Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I started off with the Gemini Man yesterday and it wasn't that bad but WTF happened to Ang Lee? What have they done with the guy who directed "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"?

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Last night I watched Black Panther (2018) and The Quatermass Xperiment (1955).

This was my 3rd viewing of Black Panther and I still don't much care for it in spite of it having some excellent costuming and performances. Overall I feel it's more "flash" than substance with a cardboard villain (not unlike the majority of MCU movies) and some rather wonky CGI at times. Watch Serkis' missing arm as he walks - it's just not "right" and looks like it's been electronically removed as it still swings like there's an arm attached. That's not how it looks in real life when someone's missing an arm. That's just one example. I'm sure I'll eventually watch it again but it's just not high on the rewatch list.

The Quatermass Xperiment (aka The Creeping Flesh) is a long time favorite as are the rest of the films in the Quatermass series. It's one of those films I can watch every year and not get tired of it. A "comfort food" type of movie.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Maybe because I went into this knowing it was a "bad" movie, my expectations could only go up? I actually thought the visual effects weren't bad at all. As amazing as GOOD CGI is, there's enough bad out there, that I appreciate when a movie doesn't use them and has to rely on what they can physically create. I didn't mind McDowall's VINCENT, but agree with BOB's voice choice was just odd. I more got Lost in Space vibes from the robots than kiddie film.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

While cleaning out my closet I found a DVD copy of Bruce Campbell's The Man With the Screaming Brain. Brand new. Unopened. I think I got it for free attending a Butt-Numb-A-Thon in Austin. Popping it in now. Should be fun.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I'm still finishing the Pioneers of African American Cinema set on the Criterion Channel, and last night I made it to The Blood of Jesus. The gist is that an atheist knocks over his rifle and it shoots his devout wife. She goes to the afterlife and other stuff happens I won't spoil for anyone who may be interested. IMDb lists it as Drama and Fantasy. I don't see on the checklist anything like "based on mythology". Didn't we used to have something like that? The closest I can see it fitting would be "based on fairy tale", but that doesn't feel right. I got to count it for low budget in that section so I got a check out of it anyway. Come to think of it, what happened to sword and sorcery? Or just sorcery, since there are things like Bewitched and The Love Witch that don't feature the sword part like Arthurian legends or Game of Thrones? I know it's too late to make any checklist revisions and I'm not asking for any. Just wanted to bring it up while I was thinking about it. I almost always go for the science-fiction stuff instead of fantasy, so I think I just kinda glossed over those things when I looked it over.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I've watched it (and greatly enjoyed it, I might add). It's definitely fantasy, in the same vain as Groundhog Day but without the laughs.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I lost the list of GP & M rated movies. Anyone still have it?

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I may be going out on a limb here, but I think the 1988 remake of The Blob is outstanding and a better film then the original (although I like the original too).

what other remakes does the group think are better than the original?

my short list - The Thing, The Fly, The Blob, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Hills Have Eyes

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I won't get into "better", but I enjoyed the following more. Though in most cases, they're not remakes so much as different adaptations of the same source material. It seems unfair to even count Casino Royale on that basis. Here are the ones I'll admit to:

The Fly (1986)
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005, though it would be going too far to say I particularly care for this version, either)
War of the Worlds (2005)
True Grit (2010)

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Interesting. The Fly is the only one i could agree with you on. The original Willie Wonka is one of my all time favorites. I thought Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was an abomination, lol.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I don't know what kind of kool-aid you guys are drinking but keep it away from me! ;)

I like the originals of *all* of those listed better than the "remakes" - BUT several of those remakes are worth watching:

The Fly (1986)
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
The Thing (1982) - although it took me a few years to warm up to this one.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) - Enjoyed it from the first time I saw it. It's the movie that convinced some remakes can be good.
Body Snatchers (1993) - very underrated version. Not as good as the original or the 78 remake but worth watching
The Blob (1988) - The original wins by a hair, mostly for nostalgic value.
The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) - underrated remake of Island of Lost Souls (1932)

I hope to never have to watch Spielberg's War of the Worlds ever again. I very much disliked it and would rather watch The Alsylum's version - which was not that good.

I've seen one of the versions of The Hills Have Eyes but didn't care for it so, remake or not, the other is off the table for me.

The only SF remake I've seen that I consider to be superior to the original is:
12 Monkeys (remake of La Jetée)

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

M rated SF movies.

M rated Fantasy movies.

GP rated SF movies.

GP rated Fantasy movies.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I love watching Bruce Campbell films. I am NOT a horror fan, but I'll watch his films. My fav is Bubba Ho-Tep

Sword and Sorcery is still on there, 2-3 from the bottom of the sub-genre part. I've alphabetized the lists, so go to the "s"es. I don't remember if there was a mythology, but I'm not opposed to adding it in (back in?) next challenge. I'll put it in my reminder section in the first post for next year.

I'm sorry, buy you ALL are wrong about The Fly remake. The original with Vincent Price is the best!

I sort of agree with you about the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remake, though I hated Depp in it. I loved the visuals, and Freddie Highmore was not a bad Charlie. Depp and the weird addition of his dentist father tanked it for me. Love Gene Wilder as Wonka in the original.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

As I said, those are the ones I'm willing to admit to. I am a heretic and I know it.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Ah, I see it now. Though now I realize I don't have a check for The Blood of Christ in the sub-genre section. Does "Paranormal" seem right?

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I enjoy his films too as well as the TV shows (I wish Brisco County, Jr. and Jack of All Trades could have had longer runs). I own copies of most and discovered a few years back I somehow have *two* copies of The Man with the Screaming Brain. I finally talked a friend into taking the duplicate by refusing to take it back after I loaned it to her to watch. :D
Preach on, sister! The remake is good but the original is superb and the one I watch most often.
I like Burton's version and am OK with Depp but agree that the original with Wilder is the superior film. Even so, I won't refuse to watch either.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I too enjoy the original Willy Wonka. I have never seen the Depp version and never wanted to see it. As for the Fly. While I enjoyed the remake, for me the original is the best.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

No worries. I kind of want to go through the list and pare it down a bit. It's getting a bit huge. But for your question, since I've never seen the movie, I will trust you. If you think it fits, go for it. I did re-read your description and the short summary on IMDb.com, it could fit Dark Fantasy or Psychological Sci-Fi depending on how the film goes.

I loved Brisco County, Jr. myself. I have it and Jack, but I have to admit, that I haven't watched Jack of All Trades yet. I kind of forget that I own it! I was going to offer to take your extra copy off your hands, but it seems like you already solved that problem! lol!

But yeah, I did not enjoy the new The Fly. I like Goldblum but his version was just gross. The original is a classic for a reason!

I will give the Depp version credit for staying closer to the book (except the dentist father), but the original had Dahl working on the screenplay so the changes were ok by him, so why should I disagree? I dare anyone to say that they wouldn't want to be in the first chocolate room from the original movie. It looks amazing and even the CGI has a hard time comparing!

Don't forget, if you're trying to complete the checklist, you could watch the two versions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to fulfill the check for "watch a film and it's remake/reboot." I would also listen to arguements for Willy Wonka qualifying for the "mad scientist" check.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

If anyone is looking for a check in the no weapon category, Coraline is a good movie that counts. I just finished watching it on Starz Kids & Family.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I'd certainly place The Blood of Jesus under Paranormal. Interesting film; I've screened it for my students a few times.

Put me down as someone who enjoys the remake of Little Shop of Horrors more than the original. Levi Stubbs voicing Audrey II makes that movie and I don't like musicals.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I been going through the Outer Limits 60's TV show. I had forgotten Donald Pleasence was in an early episode about telekinesis. Wow how young he looked in 1963. I couldn't help wondering; " was there ever a time in Donald's life that he had a full head of hair?"

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I didn't care for Spielberg's War of the Worlds the first time I saw it. (My brother and I saw in the theater, and the first thing we talked about in the car was why Jack Black was in the remake of King Kong, so the trailer for that movie left more of an impression on us then the movie we paid to see.) However, J. Hoberman's Film After Film turned me around on it. He frames it as a post-9/11 film and contrasts it with Independence Day. I found his argument compelling and enjoyed the film more when I revisited it after reading the book. Also, I read the novel and realized that Tim Robbins' super-annoying character was a take on a similar character in the original source material which made those scenes easier to swallow for me.

I watched Destination: Planet Negro! and enjoyed it. It captures the tone of 1950s space travel movies. I didn't like it as much as C.S.A., but it's worth seeking out.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I believe that one was also mentioned last year. I checked to see if it's on Amazon Prime Streaming (it is, just not included with Prime). The cover looks very familiar so I watched the trailer. It, too, looks very familiar but I'm sure I've not seen the movie. It's only $10 to buy and I have enough digital credits to cover the cost so may "purchase" a copy.

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I dived into my new BR of the 12th season of Dr. Who, the first season with Tom Baker, yesterday. I've watched the first 2 adventures - "Robot" and "The Ark in Space." Other than me sampling some "New Who" a few years back, and not making it past ~10 minutes, both are first time viewings of Dr. Who.

I wasn't that impressed with the first story arc, "Robot." It suffers from quite a lot of what I don't like about many BBC dramatic productions, especially their SF output, from those years: Incredibly cheap looking sets, poor lighting, average direction, some hammy acting, padded scripts, and staged like a play. The story wasn't too bad but could have stood tightening to 3 episodes instead of 4.

While the bugs and outer space sequences were a bit cheesy, the other production values increased with "The Ark in Space" story although it still suffers from the staginess of BBC dramatic productions of the era (something that didn't impact their comedy stuff... go figure...). In spite of that, I enjoyed this one far more than the first. I'm quite curious as to where they'll go next as they didn't leave the Ark in the Tardis but via a transportation device. Unless I missed something, the Tardis is still on the Ark. The next story is a 2 parter so maybe it really completes "The Ark in Space" story in spite of having a different title.

I really don't quite what to make of Tom Baker as The Dr. He plays the role a bit goofy at times, aloof at times, and serious at times, but mostly kind of goofy and very eccentric and frequently "bug eyed.".

Re: 13th Annual Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I am finally watching all the Star Wars movies in chronological order. We got TPM out of the way last night, and at least when you start at the bottom you can only go up from there.