Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Kicking things off this evening by starting the television show, Fringe. Have heard many good things about it, but going in blind.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Was far too tired to watch anything last night. Was just channel surfing, but within five minutes on settling on something I was out like a light. Likely due to a school project that took most of the day. I have a personal day today, so planning to get some things in. As with others, I'm a mood watcher that normally wings it.

A couple things. First. If anyone does want to listen to old coast 2 coast AM without having to purchase a coast insider subscription for the month, TuneIn Radio has at least two 24/7 Art Bell channels. Dreamland Radio and The Ultimate Art Bell.

And a side note. Last weekend I was watching one of my The Centurions DVDs and just randomly noticed that the narrator who introduced the show in the opening credits was the same guy that did the old Superfriends cartoon.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Nice. Like many shows, it's finding its legs in the first season (and the overarching story is pretty vague) but I remember it always being good. And it was able to have a proper ending.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Used Assassin's Creed (2016) for double credit yesterday. Tonight I'm leaning toward Stardust (2007) and maybe I'll squeeze some TV thing in, too.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I probably should've done that too. I saw the movie before I played five of the games, so I've been wondering how I'd experience it now.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Hmm, would a check mark for "a movie based on a video game" interest people? There are a ton of movies that would qualify. Lara Croft, Minecraft,
Super Mario Bros., Sonic, Final Fantasy, Mortal Kombat and those are just off the top of my head. I would put the caveat of it had to be a video game first then a movie because I know a ton of films had games made after them.

I've checked twice and don't see anything on the checklist. I feel like we might have had this in the past or might be mis-remembering.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

It seems familiar to me too. Maybe during the late Naughties or early 2010's? Or later than that even. There were a lot fewer video game movies back then so it could have popped up and fallen off the list fairly quickly.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Maybe as an item in the action challenge? Not sure if you do those, LJG.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I have in the past but not recently. I tend to do the July/August ones, then the Holiday one.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I don't make a list but I go back to films/show I haven't watched in awhile (thanks DVD Profiler for that sort option). I'm going to re-watch Space: Above and Beyond and Pushing Daisies - two very different shows.

I just did a Highlander the Series re-watch and it didn't hold up for me. There were still some good episodes but it's so dated. I struggled to get through the finale season which was a mess for a host of reasons.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

It was in the 5th Annual challenge checklist in 2012 but not in the 6th. I didn't check any further kind of assuming that it didn't reappear after that but you never know...

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I still use DVD Profiler too. It's such a good program even though it hasn't been supported/updated in years. That is what I thought might happen with Highlander. It really was a show of its time.

Thanks! I thought that might be the case. It does feel like we've had a ton more options come out in recent years though so it might make it more doable now.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

The old movie serials can often be a real hoot... I can also see how ~10yo kids of the era could get excited about them and going to the movie every Saturday to see the next chapter.

I watched Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere (1951) which looks very low budget - more so than usual for these type of productions. Costumes are mostly recycled from old movies. I can hear the production team going "Hey! Here are some Arab outfits and some Medieval stuff that would make good villain costumes! And if we put goggles on those football helmets they'll look kind of futuristic!" Captain Video and his cronies, the ones who actually leave the lab, wear what looks like a football helmet with standard aviator goggles added. I need one of those vision screens they all use that has cameras *everywhere* and able to see anything from any angle and especially those "radio sets" which let them talk to anyone, privately and securely, over vast differences without ever changing frequency and zero lag. Too cool!! I also liked the dirt road "highways" that, in reality, had all been paved by the early 50s. The vibration gun was also cool... works somewhat like a stun gun but you have to hold it against a person's body for it to work. They also borrowed some of the tin robots with cowboy hats from earlier "cowboy underworld" type serials.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

With the passing of Kenneth Colley, today might be a day for Star Wars fans to watch Empire Strikes Back.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I'm watching Avatar for the first time since release tonight. I've never understood why this made so much money. But the truth is, I watched it on a bad pirated copy, and I think that affected my enjoyment a little the first time. I still don't think it's "Top grossing of all-time" worthy, but I can see why some might. It's a really beautifully put-together film. Still have not watched The Way of Water.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I agree. It was good, but I didn't think it was great. I haven't watched the sequel either and probably won't unless someone insists.

I watched Jurassic Park last night and it still holds up so well. As long as you ignore the computers on screen, everything looks great still (okay, maybe not that shot of the helicopter when it's very obviously a model). Trying to watch at least the first three this weekend before seeing the new one in the theater Tuesday. I'm watching with a couple people so I have to wait until they're ready which is a bit annoying since I'm free right now but they aren't, but oh well. Hopefully tomorrow, we can get II and III watched and maybe have time for the original Jurassic World on Monday

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Yeah, that's one you really needed to see on a big screen and in 3D. Lazy post-processing 3D gave 3D a bad name. But Avatar was one of the few shot in 3D. And despite criticisms of James Cameron there's no denying he shoots great looking movies. It was a spectacle that made it easy to overlook issues with plot and characters.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

That pretty much sums up my opinion. It's also quite derivative and a bit too long.
The problem there is if it "needs" to be seen on a big screen in 3D then it's mostly "spectacle" and has little meat on the bones (which is how I see it). It's not "bad" but it's also not that good (like most of Cameron's output). He produces good looking films with stories that, when examined closely, just don't hold up to the spectacle he's put on the screen.

IMHO, 3D has *always* had somewhat a "bad name," has never been done that well, and mostly comes off as a gimmick. It'll be that way until someone figures out how to do a 3D presentation without glasses/headsets.

I've also not seen The Way of Water and likely won't until I can purchase a BR copy for under $10.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I have finally, after 5 years, finished Doctor Who Season 9. I know the guy has his fans, but I cannot stand Peter Capaldi as The Doctor. He's seemingly drained all of the fun out of this show. I loved the David Tennant years, but I have a hard time sitting through these episodes now. This final episode of the season was better than most, but I dread one more season of this guy.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I watched The Lost World: Jurassic Park II tonight. Still not my favorite of the original trilogy. I don't mind it once the dinosaurs really appear, but they could cut most of the first 30-40 minutes and make it a lot better. A couple fun lines...Guy calling for Sarah, "Sarah, Sarah Harding!" "How many Sarahs you think are on this island? Sarah!?" and "Oh, yeah. Oooh, ahhh, that's how it always starts. Then later there's running and screaming."

Also, afterwards, I had the urge to watch the og Godzilla. I swear I had it on streaming somewhere, but while I found a ton of the sequels no original. Went to order it from the library, but I was hoping to get it sooner and went to Amazon. They have the Criterion BR version for $20, so I just bought it. (It also has the American version along with the Japanese one). Thought to pass along the fact if you're like me and need a copy or want to upgrade the DVD. I'm pretty sure all the Criterions are half off right now, actually. Not sure for how much longer though.

I found a cheap copy of the original Time Machine too, so got that as well.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Avatar knocked me out in 3D on a giant IMAX screen, but it didn’t hold up at all in a home viewing.

I watched the sequel on whatever streaming service it was on, and that was one time too many.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

The Criterion of Gojira is excellent! And, yes, most (all?) Criterion's are currently on sale at Amazon for 50% off (they're matching Barns & Noble's Criterion sale). The B&N sale ends 7/27/25 and Amazon is likely to follow suit.

Several years ago I watched both the US edit and Japanese original of Godzilla with my oldest grandson (he was ~12 at the time - he's now 21). He thought the US version was "OK" but *loved* the Japanese original and made it the only version he'll watch (wasn't bothered by subtitles at all). Made me happy as I, too, have pretty much "disposed of" the US edition (full disclosure - I never much cared for it because of how the inserts with Raymond Burr were done). It's not as impactful as the original.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Ah, that makes sense. I don't have a B&N around me, so I don't often shop there.

I think I've only watched each version once. I remember enjoying the Japanese original more than the US one, but I don't really have a strong opinion at this point of which is better, though I usually think the original of anything is the better version. I do have to be in a subtitle mood though before popping in something as I don't love dubs in general.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I'm the same with subtitles. While they don't bother me and I prefer them over dubbed versions of movies I *do* have to be in the right frame of mind.

Re: The 18th Annual Sci-fi/Fantasy Challenge Discussion Thread
 

For sure, I have to be focused enough to stare only at the screen. I very much tend to multi-task while watching films, especially ones I've already seen at least once.

Finished the original Jurassic Park trilogy. I was hoping to be a bit further along in the series, but am watching it with family and they're only willing to watch one a day. My aunt is visiting and she's enjoying them for the first time, but I can't tell you how many times I've had to explain how the series works and how many films there are total. At least she still wants to continue watching them! Tomorrow we have tickets for the new Jurassic World movie. I've tried to go in blind, so we'll see how it turns out.

Since I can't watch the rest quite yet, I've been trying to watch discs that are unwatched that I own. I unintentionally started watching The Borrowers. I've seen the 1973, the 1997 and now the 2011 version this challenge. The 2011 version is really well done. The other 2 are okay but much less of a production than the 2011. It's not near as hokey as the other 2 (which are fine, but just definitely aged down/meant for a much younger audience. 2011's Arietty is 16 which helps in aging it up a bit.) I will say the 1997, which has John Goodman in it, has a lot of poop jokes which I'm not fond off (and other gross lines/scenes). The 1973 is pretty bland, unforgettable. I'm not sure that I'll add The Secret World of Arietty to this watch. While I enjoy it, I've seen it several times and don't need to re-watch it at the moment.