7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

7th Annual Sci Fi/Fantasy Challenge

Banner coming soon




Since my life is rather hectic this year, I am posting the discussion thread early to give me plenty of time to prepare for the challenge.

Dates: Dusk June 30-Dawn August 1st

Rules

Movies/TV shows should be labeled sci-fi or fantasy from either imdb.com or allmovie.com. Other labels don't matter as long as there is at least a sci-fi or fantasy label from one of those sites. Action/Sci-fi would be fine.

If anyone has a problem with something someone watches or just wants an opinion on if it's sci-fi or fantasy or not, ask here.

Sci-Fi/Fantasy documentaries are allowed but not DVD featurettes/interviews. Documentaries include UFO and alien abduction type shows.

As with the other challenges, the lists must be numbered or it won't count.

Use any counting method you prefer, as prize determination does not depend on number of items watched.

3 wild cards for all. Use for those shows you want to watch but know they really don't count but they're pretty close or borderline to counting.





Watching the movie with the commentary will count as an entry.

Watching multiple versions(theatrical and director's cut) of the same movie will also count.





How to win a prize

There's 1 ways to get an entry:
Participate by watching at least 1 item


Audio:

Sci-fi/Fantasy Radio

I'm treating audio harshly since this is primarily a movie/tv challenge. That being said, one episode, 4 hours with commercials, of Coast to Coast counts as one entry. It's the same format for TV, only doubled. The topic of the show has to be sci-fi/fantasy related, so it shouldn't be that much of a problem with Coast to Coast.

If you're listening to something without commercials, or can skip them, you're looking at 3 hours of audio for one entry.

1/4 entry = 45 minutes without commercials and 60 with commercials.

1/2 entry = 90 minutes without commercials and 120 with commercials.

3/4 entry = 135 minutes without commercials and 180 with commercials.

1 entry = 180 minutes without commercials and 240 with commercials.

Checklist:


Spoiler:
*Watching enough shorts or TV to count as one entry, you can use that one entry as a check on the checklist, as long as each of them count for whatever you're checking. You can mix and match what you've seen to make a check, they all don't have to be grouped together as a single entry on your watch list.

3 Wildcards allowed

Watch one film from every decade, starting with the 1900s.
--- 1900(No time limit but must be at least complete short film) - (optional)
--- 1910(No time limit but must be at least complete short film) - (optional)
--- 1920 -
--- 1930 -
--- 1940 -
--- 1950 -
--- 1960 -
--- 1970 -
--- 1980 -
--- 1990 -
--- 2000 -
--- 2010 -

Watch films in at least two languages other than English.
--- First language -
--- Second language -

Watch a film in 12 of the following -

--- Watch a MST3K/Rifftrax/Cinematic Titanic/Hosted version of a sci-fi/fantasy film -
--- Watch a film featuring laser blasters -
--- Watch a film made on a low budget (ex. Corman or Castle movie) -
--- Watch a film based on a novel -
--- Watch a film which was nominated for a Hugo or Saturn Award-
--- Watch a Documentary Feature -
--- Watch a Film From the Criterion Collection (Doesn't have to be Criterion Version) -
--- Watch a film with commentary -
--- Watch a film and at least two sequels -
--- Watch a film that takes place underneath the Earth -
--- Watch a film that takes place in space -
--- Watch a film that takes place on or under the sea -
--- Watch an animated film -
--- Watch a film with special effects by Ray Harryhausen -
--- Watch a film that takes place in the "future" but the year has already come and gone -
--- Watch a film and its remake/reboot


Watch 2 of the following
--- Written by/inspired by/or related in some way to the late Ray Bradbury/Phillip K. Dick -
--- Watch a film directed/produced/written by James Cameron/Steven Spielberg/Terry Gilliam -
--- Watch a film directed/produced/written by Gene Roddenberry/Edgar Rice Burroughs/Jules Verne -
--- Written by/starring/inspired by/ or related in some way to the late HP Lovecraft / Richard Matheson -


Watch 8 films directed by

--- Tim Burton
--- Hayao Miyazaki
--- David Cronenberg
--- James Whale
--- Ridley Scott
--- Paul Verhoeven
--- Robert Wise
--- Robert Zemeckis
--- The Wachowski Brothers
--- Jerry Warren
--- J. J. "Lens Flare" Abrams
--- Samuel Z. Arkoff
--- David Twohy
--- Richard Fleischer
--- William Cameron Menzies






Watch a film for each rating
--- G -
--- PG -
--- PG-13 -
--- R -
--- X/NC-17(Optional) -
--- Unrated -

Watch a film in 28 of the following subgenres:
--- Alien invasion -
--- Horror
--- Dystopian Society -
--- Post-Apocalyptic -
--- Alternate History -
--- Robot/Android -
--- Immortality -
--- Space Opera/Serial -
--- Mutants (non-critter) -
--- Comic Book -
--- Mad Scientist -
--- Comedy -
--- Time travel -
--- Giant Critters -
--- Prehistoric -
--- Paranormal -
--- Kaiju -
--- Tech Noir -
--- First Contact -
--- Space Soldiers -
--- Magical Beings -
--- Future Crimes -
--- Animalcadabra -
--- Myths & Legends -
--- Worst Movie Ever -
Not sure what qualifies? Check here for a description http://www.wattpad.com/3632123-fanta...sci-fi-fantasy
--- Arthurian Fantasy -
--- Based on fairy tale -
--- Urban Fantasy -
--- High Fantasy -
--- Sword and Sorcery -
--- Dark Fantasy -
--- Martial Arts Fantasy -

Watch a film starring 26 of the following actors:
--- James McAvoy
--- David Warner
--- Edward James Olmos
--- Sir Ian McKellen
--- Liv Tyler
--- Peter Dinklage
--- Charlize Theron
--- Winona Ryder
--- Lena Headey
--- Zoe Saldana
--- Ian Holm
--- Boris Karloff
--- Sir Cedric Hardwicke
--- Lionel Atwill
--- Evelyn Ankers
--- Abbott & Costello
--- Peter Graves
--- Hugh Marlowe
--- Richard Denning
--- Susan Cabot
--- Samuel L. Jackson
--- Tommy Kirk
--- Raquel Welch
--- Ray Milland
--- Roddy McDowall
--- Nancy Allen
--- Rick Moranis
--- Michelle Pfeiffer
--- Arnold Schwarzenegger
--- Kurt Russell
--- Sigourney Weaver
--- Alan Rickman
--- Tilda Swinton




Sponsors:

Hamiltonbooks


Prizes:


Group 1: OOP Double DVD set of Star Wars IV: A New Hope, with the Theatrical Edition; Event Horizon; Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus
Group 2: Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition; Gamera Legacy Collection, 1965-1999: 11 Movie Set
Group 3: King Kong: The History of a Movie Icon From Fay Wray to Peter Jackson (book); Battle: Los Angeles

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Reserved

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Reserved x2

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Nice! Count me in!

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

This is the discussion thread and not the list thread right? I have a bunch of films waiting in the queue and I want to start re-watching The X-Files for this challenge. I think there was a thread in TV Talk where someone was watching The X-Files, I might revive that thread with my progress.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

So looking forward to this. I wonder if it's possible to offer some alternatives on the checklist. For example, because Robot/Android is already represented, could we dump Cyborg/Cybernetic Revolt, since it's practically synonymous, in favor of something else like Dystopian Society?

If we want to shake up the categories, how about
-Space Soldiers (e.g., The Terminator, Aliens, Starship Troopers)
-Magical Beings (mermaids, yetis, fairies, unicorns, etc.)
-Future Crimes (e.g, A Clockwork Orange, Minority Report, Timecrimes)
-Animalcadabra (talking animals, hyperintelligent ants, etc.)
-Myths & Legends (e.g., Clash of the Titans, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Trollhunter)
-Worst Movie Ever!-(e.g., Troll 2, The Giant Claw, Turkish Star Wars)

Just throwing ideas out.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

This is the discussion thread yes. List thread will be up about a week or so before the challenge begins.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Sure thing, always open to new ideas for the checklist.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Looking over the checklist, I do have a couple questions/suggestions. Could some of them be watch 8/10 or 9/10 or something like that? Or at least these two:

--- Watch a film that takes place underneath the Earth -
--- Watch a film that takes place on or under the sea -

be combined? Maybe I'm the only one but I kind of struggle with these two and end up watching some bad B movies for them. Or for underneath the Earth, I think I've watched "Journey to the Center of the Earth" for both years I've participated-different versions, but still... :)

Also the watch something starring/inspired by have been the same directors/actors. Perhaps there are a others we could substitute in instead? Tim Burton, James Cameron, Peter Jackson, Stanley Kubrick, Gene Roddenberry or even Hayao Miyazaki (though he might fit better in Animation challenge). I'm sure there a bunch of others that might not be so well recognized but have a good body of work too...

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Sure thing. The current checklist is just a rough draft from last year and is always open to change. Busy today, but might get to some of these changes tomorrow.

Incidentally, does anyone know of a good free program like photoshop? As you may have noticed on the first page, it said banner coming soon, so I'd like to try my hand at making a banner, though I've never done one before. So don't be surprised if it turns out poorly.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

GIMP is quite good but can be complex.
GIMPShop is like GIMP but looks more like Photoshop.
Paint.net is a more simple (intuitive?) editor for Windows sytems.
Or you could grab a *free*copy of Adobe CS2 Photoshop (as well as the rest of the suite if you wish - Mac or Windows) by going here. You have to register for a Adobe account but it's free. Use a throwaway email address and fake street address if you don't want to get unwanted promitional stuff/nags. They *do* warn that the activation servers for CS2 products have been disabled so I don't know if a install would work or not but the keys needed are on the download page. The info about this came originally from Gizmodo.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I won't be able to work on the challenge today like I had planned. I may have an eye infection and that makes one eye painful and it has a lot of crusty discharge that almost glues the eye shut. It makes it painful and just plain discomforting to read for any length of time. I'll get to work on the checklist and banner as soon as my eye is better. Plan to make an eye doctor appt tomorrow.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I tend to watch plenty of this stuff in the summer, so I think I'll join in this year for the first time. Man, I'm looking forward to July and some time off work for watching stuff.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Cool, always glad to welcome new participants. Already started watching some sci fi as I watched some Star Trek last night.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Being the impatient soul that I am, I'm going to start watching The X-Files today. I'm pretty sure there will be plenty of episodes to watch when the challenge officially beings.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Cool. Have at it. I tend to watch sci-fi before the challenge too.

I also plan to get to work on the checklist either today or tomorrow, so don't worry, I haven't forgotten.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Checklist has been updated with all of the suggestions so far. Either later today or tomorrow, I'll start work on a banner to make the first post eyecatching.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

If anyone here has a Roku, there is an anime channel for free that has all 3 seasons on Star Blazers, season 1 of Macross II, the original Astro Boy, as well as 2 Yamato movies. The channel is called Manga.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I have a suggestion for the checklist to pose to the group. Could we use the same for format for actors as for genre and sub-genres (list and watch so many)? Sometimes I find the trios difficult.

Also, does Tom Cruise have too few credits (7 by my count) to add to the list? How about Sigourney Weaver or Alan Rickman?

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Looking at the checklist, the inspired by actors/directors are still the same. Any chance of getting some of them changed yet?

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I'm just waiting for ideas.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

You *do* know you don't have to watch a film with each person in a trio, right? :)

But, yeah... I, too, would like to see the trios broke apart and listed separately with a "watch a film with x actors" where x is perhaps 80-90% of the total, taking into account the number of films some of those have. For example, Mara Corday has only a few SF/Fantasy credits and would be a more difficult entry to complete.

Also do the same with the Producer/Director/Writer sections.

I'm also somewhat confused... there are *two* different "subgenre" sections. I think the top one got a subgenre heading by mistake - it had none last year. That top one could be broken up and included in other sections.

Completing 8 subgenres out of 32 doesn't seem like enough. 25-29 would be better if you're going to put a number on it. 28-29 is roughly 90% which I think would be a good target number.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Checklist is up to date, but still a work in progress. Keep the ideas coming. What would you like to see?

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

In that first section, change it to 12 and put:

in a section by themselves like the actors is done and drop the "starring" portion on Bradbury, Dick, Lovecraft, and Matheson. Basically a "Written/Directed/Produced/Inspired by:"

Change the decades requirements to either "10" or make the early ones (1900, 1920) optional.

Possibly combine "Myths & Legends" and "Based on fairy tale" as they are mostly the same thing.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I suggested these earlier for different directors: Tim Burton, James Cameron, Peter Jackson, Stanley Kubrick, Gene Roddenberry or even Hayao Miyazaki (though he might fit better in Animation challenge).

I'm ok with increasing how many we have to watch in a category, I just like having the ability to skip one or two of my least favorite genres and still be able to feel like I completed the checklist.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

D'oh, missed that. Will add it in next time I work on the checklist. Probably tomorrow. :)

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Will change those next time I work on the checklist. :)

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I like those and would say throw out the current directors/producers list(s) and do all new. Charles Band has been in the list for several years as has been Corman and Gilliam.

Here are a few more writers/directors/producers who've not been on the list the past few years:

David Cronenberg
James Whale
Ridley Scott
Paul Verhoeven
Robert Wise
Robert Zemeckis
The Wachowski Brothers
Jerry Warren
J. J. "Lens Flare" Abrams
Samuel Z. Arkoff
David Twohy
Richard Fleischer
William Cameron Menzies

Some have only a few credits (which is why we combined these and actors a couple of years back) but if you keep a list at 80-90% needed of the total it should be doable.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Cool. :)

Works for me! Maybe some new actors too? I know that this batch has been the same for at least a couple years now.

Alan Rickman
Patrick Stewart
Ian McKellan
Sigourney Weaver
Ron Perlman
Harrison Ford (might be stretching it, but he has starred in 2 very popular series that qualify!)
Tom Cruise (not a favorite of mine, but he's racked up some sci fi/fantasy titles)

Any more women actors anyone can think of or older actors that we haven't already covered?

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Here are more actors/actresses for a revised list:

James McAvoy
David Warner
Edward James Olmos
Tilda Swinton
Sir Ian McKellen
Liv Tyler
Peter Dinklage
Charlize Theron
Winona Ryder
Lena Headey
Zoe Saldana
Ian Holm
Hugh Marlowe
Boris Karloff
Sir Cedric Hardwicke
Lionel Atwill
Evelyn Ankers
Abbott & Costello
Peter Graves
Hugh Marlowe
Richard Denning
Susan Cabot
Samuel L. Jackson
Tommy Kirk
Raquel Welch
Ray Milland
Roddy McDowall
Nancy Allen
Rick Moranis
Michelle Pfeiffer

Several of those actors/actresses have only 2-3 qualifying films and many have only 4-5 so it may be prudent to fully check before including. There are also several who will be in a film with others on the list *or* match to a producer/director.

Finding "new" actors/actresses for the list is somewhat difficult as there doesn't seem to be many we've not already used who are known for SF/Fantasy. There were several names I recognized for certain films only to look up their filmography to find they only did 1 or 2 qualifying films.

Yes, A&C are a legit entry performing in at least 4 qualifying films. :)

Here are more producers and directors for consideration:
Ishirō Honda
George Pal
Irwin Allen
Terence Fisher
Jack Arnold
Sidney W. Pink

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Isn't Paul Verhoeven horror? I can't remember anything science fiction by him. But I could be mistaken.

Also, you could add Edgar Rice Burroughs to the Written By category. He's written the Tarzan books (there are tons of those movies out) and the Barsoom series (at least 3 movies (A Princess of Mars, John Carter, and can't think of the other one) of the first book have been made so I know there are a lot of things out there for him.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Nope. He directed: Hollow Man, RoboCop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers (hmmm.... I'd have sworn there were more by him...). I think most of the rest of his work is drama/thriller type stuff. I don't think he's directed a horror film.

Absolutely! I meant to put his name down but just forgot! :)

H.G. Wells and Jules Verne would be a couple more for the "Written/inspired by" category. I've not looked back to see if we've used either before.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Also, The Land That Time Forgot, The People That Time Forgot, At The Earth's Core

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Too many to quote, but everyone has posted good ideas. I'll work on the checklist this weekend, and possibly the banner too. With my mom's health problems, just haven't been motivated the past few days.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I'd never heard of Princess of Mars so I had to look it up. Ahhh.... an *Asylum* film... another piece of dreck produced to capitalize on a "Major Motion Picture" release (in this case, John Carter). Hmmm... sometimes these things can be bad/good campy fun... This one stars Antonio Sabato, Jr. and Traci Lords, has a few "good" reviews (of the "it's campy fun" type). I might have to seek out a copy... wait... did I just say that!?!?!

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Yeah, I own it, and love the campiness of it. Granted, it's not the best of films, but it was a fun watch!

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Checklist is updated. Sorry it took so long, but haven't felt that good lately.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Hey Shadokitty, good job on the list. I noticed that you have Hugh Marlowe in the actors twice. Also, we've had Edgar G. Ulmer and Charles Band on the list for years it seems like. Can we change one or both of them to someone else like maybe Edgar Rice Burrroughs and Jules Verne?

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Done.

Re: 7th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Looking good! Thanks for the hard work! I haven't been feeling the greatest the last couple weeks either-and it shows in the current challenge where I've barely watched anything.

Think that the higher numbers to complete the checklist look good. I do have one question/comment though-for the actors, do we want that high of a number? Maybe go down just a bit more for that one, like 23/33? Just seems like a high number of movies to hunt down...but honestly, if no one else objects, it can stay. Just a suggestion. (think my library is going to be seeing a lot of me for this challenge!)