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In Reply to: RE: How about one out in left field? posted by wazoo on October 13, 2007 at 21:03:53
Having been interested in science fiction since 1950, I found this movie pretentious and disjointed in its plot. I did like the special effects very much though, but that couldn't make up for the rest for me. I watched it several times and concluded it must be me who's weird, as I didn't change my mind and I am in a extreme minority. People have told me that I have to read the book, and then I'll really like the movie. That approach doesn't cut it for me.
I did like "The Day the Earth Stood Still" very much, and its message is still very relevant. I also liked "Forbidden Planet" quite a bit. Both of these are not very subtle, though, with many typical Hollywood-type production values. And I wasn't familiar with "The Tempest" when I saw the latter movie, so I didn't need the "book" to help. I also liked "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," though I'm not sure everyone would classify that as science fiction. I would also add the original "The Thing" as one of my all-time favorites, certainly one of the scariest when I young.
But I don't know how anyone can leave off the original "Star Wars" as a contender for one of the greatest science fiction movies ever made, unless you consder it simply a western in disguise. It is wiithout question the most entertaining movie of this kind I have ever seen. It's major shortcoming is the basic bad guys- good guys plot for those that expect some profound philosophical ideas to be explored in any science fiction book or movie.
"Alien" is in many ways what I believe to be the most realistic portrayal of what life on a far-future spaceship might be like. There's none of the grand posing as in Star Treck or all other movies. The crew sits around the table discussing mundane topics like how much vacation time they have coming or salary or benefits- I can't remember the details. The fact that they are in interstellar space doesn't change them from the same kind of people who are on a merchant marine ship. These are just people doing a job.
Joe
Follow Ups:
And I agree that Alien is one of the greatest sci fi movies, not so much because it has a more realistic feel--what is the point of being real in a movie about spaceships and monsters--but simply on the imagery and symbolism. The huge structure housing the alien eggs on the hostile planet looked like falopian tubes...the imagery of an arthropodic lifeform to impregnate a male and then use his body to give birth was brilliant...the image of nash stuffing a manual or was it girly mags down weaver´s throat...the way the suspense built up around a little furry cat and then we got the first view of the alien...the slime encountered by dallas just before the alien embraces him...the use of different sexes and the token African American in the film...it was all just done very well and in the context of the ship called mother it explored the concept of alien on many levels.
-------------"I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." -Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982)
...a world changer for me, does much more for me than "Star Wars".It took 7+ viewings over 20 years to get into the mind "2001". I remember the theatrical release leaving me twisting in the wind, but that may be the point -- we have yet to evolve to the point of seeing outside the box. Also several screenings of "2010" helped put things into perspective.
Like to mention: "Dune" -- love epics.
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