Posted on 05/16/2005 1:18:49 PM PDT by Destro
And Podhoretz has it right: it's the writing that makes these movies stink. That and the acting. Improbable, silly lines uttered by talentless posers do not make for good cinema. All the cutesy crap -- R2D2, C3PO, the Jawas, the Ewoks, even that stupid Wookie -- just makes the movies even more pathetic, since they're as transparent as comic elements as Vader is as a Bad Guy. Vader is supposed to be larger than life. And to a large degree, he is. But the rest of the cast? Pygmies. And Anankin? Puhleeeze. He's Darth Vader like Don Knotts is Vin Diesel.
I don't agree that it is the best SF movie ever, but you're quite correct about one thing: the cult classic "A Boy and His Dog" has the best ending in MOVIE HISTORY! It's very stupid (in places) and very low-budget, but the ending is worth the price of admission (or, in this case, rental).
It's sad but true that the big SPECIAL EFFECTS flicks they make now-a-days have none of the class or creativity of films from the 50's, 60's & 70's. I will give Spielberg credit for single-handidly trying to revive the genre with AI, Minority Report, and others, but so far he hasn't come up with a knock-out...
The only film from modern times that compares with the oldies is "The Matrix" --but that's more of a Kung-Fu film than SF...
Yep. I'm looking for is a copy of 'The Further Adventures of Blood' which I understand was published in a mag and has never been collected etc.
I met the man and he's just as irascible in person as he is in print!
like Don Knotts is Vin Diesel.
Vin Diesel is a Don Knotts clone on steroids?
I would recommend a movie called Dark City, from maybe six years ago. It is like The Matrix without the kung fu. Really excellent flick.
Here's more Triumph:
(Warning: HIGHLY irreverent - not for the easily offended)
The strange thing about Ellisons writing, is that I just can't reread it. But the movie is great for watching anytime.
Did you ever play the computer game version of 'I Have No Mouth but I Must Scream'?
BTW per the commontery on the DVD when test screened 25% of the audience did'nt understand the ending at all (where did Quilla June go?). The movie big cheeses wanted to 'fix' it. Thankfully the director prevailed. I've personally explained it on the way out a couple of times.
Did you see I,Robot with Will Smith?
No I never have played the game. Ellison was one of my favorites growing up. I saw him speak at a local college and he was a blast.
alas poor Yoda
50's Classics:
- 'Them'
- 'Tarantula!'
- 'The Flying Mantis'
- 'The Thing'
80's
- 'Liquid Sky'
- 'The Road Warrior'
90's
- 'Mars Invades!'
00's
- 'Galaxy Quest'
IMHO...
But to all the kooks out there who live only to pump money into Lucas' bank account, the whole series is a strange kind of religion. My own son collects Star Wars junk and can't wait for the final movie. He'll never grow out of his SW obsession, more's the pity.
A good movie, but I prefered Minority Report.
I guess what I was trying to say was that I felt very let down. The music was outstanding and always is in the Star Wars movies and the effects are always great for the time, but if you're going to go to all that expense and demand such a level of musical excellence, you'd think Lucas could hire a real script writer to cleanup his dialog a bit.
I'm crying... I wish I could stay up and watch Conan, but alas I start work at 4:30AM. Thanks for the laughs:)
Harlan Ellison's interviews were always entertaining. He is known for being brutally honest. He is also a good voice reader and could have made a career as a character actor.
Poor Lemmon's character.
and another good reason to hate Alec Baldwin ...... his 80,000 dollar friggin Caddy...lol
AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!
I think you scared 10 years off my life with that line.
:-)
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