmetic surgery.
Those watching this film (an adaption from the bestselling novel by Scott Westerfeld ) will see Tally face those events and moments where those who govern the society decide they need to keep her and others confined to the dystopian, controlled reality they exist in. While she's caught between two choices. This event - that takes place as the main events in this series, show a key transformation for those who seek a more genuine life and it serves as a point of departure for those who seek more insight into a darker, dystopian universe where those living in a "perfect" society might have been controlled, without fully understanding what is happening.
What Are The Best Uglies Replacements?
Those who enjoyed the compelling storyline from "Uglies" are always seeking to explore those similar narratives that often offer a fresh and unique view into how dystopian societies might appear and function. Fans will find an assortment of films to explore as well as several other books that have contributed to the overall genre.
A number of suggestions to explore would include: "The Giver", "Divergent," or even "Ready Player One", all of which will continue to draw those readers and fans back in. These shows have become iconic as they deliver an amazing amount of entertainment while also addressing key concepts such as government-mandated suppression of free thinking as we watch the main characters find ways to fight against these dystopian powers. Those fans who love the dystopian genre and especially YA - may be interested in finding out how these stories intertwine or, perhaps, offer new perspectives on how these events take place and the larger ideas, particularly within the dystopian YA formula , all of which provide unique stories, as those looking for a fresh new journey to take on will be impressed.
Is the Dystopian World In Uglies a Reflection of Reality?
Uglies offers a glimpse into how a world that is centered on government-mandated cosmetic surgery can serve as an example, particularly with the focus on appearance, often highlighted as an idea that drives our world.
Those who explore the ideas that appear within this series can easily discover the relevance of its theme - in an era where societal pressures, body image, and self-acceptance, are prominent concerns. This serves as a strong source for how the series aims to make viewers understand those concepts as well as what Uglies hopes to show the audience: What can we do when our world may begin to follow in the footsteps of those societal ideals and ideals that are portrayed as a perfect and flawless world?
What Other Books or Movies Have Inspired the World in Uglies?
While "Uglies" might have drawn from other compelling titles that also explore the dystopian YA canon - there is a plethora of works that could be considered its inspiration.
The dystopian YA genre has grown throughout the 2000s and those stories that were initially set to explore this specific, dark future, can now be traced back to the "Golden Age of Science Fiction", including some key pieces. There is a good chance those writers, including Scott Westerfeld, have found inspiration through: "Ender's Game," a book (bestselling novel by Orson Scott Card) that explored war, a sense of responsibility and power within an elite unit, in which a teen, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin had to face down his enemies, the Formic (in an intense, visually powerful, storyline that had a strong connection to space travel). Those interested can even examine those sci-fi/dystopian romance films such as "Equals," "THX 1138," and "Never Let Me Go," where these books and films take a unique spin on exploring a dark universe.
What are Some Other Popular Dystopian YA Books or Movies?
There’s an impressive number of works within the dystopian realm - with dystopian YA as the subgenre that has emerged as one of the greatest avenues for those who like these unique and daring storylines. The most common elements are a powerful protagonist (who faces off against an oppressive system) and compelling themes around those ideals that center around justice and freedom, as well as highlighting how those dystopian systems operate through technology or ideology.
While the list could easily be quite extensive, a few must-reads (or must-watches) - often serving as inspiration or a source for those interested in dystopian YA include: "The Giver" which gives audiences an exploration into a world that attempts to suppres all emotions and, of course, "The Divergent Series" - a young adult series set in a post-apocalyptic world. Veronica Roth created an elaborate story. There are five factions to consider, and individuals are required to join the one based on virtue and are sorted when they reach their 16th birthday. This also showcases a very stringent dystopia, with factions like: Abnegation, Erudite, Amity, Candor, and Dauntless (Beatrice "Tris" Prior (played by Shailene Woodley) has a complicated past - a tale that shows she belongs to none of these factions). The series also has a visually strong aesthetic which also shows just how much the show's world building is centered around how its societies operate - as if it's trapped in an almost unbearable reality. These two titles stand out in the dystopian realm. They serve as those classics and have an endless, large fanbase and remain two of the strongest and most commercially successful YA franchises to date.
