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

Vampires = fantasy (imagine your own female-related joke here).

I didn't think to take this with me for evening festivities. Anyone else fit this one into its natural slot?

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

Political Fantasy = The West Wing
Business Fantasy = The Social Network
Media Fantasy = The Newsroom
:D

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

I liked it! (once we I past the ridiculous idea that rebel Johnny Rico somehow made General. Honestly that may have been why I turned it off 20 mins in the first time I watched it)

And if I had a physical copy of 3 (which I might get now that I made it through the thing and kinda liked it) I would probably create my own custom cover which called it 2!

I may have to check that out, I have seen it a lot of places very cheap. Honestly I was afraid to have my love for ST shattered any more after the 2nd one so I have avoided anything but the first.

Related in name only, I think tonight will be a Zone Troopers night. This is one of my fav Charles band movies and is on Netflix streaming, so if you aren't expecting earth shattering gravitas but rather just an entertaining sci fi flick with its share of laughs....I highly recommend it.

"Butt me Mittens!"

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

Thanks for the ruling and the examples. Sinbad as Sword and Sorcery does make some kind of sense to me. But Mr. Peepers, do you mean that you've never seen any of the Harryhausen Sinbad films? Granted they may have some flaws but gosh I love those creatures!

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

I picked up a copy of 3 last BF on an amazon lightning deal. I'd not have purchased it otherwise simply because of "2". When I finally watched it I was surprised that it was a fairly good film and a worthy sequel. Far superior to that which is called "2". I had trouble getting past that first 20 minutes as well. Frankly when I heard the book was being turned into a movie I wondered how they'd pull it off. Turns out they really didn't but they *did* wind up with a couple of fair "popcorners".

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

I've probably seen them all, it's just been so long ago. I have some of his box sets, so I might as well pull them out for the challenge.

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

Netflix actually carries this week's Barbarella Blu-ray, for those of you who'd like to enjoy space fox Jane Fonda in 1080p without shelling out $15 for the privilege.

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

I'm only 4 films in but I will continue tonight. Favorite film so far was Retroactive from 1997. It's a road time travel movie that kind of feels like a mix of The Hitcher and Groundhog Day with lots of action. I just learned that the director did the sequel to The Hitcher, which I still haven't watched.

Anyone have any other Netflix recommendations for Sci-fi/fantasy?

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

The 1988 Starship Troopers anime never got released in the U.S. Where is it available that you know of? (I'm sure you can probably find it on-line somewhere.)

Apparently, there's a new anime production of STARSHIP TROOPERS--all CGI. Here's a link to a site with the trailer:
http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-new...a-big-ol-tease

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

Ah ha! I wasn't even aware of the 1988 one. I am referring the the one known as Roughnecks. I know zip about it, I've just seen it around bargain places.

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

The book is good serious sci-fi reading (the movie actually introduced me to the book, I am not a big sci-fi reader normally) but I love the tongue-in-cheek over the top manner of the first one.

The second one though....woof.

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

I just now finished Beyond The Black Rainbow....

I...

Um...

What is this? I don't even?

I liked it though, so, you know, take that for what it's worth.

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

For the first couple of days, I realized that my selections were coincidentally linked. The first day featured films directed by Richard Fleischer. The second day I watched Stargate and The Fifth Element which both begin in Egypt and feature effeminate male characters in major roles. However, I wasn’t able to link Brazil and Invasion of Astro-Monster on day three, and the system broke down.

While I am going to delve into uncharted territory, I’ve been re-watching some favorites. Brazil is one of my favorite Gilliam films. Jonathan Price is so perfect as the increasingly frazzled bureaucrat, and Katherine Helmond is simple hysterical as his vain, overbearing mother. Also, you have to dig her shoe hat. I first watched it in an undergrad film appreciation course and rented it shortly after to introduce to friends. However, it has been years since I watched it, despite having the Criterion edition on my shelf for years.

Today, I watched Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and The NeverEnding Story. Years ago, a friend enthusiastically showed me Final Fantasy while waving away my protests that I had never played the game and would be confused. He was wrong, and I had no idea what was going on for a majority of the time. This go-around I was more familiar with the game as well as anime storytelling and quite enjoyed it. Also, those children somehow manage to be creepy and cute at the same time.

The NeverEnding Story is just awesomeness with awesome on the side. May name my next cat Artax.

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

that's awesome! thank you very much :)

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

Last night I started out my Gamera movies with Gammera the Invincible. Plan to watch more Gamera tonight. And before I went to bed, I tapped once again into the Sci FI Classics set with She Gods of Shark Reef.

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

The original Japanese versions of all the Gamera movies, including the first one, are now out on DVD. GAMMERA THE INVINCIBLE was a GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS-style re-edit job with American actors inserted into it. In this case, Albert Dekker and Brian Donlevy were put into it, some 24 years after they'd fought the Japanese together in WAKE ISLAND (1942).

I watched SHE GODS OF SHARK REEF for the B-Movie Challenge in April. As Corman films go, this was one of the worst.

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

I own Gamera the Giant Monster as well, and plan to watch that too, I just started with the dubbed version. I own every Gamera movie made, as well as owning the MST3K box set of the Showa Gamera films.

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

For the most part, my entire challenge has been aliens. I bought The Alien Files: UFOs Under Investigation from Costco years ago and I just started disc 2 of 5. It got crappy reviews at Amazon but I like it a lot. Instead of letting any crackpot have their interview, it's more of a critical look at things, which isn't the stuff you normally see in UFO documentaries.

Before work I started one about hoaxes and they're going over a lot of the stuff I used to see in UFO books when I was a kid. Finally getting some resolutions to things.

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

slowed down the last couple days getting adjusted to being off vacation at work.

watched to new movies in
Hercules in the haunted world which never watched any sand and sandal type movie before *im assuming this is what that refers to* besides clash of the titans I really enjoyed this film and def wanna check out the rest of the genre that netflix has to offer

Galaxy of Terror it popped up on nwi a couple days ago and finally watched it last night and wow it was alot better then i thought it was going to be...and not asylum type good but i generally really enjoyed it and knew sid haig was in this but there was a few familiar faces especially surprised to see robert englund show up.

last title i watched was a re watch but havent seen it since it first got released and thats Battle Royale which iv never seen the directors cut and for once noticed the differences *well i believe i did* bc there seemed to be more flashbacks added that showed off more personality with the characters. only thing i noticed it seemed to have added more fake gore in a couple scenes as i dont remember much over the the top blood splattering. gonna watch the original cut soon to compare.

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

Just keep in mind that Hercules in the Haunted World is a Mario Bava film and a somewhat different animal then many of the other S&S (aka peplum) films. It's perhaps the best of the genre. I don't subscribe to Netflix so don't know if they are available but I'd recommend Hercules and Hercules Unchained with Steve Reeves as your next viewings. Goliath and the Dragon (1960) is another good entry. The genre was "done to death" during the early 60s much like the Spaghetti Western genre which followed so you'll fine good films and total wastes of celluloid. I'm a sucker for the genre and will watch any of them no matter how bad/chopped up for syndication. My favorites tend to be those starring Steve Reeves, Reg Park, or Gordon Scott. Clash of the Titans (either version) is not truly a "Sword and Sandal" film but more Adventure/Fantasy/Mythology film.

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

Tons of sword 'n' sandal films--and related Italian spectacles--played in theaters when I was growing up. Among the ones I remember seeing back then: HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD, GOLIATH AND THE BARBARIANS, SAMSON AND THE SEVEN MIRACLES OF THE WORLD, GOLIATH AND THE SINS OF BABYLON, THE MINOTAUR, THE TROJAN HORSE, THE MONGOLS, LAST OF THE VIKINGS, and GLADIATORS SEVEN. The first two to get released in the U.S. were HERCULES and HERCULES UNCHAINED and I got to see them on the big screen when they were re-released as a double bill in 1974, long after they'd premiered on TV.

And then they used to play on TV incessantly throughout the '60s and '70s, so I discovered a lot more then, including GOLIATH AND THE VAMPIRES and HERCULES, SAMSON AND ULYSSES. Plus there were lots of Italian pirate films and other swashbucklers including films about Zorro and Robin Hood. Good stuff.

Steve Reeves and Gordon Scott are definitely the stars to seek out. One of the best starred the two of them: DUEL OF THE TITANS, in which they played Romulus and Remus.

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

He toiled in quite a few other B/exploitation titles - Eaten Alive, Dead and Buried (which is a great film), The Fifth Floor.

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

I was really surprised at how good all of the Corman-produced Alien / Star Wars ripoffs are. Still slightly prefer Forbidden World for the faster pace and inclusion of Dawn Dunlap. :drool:

And speaking of Asylum, don't make the same mistake I almost did and avoid Eyeborgs because you assume it's one of their shitfests. It's not. If you can get past the somewhat shoddy CG, it's a very entertaining low-budget offering. And streaming on Netflix.

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

I have a quick question that I think I know the answer to but want to double check. I'm watching Van Helsing: London Assignment (got it cheap at Big Lots) and while neither IMDB nor AllMovie.com have sci-fi or fantasy listed, does it count for the challenge? I think it does, but if it doesn't, I'll just use it as a wildcard because it's pretty darn close, IMO. Thanks!

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

Lucky you! We didn't get any of those in the theaters *but* the local one to me *did* run almost *all* of the 60s Sci-Fi/Horror films during those years. *Always* a double-bill. There, TV "fright night", and Saturday Movie Matinee shows are where I got my taste for those films (and many others)! :) That's also where I saw most of the peplum films - especially the syndicated The Sons of Hercules package. It ran pretty regularly on TV Saturday movie matinees for a couple of years (along with even *more* Sci-Fi and Horror films).

When I look back at all the films I saw on TV, thanks to a couple of local stations with time to fill, I'm amazed. Then I become sorry for the current generation being brought up on the same 20 shows repeated on almost every channel and having to rely on old fogies like us to introduce them to those great old films.

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

Are you sure you looked at the right IMDB listing? The one I checked shows genres to be:

Horror | Action | Adventure | Animation | Fantasy | Short

which would allow it to count.

I got my copy at BL too. :)

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

:blush: Yeah, that's what happened. Both are 2004 and while I caught myself at AllMovie.com, I didn't at IMDB. Plus, I've been looking at the top genre row, with the top 3, it looks like, and didn't realize there were more if you scrolled down further. Thanks for answering so quickly!

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

2 places you can look for Hercules Unchained, are in the MC Sci Fi Classics 50 movie set, and it is also in the Warriors 50 movie set, also by MC. 50 Peplum movies.

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

No problem. I've been using those lower genre listings for so long I'd actually forgotten they have condensed versions at the top.

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

I just finished watching Avatar for the first time. I had heard so many good things about it and my expectations were pretty high going in which I try to avoid. I really had a hard time getting into the movie. I thought that the CGI was really noticeable and that throws me off. Once I was able to get into the movie, I was able to disregard it, but it took about half of the movie to really get interested in it. I liked the ending. I thought the birds were well done... I guess I was just expected to love it with all the hype and I just didn't.

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

Watched two more Gamera movies tonight, or rather 2 more versions of the first Gamera movie. Started the evening with Gamera the Giant Monster, and after that I followed with the MST3K version of the first Gamera movie.

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

I'll have to check out Gammera the Invincible. I watched Wake Island for the historical challenge last month and quite enjoyed it despite the odd comedic turns and "heightening" of history.

I also am unashamed to say that I found Godzilla, King of the Monsters fascinating. The editing is so interesting, especially when it has to rely on awkward shots and angles not usually used in films. It is also interesting to watch a film where the "main" character is mainly passive and outside of a majority of the action.

During this challenge, I've been gorging myself on Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is such an addictive show, especially after it hits its stride. Today, I rewatched Source Code which I first saw in theaters. My comments would delve too much into major plot spoilers, so I was just say that it made me happy and uncomfortable at the same time.

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

*Because* of the hype and wide popular acclaim I watched it the first time not really expecting much, but that also is because I'm not a fan of the work of James Cameron. The *only* film he's had a hand in I'll watch with any regularity is The Terminator. Avatar met my low expectations and was no better than I expected. That's not to say that Avatar was a "bad" film, but it is not as good as "Joe Q Public" would have you believe. There's *lots* of "eye candy" which distracts you from the very basic, terribly clichéd, and predictable story. It's the same with almost everything in his body of work where he's had a hand in the screenplay. As you noticed the CGI work is not as good as the Cameron Cheerleader Camp would have you believe, but I'm *far* less forgiving with CGI than "normal" visual effects. However, the visual effects are pretty much what kept me watching as the story provided little incentive.

There's a quote heading a Avatar review here on DVDTalk which says:

"Special effects are just a tool, a means of telling a story. People have a tendency to confuse them as an end to themselves. A Special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing." - George Lucas, 1985

That comment is very apropos to Avatar.

I could make almost the exact comments about The Abyss, another Cameron film which received similar hype on its original release, has good visual effects along with a basic, clichéd, and predictable story.

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

I meant to post this yesterday when I saw the listings but got tied up a bit and then just forgot.

TNT is running a couple of qualifying titles today starting at noon central time:

12:15 PM: Blob, The (1958)
1:45 PM: It Came From Beneath the Sea (1955)

Of course I missed The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao which ran earlier this morning. :( I originally saw that one when it first came out and recall being a bit concerned about watching the Medusa section. I sure didn't want to look at her and turn to stone! :lol: It's a old favorite and I'm still kicking myself for not purchasing a pressed DVD copy before it went OOP/MOD only.

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

---> TCM. TTCCS - Ted Turner Channel Confusion Syndrome. It's a thing. ;)

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

:doh: That's what happens when you type in a hurry!!! Thanks for the correction!

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

I think that's why I put it off so long. I figured I wouldn't like it because everyone else did and then I heard it so much, I bought into it. So many reviews said that the graphics would be great and, well, that's where I made my mistake. For most of the movie, it was distracting that the main characters were just not working right. They were supposed to move gracefully and be the perfect CGI creation, but they were jerky and awkward, IMO. And that just threw me out of the disbelief needed for the movie to work.

The eye candy is one reason to watch a movie, but for me, it's not the main one and it's probably what makes me different than most of the movie goers I know of. It has to have a good story for me to really be impressed.

Not that that stops me from watching the majority of movies that I enjoy but we all have to have our guilty pleasures, right? :)

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

Watching the Blu-ray version of THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. This series just never gets old. The BD of this is just fantastic.

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

I liked Avatar. It wasn't amazing or anything but it's something that I've been able to watch a second time. The Abyss is something I remember being praised for it's special effects but I always found it boring and something I have a hard time finishing in one sitting.

I've been spending the day trying to finish off Alien Files. I just started the last disc along with a Red Bull and 2 shots of vodka. The first doc is dealing with Mothman, Bermuda Triangle, el chupracapra and the second is technology or something. After that I'm either going to watch Alien Outlaw, which clearly inspired Predator, or watch the Futurama blus I have. I haven't seen any episodes since it started on Comedy Central but I've been buying them as they come out.

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

Watched Lost in Space on one of my local channels last night, and to keep plugging away at the Gamera movies, I also watched Gamera vs Barugon.