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

I thought the History Challenge ended at midnight, so there was no double credit?

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

I'm jealous of you Shadokitty! I Only have the complete series of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Lost in Space. All those that you mentioned are shows I watched as a kid. Good times!

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

FYI, here's a compilation of MST3K episodes available on Youtube.

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

It's time for one of my questions about what qualifies. I'm looking at using The Illustrated Man from 1969 for a film written by or starring Ray Bradbury, however, I believe he wrote the book that inspired the movie and Howard Kreitsek wrote the screenplay. Does the movie still qualify? I've edited this to add this question, does the movie Man-Thing qualify for the sub-genre Comic Book?

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

I'd not actually looked at the start/ends thinking all had converted to the "starts at local Midnight, ends at local Sunrise" method. Based on the posted start/ends it looks like there is an hour overlap in my time zone (Central).

History:
This challenge will run from 12:01 AM 1 June until 11:59 PM 30 June.

Sci-Fi:
Challenge Starts July 1st at 12am EST, ends August 1st at dawn.

Now that's in theory... in actuality I truly believe Mister Peepers didn't take into account that starting with that absolute gives a 1-3 hour advantage to those of us living in the Central, Mountain, or Pacific zones. I'm thinking the true intent is more like "Midnight local time". So... looks like my plan is a bust! :( Oh well, I'll still end with that series as it'll make a nice overlap in theme. :)

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

Can you guys tell me if The Land That Time Forgot or The People That Time Forgot would be good for prehistoric? I mean, it has dinosaurs and stuff in it. I just don't know if I could categorize it as prehistoric. Any thoughts?

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

Yes to both. I'll clarify Ray in the checklist and Man-Thing is at least based on the character, so that's close enough.

I'm going to remove the EST from the rules so it's local starting time. That being said, I will change this and the animation challenge, to start a day early so we can have a day of overlap.

I'd count them. They end up taking place in a forgotten land, that's basically age of dinosaurs.

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

^^ Mister Peepers beat me to it! :)

FWIW, on Wikipedia both are in the Pre-Historic Fantasy Films wiki.

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

Great! Thanks guys!

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

I have three suggestions for the checklist (with probably more to come): add Richard Carlson to the actors (9 sci-fi films), Curt Siodmak to directors (22 sci-fi films) and add Plague/Virus to the subgenres (virus has 79 sci-fi films, plague has 45 but they might duplicate).

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

Another suggestion, could we add a couple more director choices to the "Watch a film directed by Ed Wood", there are actually only a few choices for this one, maybe we could find another iconic director to add and also maybe count movies written or creatively consulted by Ed Wood also.

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

^
As far as other genre directors of the 'B' variety that might make appropriate substitutions for Ed Wood, how about Bert I. Gordon?

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

Sweet! Original plan back on! :D

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

It's time for an obvious question that I hope to get a different answer for. While looking for a sci-fi/fantasy movie that won an Oscar I came across The War Game from 1965, a documentary about nuclear war between the US and the USSR and its aftermath for an English city. Strangely enough, it won the 1967 Oscar Best Documentary Award even though it was a work of fiction, anyway, I had never heard of it, thought it would be great, it's on Netflix streaming, but it's only 47 minutes long. Would that disqualify it from the checklist?

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

I'm thinking of trying to do this challenge for the first time (first challenge at all). I may have a fair amount of time on my hands and since this is one of my favorite genres, thought it'd be a good first challenge for me. I just have a couple questions to make sure I'm understanding the challenge right.

For counting, the 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 full entry that is discussed with tv shows applies to all movies? So if it's a 90 minute movie, it counts as 3/4 an entry? And a 120 minute movie is one full entry, right?

Second question: Movies can't overlap, right? For example, if it counts as one of the list like made in the 1980s, could it also count for an animated film?

Last question (for now :) ), for watch a movie starring the people chosen, is it one person per line or all the people? Or is it 4 of the people?

I know I don't have films by everyone on the list and some lines I don't have any films with any of the actors, but some lines I have movies with each of the people in it (ex. I have Bruce Campbell movies and I have one with Faith Domergue in it but none with Joey Wang/Maggie Cheung/Gloria Talbot in) so mainly I'm wondering if I could watch one of my Bruce Campbell movies and have it count and have the Faith Domergue movie count as well. Just making sure I do this right!

Thanks for the answers...

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

It's obviously Mister Peepers' call, but I think War Game would be a great choice - the director, Peter Watkins, has made several fascinating "fictional documentaries", including another one that would be perfect for the challenge, the dystopian Punishment Park.

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

Welcome to the madness! :D
Movies stand alone. If it's a non made-for-TV movie and only runs 55 minutes (as a "B" movie from the 50s could do) it still gets a full entry. TV shows were done that way to allow that content in what were originally "movie" only challenges. Something was needed to level the playing field as far as time was concerned and is based on "a 2 hour TV show actually runs only about an hour and a half" which makes it "movie length". It's a nice middle ground as far as the run time is concerned. Films considered "Theatrical Shorts" (mostly cartoons but other short-subject films also fit this) are computed as if they were TV content.
For the checklist? Sure they overlap. Some people like to see how many checklist items they can get from a single film while others like to *not* re-use a film for any checklist item. Do whatever suits you best.
All you need is *one* from the list in that line. Those used to be separate entries but there were always a few that had only a handful of qualifying films *or* that someone didn't like any of their work. They were combined to make the checklist a bit easier by allowing you to select one from the list.
You need at least *one* person from the line for it to count. No moving them around.

BUT... the checklist is still in the planning phase so you could petition Mister Peepers to move them around a bit, find a title qualifying title that's available for streaming/renting, *OR* use it as an excuse to purchase something new. I've added several titles to my collection because I needed something to complete a checklist entry.
You're welcome! :)

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

I wouldn't disqualify it from the checklist but it was a TV movie, so in this case it would count as a 1/2 entry.

I recall watching it a few years ago and it was pretty good. I'd recommend a double feature with it and When the Wind Blows. The latter isn't listed as sci-fi or fantasy on the sites I looked at but it is animated, so you could do both on the crossover day between this and the animation challenge.

You could also make it a theme day by adding in Grave of the Fireflies and Barefoot Gen, both of which I thought were also good. There's a Barefoot Gen 2 as well but I haven't seen it.

Bob covered it all but the only thing I'll add is that the special counting for TV shows also includes shorts. So you can watch 90 minutes of shorts on youtube and group them all together as an entry.

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

Thanks for the answers! Glad to hear about the overlapping, that may help. I think I may try to do them individually, but it would be fun to try to get one movie to cover several of the options and see how many you get. I may just go with what I'm feeling like watching and go from there...

I'm glad that whole movies count as 1 as long as it wasn't made for TV. I know I have several that are fairly short so that will definitely help!

No need to switch the names around unless you really want to! The only one I remember having two on the same line is in my example. I just wanted to make sure that it wouldn't count.

Normally I'd take the chance and buy, but I'm very broke right now. I haven't been able to work for a year as I was diagnosed with cancer last summer. I was hoping to go back to work by now (Cancer free as of April!) but one last problem is taking forever to heal. I may have surgery for it (find out tomorrow) which is why I think I'll have extra time sitting around in July. :)

Depending on how well I do, I may check out streaming online for them. Definitely an idea I have to remember.

Thanks again!

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

Damn, LJG765--sorry to hear that. Hoping for good news tomorrow, and that participating in the challenge will help with recovery.

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

Sorry to hear that LJG, hope you have good news tomorrow.

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

Sorry to hear about your illness LJG765! Here's hoping all works out for the best!

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

Thanks all! I'm doing so much better! I'm cancer free right now and the doctors think they got it all. They did catch it in stage 3, but only found it in two lymph nodes, so don't think that is truly a worry. I went through chemo and radiation (both sucked, but I'd rather do that than worry about a re-occurrence).

I just have to build up my stamina now as I get really tired anytime I exert myself (which makes watching movies really easy to do as all I have to do is sit there! :)) I do find out today if I have to have surgery to fix an abscess that I've been dealing with since last July that is related to my main surgery where they took out the tumor.

I've had really good health care as I've been able to go to a Mayo affiliated health system and was actually sent to the Mayo Rochester for my main surgery and some radiation so have had access to some of the best doctors in the world. I'm lucky that I live within driving distance of Rochester so that was possible. Finances, however, are really tight, but I'd rather be broke than sick! I've also had really good support from family and friends which has made everything I've gone through bearable and possible. I've been very lucky that way.

Well, off to the docs, but I've been promised a movie afterwards if I'm good. *grins*

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

Would the 1966 Batman count as Fantasy?

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

Allrovi lists one of its genres as fantasy, so, yes.

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

The answer: A TV, DVD player and an exercise bike :)

When my kids had swimming lessons at the Y and I had to pick them up after work, I'd make sure to have some movies on my Zune and then I'd plant myself on an elliptical until they were done. It's the best of both worlds. 1/2 couch potato watching movies and the other half is fitness.

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

LoL. Yeah, I've been thinking about doing something like that. No bike, but we have an exercise machine that would work. Just have to get enough energy to do it!

Bad news is that I'll have to have the surgery. *sigh* but, it is an outpatient one. Healing time is about 3-4 weeks, but hopefully at the end of it, I'll be fully healed. Ironically, my surgery date is one day after the one year anniversary of the first surgery to deal with the problem! This time at least, it's not at 3 a.m. in the morning! But it does mean that I'll be laying around a lot so will have plenty of time for this challenge. :)

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

^Well, that stinks, especially in light of what you've been through the past year! As you say, at least it'll be outpatient and hopefully bring you back to full health.

I wish you well for your impending surgery and recovery as well as with the challenge!

This challenge is my favorite. I started my journey into mega-movie-watching with this one a couple of years ago and haven't looked back, participating in just about all of them at this point. My family and co-workers think I'm nuts but I thoroughly enjoy them.

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

After becoming somewhat disillusioned with the historical challenge due to all of the people complaining that it should be stricter, I've actually taken to starting to watch some sci fi in anticipation of the sci fi challenge already. Last night I watched an ep of Lost In Space, and an ep of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

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

^Same here. Started watching Star Trek: Deep Space Nine again. Probably my favorite of the Star Trek shows.

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

Just picked up seasons 1-4 of MacGyver. Gonna cherry pick at least two sci-fi episodes for the challenge.

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

Just don't go burning yourself out to early, you eager beavers.

List thread is up, so you can spend the week making a prettier list than I could ever come up with.
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/dvd-talk/60...st-thread.html
I still need to add in the last few suggestions to the checklist. If there's any others, feel free to throw out ideas, especially for any more groups of actors.

I don't really have anything set in stone for what I'm going to start with. I guess a day of Ancient Aliens, to overlap with the history challenge. After that I'm stumped and might just go alphabetically through my unwatched stuff till I figure something else out.

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

Another group of actors:

James Coburn/Ross Martin/Dick Miller

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

More actors to consider: Michelle Rodriguez; David Warner; Tilda Swinton; Natalie Portman; Peter Cushing; Bruce Willis; Kurt Russell.

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

I could never burn out on science fiction/fantasy. I would love to re-watch Babylon 5 as well.

Speaking of which...Babylon 5 could really use a blu-ray release. I would love to see a little touch up to it.

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

that was what I was thinking of doing also :) Is there some kinda order of watching the entire TV show together with the made for TV movies?

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

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/3758287-post5.html

To that order you can add The Lost Tales at the end

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

I have a question about the checklist. Can you use enough TV shows or shorts for an entry in your list to satisfy a checklist item? For instance, could you use two episodes of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea which are enough for a list entry to satisfy the "Under/On the water" checklist item?

I realize film is specified throughout the checklist but it could be shorthand for something like "film or film equivalent". I've wondered about this more than once but never got around to asking about it.

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

Yes.

I'll also clarify that for the future.

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

Thirded!
I'd just be happy if they'd *remove* the horrendous attempt to take a product produced for 4x3 make it WS. While it worked, for the most part, there are many shots that are severely compromised to force them into a WS format.