Posted on 02/19/2008 11:03:14 AM PST by rjp2005
Where have all the sci-fi films gone?
Those simple, thought-provoking speculative tales about how people respond to something new, what kind of moral choices they make, keeping traditions in the face of technological change. Essentially, the kind of films that were thought provoking and story/character driven - Day the Earth Stood Still, Planet of Apes, 12 Monkeys, Minority Report (more action though but good), etc.
The "Superhero and Fantasy Genre Craze" since Spiderman and LOTR has really eaten up a lot of support for original sci-fi works to film...
For 2008, we have two horror/slasher types "I Am Legend" (Omega Man remake) and "Death Race" (revisiting the 70's version), another superhero film in "Jumper", "Iron Man", which could be a treat, and maybe the only true sci-fi attempt, "Babylon A.D.". There was also "Sunshine", a late 90's disaster film leftover, possibly funded by Global Warming-mongers ;)
My vote would be for "Lucifer's Hammer."
Uh... how, exactly? The "newest and most popular stuff" is available for sale pretty much everywhere. The lag time between Japanese and US release is growing smaller every day. Sure, without broadband you miss out on the torrents, but there's still plenty of fresh, legal anime out there. Besides, if you download a fansub, voice-actor B-chan doesn't get paid! (TT_TT).
Netflix has an extensive library of anime. You should check it out.
"Pinocchio in Outer Space" and "Gulliver's Travels: Journey to the Moon" were Fred Ladd productions. He's a great guy, a real Holywood legend.
Would love to see Nivens RIngworld made into a movie.
The Man-Kzin stories would be a great
The Mote movie would amazing too
Yep. I was gonna mention that movie. I heard it’s based on a book called The House of the Scorpion, that’s supposed to be a pretty decent book.
The Sci-Fi channel did pick up Firefly, and unlike FOX, played them in the proper order.
I don’t think they’re showing them now. There are only 15 episodes, and you can only go so far without running it into the ground. They’ll probably break it out again later.
1950's movie with giant ants.
“I came here to chew bubblegum and kick a$$, And I’m all out of bubblegum.”
One of the best campy sci-fi movies ever.
Galaxy Quest was a hoot, and got "Kirk" right.
We’re raising our kids on a diet of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, and Space Patrol, with a smattering of Doctor Who and Danger Mouse. Plus, all the Tintin and Uncle Scrooge comics they can read.
So far, they’re turning out pretty good.
And don’t call me “Pop”!
:-D
“I think they screwed up Azimov’s I Robot, could not stand it.”
I wouldn’t say they screwed up Asimov’s “I Robot” - the movie really had nothing to do with his stories, other than some passing references to a few of the characters, Asimov’s “Three Laws”, and a few technical terms. On its own terms I thought it was a passable Hollywood SciFi/action film. Good visuals and a plot that almost hung together.
Anyone else like the original Outer Limits...??
Once you go duck, you never go back.
I thought Transformers was awesome.
They are supposed to be doing a remake of this movie with Leslie Nielsen in it also. Don’t know if they can ever match the George Pal work though.
I couldn't disagree with you more. The characters were consistent, the loose ends tied up, and the story arc brought to a conclusion. And knowing the work of Joss Whedon, it was the conclusion he had in mind before the series even began; he just had to bring it home faster than he wanted to.
Whedon had to make some compromises to make the movie accessible to folks who hadn't seen the series. I saw Serenity first, and I loved it; Then caught up on Firefly, and I could see how what happened to River Tam, how the Reavers came to be, and some of the other revelations would have been much more of a big payoff if I'd seen the series first.
I'd like to know what you think of as a "betrayal." Especially in light of the fact that the creator of the series was the writer and director of the movie.
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