Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Looking forward to a Lord of the Rings marathon sometime this month. Bought the extended editions, along with a couple documentaries on Google Play tonight. Don't plan to watch The Hobbit trilogy however. Watched it last year, and didn't really care for it. Making a trilogy out of a single book just didn't work in my mind.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Although not listed that way anywhere, I'd almost call Ernest Goes To Jail scifi, or at least fantasy. You could wildcard it.


I was also surprised how much I enjoyed it, after all the bad reviews. I'm considering a rewatch, maybe in October.

My family and I walked out of that movie when we went to see it at a dollar theater shortly after it came out. I'm not a Will Farrell fan either (with the exceptions of Stranger Than Fiction and Megamind), but was a big fan of the TV show as a kid. They totally make a mockery of it. It's absolutely terrible.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Yeah, I thought of that but those scenes are *small* parts of the overall film. I have enough without them so I can wait.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

When I first saw Megamind I had *no* idea Will Ferrell was the voice of Megamind, and didn't know until someone told me a few days later when talking about how much I enjoyed the film. It's the *only* work I know of that Ferrell's been involved with as a actor that I like. But that's the way I like it with animation voice actors.

For me there's almost nothing worse than recognizing the voice of a live action actor in a animation. I want animated voices to be as unique as possible. When a kid it always bothered me when the voice of a favorite character showed up on another show as a *different* character with the *same* voice! It would take me out of the story a bit. With live actors, if I *hear* Robin Williams, for example, in my mind's eye I *see* Robin Williams and *not* what the animators put on the screen and am immediately taken out of the film (one of many reasons I dislike Disney's Aladdin). Yes, even Sterling Holloway as Pooh - even though his voice is *perfect* for the role. If advertisements/trailers for a animated feature is in-your-face about *who* the voice actors are I typically take it as a bad sign and stay away as they're luring you in based on popular actors and *not* for the story they're telling.

I've not watched Megamind in several years. Maybe I should get it out for a viewing...

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I have a BR "upgrade" (in quotes simply because I think my extended DVD sets look amazing and don't see how they could be improved enough to truly notice) coming of the extended LOTR films. I usually take a Saturday every year or so to do a viewing of the entire trilogy - makes for a long day.

I enjoyed The Hobbit and like the extended versions of that one better in spite of it being longer than necessary to tell the story as it was in the novel. At least they pulled in material from the appendices to "The Return of the King" for much of the filler which makes it more acceptable. It's a shame they didn't have rights to "The Silmarillion" or "Unfinished Tales" as material from them could have helped make for a better overall story.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I liked that one. It was also a kickstarter/crowdfunded project and I guess they did the same thing last year for a sequel.

Your Will Ferrell is my Halle Berry. She's not good at delivering lines, only has a few different facial expressions(blank, surprised/blank, blank face with smile, trying to be tough*), and it seems the movies she's ever critically acclaimed for are the ones she's topless in.

*but that one isn't nearly as awful as when Gene Autry scrunches up his face in a western to scare off bad guys.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I do own the first two Hobbit movies, and have access to the third on Cinemax On Demand. Perhaps I'll give it another shot. I might have been in the wrong mind set the first time I watched the trilogy.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I was the same way. Didn't know it was him, which would have probably subconsciously influenced my opinion of the movie. It is now one of our family favorites. I just got the 3D version and want to watch it this month or August.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I'm right there with ya on Halle Berry. Another for whom I avoid the film if I see her name listed.

I crack up every time Autry does that! It always reminds me of Jackie (Jackie Cooper) in the "Our Gang" shorts when he's trying to look "mean."

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Could be - but it's *not* as good as the LOTR trilogy. I really like the story and because of that am more forgiving of the films' weaknesses.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I *know* it would have influenced my initial viewing. I'd have gone in already disliking the film because of his presence. It just proves that *sometimes* ignorance *is* bliss... :)

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Parts of G.I. Joe mini series have sci-fi listed as a genre tag, and with Cobra Commander being from a mysterious land, and a lot of the Cobra plots do have a sci-fi bent. Would it be allowed to count the series?

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

first time viewing today of Time Bandits. what a great movie. if your a monty python fan its a must watch

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I just turned off a movie that I put in. I thought Giants Of Rome would count, being in Mill Creek's 50 Movie Sci-fi Classics set, but I saw no fantasy or sci-fi elements in it, just a regular peplum.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I believe the past, official, ruling is that if it's in such a set it counts even if it doesn't have the requisite genre tag(s) at IMDB and/or Allmovie.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I think I remember that, along with movies on SyFy, right?

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Sounds good to me. :)

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I've been plugging away, shirking responsibilities to watch movies! This evening I watched Fahrenheit 451 for the first time and greatly enjoyed it. Julie Christine is great in her dual roles, especially as the sedate, vacant wife. In the scene where she plays a role in the teleplay, she deftly oscillates between joy and uncertain fear, and it gave me goosebumps. Oskar Werner is also wonderful, and I want to check out some of his other roles. I did see him in Stanley Kramer's Ship of Fools (one of those melodramatic ensemble films that I love), and he was good as the morose doctor.

Earlier this week, I watched Mad Max. I hadn't seen it before, and it wasn't quite the film I thought it would be. It was a lot more relaxed and not as exploitative as I imagined it would be. In fact it was a lot more emotional than comedic than I would have thought. I'll admit that I teared up. I enjoyed the campier aspects (can Fifi be in all the movies, please?) and the great world building. There's a scene where the evil biker gang attempt to menace an old guy in a gloriously over-the-top fashion, and his laconic indifference tells made me laugh. Then later, the gang assaults and rapes a couple who respond with sheer panic and a catatonic stupor. All these responses feel right, and George Miller makes sure that each hits home.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

For those who are doing the checklist, I just watched Cinderella or the Glass Slipper directed by George Melies. It's about 24 minutes long, silent film. I really enjoyed the transformation of the carriage. It was well done. It's not his most well known work (that's A Trip to the Moon), but one of his last. It definitely helps the checklist as well!

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

FAHRENHEIT 451 has one of Bernard Herrmann's greatest scores.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I just finished a good movie, though it wasn't quite what I was expecting. Appleseed: Alpha was on Sony Movie Channel. It was enjoyable, but being Appleseed, I was expecting an anime. Instead, it was a CGI movie.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Now that you've seen Mad Max (I hope you watched with the Aussie soundtrack - it's better) you need to watch Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, if you've not already done so. The plot is a bit more "fantastic" and less "emotional" or personal than the first film. I saw The Road Warrior first and was somewhat surprised by the difference in tone and direction of the first film. And sorry, no Fifi. All semblance of "normal" life is gone in The Road Warrior and Beyond Thunderdome.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I'd forgotten how much I used to like Supernatural. I used to watch it religiously in it's first season, and at one time had an autographed picture of Jensen Ackles. I just finished an episode on TNT, and the show was just as good as I remember it. I might have to start watching the show on Netflix.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I watched Crack in the World (1965) last night. It was the 2nd time I've seen the film as it's a film I'd avoided for decades as it sounded like "just another disaster film." It's not. A scientist attempts, against advice (isn't that the way all these films start? :D), to tap into the Earth's core for power. His attempt goes awry and a crack forms. If it can't be stopped, the Earth will split in two. Fun stuff. I don't know *how* I didn't see this as a kid as it *should* have played on the late night "Horror Host" program in my area.

I caught it last year somewhere (don't know if it was TCM or Amazon streaming) and enjoyed it far more than I'd thought I would - enough so that I purchased a copy.

After that I started the "recent" series Falling Skies. I'm currently 3 episodes in and it's moving somewhat slowly, although it's still holding my interest. Like many such SF series, it's rather derivative and there are plot points that you wonder why they aren't explained or dealt with before they become burdens. Part of me wonders why I'm bothering as it's executive produced by Steven Spielberg and is a production of Dreamworks television. I generally do *not* care for SF stuff from Spielberg. At least he's not directing - don't get me wrong - I like most of his humanistic and adventure films, just not the SF stuff.

Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I wouldn't be surprised if they strained the genres just to fill out a 50-film set. ;)