Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > DVD Discussions > DVD Talk
Reload this Page >

Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Community
Search
DVD Talk Talk about DVDs and Movies on DVD including Covers and Cases

Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-01-10 | 09:53 PM
  #451  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 536
Received 19 Likes on 13 Posts
From: CA
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

I completed all of my goals except for rewatching Buffy, but I'm extremely happy and shocked completed the other 4. The best I've ever done with this challenge is 21, (and last year only 4), and I got to 64 this year, I think its the best I've ever done in a challenge. I finally watched all of the original trilogy for Star Wars (had only seen the very first one a few times), watched Alien for the first time, and finished Soylent Green, which I had seen most of a long time ago but never the end (although I knew how it ended), along with rewatching some favorites (Star Trek and Ghostbusters). Thank you for a great challenge, I'm already looking forward to next years!
Old 08-01-10 | 11:25 PM
  #452  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,643
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
From: Raleighwood
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

I didn't watch too much this time, but I will recommend The Dresden Files for those who like fantasy.

to Mister Peepers for running the challenge.
Old 08-01-10 | 11:45 PM
  #453  
ororama's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 641
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
From: New Jersey
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Originally Posted by BobO'Link
The 2 directors I failed to watch films from (Larry Cohen, and Charles Band) was also due to limited choices on films I don't like or have never heard of. With an already large unwatched pile, blind buys on obscure films are out.
Too late for me to recommend Larry Cohen for this challenge. I've thought of him as a favorite for a long time, so I was surprised to check his credits and see that, before this year, I had only seen two of the films that he has directed. I saw Q in the theater, and probably saw The Stuff on VHS. I watched Bone for the Drive-In Challenge this year, and was surprised that it was more social satire than blaxploitation (it was sort of anti-blaxploitation). At the last minute I decided to watch It's Alive for this challenge, and while it was clearly sci-fi/horror, it had a surprising amount of social satire. I'm looking forward to watching several more of his movies in the next Horror Challenge.

Originally Posted by BobO'Link
My only goal of reducing the unwatched pile was successful as it is visibly smaller (although still quite large) as I only re-watched about a dozen films from my collection.
That is always my main goal. I try to vary the eras, sub-genres, and countries of origin of the movies that I watch, in order to avoid burn-out.
Old 08-02-10 | 09:04 AM
  #454  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 606
Received 15 Likes on 8 Posts
From: Ga
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Originally Posted by Fist of Doom
to Mister Peepers for running the challenge.
Yes! Thanks Mister Peepers! My favorite challenge by far.
Old 08-02-10 | 12:21 PM
  #455  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 870
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

July 5
37. Land of the Lost*
There's some funny stuff in here but I won't watch it again. I might have missed something but I still don't understand the spacesuit stuff at the beginning and hoe it connects to the rest of the movie.
38. Nineteen Eighty-Four*
This was a BBC live television production starring Peter Cushing and Donald Pleasence. Its an ok adaptation though pretty truncated.
39. The Day of the Triffids (2009) Part One*
40. The Day of the Triffids (2009) Part Two*
I heard this was terrible but I kind of liked it. After the challenge was over I watch the original 1981 Triffids miniseries which is pretty highly regarded and I though it was boring. So I'm giving it to the remake.
41. Eureka: 03/13 If You Build It...* / Eureka: 03/14 Ship Happens*
42. Eureka: 03/15 Shower the People* / Eureka: 03/16 You Don't Know Jack*
43. Eureka: 03/17 Have an Ice Day* / Eureka: 03/08 What Goes Around, Comes Around*
44. Caprica
45. Caprica: 01/01 Rebirth* / Caprica: 01/02 Reins of a Waterfall*
I've been trying to watch this series for a while now but things keep interrupting me. I think I started the pilot 3 or 4 times before I actually made it through to the other episodes. I think the series is pretty great with a lot of big ideas to think about, but I'm worried that, Like Battlestar, they don't really know what they want to do and they're just reacting episode to episode. I'm not sure if the show is even coming back I heard the second half of the season was pushed back another year.

July 6
46. The Invention of Lying*
I really like Ricky Gervais and I'm totally on the side of the atheists, but the second half of this movie just deteriorated into one big atheist proselytizing session. If you want to turn people to your way of thinking, consider using some subtlety.
47. Orgazmo*
Only for the NC17 checklist.
48. Stardust*
I don't know. OK I guess, but did Deniro really need to be in this and why does he keep doing this light, comedic roles. Doesn't anyone ever tell him he isn't good at that?
49. The Day the Earth Stood Still*
I was curious to see this despite knowing that it was going to be total garbage. I was pretty much right. I would rather have seen a River's Edge remake with Keannu in the Dennis Hopper role.
50. Pandorum*
It is becoming a common theme here, but I don't remember anything about this move other than it was dark and ugly.
51. Caprica: 01/03 Gravedancing* / Caprica: 01/04 There Is Another Sky*
52. Caprica: 01/05 Know Thy Enemy* / Caprica: 01/06 The Imperfections of Memory*
53. Caprica: 01/07 Ghosts in the Machine* / Caprica: 01/08 End of Line*
54. Monsters vs Aliens*
I just don't think Dreamworks should be making these animated movies. They are just so generic. Maybe they should find someone with an original vision and give that guy access to all their technology the way Pixar did with Brad Bird. They should also stop casting big stars for the purposes of marketing. No body is out there thinking "If only Reece Witherspoon's voice was in this I'd go see it."
55. The Faculty*
If you count this as a body snatchers remake, and you probably should, I watched a lot of body snatchers remakes this month.

July 7
56. eXistenZ
I watched htis a long tome ago and didn't really get it. I still don't get it but I prefer this Cronenberg to the more recent Cronenberg.
57. Lifeforce*
Naked sexy space vampires. What could go wrong with a movie like that? Nothing. Wasn't this also the premise of an episode of Buck Rogers? Patrick Stewart checklist.
58. Cypher*
Another handmade project from Cube's Vincenzo Natali. Like Cube, this one's primary interest comes from its low budget nature. I love when people just get it together and make something decent. It doesn't have to be outstanding, just pretty good.
59. Life on Mars: 01/01 Out Here in the Fields* / Life on Mars: 01/02 The Real Adventures of the Unreal Sam Tyler*
I like the original series just fine and was curious about the U.S. remake. I assumed the bad word of mouth was just a knee jerk England-is-better kind of reaction. But this is a dull ass show. I forced myself through all the episode even though I didn't really enjoy it.
60. Ghost Town*
61. Ghost Town w/ Ricky Gervais and David Koepp Commentary
I assumed this would be pretty lightweight but worth seeing just for Ricky Gervais. In the end I think it is a kind of minor masterpiece and I enjoyed it so much more than The Invention of Lying.
62. Life on Mars: 01/03 My Maharishi Is Bigger Than Your Maharishi* / Life on Mars: 01/04 Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows?*
63. 2010
I remember when I saw this the first time, years ago, I thought the politics were already out of date. Now that it actually is 2010 that aspect of the story seems ridiculous. But you can't go wrong with Scheider.
64. Silent Hill*
I watched this for the video game checklist item because I had no intentions of watching Resident Evil at the time. A few weeks later I did actually go ahead with the Resident Evils anyway. But anyway, what is Silent Hill about? Was there possibly a language barrier issue with the French director? I never played the game, but I heard it was scary. This movie isn't scary. When scary stuff was happening the lighting was so dark I could tell what I was looking at. Also what was going on with Sean Bean? At the end was he having a dream? I think I'm going to have to watch this again.
Old 08-02-10 | 12:41 PM
  #456  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 835
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Man, I am extremely bummed about this challenge. I was doing pretty well a couple weeks in but I've been a ghost the last half of the month. I had to go to Cleveland and help my parents out, didn't get around to watching any more films or even Inception like I was planning. Oh well it was still fun for the first half of the month.
Old 08-02-10 | 12:54 PM
  #457  
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,020
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
From: Arizona
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

For awhile there I was on pace to break 100 and even beat my total from last year, but I really slowed down at the end of the month. Still, I accomplished my goal of watching all of the Babylon 5 that I own, so I consider my effort a success.
Old 08-02-10 | 01:11 PM
  #458  
Trevor's Avatar
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 37,371
Received 951 Likes on 611 Posts
From: spiritually, Minnesota
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Originally Posted by gfoots
July 5
<snip>
Wrong thread gfoots, looks like you meant to put that in your personal list.
Old 08-02-10 | 05:20 PM
  #459  
BobO'Link's Avatar
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,740
Received 1,319 Likes on 902 Posts
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Originally Posted by Fist of Doom
... to Mister Peepers for running the challenge.
Yes! I typed my initial thoughts in a hurry and totally forgot to say "thanks!".

This was the first time I participated in one of these watching challenges and it was lots of fun!

But... I don't think I'll be in a hurry to do another any time soon. It's one thing to watch a film or two a few days a week "just because" and quite another to have to watch at least 2 per *day* just to keep up! While I'm very much a couch potato and *love* to watch TV/movies it's a lot of *work* to find/make enough time to hit the target number!

Now... back to chapter 6 of "The Phantom Creeps"...
Old 08-03-10 | 06:03 PM
  #460  
Indy24LA's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 928
Received 69 Likes on 38 Posts
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Yes big thanks to Mister Peepers for a fun and interesting challenge.
Old 08-03-10 | 07:55 PM
  #461  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

well i screwed up this challenge by not updating. was writing down all my movies to update with my opnions but threw out the damn notebook. had fun tho and watched alot of new first time views. will need to be better organized for animation
Old 08-03-10 | 08:03 PM
  #462  
The Man with the Golden Doujinshi's Avatar
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,882
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
From: Mister Peepers
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Glad people had fun!

Any suggestions for next year?
Old 08-03-10 | 09:41 PM
  #463  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 951
Received 163 Likes on 104 Posts
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

I want to add my appreciation for the hard work done by Mister Peepers. This was well organized. Everyone should jump over to the Animation Challenge which is also going well. I personally don't have any suggestions for next year, I just know that I will be here ready to go!
Old 08-03-10 | 10:55 PM
  #464  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,423
Received 41 Likes on 30 Posts
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Originally Posted by orlmac
I want to add my appreciation for the hard work done by Mister Peepers. This was well organized.
Yes, big thanks to Mister Peepers. See you in the Animation Challenge
Old 08-04-10 | 10:50 AM
  #465  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,520
Received 27 Likes on 18 Posts
From: Las Vegas, NV
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Thanks to Mr. Peepers for this challenge. I started off well, but definitely hit a snag once relatives and real life stepped in. This was a nice little diversion from everything which was quite enjoyable. I watched a mix of new and old shows that I haven't dusted off in a long time which brought back some good memories. Maybe next year I'll actually try to crack the magical 100 barrier.
Old 08-04-10 | 12:07 PM
  #466  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,486
Received 389 Likes on 226 Posts
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Originally Posted by Mister Peepers
Glad people had fun!

Any suggestions for next year?
Thanks for your hard work, and I do have a few suggestions.

In the subgenre categories, Post-Apocalyptic and Dying Earth are too similar; perhaps next year there could a change to something else, like Possessed by Aliens, Inter-Species Romance (like when Kirk woos hot alien babes on Star Trek), or Steampunk. Also, all of science fiction and fantasy is based on "what if" so that subcategory doesn't present much of a challenge. Perhaps there could be a category for Alien Religion or Mythical Beings for the fantasy films, like movies with unicorns or elves as the main characters as in Ridley Scott's Legend.

I would also shake up the actor sub-category. For instance, Peter Cushing and Boris Karloff were horror actors and made very few science fiction pictures. Maybe you could add more obscure actors who had larger sci-fi resumes. Hugh Marlowe, for example, was in Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers, Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and World Without End, or Jeff Goldblum who has starred in several classic science fiction films.

Last edited by Gobear; 08-04-10 at 12:13 PM.
Old 08-04-10 | 12:11 PM
  #467  
Trevor's Avatar
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 37,371
Received 951 Likes on 611 Posts
From: spiritually, Minnesota
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Yep, I think I forgot to say thanks as well. Awesome job MP, as always!

This may have been my favorite Challenge yet. I relaxed a bit, and instead of concentrating on racing through film after film, I took my time with many of them, exploring all the special features on the discs. I still put up near obscene numbers, since the entire month was virtually nothing except work and DVDs, but still borderline sane.

I enjoyed reading the discussion thread and everyone's lists, and for once almost kept up with my own list formatting/commenting. In fact, I think I'm happy with it except for the last 48 hours or so, when I decided at that last minute to go for the checklist, and didn't leave time to sleep or eat, let alone format/comment on my choices. Not too late I guess, I should go finish it off.

I know I'm in the minority, but I feel that we shouldn't push or even mention any number goals for these Challenges. 100 scares people away I think. Plus it's just unhealthy. A little competition is good, but anything that compels multiple people to average more than 8 hours of TV viewing a day for an entire month is just wrong.
Old 08-04-10 | 12:37 PM
  #468  
Dimension X's Avatar
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,671
Received 506 Likes on 309 Posts
From: The unknown world of the future
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

Originally Posted by Trevor
I know I'm in the minority, but I feel that we shouldn't push or even mention any number goals for these Challenges. 100 scares people away I think. Plus it's just unhealthy. A little competition is good, but anything that compels multiple people to average more than 8 hours of TV viewing a day for an entire month is just wrong.
I get what you're saying, but on the other hand 100 movies in a month is the "challenge" part of (some of) these Challenges. And I wouldn't say it's really "unhealthy" unless people are going for 100+ movies in consecutive months, or for every Challenge. I would hope most people will have favorite Challenges that they "push" themselves during, and then others where they don't watch much more (if any) than they normally would.

I watched over 100 for this one the first year, but for the last two years I've cut way back on it.
Old 08-04-10 | 02:50 PM
  #469  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,517
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
From: Hawkeye Country
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

An amazing challenge for me too. I think I finished with about 75 titles, which completely blows away any other challenge I have done. The only thing I wish I would have done was have more first time viewings. I was going to do the "summary" post, but I realized it was a little difficult because there weren't many titles that really worked for the categories. I also focused almost entirely on movies, which was a nice change of pace (I usually just sit on one TV show the whole month.)

Regarding the "challenge" of a 100 titles watched in a month, that isn't even a challenge for most people, it is an impossibility. I had a whole week off in July, did not have any vacations away from home, the challenge pretty much started and ended on a weekend, and I was making a serious effort on this challenge and I was still quite far away from 100.

Personally, I know that I will never get to 100 on any challenge, ever (Holiday challenge not included.) That said, I don't have any problem with the 100 goal/challenge because that is basically never going to happen for me. I think as long as the opening posts really make it clear that the goals are unique for the individual person, then it shouldn't really put anyone off.

Big for this year's challenge....and once again I will reluctantly admit that adding Fantasy was a good idea.
Old 08-05-10 | 02:22 PM
  #470  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,486
Received 389 Likes on 226 Posts
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

When will there be a final results tally from this challenge?
Old 08-05-10 | 04:17 PM
  #471  
The Man with the Golden Doujinshi's Avatar
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,882
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
From: Mister Peepers
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

This weekend, just to make sure people had enough time to finalize their lists.
Old 08-06-10 | 09:04 PM
  #472  
The Man with the Golden Doujinshi's Avatar
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,882
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
From: Mister Peepers
Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/dvd-talk/57...ts-thread.html

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.