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Thanks, Red Badger. I’m looping in the movie ping list since I know we have a lot of sci-fi fans.

One timely heads up. A new year is upon is, and the first of the big festivals is Sundance (January 20-30), which is going hybrid this year. The major packages went on sale a couple of weeks ago, but single film tickets go on sale January 6 for both in-person and online screenings. (I took a flyer on a Day Pass for $100, which gave me four films, which all have to be on the same day, for online viewing. Soon I’ll be a Sundance veteran. Moving into sophisticated territory ....)

Tickets are limited and are on a first-come, first-served basis, and I have no idea about availability for any particular screening. I’m sure a lot of films are sold out by now so you probably don’t want a Day Pass, but it doesn’t hurt to check on the 6th and see if a single ticket is available for something you want to watch. If there’s an upcoming movie that has caught your eye, it’s fun to get a sneak preview.

Sci-fi fans may be interested in After Yang, an AI film written and directed by Kogonada (Columbus, 2017). It’s been on my watchlist since it was announced but has been one of the films caught in COVID limbo. It debuted to good reviews in Cannes and now it’s going to Sundance. There are no trailers yet, but here’s a review:

https://theplaylist.net/after-yang-kogonada-reflects-bittersweetly-on-the-melancholy-nature-of-death-existence-through-tender-sci-fi-technosapiens-cannes-review-20210708/

Since we’re on sci-fi: it’s not a Sundance selection, but Everything Everywhere All At Once also looked promising. Let’s just say that multiverse theory is relatively unexplored territory. It’s a comedy so everything will depend on pacing and whether the jokes land. I’ve not seen any reviews yet; I saw the trailer yesterday when I went to see Drive My Car (recommended if you like slow, thoughtful films; the critics are going nuts over it, which is what tempted me into the theater, and the critics have good reason). All I know about it is the trailer: https://letterboxd.com/film/everything-everywhere-all-at-once/trailer/

If it is not what you normally think of science fiction, but , have you seen Time Changer. A Bible scholar living in 1890 climbs aboard a time machine to see how the book he wrote will affect future generations and is stunned by the results. Gavin MacLeod, Hal Linden. One of the very best Christian movies.

Then as regards science fiction, which if all your prayers were answered - at once - and you find yourself in an alternative life? Heavens to Betsy?" Be prepared to laugh due to the unknown actress Karen Lesiewicz and script, but it is about the implications of God answering all our prayers with yes (versus sometimes no, or slow, or grow or go). While there are a few selections I would change (they do have the very talented and funny Karen Lesiewicz in a rather short dress for a bit as part of the negative person she would have become, though I do not find it really sensual), it is overall quite well done and acted. And the funniest Christian movie I have ever seen (good for when you are too tired to be much productive) yet about a profound issue. It give birth to Heavens to Betsy 2..

Add to that genre of humorous Christian movies: https://tubitv.com/movies/581010/crime-of-the-age

Other select Christian movies here: https://freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3929757/posts?page=8#8 when you are too tired to be much productive