Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Hmm, I'll have to look into a couple of those. Thanks for the suggestions.

I just watched a Clockwork Orange not too long ago, otherwise I'd pick that one but I have a hard time rewatching something so soon.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Speaking of airplanes, I found out the Spruce Goose is at a museum nearby. I've been trying to find time to show my wife The Aviator and then go check it out.

Another decent airplane museum is the one just outside of Hill AFB, Layton UT. I hear the skiing is good over there but I don't think those things combined make up for the sheer crappiness that is the state of Utah.

All the Batmen count. Some have a sci-fi genre but they're all pretty much close enough to count. I plan on going to watch the marathon going on tomorrow. The downside it that's I'll be going solo, much like Batman would if he were going to a movie.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Thanks for the heads up, Mister Peepers.

I saw TDK for the first time solo back in 2008. Still was a great time in the theater.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I used FLESH GORDON. It was...not the best movie most definitely deserved the X rating.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Just watched Once Upon a Warrior and Journey 2: Mysterious Island. I enjoyed both. Journey 2 feels like a guilty pleasure. Almost so bad that you have to like it. You can definitely tell it was made for 3D. Some of the action was designed for it. I know the first was well done in 3D but didn't get a chance to see this one in the theaters that way. I admit I laughed a lot more than I thought I would. There was only one or two places that I wished that they would have cut. The one question I really had through the movie about the animals after was what happens to them was answered in the deleted scenes. I can see why they deleted it but wish they had thrown that in there just so you wouldn't be left with that question.

Once Upon a Warrior was good as well. Loved the visuals. The colors were really vibrant and popped out at you. The story was good and the action scenes were done well. I didn't really know what to think about this one going in--blind buy a while ago as I got a great deal on it through Disney. While I've visited India, this is my first movie. I even enjoyed the music in it.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

It was a lot of fun watching The Neverending Story with my 4 year old. She really got into it and now days later even talks about The Nothing. ...But somehow she resists my attempts to introduce her to Star Wars (not even horrible CGI jabba in the crap update got her interest).

I think Alien 3 gets worse each time I watch it. Some of the atmosphere is nice but the forced parallels to elder movies, dismissiveness of Newt, and worse special effects ever really are grating. Presumably a corporation would lose interest in this alien after the unknown centuries Sigourney Weaver is in suspended animation.

The Scorpion King is also a no go.

I'm trying to plan how to cram more in the remaining days. I was hoping to marathon the Star Trek movies and Terminators.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Mine liked the prequels but the ANH put them to sleep, which to be honest did the same to me as a kid. That always took a few attempts to finish.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I can understand how Star Wars: A New Hope may have lost it's appeal but as a youth it was one of my favorite movies. I will have to demean myself by subjecting the family to the prequels after working through Return of the Jedi. Maybe I'll just skip straight to Attack of the Clones...

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

My grandson (age 8) asked to watch The Phantom Menace last night after finding a unopened Anakin Pod-Racing figure and a "Star Wars VI ROTJ R4-I9 ASTROMECH DROID 30th Anniversary SAGA LEGENDS Series Action Figure" (in like new condition but opened) at a flea market. He was asking what type droid he had and which movie but I didn't know so he asked to watch Episode 1 since he knew it had Anakin and the pod race. It must be the age... he laughed frequently at Jar-Jar and other lame humor sections but really enjoyed the pod race and final battle sequences. When I looked up the droid to see which model and movie I found one selling new for ~$20 on amazon and a used one for ~$33(!?) on ebay. He'll be pumped when I tell him that (he paid $2 for it) and Grandma is dreading it as she just knows he'll want to go back and get some more figures. :lol: But I'll pay too... he now wants to watch Episode 2...

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

All this talk about Star Wars is making me want to watch my Star Wars trilogy, 4-6

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

After a little over 10 hours, I'm back home from the Batman marathon and I'd normally get up for work in about 3 hours. I planned ahead and brought a couple energy shots, which worked but they're still in my system...my getting sleepy system.

Overall, it was pretty good. I only saw Batman Begins once when it came out on DVD and I didn't care too much for it. Watching it now made it seem a lot better and overall, I think it's better than TDK, which always seemed to lose it's steam in the last act. At least for me it always did. I'd say the 3 movies for $20 was worth it.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Began to miss the challenge, so I decided to squeeze in a few movies before I go on vacation on Sunday. I am even seriously considering filling my Ipod and my 2nd mp3 player up with vids so I can keep going on the sci fi challenge while I am on vacation. Couldn't locate my copy of A New Hope, so I decided to watch Star Trek instead. Last night I watched my copy of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

^Did you watch Space Seed for the prequel goodness? I tend to watch Space Seed, Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, and The Voyage Home in a marathon viewing.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Unfortunately no, as I don't have that ep, but I do have the box set of Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, and The Voyage Home. Plan to watch Star Trek III tonight.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

as my first wild card I'm including How to Train Your Dragon: Live Spectacular - talk about state of the art puppetry, and spectacle - wow!

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Is anyone familiar with the movie "Nazis at the Center of the Earth"? It is not listed in IMDB or Allmovie as Sci-Fi or Fantasy but is it safe to use as a wild card? And secondly, can you use a wild card on the checklist? ADDITION: the movie's synopsis, copied from the IMDB website states that "Researchers in Antarctica are abducted by a team of masked storm troopers. They are dragged deep underground to a hidden continent in the center of the earth. Here Nazi survivors, their bodies a horrifying patchwork of decaying and regenerated flesh, are planning for the revival of the Third Reich". It sounds close to fantasy and/or sci-fi to me.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Given that it's highly likely I'll be going back shortly to rewatch The Dark Knight Rises, do rewatches of the same movie in the same challenge count?

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I'm not. Not sure. Yes. I agree but then again, plots and titles sometimes mislead.

Not unless you're doing something like watching it sans commentary and then rewatch with commentary or a different version.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

IMO I would say it totally works for this challenge and hits the takes place under the earth check list point.

And maybe alternate history?

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Pretty sure theaters aren't going to be showing it with Christopher Nolan commentary.

How about IMAX vs. non-IMAX version? :D

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I imagine you could count a repeat viewing as a wildcard?

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Whoo hoo! I finished the checklist! I'm only missing the optional X/NC-17 rating check.

My last one was Illustrated Man which fulfilled the Ray Bradbury one. It was a bit odd, but worth the watch.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

All this recent talk about Star Wars got me in the mood to watch some last night, so instead of Star Trek III, I popped A New Hope into my dvd player when I was ready for bed last night.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

you got to upgrade to bluray - the lossless audio is insanely good!

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

True.

That's hitting the borderline but I don't have a problem allowing it.

The video quality on the OT is also insanely good.

I'm planning on finishing the last 5 chapters of Captain Marvel. Glad to say that it's holding up well, so far. I've watched lots of serials where about halfway through, everything just sort of falls apart.

Any objections to me using wild cards to watch the Gingerdead Man trilogy? I got a prop from the second movie in the mail today, so I'm itching to see it in action. If wildcards are ok for things like Nightmare on Elm Street, I can't imagine it wouldn't count towards a gingerbread cookie that comes to life and kills people, along with some time travel to the 1970s in part 3.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

With Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) I completed the checklist and all optional items! I'd planned to use Predator 2 for the NC-17 item and spent a bit of time looking for it in my library (which is somewhat disorganized). I finally broke down and looked in my database to see when it was entered as that would give me a better idea of the section in which I'd find the copy. I discovered *I do not own a copy*! I'd have sworn I purchased this a couple of years ago and had watched it on DVD! Oh well...

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

'Bram Stoker's Dracula' also got a NC-17 rating due to the karma sutra book that Lucy and Mina look at.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I've read mixed reports about that with most indicating it *almost* got a NC-17 but Coppola did some editing and it got a R. My database shows NC-17 and it pulls that data from IMDB during initial entry. While IMDB currently doesn't show it to have ever received a NC-17 it apparently *did* at some time. That's why I used it for the NC-17 checklist item. I'd wanted to watch something *besides* A Clockwork Orange this year. I'm still a but bummed about not having a copy of Predator 2. I'm actually debating finding and using another film for NC-17 since BSD technically doesn't appear to qualify.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I have to say that Children of Men may be one of my favorite films of the past decade. Just finished watching and I truly want to watch it again. Very moving film.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

asnt it mentioned if netflix has a title listed under sci fi or fantasy it would be allowed? believe i read that in this thread. GB3 is on netflix under sci fi

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Been noticing Les Tremayne in quite a few of the movies I've watched this month. He might be a good addition to the starring in a film category next year.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Pic?

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

It's Knob Goblin's head. His head gets shot off near the end and lands in a pool of blood. At one point it had a pointy gnome hat, you can still see the hot glue and there's a tiny bit of the fabric stuck to his head, but the guy I got it from didn't have it.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...9/download.jpg

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Today I watched Cyclops (2008), a originally "made for sy-fy" movie (didn't know that when I purchased a copy) that was co-produced by Roger Corman. It wasn't *too* bad, especially considering its original venue but I could never tell if I were watching a Fantasy film about a Cyclops or a Gladiator film that just happened to have a Cyclops as a character. There were *several* scripted moments where the acting and/or lines were so bad it was laugh-out-loud funny.

I followed that one with Conan the Barbarian (2011). I didn't have very high hopes after reading reviews and it met those low expectations. It was *very* cliched and predictable with the unfortunately now typical CGI type action sequence every 10-15 minutes. Typical "summer blockbuster" type fare. What a bore! What's so hard about delivering an actual *story* for once? Why didn't the writers at least attempt to adapt a Robert E. Howard story? Why is it the current cropy of makers of this type film seem to think all viewers want is a bunch of action sequences strung together with witless dialog? The sad part is this was a big budget film that truly wasn't much better than the made-for-sy-fy film Cyclops. Frankly, Cyclops was a bit more "fun".

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Harry Potter marathon has been derailed by out-of-town guests who, ironically, are big HP fans but the little kid has read the books but is too scared to watch the later movies.

Held off on renting John Carter til this month and liked it. :up: I'm a big fan of the character, though.

Also held off on Prometheus till this month and liked that too, though had some problems with it. Have gotten through <s>29 pages</s> 700 posts of the reviews thread. :)

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I hit #100 tonight with Gorgo (1961). I don't know how I've gone all these years and have never seen this one, especially considering it came out while I was a kid. I'd have thought it would have run on the local "creature feature" program. If it did, I missed it. Yes, it's a "rubber suit" monster but it benefits from a fairly good script and very good effects and miniature work.

I find it interesting that the 2 better films I've watched today came from 1957 and 1961 (The Brain from Planet Arous & Gorgo) with the lesser ones being from 2007-2011. Of course this plays to my preferences which run towards those 1950s/1960s "B" films.

And Gorgo makes the 2nd film I've seen in a few days in which Big Ben was destroyed. V for Vendetta was the other. Both were first time viewings as well.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Good job! I was on track to hit 100 and then I started slowing down and now I'm too far behind. Looking back, I was doing better when I had a mix of TV shows and movies.

Did you know they're renaming Big Ben to Elizabeth Tower? Maybe they already did. Either way, I think it's stupid.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

What the fuck?

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

It's because it is Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee.

Wasn't going to watch Lord of the Rings for the challenge, but broke down and started to. I have a mishmash of versions of the 3 films. When it came out, I was nowhere near the collector I was now, and while I liked the movies, I didn't care how I watched them so I picked up the 2 disc Fullscreen (I know!) edition of all 3 movies. Over the years I've picked up better copies for the first 2, but not the 3rd. But for the first one, Fellowship of the Ring, I have the special edition 4-discer (6 bucks last fall at a pawn store). The 2nd one, I have the special edition (red thinner box one). I've been looking for the Return of the King, at least in ws, but haven't found it in my price range yet.

So anyway, it was the first time I'd watched the extended version. I didn't notice the extra footage. It fit in well and it's been long enough since I've seen the basic films, I didn't notice the differences. Thought it went by pretty fast. I'm going to try to watch the next one tomorrow.

Re: 5th Annual Summer Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I had a patience-stretching double-feature last night: Tobor, the Great (an extremely misleading title) and Stranger from Venus. The latter was basically a remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, but with all action, special effects, and compelling characters removed. Everyone sits around small, shabby rooms for 75 minutes droning on pointlessly. It may possibly be the most boring and uninvolving sci-fi film I've ever seen, despite the presence of Patricia Neal, who is surrounded by, in the words of Guy Woodhouse, a bunch of Charlie Nobodies. Tobor plays like a clunky, unconvincing serial unwisely stretched to feature length, although I was momentarily interested by the involvement of the young boy from Night of the Hunter. Unfortunately, he is saddled with some truly awful dialogue, including the breathless declaration, "Gee Tobor, you're beautiful!", when he first sets eyes on the rinky-dink robot.