What can I say? I get bored watching them and start thinking about other things.

And if that did happen, they'd still blame him for making it unravel.

Or he may have been a fallen hero that started out using the Dark Side to make the galaxy a better place but then was taken over. Too bad Anakin was a bastard that didn't want to help him as his son did. I know there's been some back story written about him but I'm not sure what's canon or not.

Just watched Star Trek: The Motion Picture and I really liked it. Hadn't seen it since probably the 80s. Sure it's more 2001 than Star Wars, but that's not a bad thing.

Just finished The 3 Worlds of Gulliver, which was pretty good. I wasn't familiar with it, so I didn't expect the reversal that happened halfway in.

Was feeling not great about losing steam at the end so slipped in This Island Earth and part of Starship Troopers. Forgot Neil Patrick Harris was in this, and how long the bugs took to make a real appearance.

In Heinlein's book, the soldiers don't go into combat with the bugs until the last 13 pages.

I have finally completed the challenge checklist without any duplicates. I'll probably add a little bit more before this is over, but I have really enjoyed all of the different movies I have seen so far. A few were busts, but most of them were well worth the time and a large number were incredibly good. It was a great challenge as far as I'm concerned!

Well being without internet for the month really screwed my discussion part of the challenge. I've been popping in from my mobile to read everyones comments but I hate typing on that thing.

I'm at just over 90 entries now but I really don't see myself updating my list, it was all about fun anyways and I've had a blast regardless.

Yeah I just watched this too (for the first time), what a delightful movie - the accompanied TV doc 'The Harryhausen Chronicles is also excellent and highly recommended!

I like specific scenes and elements, but I'm not terribly in love with the movie. I dig Persis Khambatta as Ilia, and I'm in love with Jerry Goldsmith's score but otherwise I'm kinda "meh" about the movie as a whole. I definitely feel the director's cut that was released on DVD was the strongest cut I've seen of the movie; its pace is much more taut because its story is more focused.

It's on my To Read list. I'm given to understand that the film entirely defies Heinlein's right-wing bent and presents instead an anti-war satire that angered a lot of readers. Which reminds me, perhaps going forward we can add some key writers to the checklist. For instance, instead of "based on a novel," it might read:

--- Based on a novel written by one of the following
Carl Sagan
Arthur Clarke
Harlan Ellison
Robert Heinlein
Michael Crichton
Philip K. Dick

I suggest this because Science-Fiction, perhaps more than any other genre, tends to draw upon literary source material. It's almost impossible to explore the genre without encountering these prolific writers who really shaped the conventions and tenets of the genre. Also, I mention this because I've had a hard time with the actors sub-list in large part because I just don't find myself thinking of actors within the genre; certainly not the way that I think they stand out in Horror.

Well, here we re. The last day of the challenge an I'm only in the 60s, but I had fun and that is the important part. Things came up that kept me from getting a higher total. Caught Dragon Wars on SyFy last night or early this morning technically.

While I enjoy the film, especially the Director's Cut, I've always felt somewhat cheated as it's really 3 reworked episodes mashed together with a bit of filler. "The Doomsday Machine" (transformed space probe), "The Changeling" (giant object threatening to engulf the galaxy), and "The Immunity Syndrom" (huge weapon threatens the Enterprise), all from the second season seem to make up this film. I, too, love the score and "Ilia". Even though I don't much care for TNG the use of that score for this series tends to suck me in anyway.
The book, like many adaptations, has little resemblance to the film. It's a *very* good read. But I'm somewhat biased as I pretty much like all of Heinlein's work.

Not a bad idea, especially for sci-fi/fantasy films produced since the 60s. The 50s, and to a lesser degree the 60s, sci-fi tends to have people who primarily seemed to work in that genre. Kind of like the Corman films, a group of people who would turn up in several genre films each year. I don't get that same "family" feel in the 70s and onward.

That's the only Ray Harryhausen/Bernard Herrmann collaboration I didn't see for this challenge. (The others are SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, MYSTERIOUS ISLAND and JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS.)

One day left and other obligations will probably prevent me from continuing on past 48 entries. And there was so much in my collection I wanted to see for this. I only did one Gamera movie and I've got at least seven others I wanted to see. I only did one Godzilla movie and I have a bunch more on DVD I wanted to watch. Plus the original English dub of GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER (the one with the "Save the Earth" song in English) on VHS. Plus tons of other Japanese monster/sci-fi/fantasy films: the MAJIN series, ATRAGON, THE HUMAN VAPOR, LATITUDE ZERO, BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE, SPACE AMOEBA, THE H-MAN, WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS, FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD, THE GREEN SLIME, MESSGE FROM SPACE, and quite a few others. Plus Japanese TV series like "Iron King" (26 eps.), "Kikaida," the remaining 35 eps. of "Super Robot Red Baron," the remaining 35 eps. of "Ultraman," plus a few dozen Japanese-only tapes/DVDs containing multiple eps. of various Ultraman, Kamen Rider and Sentai series.

Plus numerous sci-fi anime series, some of which I sampled for this (Gantz, Patlabor, Yukikaze), but after a while I decided to wait till the August Animation Challenge.

Plus, dozens of unseen Power Rangers eps.

Plus, the Flash Gordon, Green Hornet, Batman, Superman, Captain Marvel serials.

Plus various unseen Hollywood/English sci-fi films taped off cable over the years: THE DAY MARS INVADED EARTH, EQUILIBRIUM, THE GIANT CLAW, PUPPET MASTERS, RED PLANET, RED PLANET MARS, REPLICANT, SIGNS, SOLAR CRISIS, SUNSHINE, SUPERNOVA, etc.

Plus things I wanted to see over again, like IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA, EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS, TWENTY MILLION MILES TO EARTH, THE MAN FROM PLANET X, INVADERS FROM MARS,THE LOST WORLD, JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, SATAN BUG, QUEEN OF BLOOD, THE POWER, DANGER DIABOLIK, STARSHIP TROOPERS, LIFEFORCE, etc., etc., etc.

Plus TV eps. of "Star Trek," "The Outer Limits," "Twilight Zone," etc.

You get the idea...

If you can remember, post this in the suggestion thread for next year so I don't forget. I know you're really suggesting this so you can get a check on the checklist for watching Twilight.

I was unaware there was a Twilight movie based on the writings of Sagan, Clarke, Ellison, Heinlein, Crichton and/or Dick. Also, if the group preferred, perhaps this checklist item could be, "Based on a Hugo and/or Nebula Award winner." Just something that recognizes the proud literary tradition of the genre.

Also, if sticking with a specific list of authors from whose works to choose, I'd like to add Edgar Rice Burroughs. I'm hopeful that John Carter is going to be a boon to his terrific Barsoom series of novels.

Thanks! I got a chance to expose my teenage son to some classics (good and bad) so it was fun. My overall goals this year were to:

• watch more watch than I did in 2009 (currently at 90 vs 46 in 2009)
• watch a higher percentage of films for the first time (currently at 51% vs 26% in 2009)
• watch the Harry Potter films for the first time (check), and
• finish the challenge. I'm about to go watch the Special Edition of The Abyss to finish my last challenge!

This has been a great challenge once again.

Spent the weekend with friends whose son had surgery on his head (he has Chiari's, where the skull doesn't grow at the same pace as the brain) so obviously watching movies was unimportant. He's home safe now, and while I know I'm not going to complete my checklist, I've got time to squeeze in a few more things. If I just get in a double feature, I'll hit 30 which is a perfectly acceptable final count for me, especially since most of it has been first time viewings.

On vacation so took a shot at what was on my iPod. Started Kick-Ass but realized it wouldn't qualify and switched to the Buffy pilot. Fun stuff, so I think I have a clear path for the horror challenge.

I wish him, and his parents, well. My wife underwent surgery for Type 1 a few years ago. It's not fun and somewhat scary. I was off work about 3 weeks to sit with her during her recovery. She slept a lot, I watched a lot of movies and read a lot of books.

The description you were given may be somewhat innaccurate. Your description seems to indicate "type 1", the adult form. Chiari malformation type I develops as the skull and brain are growing and typically does not manifest itself until late childhood or adulthood. It occurs when part of the skull is abnormally small or misshapen, pressing on the brain and forcing a downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils through the opening at the base of the skull, not necessarily a growth pace difference. The result is a herniation where the tonsils press on the spinal column which can cause all kinds of problems.



My wife recovered feeling in her legs she'd not realized was gone and discovered, due to the pain she now felt, that she needed knee replacement surgery. FWIW, that surgery and recovery was worse and longer than that for the Chiari.

Back on topic:

Looks like I'll have watched *every* sci-fi/fantasy title in my unwatched pile before I'm done today and, for a change, I don't have any new ones "in the mail". While there *are* a few qualifying titles left they also qualify for either animation or horror. I intentionally held them back for those challenges.

Way to go, Bob. Glad to see I'm not alone in major movie watching! I hope I can watch over 100 next year. I still have quite a few in my unwatched pile but I will get to them... one day.

After flopping on the past two challenges I had a good time with the SciFi one, didn't got as all out as the horror challenge but enjoyed it. Thanks to Mister Peepers for hosting1

Kick-Ass=Super hero
Totally qualifies

Say what you want about Cronenberg but he knows how to do science fiction... The Fly and Videodrome are essential. Even eXistenz is worthy.

Alright. I completed my modest/minimal goal of watching all of the Planet of the Apes movies for this challenge. They were all first time viewings, and I enjoyed all of them for what they were, even the 2001 version. Obviously the first one is so far above the rest, but if I had to rate the originals:

1. Planet of the Apes (1968)
2. Escape from the Planet of the Apes
3. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
4. Battle for the Planet of the Apes 5. Beneath the Planet of the Apes

As for Planet of the Apes (2001), I was expecting it to be horrible. It wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible either. Probably the biggest problem I had with the movie was Paul Giamatti's character of Limbo. He was HORRENDOUS. It reminded me of how terrible Jar Jar was in Phantom Menace. If one were to re-edit the movie and cut all of his nonsense scenes, it would make for a much more enjoyable viewing experience.

The commentaries on the original should have been scene specific. It would have taken me 20 minutes to listen to them both instead of listening to the movie over again twice and have them talk every half hour. I have not had a chance to listen to the commentaries on the 2001 version yet.

Final thought about the challenge - this is my favorite one and I thought someday I might make it to 100 and I came pretty close last year. I don't think that will happen, though, unless I am single again and don't take any vacations in July. Maybe some year I'll break my leg or have major surgery so I have an excuse. Of course, I hope none of these things happen!!

I figured if we add sci-fi authors, there's got to be some fantasy authors as well. You play a good game but we both know your end game.