Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

I remember IMDB had a Hidden remake listed as In Production, but then it disappeared, so I assume the plug was pulled. Yes, The Hidden II is just dreadful; an example of how not to do a sequel: allot a lower budget than the original, write an illogical script, and hire crappy actors.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

They at least had a good first ten minutes......simply re-playing the last ten minutes of the original. -ohbfrank-

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

Watched 2001: A Space Odyssey for the first time ever and what an amazing movie!!! Immediately goes into my top 10 of all-time. I'm not about to pretend I'm smart enough to figure it all out in one viewing, but I can't stop thinking about it. One of the things I love about these challenges is it gives me a reason to watch some of the classics I've missed for one reason or another.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

Yeah, every Challenge I think about concentrating on the classics, but usually end up going with my unwatched pile mainly.

I'm thinking of delaying the rest of my Godzilla quest until the Horror Challenge, and using this last week to watch 7-14 classics, including 2001, which I haven't seen in maybe 20 years.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

Read the novel and watch the film again. You'll get a lot of questions answered and many segments will make more sense. Clarke and Kubrick wrote the novel and screenplay simultaneously, but Clarke opted for clearer explanations of the monolith and the Star Gate in the novel.

Anytime someone mentions that they *dislike* the film I recommend they read the novel and watch again. In almost all cases they come away with a deeper appreciation.

For those who like the film without having read the novel, I highly recommend reading the novel as it adds to the ambience and deepens the significance.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

Fortunately I have some overlap. Really enjoyed Forbidden Planet for the first time!

Doesn't bother me a bit if it helps you to blow off some steam here :shrug:

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

Watched Being John Malkovich, almost forgot how brilliant that was.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

It's interesting to compare how some remakes of classics fare better than others. I watched the 1956 and 1978 versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers; both films are great, and clearly Phil Kaufman, who directed the 1978 version, understood what worked about the original--the sense of paranoia, of being betrayed by those closest to one. The advanced FX served the story and added to the horror instead of distracting from the story.

By comparison, Tobe Hooper's 1986 remake of the awesome 1953 Invaders From Mars completely missed that the elements that made the original so terrific is the same sense of betrayal, of having one's family become pawns of an alien power. Perhaps it's that the actors in the original were better, but you just don't get the black-and-white reversal in the parents' personalities as clearly in the remake as you do in the original.

Moreover, even though both films are framed as a child's nightmare, Hooper didn't include William Cameron Menzies's dream-like set design from the 1953 version that really enhanced its other-worldly atmosphere.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

There is also a treasure trove of old sci-fi films available at Google video.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

Kaufman's Body Snatchers, along with Carpenter's The Thing and Cronenburg's The Fly form the holy triumvirate of remakes. Three important exceptions to the "remakes suck" rule.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

Wow, what a week it has been. Didn't get to view as much as I would have liked but I did manage to rewatch Firefly and half the series of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. If someone is a sci-fi fan then there is no reason to not watch Firefly, but I really forgot how much I enjoyed Hercules as a teenager when it first aired. Yes, it is campy and it does take many liberties with the classic myths but it never takes itself seriously and is just a fun romp through some "classic" tales. Now I am stuck with the decision of finishing the series or trying to figure out if it is worth it to try the checklist. I've got 5 days left right?

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

I'm disappointed in my performance over the last week (had houseguest and some other commitments) but hope to get in some more watching this week.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

And 3 wildcards/freebies for the checklist.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

I definitely intend to watch it again. I really can't explain why I put off watching it for so long. I think maybe the length scared me a little bit and I had read some people complained about it being slow and boring. It is a slower moving movie, but I was never bored by it and it really never seemed like 2 1/2 hours.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

I'm close to finishing the checklist, but I think that I'm gonna stick to movies and tv shows I really want to watch this week.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

It's the summer...stuff happens.

I can't imagine, as I've seen in some peoples lists, spending 12-16 hours a day in front of the TV when it's a beautiful day out there. (Mind you, I suppose some people here could be in the southern hemisphere where it isn't summer)

I never thought I'd reach 100 or finish the checklist (there are portions I own none of) but thought it'd be fun to take a whack at it all the same.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

It's been in the 90-100 degree range here in the DC area every day for the past month and a half, so the only time I venture outside is to go to the pool. I also spend 6-8 hours a day applying for jobs online or doing housework, so I put movies on to keep me company.

Last year when I was working, I struggled to get to 30 by month's end. This year I've broken 100 without a sweat just by popping in DVDs as part of the daily routine.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

With the horror challenge i always wonder how people get so many in everyday where my peak on average is 5-6 and thats with being able to watch 2-3 at work. but now working only 3 overnights a week has freed up alot of time *while still not nearing my horror numbers* Iv been able to watch alot more then id imagine id sit thru.

one thing i miss but it frees up alot of time is i dont have complete access to a computer currently. I enjoy reading peoples lists and comments but realized how much time goes to that in october,

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

I just recently surpassed my goal of 62 (wow!). I think I will be in the ~70-75 range when is all said and done. This will be my best showing in a challenge so far. One big contributor was the fact that I took the 4th of July week off. Besides some activities/parties here and there, I was able to watch a lot of movies. If I didn't have that whole week off I wouldn't be anywhere near I am. The intersting thing is that about half of those are commentaries, for which I mentioned before I usually multitask while I am listening to commentaries. If those didn't count (like in the Horror challenge) I would be at around 40.

Watching anything during the week is usually a killer. It's usually wake up, work, run, eat, sleep. Someday I may actually only work 8 hours a day and have a bit more time. Boy would that feel weird.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

it didn't help that the MD/DC area got whalloped by a major thunderstorm resulting in alot people losing power, me included

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

One of my issues is that I've been collecting Blu-rays and other HD presentations specifically for this challenge, which has the side effect that I can only watch them on the main TV. Also, we're busy at work, so I can't watch them on the laptop like I used to.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

That combined with which of those I can watch when kids are awake pose a problem for me.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

Just watched the remake of the Day the Earth Stood Still... gotta say mankind was so dumb in the movie, I was kinda rooting for the aliens to wipe them out.

Hey, if you wanna watch movies on a beautiful summer day, go for it. Some folks may not understand it, but then I can't understand how people can't understand someone might be different than they are.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

Watched the original The Day the Earth Stood Still last night. I was thinking that Mrs. Benson should have just forgotten the command that Klaatu had given her-mankind didn't seem worth saving.

Looking forward to the remake tonight.

Re: Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge 10 - Discussion Thread
 

Also watched Rabid. It made the attention that was required to follow what Cronenberg was saying in Stereo and Crimes of the Future pay off. Rabid expressed the concepts that seem to obsess him in an entertaining, accessible sci-fi/horror movie without endless speeches filled with technical jargon.