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

I agree with y'all about the way Dr. Pulaski was realized, but I will say that if the show's writers had been better at writing female characters, she could have been great. Even as a touchy-feely person, I sometimes find the feels of TNG to be too much. I appreciated that she was brusque and grumpy in the midst of all these optimists. If they had laid off the "I don't think Data is a person" aspect or at the very least complicated her arguments and concerns, I think she could have been an interesting character.

I also agree about the awesomeness of Dr. Beverly Crusher, who may be one of the least utilized characters in the entire franchise. She's usually window dressing, and the few episodes that center on her are some of the weakest in the series. Of course, she doesn't have it as bad as poor Deanna Troi who is in the running as the most useless character in the franchise (Neelix may edge her out, but they again he hasn't "metaphor-for-raped" multiple times).

Thanks for the lists of favorite characters! I'll do my breakdowns:
Original: McCoy and Spock
TNG: Riker and Beverly Crusher
DS9: Benjamin Sisko and Kira and Garak and the whole gang!
VOY: The Doctor and Janeway (mostly from memory when it first aired)

I haven't watched Enterprise yet. I'll probably like the doctor! On a related note, Doc Cottle is one of my favorite Battlestar Galactica characters.

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

Just wanted to cross promote the animation challenge. It starts in just a bit (or may have already started depending on your time zone) and you can definitely get double credit with this one!

Hope everyone is getting some good last watches in here as well!

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

I keep wishing Carl Weathers will run for governor and win just so we can have a trifecta.

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

Free refills everywhere!

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

A few pages back there was a discussion of Russian sci-fi reconfigured by Roger Corman and AIP for American release, so I was motivated to watch QUEEN OF BLOOD (1967) on Amazon Prime, easily the best of that group of films and then locate VOYAGE TO THE PREHISTORIC PLANET (1965) and VOYAGE TO THE PLANET OF PREHISTORIC WOMEN (1968) on my Mill Creek Sci-Fi Classics box set (both on the same disc) and had to watch severely faded prints (The QUEEN OF BLOOD print, being a legit copy, was quite good.) I love the Russian footage in these things and would love to see the original films in Russian with English subs. I still have to seek out BATTLE BEYOND THE SUN and add that to this quartet--it's on YouTube, so I can do it.

What troubled me most is that VOYAGE TO THE PLANET OF PREHISTORIC WOMEN is essentially a reedit of VOYAGE TO THE PREHISTORIC PLANET, consisting mostly of footage from the earlier film, with the same dub, but larded with Peter Bogdanovich reading the narration he wrote (supposedly in the voice of one of the astronauts, whose voice actor doesn't sound anything like Bogdanovich), and intercutting shots of Mamie Van Doren and a bevy of mermaid-looking California bleached blondes as Venusian women communicating telepathically in and out of the water, meaning they didn't have to recite any of the dialogue. It can't have taken more than two days of shooting to get all of that footage and a day in the recording studio with voice-over actors. The whole enterprise struck me as extremely pointless, unless it was simply Corman's way of keeping Bogdanovich busy and rehashing footage for quick drive-in profits.

Whatever Russian film QUEEN OF BLOOD used footage from looked the most promising. The newly shot footage, directed by Curtis Harrington and featuring some good Hollywood performers, is very good on its own and well integrated with the Russian footage.

https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8336/2...bb68cfe070.jpg

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

Rewatched Batman Begins and The Dark Knight (possibly for the first time since being at the cinema), and I can't understand why anyone wouldn't enjoy them! They held up better than I'd thought, and are good well-plotted and acted Batman films.

The major 'problems' I had at the time - basically villain issues* - remain, but aren't dealbreakers. Bale is a great Bruce and a good Batman, Michael Caine looks nothing like Alfred, but acts like him in every way. I like that Lucius knows (but doesn't say), and I'd imagined more people finding out than actually did - which is easily the most un-comics thing that happens in films; that everyone penetrates the secret identity - and Rachel was infinitely better this time through: as a fabricated and unnecessary love interest, she's arguably the best we could hope for: childhood friend for 90% of the film, confidante and blatant love interest only in last few minutes. And by TDK, she's already 'Harvey's Girl'...

Two-Face is underused: I don't understand why he wasn't around for DKR. And the psychological aspects and philosphy of both films are a little heavy-handed - but they're also, weirdly, very positive, optimistic and light. Which contrasts with Man of Steel's pessimistic negativity in the most jarring way.

*

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

I remember when I got to that point in the set. I didn't mind it too much since it was enough of a change for me to be able to enjoy both. I liked it better than watching different cuts of the same film, back to back, where the only changes are one having some dialogue cut and action inserted and the other version having the reverse done.

I didn't even realize the animation starts today. I'm going to try and find a movie or two with stop motion for tonight before getting back the The Clone Wars. Not sure if I'll do it because I said the same thing to myself yesterday too.

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

The first time I saw Queen of Blood I had no idea it was another of Corman's cobbled together affairs. I thought it was fairly good. I've read that Curtis Harrington, the director of that one, estimates ~90% of the film was "his." I assume he means with new footage and/or scripting/dialog. Supposedly Queen of Blood was made using special effects (only special effects?) from the Soviet film A Dream Come True (link to youtube version with English subs) - original title Mechte Navstrechu released in 1963. I looked it up because of your post and found it on youtube. I'm going to try and watch it later today along with the other I posted.

Supposedly the two films look at things from "different perspectives" and are thus different. I don't quite buy into that claim. I don't recall which I saw first but then I saw the other I kept thinking "I'm sure I've seen this before but don't recall *that* at all!"

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

Arnold Schwarzenegger's birthday was yesterday. Maybe we could have it on the checklist for next year?

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

Just FYI, Sharknado 4 is on Sci-Fi tonight. Next week is 2 Lava 2 Lantula, sadly out of the challenge time period.

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

A friend of mine was born the same month as Schwarzenegger (July 1947) and so were a lot of other famous people. Here's a partial list I compiled for my friend:

Larry David b. July 2, 1947

Dave Barry b. July 3, 1947

Betty Buckley b. July 3, 1947

Kim Darby b. July 8, 1947

O.J. Simpson b. July 9, 1947

Arlo Guthrie b. July 10, 1947

Camilla Parker-Bowles b. July 17, 1947

Steve Forbes b. July 18, 1947

Carlos Santana b. July 20, 1947

Albert Brooks b. July 22, 1947

Don Henley b. July 22, 1947

Arnold Schwarzenegger b. July 30, 1947

William Atherton b. July 30, 1947

The Flying Saucer crash at Roswell N.M. happened that month, which makes this post suitable for this challenge (;)), as did the following:

July 18 - President Harry S. Truman signs the Presidential Succession Act into law which places the Speaker of the House and the Senate President Pro Tempore next in the line of succession after the United States Vice President.

July 26 - U.S. President Harry S. Truman signs the National Security Act into United States law creating the Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the National Security Council.

July 29 - After being shut off on November 9, 1946 for a refurbishment, ENIAC, one of the world's first digital computers, is turned on after a memory upgrade. It will remain in continuous operation until October 2, 1955.

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

i am ending this challenge with a loud thud. First, the Hammer film "The Vengeance of She". This film is exhibit A for Hammer to stick with gothic horror. a real tedious film to sit through.

VofS was followed up with the even lamer "InAlienable". Run, don't walk from this direct to video shlock

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

He is already in the actors list, though I'd entertain discussion for a new segment. I don't know that I'd want to have to put together something like theme nights...any thoughts?

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

I watched the Soviet film A Dream Come True (original title Mechte Navstrechu) a short while ago. It was fairly good and well done but do *not* go into it expecting to see Queen of Blood in *any* variation. It's more a exploration film with stranded Cosmonauts. It's been a couple of months since I last saw Queen of Blood but from what I remember *all* they used from the Soviet film *are* some visual effects and a *few* sections with the Cosmonauts. They meticulously recreated the Soviet suits so the visuals would fit in the US film.

I noticed in your list you indicate Queen of Blood was a inspiration for Alien, but I disagree. I've read a few comments saying it was but the connection just seems a bit of a stretch to me. It! The Terror from Beyond Space is eerily similar to Alien (many identical sequences and ideas). Others are Mario Bava's Planet of the Vampires (alien ship design and skeleton) and The Thing from Another World (crew cooped up with no way out being attacked by a mostly unseen creature which uses its victims to fertilize its seeds). There's another obscure B SF film which is similar but I can't think of it at the moment. I saw it a couple of years back and immediately thought of Alien.

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

Forgot he was there.

Any chance we could try a theme week instead of theme night? Maybe with some broad themes like time travel or alien invasion?

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

I just realized that when I watched Bee Movie earlier today, that's a definite double credit movie. What's not fantasy about talking bees that wear clothes are interact with people.

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

I finished the checklist and broke 100 for the first time today. I tried to hit 100 with The Evil Dead (one of my all-time favorite movies, the original of course) but I had missed recording one movie on my list so it was actually 101. This is my first time hitting 100 and then breaking it so it was a very successful month for me. Now I'm hoping to do it with the Horror Challenge.

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

I've spent most of the month focusing on Olivia de Havilland and thus not fantasy & sci-fi. However, after realising I'd be able to finish up the month doubling up (The Swarm, with it's bafflingly top-tier - or 'have been' top tier - cast!), it occured to me that A Midsummer Night's Dream with it's fairies and magic and ass-head is pure fantasy: 37 films starring (or featuring) Ms de H, and she managed to broadly start and end her screen performances in sf/f films! :)

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

That would be more manageable, I think. I'll try to remember to put a note in the opening post for next year to discuss it again before the challenge starts.

Congrats! I ended the challenge at 45. Got a couple viewings in tonight for double credit. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, which was really cute and The Lord of the Rings: The Original Animated Classic which was alright. I do wish it had been finished off with the 3rd part.

As people finish up, please update and number your lists to be eligible for the prizes. I will be looking for at least one numbered item. I'll do the random drawing in a couple days.

Once drawn, I'll notify people here and through the message system. You'll have a time limit to contact me and claim the prize before I'll move on to the next name.

Thanks again to GoldenWheels and HamiltonBooks for their generosity in prizes this month!

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

I don't know if I'll get in any more viewing in before dawn, before dawn, but as of now my list is sitting at 148, using 1 item, 1 credit. I just took it slow, but I enjoyed myself. Thanks for a great challenge, LJG.

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

echo those comments. Thanks LJG.

My list is complete as well. now time to get ready for the horror challenge in 60 days

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

My list is final.

Managed a surge toward the end (and start of the Animation Challenge) with a grand total of 77. Probably could have gotten to an hundred, but...meh. Thirty-three movies and 44 TV shows and 46 first time views (16 movies, 30 tv).

It's getting harder to find old sci-fi, from the 50's/60's at least, that I haven't seen before.

Fun Challenge; thanks for stepping up.

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

My last three blog entries were all related to this challenge: Pokémon, Tarzan and The Twilight Zone:

https://briandanacamp.wordpress.com/

I'm working on a blog entry about Power Rangers. I went on a real Power Rangers kick for this challenge. I watched 26 PR eps. from the second season to the current one (23rd!), as well as 20 episodes from two original Japanese sentai series, which provide the footage for Power Rangers. One of those series, Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (1994), is very witty and deals with the invasion of modern Japan by ancient Yokai (spirits) from Japanese folklore. It's also the only sentai series that has an American actor as part of the team, Japanese-American martial artist Kane Kosugi, L.A.-born son of onetime ninja star Sho Kosugi. Kosugi speaks English and Japanese (with an American accent). One other season (Battle Fever J) had an American member but she was played by a Japanese actress.

One of the best things I watched for this challenge was the Power Rangers special, "Legendary Battle," which came at the end of Power Rangers Super Megaforce, nearly two years ago. In it, an army of past Rangers shows up to aid the current team and in the big finale, eleven of them take their helmets off to reveal actors from several different past seasons, including Jason David Frank, Tommy from the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and my favorite Pink Ranger, Cassie (Patricia Ja Lee), from Power Rangers in Space. What a thrill.

https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8632/2...e70527e1dc.jpg
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It's based on a Japanese special that also drew on past casts of sentai seasons. Since they had a longer run to draw on, many of the original sentai actors are now senior citizens, so the old Gorangers, for instance, from the first season (1975), were much longer in the tooth.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8691/2...03f4a66b8b.jpg
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Re: The 9th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I actually started a "new" series right before the end. Something made me think of Babylon 5 and what it might look like on my HD set so I got out S1 and started watching. Surprisingly it looks very good! I managed to get in the first 4 episodes before time ran out. :) Now I have to decide if I want to rewatch it (it's been over 5 years since I've seen this one), the whole series, because if I watch S1 I know I'll continue to the end. But then I also started a rewatch of the new Battlestar Galactica and have S2 sitting on the "stuff in progress" table along with the BR set of TNG (almost done with S1 of that one). This challenge needs to have 2-3 months devoted to it...

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

Sci-fi, fantasy, and horror are my favorite genres. But while I'm not always in the mood for horror, there's never a mood that I can't find a sci-fi/fantasy movie to fit. This month I ended up with a little more than 30 titles ... which is probably what I do every month if I bothered to keep track :)

I'm 6 episodes into Dollhouse and 5 episodes into the 2nd season of Star Wars Rebels. I'm certainly going to keep going with those in August. I don't remember hearing how well Dollhouse finished up. Though even if the overarching arc never wraps up, there's been enough stand-alone story in each episode that it's not a big deal for me. I was a big Buffy fan, so I'm not sure why I never watched it during its run. Maybe just a case of too much going on in real life and too much to keep track of on tv.

Rather annoyed that I ended up with a fractional total (33.5) because my house lost power late Sunday just as I was getting ready to finish up my month with a little sci-fi tv before going to bed "mad: