Favorite Sci Fi Movie
June 1st, 2012 at 9:10:24 PM
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My two favorite sci fi movies are Alien and Blade Runner.
Both are directed by Ridley Scott, who has another one
coming out next week. I wonder if it will measure up.
Both are directed by Ridley Scott, who has another one
coming out next week. I wonder if it will measure up.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
June 1st, 2012 at 10:43:20 PM
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Prometheus gets an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. I didn't
know it was an Alien prequel.
know it was an Alien prequel.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
June 2nd, 2012 at 9:41:38 AM
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Quote: EvenBobMy two favorite sci fi movies are Alien and Blade Runner.
Both are directed by Ridley Scott, who has another one
coming out next week. I wonder if it will measure up.
As great as those movies are they really don't come close to Kubrick's masterpiece: 2001.
June 2nd, 2012 at 9:59:35 AM
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I thought the most recent Star Trek was pretty good
(the one with the young cast including Christopher
Pine).
Maybe a bit slow in parts, but overall Very Good.
(the one with the young cast including Christopher
Pine).
Maybe a bit slow in parts, but overall Very Good.
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
June 2nd, 2012 at 10:29:02 AM
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Gattaca
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June 2nd, 2012 at 11:22:00 AM
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Sleeper
Someday, joor goin' to see the name of Googie Gomez in lights and joor goin' to say to joorself, "Was that her?" and then joor goin' to answer to joorself, "That was her!" But you know somethin' mister? I was always her yuss nobody knows it! - Googie Gomez
June 2nd, 2012 at 11:26:40 AM
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The original Planet of the apes
IF YOU PLAY "PLAY TO WIN"
June 2nd, 2012 at 11:51:18 AM
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Quote: only1choiceThe original Planet of the apes
Yay, I watched that again recently, and for whatever it lacks in modern fx it more than makes up as a really good story.
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June 2nd, 2012 at 12:25:34 PM
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I have very high hopes for "Ender's Game", currently in production. It was my favorite sci-fi book when I read it 30 years ago.
June 2nd, 2012 at 12:37:18 PM
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Quote: PapaChubbyI have very high hopes for "Ender's Game", currently in production. It was my favorite sci-fi book when I read it 30 years ago.
For anyone who's read this one, I think the complexity of the
story and the harsh realities in it make it a difficult one to
translate to the silver screen.
However, I too have high hopes they somehow make it all
come together and work.
Having said that, Hunger Games certainly had a dose of
harsh reality in it, and it did ok for itself.
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
June 2nd, 2012 at 1:08:11 PM
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Quote: JohnnyQFor anyone who's read this one, I think the complexity of the
story and the harsh realities in it make it a difficult one to
translate to the silver screen.
My biggest question is whether they will show two manslaughter scenes.
The novel's highly overrated, and I saw the surprise first ending a mile away. Card has done better work in other books, like the Homecoming series, or even Lovelock.
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June 2nd, 2012 at 1:41:54 PM
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Quote: NareedThe novel's highly overrated, and I saw the surprise first ending a mile away. Card has done better work in other books, like the Homecoming series, or even Lovelock.
It's still a sci-fi classic, so it has to be pulling the right strings.
A book's depth and complexity - or really any other work's - don't have primary bearing on what becomes a classic and what doesn't. In truth, most classics, including much more mainstream and revered ones, aren't particularly deep, unusually clever or all that well-written. But they just happen to do some thing we want them to.
Resist ANFO Boston PRISM Stormfront IRA Freedom CIA Obama
June 2nd, 2012 at 2:13:54 PM
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Quote: P90A book's depth and complexity - or really any other work's - don't have primary bearing on what becomes a classic and what doesn't.
Ender goes quite deep. And in the rest of the series, Card handles family relationships well. But as far as SF goes, I really never understood the appeal. Especially when compared against works like Nightfall, The Integral Trees, The Fountains of Paradise, or The Man Who Sold the Moon, to name a few off hand.
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June 2nd, 2012 at 2:21:41 PM
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Yeah, I've read it. Wouldn't be talking empty-headed.
Strong on the personal side, pretty good.
Pointing out that a work doesn't have to shine in every department to be a classic. And what gets movie adaptations has more to do with what's a classic.
Strong on the personal side, pretty good.
Pointing out that a work doesn't have to shine in every department to be a classic. And what gets movie adaptations has more to do with what's a classic.
Resist ANFO Boston PRISM Stormfront IRA Freedom CIA Obama
June 2nd, 2012 at 3:10:11 PM
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It would be interesting if a movie based on David Gerrold's "War Against the Chtorr" series was made.
"What, me worry?"
June 3rd, 2012 at 1:33:56 AM
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Black n White: King Kong (1933) THEM! (50's)
Color: Forbidden Planet (50's)
2001 (60's)
Alien and Disney's Black Hole (70's)
Terminator and RoboCop (80's)
Total Recall and Running Man (90's)
the 2000's... Revenge of the Sith
I find it rather amusing that there's a paradigm shift towards oligarchy/facism (facism defined as a business-state of gov't) after the 60's.
Though not a movie in the sense I noticed how i picked MaxHeadroom themed background societies (dystopian extreme rich/poor schism).
Color: Forbidden Planet (50's)
2001 (60's)
Alien and Disney's Black Hole (70's)
Terminator and RoboCop (80's)
Total Recall and Running Man (90's)
the 2000's... Revenge of the Sith
I find it rather amusing that there's a paradigm shift towards oligarchy/facism (facism defined as a business-state of gov't) after the 60's.
Though not a movie in the sense I noticed how i picked MaxHeadroom themed background societies (dystopian extreme rich/poor schism).
Some people need to reimagine their thinking.
June 3rd, 2012 at 2:40:59 AM
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At the time, I really liked Sphere with Dustin Hoffman.
The Matrix is and probably always will be my favorite.
Source Code was strange. Not awesome, but not too bad. Kind of interesting.
The Matrix is and probably always will be my favorite.
Source Code was strange. Not awesome, but not too bad. Kind of interesting.
June 3rd, 2012 at 3:23:57 AM
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I have always been a fan of Event Horizon.
[This space is intentionally left blank]
June 3rd, 2012 at 10:49:08 PM
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Not sure if I can pick a "favorite." I'm a big fan of Ah-nold scifi movies (Terminator 1 & 2, Running Man, Total Recall), the original Star Wars trilogy is up there, Star Treks II, IV, VI, and VIII, RoboCop, Blade Runner, Planet of the Apes, the Mad Max trilogy.
I hadn't seen Alien until about 3 years ago, and still haven't made the time to watch the sequel, which is generally heralded as the best (as far as I can tell).
Still bummed that they never made a DS9 movie. Will probably be disappointed 'till the day I die.
I hadn't seen Alien until about 3 years ago, and still haven't made the time to watch the sequel, which is generally heralded as the best (as far as I can tell).
Still bummed that they never made a DS9 movie. Will probably be disappointed 'till the day I die.
"So drink gamble eat f***, because one day you will be dust." -ontariodealer
June 3rd, 2012 at 11:08:54 PM
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Quote: 98ClubsColor: Forbidden Planet (50's)
I saw Forbidden Planet at a drive-in in my parents station
wagon in the mid 50's. I was 6 and it scared the crap out
of me for years. I was terrified of robots and the lion id
creature for the next 10 years. Its a classic sci fi, the color
and cinematography are great.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
June 3rd, 2012 at 11:46:16 PM
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Quote: EvenBobI saw Forbidden Planet at a drive-in in my parents station
wagon in the mid 50's. I was 6 and it scared the crap out
of me for years. I was terrified of robots and the lion id
creature for the next 10 years. Its a classic sci fi, the color
and cinematography are great.
I don't have a lot of childhood memories, but the one that sticks in my mind is hiding around the corner while watching Terminator 2 (my first rated R movie, on laser disc if anyone can remember those). I don't remember my exact age except I wasn't in kindergarten yet.
It's hard to pinpoint any specific movie or movie series as a favorite...
Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country is my go-to sick movie. I'm sorry guys, but although the newest one is entertaining it's an embarrassment to the franchise. If you're going to make a movie that exists in a predefined universe, a universe that's quite possibly the most interesting and in-depth of any fictional series, then you build on top of the damn thing. Having an "alternate timeline" is a slap in the face to every single fan. So as a movie fan, it was good. As a Trekky, JJ Abrams can go to hell.
Its - Possessive; It's - "It is" / "It has"; There - Location; Their - Possessive; They're - "They are"
June 4th, 2012 at 12:01:19 AM
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Quote: ahiromuI'm sorry guys, but although the newest one is entertaining it's an embarrassment to the franchise. If you're going to make a movie that exists in a predefined universe, a universe that's quite possibly the most interesting and in-depth of any fictional series, then you build on top of the damn thing. Having an "alternate timeline" is a slap in the face to every single fan. So as a movie fan, it was good. As a Trekky, JJ Abrams can go to hell.
I agree wholeheartedly. Among my friends and acquaintances, it seems like trekkers dislike the movie, non-trekkers thought it was cool. The Uhura/Spock love scene made me want to vomit.
"So drink gamble eat f***, because one day you will be dust." -ontariodealer
June 4th, 2012 at 12:30:16 AM
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June 4th, 2012 at 12:34:48 AM
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Well dont know any other else but right now very excited to watch prometheus.. Hope this sci-fi lead upto my expectations......
June 4th, 2012 at 12:39:13 AM
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Chronicles of Riddick
"Convert now, or fall forever."
"Convert now, or fall forever."
100% risk of ruin
June 4th, 2012 at 7:35:10 AM
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A movie I remember rather fondly is "Logan's Run." I think that was the first SF movie I ever saw. I re-watched it again many years alter, and I was impressed at how well it worked, even with very outdated special effects. But then it had some first rate accting talent, with Michael York playing Logan, Jenny Agutter playing Jessica, and Peter Ustinov playing the old man (I forget if that character even has a name). On a side note, Farrah Fawcett has a short apeparance in the movie.
Of that time period, more or less, another good movie is "Soylent Green." The more remarkable aspect is that it works even when you know beforehand the surprise near the ending. I'm told when it premiered it caused a bit of a shock among the audience. I first saw it long after its first run, knowing full well the secret uncovered by detective Thorn. Again, it ahd first rate actors, too, with Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson.
That was an era of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic, dystopian SF movies, of course. There was "Planet of the Apes," too, and its many sequels. In more mainstream circles you had monster movies featuring wild animlas as monsters, "Jaws," and epic disaster movies like "Towering Inferno" and "The Poseidon Adventure."
Of that time period, more or less, another good movie is "Soylent Green." The more remarkable aspect is that it works even when you know beforehand the surprise near the ending. I'm told when it premiered it caused a bit of a shock among the audience. I first saw it long after its first run, knowing full well the secret uncovered by detective Thorn. Again, it ahd first rate actors, too, with Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson.
That was an era of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic, dystopian SF movies, of course. There was "Planet of the Apes," too, and its many sequels. In more mainstream circles you had monster movies featuring wild animlas as monsters, "Jaws," and epic disaster movies like "Towering Inferno" and "The Poseidon Adventure."
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June 4th, 2012 at 7:45:47 AM
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Chronicles of Riddick: Excellent movie, Seen it 3 times. Runner-up in the 2000's for me. Close call.
Some people need to reimagine their thinking.
June 4th, 2012 at 8:32:43 AM
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12 Monkeys deserves a mention.
Nareed, still slowly but surely consuming episodes of Babylon 5 (only 12 episodes and the original telemovie in right now) and it is indeed wonderful, with characters that you can hate one episode and feel sympathy for the next, and of course incredible allegories for real life situations in the single episode arcs.
Nareed, still slowly but surely consuming episodes of Babylon 5 (only 12 episodes and the original telemovie in right now) and it is indeed wonderful, with characters that you can hate one episode and feel sympathy for the next, and of course incredible allegories for real life situations in the single episode arcs.
Solo venimos, solo nos vamos. Y aqui nos juntamos, juntos que estamos.
June 4th, 2012 at 8:51:19 AM
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Quote: progrocker12 Monkeys deserves a mention.
I didn't liek ti that much. Perhaps because Bruce Willis manages to look repugnant the entire film, or maybe due to the general unplasant tone of the movie.
Quote:Nareed, still slowly but surely consuming episodes of Babylon 5 (only 12 episodes and the original telemovie in right now) and it is indeed wonderful, with characters that you can hate one episode and feel sympathy for the next, and of course incredible allegories for real life situations in the single episode arcs.
I'm glad you like it. It's a shame the franchise is pretty much dead by now. The story could be extended, backwards and forwards, for literally centuries, if not longer.
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June 4th, 2012 at 8:57:15 AM
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Oh let's see:
1. Blade Runner
2. Logan's Run
3. Pitch Black
4. Star Trek V (Ok, not at all, just an attempt at humour on this one...)
4. Knowing
I know I'm forgetting a bunch...
1. Blade Runner
2. Logan's Run
3. Pitch Black
4. Star Trek V (Ok, not at all, just an attempt at humour on this one...)
4. Knowing
I know I'm forgetting a bunch...
Lack of prior planning on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on my part.
June 4th, 2012 at 6:07:05 PM
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Oh yeah, forgot about Dark City.
Solo venimos, solo nos vamos. Y aqui nos juntamos, juntos que estamos.
June 4th, 2012 at 9:42:32 PM
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I like a lot of the ones already mentioned - Forbidden Planet, The Matrix, Star Wars, Logan's Run, Chronicles of Riddick. Here are a few others I thought of that i didn't see listed yet:
Time Bandits (1981)
Outland (1981)
Tron (1982)
The Thing (1982)
Dune (1984)
District 9 (2009)
Time Bandits (1981)
Outland (1981)
Tron (1982)
The Thing (1982)
Dune (1984)
District 9 (2009)
"Bite my Glorious Golden Ass!" - Bender Bending Rodriguez
June 4th, 2012 at 9:50:20 PM
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Quote: Toes14Tron (1982)
Oh, agreed!
It has a preposterous plot and fairly pedestrian characters. But it's so visually remarkable I dare say no other movie compares, esthetically, to the original Tron. I have the 20th anniversary DVD.
Pretty good cast, too. Which brings up a bit of trivia. Tron, the program, was played by Bruce Boxleitner. In one scene he appears with an actor he'd later work with again. Which actor was it, and in what project did they work together for several years? Do not look it up on the Internet Movie Database.
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June 4th, 2012 at 9:51:16 PM
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Quote: Toes14I like a lot of the ones already mentioned - Forbidden Planet, The Matrix, Star Wars, Logan's Run, Chronicles of Riddick. Here are a few others I thought of that i didn't see listed yet:
Time Bandits (1981)
Well, now you reminded me of one that doesn't have much of a science fiction-like name, so probably overlooked: "Brazil"
or rather, Brazil
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June 4th, 2012 at 10:12:34 PM
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Quote: Toes14Outland (1981)
Outland is so good you inspired me to dig it out of my VHS
library and I'm watching it right now. Great cast, Sean
Connery at his best.
Best Connery line from an interview: "Not that I would ever do it,
but every woman needs to to be slapped once in awhile."
From 1987:
"Women are pretty good at this. They can't leave it [proverbial 'it'] alone.
They want to have the last word; then you give them the last word, but
they're not happy with the last word. They want to say it again and get
into a really provocative situation. Then, I think it's absolutely right." (slapping)
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
June 5th, 2012 at 7:04:49 AM
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Any Donnie Darko fans?
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June 5th, 2012 at 7:20:40 AM
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Another thing about the first Tron, it did something few movies have ever even attemtped: it depicts a very visually dark ladnscape made out almost entirely of light.
Watch near the ending, when Tron fullfils his mission, how the landscape brightens up, and the contrast is incredible.
Watch near the ending, when Tron fullfils his mission, how the landscape brightens up, and the contrast is incredible.
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June 5th, 2012 at 8:09:32 AM
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Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" was a magnum opus in this field.
Then, while not exactly sci fi, "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" opened the floodgates.
"Alien" was an amazing movie.
Then, while not exactly sci fi, "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" opened the floodgates.
"Alien" was an amazing movie.
"What, me worry?"
June 5th, 2012 at 8:10:48 AM
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Moon
Blade Runner
The Road Warrior
World Without End
The Fly (Jeff Goldblum version)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (both '56 and '78)
Alien
Aliens
Jurassic Park (for its near perfect storytelling)
Wrath of Kahn
Terminator 2
2001: A Space Odyssey
Westworld
Time After Time
The Day the Earth Stood Still
War of the Worlds (Tom Cruise version, very underrated)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
12 Monkeys
The Andromeda Strain
Galaxy Quest
Blade Runner
The Road Warrior
World Without End
The Fly (Jeff Goldblum version)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (both '56 and '78)
Alien
Aliens
Jurassic Park (for its near perfect storytelling)
Wrath of Kahn
Terminator 2
2001: A Space Odyssey
Westworld
Time After Time
The Day the Earth Stood Still
War of the Worlds (Tom Cruise version, very underrated)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
12 Monkeys
The Andromeda Strain
Galaxy Quest
A falling knife has no handle.
June 5th, 2012 at 8:26:49 AM
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Ok, not a movie, but some of the best SF ever is a two-part episode of Babylon 5 called "War Without End." Of course, you need to watcht he whole show or the impact is much diminished.
Overall, various SF series, even Voyager, have managed a few outstanding episodes now and then. Some are tied to the show's mythos more strongly than others. There's an epsidoe in Star Trek Deep Space Nine where one character lives a massive paranoid fantasy, with even his close friends and relatives becoming aprt of a conspiracy against him. In the end we find he was completely correct and not being paranoid or fantasising at all! it's called "Whispers," if you want to look it up. IMO you can get the point even if you never watched DS9 before.
Futurama, for all that it's commedy and satire, manages some great ideas sometimes. It can tackle time paradoxes, person replicas, and even the end of the universe easier than other SF venues, because it doesn't have to take them seriously. Offhand I recommend "The Farnsworth Parabox" (not a typo), "Rosswell That Ends Well," and the movie "Bender's Big Score."
Overall, various SF series, even Voyager, have managed a few outstanding episodes now and then. Some are tied to the show's mythos more strongly than others. There's an epsidoe in Star Trek Deep Space Nine where one character lives a massive paranoid fantasy, with even his close friends and relatives becoming aprt of a conspiracy against him. In the end we find he was completely correct and not being paranoid or fantasising at all! it's called "Whispers," if you want to look it up. IMO you can get the point even if you never watched DS9 before.
Futurama, for all that it's commedy and satire, manages some great ideas sometimes. It can tackle time paradoxes, person replicas, and even the end of the universe easier than other SF venues, because it doesn't have to take them seriously. Offhand I recommend "The Farnsworth Parabox" (not a typo), "Rosswell That Ends Well," and the movie "Bender's Big Score."
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June 5th, 2012 at 4:24:52 PM
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No one has mentioned the Fifth Element. Probably because 75% of the box office was from overseas.
June 5th, 2012 at 4:39:28 PM
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I've seen the Fifth Element 5 times just for the girl
(a knockout sweetheart) and the villian. The early
part of the movie is the best, but the whole thing
is very good. I like the floating Chinese lunch
stand that comes right to your house.
(a knockout sweetheart) and the villian. The early
part of the movie is the best, but the whole thing
is very good. I like the floating Chinese lunch
stand that comes right to your house.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
June 5th, 2012 at 4:41:13 PM
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"Independence Day", anyone? It was the first in the recent renaissance of big budget films featuring the CG destruction of world famous monuments.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
June 5th, 2012 at 5:30:23 PM
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Quote: pacomartinNo one has mentioned the Fifth Element. Probably because 75% of the box office was from overseas.
Oh! That one was painful to watch!
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June 5th, 2012 at 6:15:21 PM
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Quote: NareedOk, not a movie, but some of the best SF ever is a two-part episode of Babylon 5 called "War Without End." Of course, you need to watcht he whole show or the impact is much diminished.
Speaking of TV.
The miniseries "The Martian Chronicles (Starring Rock Hudson) The 3 parts are on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqkcYyUVe40
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June 5th, 2012 at 8:58:09 PM
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Along the lines of "not really a movie"
how about Lathe of Heaven (1980) .
I saw this on PBS a long time ago... mid 80's, and only that one time.
Written by Ursala McGuin.
how about Lathe of Heaven (1980) .
I saw this on PBS a long time ago... mid 80's, and only that one time.
Written by Ursala McGuin.
Some people need to reimagine their thinking.
June 5th, 2012 at 9:16:49 PM
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June 5th, 2012 at 9:22:55 PM
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Quote: 98ClubsWritten by Ursala McGuin.
Ursula K. Le Guin is one of my favorite writers. She is 82 years old now, and doesn't write as much anymore, but she did come out with a new book a few years ago.
