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

In all fairness, the original Solaris isn't eligible, as it is 21st century movies.

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

Wow, I just watched Wolf Children and it is really good. It's a bit sentimental, but very sweet. It's paced slowly, but it didn't bother me at all. I just kind of wanted it to keep going. It's everyday moments going to more moments.



Anyway, I really did enjoy it. It's beautifully drawn. At times the background looks really solid and real even. I would definitely recommend the watch to anyone else on the fence!

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

Glad you liked WOLF CHILDREN, LJG. I was lucky to see it on the big screen in 35mm rather than digital projection and then I got to interview the director. I now have it on Blu-ray and have been meaning to watch it for either this challenge or next month's.

I didn't get to watch anything yesterday because I spent the day working on my latest blog entry, which covers the last two seasons of the Pokémon animated series. I was prompted to do so by all the coverage of Pokémon Go in the media, with virtually no mention of the TV series, which is still going strong after 19 seasons and currently features the franchise's most interesting female character.

https://briandanacamp.wordpress.com/...ons/#more-4751

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

38/50. I need to watch more contemporary sci-fi.

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

I've watched a couple of re-releases of classic films done by Olive for this challenge. While they've done a very good job with the prints the lack of SDH (IMHO something that should be a requirement on all releases) is a major disappointment. That's caused me to reconsider picking up some of their titles. I think they've been listening as I've read they've started including them on newer releases which is good, but doesn't help those already released.

I do a lot of late night viewing and SDH makes it possible to keep sound levels low and still know what is said in low level sections. While not as critical on older releases (they usually have a better audio mix with less dynamic range yet still manage to effectively communicate suspense/action/etc. without blasting you out of your seat) it's essential for newer releases. You know the ones... if you set the sound for "tolerable" loud sections you can't hear the "soft" ones and if set to hear the soft sections the loud ones wake the neighbors two houses down. I know some people like that excess in dynamic range. I do not, and never have - in the theater or at home.

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

I started today's challenge viewing with an episode of Ancient Aliens that I actually started last night, but was too tired to finish. It was a Season 3 episode that discussed mysterious rituals around the world.

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

^Are you doing a rewatching of that series? It seems as if you've been watching it for the past 3 years! :)

Every time I see you post about a episode it makes me think I need to get mine out and continue. I think I've only watched S1 so far and own up through S6.

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

Yeah, I started with Season One last month, and am working my way through Season 3 right now.

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

I really did enjoy it. I kept an eye out for the lack of growth with the kids too because of one of your posts/articles and I did notice it but to me, it wasn't too jarring. I'd have loved to see it on the big screen, but we just don't get a lot of films that aren't mainstream around here. Too small of an area. There is a 2nd run theater that is slowly getting a few "artsy" films in after a remodel last year, but so far they haven't shown anything not local. Which is cool, don't get me wrong, but I'd love to get some of the smaller independent films here or even Oscar short collections during February. Oh well...luckily my local library is pretty good at getting the harder to find things for me!

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

I might be seeing the new Star Wars film when I'm at Airventure next week. It is the Friday night movie at the Fly In Theater on the Convention Campground. I say might, as it depends on how tired I am at the end of the day and if I want to deal with the crowds.

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

I saw it a few months ago, but if anyone has Netflix and is game for a cute, charming, indie sci-fi/musical/comedy I recommend The History of Future Folk :) Kind of like a sci-fi themed Flight of the Conchords (and like that show, the duo behind Future Folk actually exist as a musical duo).

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

If anyone got any value from that list, here's their list of The 20 Best Fantasy Films Of The 21st Century So Far.

I've seen all but 1 (Tale of Tales ... which sounds like something I should check out). Understandably, to give the list some variety they didn't load it up with multiple movies from the same series (like Harry Potter, LOTR) or Disney/fairy tale movies. Wolf Children did make the cut :thumbsup:

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

I just finished a first time viewing of The Martian (the theatrical version). Wow! What a *good* film! It was quite a surprise as I've come to not expect much from newer films which receive accolades because it frequentlly feels like "critics" are elevated fanbois with few being honestly objective, especially in regards to genre films.

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

See what I mean about duct tape? ;)

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

:lol: Yeah... I was talking to the screen going "You missed a spot!!!" :D I liked the Iron Man bit too. :)

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

today i cracked open the Kino Complete Metropolis. This version is the 2010 restoration with 25 minutes of footage that was discovered in argentina. im an hour into it and the copy is tremendous with a score from 1927 recreated by rundfunk symphony.

id highly recommend people to go out and get this blu ray if you dont have it.

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

I don't know how much challenge viewing I'll get in the rest of the month. I leave on vacation on Wednesday, and the next few days will be busy getting ready to go.

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

i am slowing down my quantity of films too. running out of steam a bit, but also, i have been watching some 3 hour plus films like dune, metropolis and the abyss

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

I *finally* made myself watch The Dark Knight Rises (2012). It was enjoyable, but far too long. It's been a while since I"ve seen The Dark Knight but I think I liked this one a bit better.

At least this time out Batman's voice sounded like it was being generated by a voice modulator rather than "Bruce" trying to sound "gruff."

I liked the Batplane *far* more than the horrible "tumbler" Batmobile but it appears that may no longer be a issue.

The whole Bane battle/conflict was overblown and just kept dragging on. I get it... so let's see something else.

There were frequent scenes with music being played where I found it distracting and *not* helpful to the scenes as it sounded like the film makers were using it to make non-suspenseful scenes feel suspenseful. I'm pretty sure there was at least one segment where music played non-stop for at least 30 minutes, frequently in sections that, IMHO, would have played better without it.

I'm not sure how I feel about the ending as it appears to be setting up the next "solo" Batman film which I don't think we'll be seeing - at least any time soon.

I liked Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle and Marion Cotillard as

Yeah... we're never getting the next film in this series. That's a shame as, in spite of my not caring for Bale's Bruce *or* Batman, it's finally starting to look up a bit. The next solo film'll probably be another reboot.

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

Wow, you reminded me that I've still yet to see the third in the Nolan trilogy as well. I'll fix that this month.

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

I totally second this. I'm not a huge silent film fan, but this one is so well done that it draws you in and really flies by. I saw the non restored version first and then the restored one and it's amazing how they were able to fill in the missing parts and make it work so well. I love the story, even, on how it was lost until just a few years ago when they found it in Argentina in with a collector's collection that had been donated, I believe, and no one had bothered to go through it until then.

I hope you have a good time! You've gone to that airshow several years in a row, now, right? I haven't been to the show itself, but have been to the museum several years ago and I bet with all the planes there, it's a good time. :)

I have to admit, I have not seen the 2nd or the 3rd. I own them and should, but Heath Ledger's Joker has been so hyped up, I'm worried that it'll just let me down when I finally do. I keep on promising myself that this is the challenge I'll finally watch them in and I just keep on not watching them. I should just sit down and watch all 3 and do it, but well...maybe next time!

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

^ Thanks. Yeah, it's my annual vacation. I think this is either my fourth or fifth year, and I plan to keep going. My only regret is since my flight doesn't arrive till Wednesday night, I won't actually get there till Thursday morning. But the airport lobby has upholstered couches and chairs, so I will still get a comfortable night sleep.


Edit: I was able to get a motel for the night in Appleton after all, so I actually get a bed before going to the airshow on Thursday.

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

Faith Domergue starred in three sci-if movies in 1955, It Came From Beneath the Sea (1955), This Island Earth (1955) and finally the one you've probably never heard of or seen, The Atomic Man aka Timeslip (1955). It's a perfectly adequate British programmer she made with Gene Nelson that's a crime movie with a slight element of sci-fi. Still two out of three ain't bad.

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

Domergue also starred in Voyage to he Prehistoric Planet and Cult of the Cobra. which is listed as Fantasy/ Horror in IMDB, so that will also be a check in the Horror box in the checklist.

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

The second one was definitely over-hyped, and I suffered with that, too. However, it is still a very good film (with a couple of flaws). Ignore the people saying it's the greatest ever, and take 'very good' as an accurate summation, and you'll probably enjoy it a lot.