Popular SF Movies You Don't Get

[ctc]

>It's really interesting to hear that landmark, classic, genre films like "2001", "The Abyss" and "Blade Runner" are on some people's "don't get it" lists

I think movies like 2001 and Blade Runner made more of an impression on the pros than the fans 'cos the fans don't really care so much about the technical side of things like camerawork or design. Like I said; Bladerunner is an IMPORTANT film 'cos after it came out EVERYBODY started using tricks from it, even in non-sci-fi films. Same with 2001.

Don C.

[david_b]

THX1138 and A Clockwork Orange. I'm not saying either are bad, just couldn't get into them for some reason. Now Independence Day was just awful. How it made so much money is beyond me. Stargate also really sucks.

Loved Clockwork Orange on a few different levels, nice story-telling on evils of society trying to brainwash it's problems away. Also liked how Malcolm McDowell actually had the audience sympathetic to him by the end of the film.

david_b

[Cmonster]

I think movies like 2001 and Blade Runner made more of an impression on the pros than the fans 'cos the fans don't really care so much about the technical side of things like camerawork or design. Like I said; Bladerunner is an IMPORTANT film 'cos after it came out EVERYBODY started using tricks from it, even in non-sci-fi films. Same with 2001.

Don C.

Excellent point, Don. Very well said... I agree.

SC

[Mikey]

Looking at Blade Runner from outside the box (i'm not a fan) it seems loving that movie goes with loving Star Wars and Indiana Jones.
I think a lot of people like it just because Harrison Ford is the star and it was made when Ford was really hot.

[B-Lister]

Star Wars.

I mean, I GET it, I just don't get the fans......they make me crazy.

[Mikey]

Star Wars.

I mean, I GET it, I just don't get the fans......they make me crazy.

I don't get the whole everbody's in love with Boba Fett thing.

Back in the old days Boba was a joke ... Why was/is he so popular ?

I just don't get it

[Cmonster]

I don't get the whole everbody's in love with Boba Fett thing. Back in the old days Boba was a joke ... Why was/is he so popular ?
I just don't get it

Ya know, I'm glad somebody said that. Right on, Mikey... I'm a victim of it myself, however my Boba Fetish centers around his helmet and costume ONLY. He's by far the coolest looking character in the SW universe, but COME ON-- He's only in the original films (the only films as far as I'm concerned) for like 5 or six minutes of screen time, doesn't REALLY do or say hardly anything, AND has the absolute lamest death ever... Crazy.

SC

[Mikey]

I'm a victim of it myself, however my Boba Fetish centers around his helmet and costume ONLY.

SC

When I seen him for the first time I was unimpressed with his suit.

To me his helmet seemed uninteresting compared to the rest of the character's helmets ... It almost looks like a regular motorcycle helmet.

Also I thought the jetpack was a very dated concept.

Boba did seem very last minute thrown together

[huedell]

Looking at Blade Runner from outside the box (i'm not a fan) it seems loving that movie goes with loving Star Wars and Indiana Jones.
I think a lot of people like it just because Harrison Ford is the star and it was made when Ford was really hot.

As a younger boy/man the BR movie confused me because it was so
much more serious than SW and IJ...but as I got older I looked at the movie
as very satisfying emotionally....all the themes seemed to be addressed
wonderfully and I sang it's praises every chance I got, and still do....
ironically Mike, it's having guys like you with bad reviews for the BR movie
that make me question my own motivations for thinking BR is so so incredible
...for the VERY reason that you put forth....I am a HUGE Ford fan, and strangely enough MOSQUITO COAST is another one of my most favorite more "serious" movies.

[huedell]

....my Boba Fetish centers around his helmet and costume ONLY. He's by far the coolest looking character in the SW universe, but COME ON-- He's only in the original films (the only films as far as I'm concerned) for like 5 or six minutes of screen time, doesn't REALLY do or say hardly anything... Crazy.

It's not really "crazy" IMHO because the stuff you listed is the very reason
fans loved him...."Cool looking" "short screen time" "doesn't really
say or do anything" equals "Mysterious" and therefore "incredible" to all
his fans.

... has the absolute lamest death ever...

...which was part of the ROTJ fault-list that prompted
the "We hate George" club that arose from the SW fans' legions so many
years ago.

[huedell]

This is a great thread. It's really interesting to hear that landmark, classic, genre films like "2001", "The Abyss" and "Blade Runner" are on some people's "don't get it" lists... Just goes to show that people perceive movies in different ways and get different things out of them. As a filmmaker, I strive to achieve a greater understanding of such things.

You could call me an "aspiring filmmaker" as I am a student of screenwriting,
and threads like this intrigue me as well, as do simillar threads about "books"
or "pop music"...but personally I'd say my interest comes more from a
passionate desire to "figure out what makes human beings tick" rather
than because I have chosen to take part in any of the arts as a "creator".

[huedell]

While not necessairly Sci-Fi, I have never understood the appeal of the Wizard of Oz. This movie only barely holds any entertainment value for me, now or as a kid.

...as a kid, the Wicked Witch and the fear she put into me was enough to sell me on being a fan.

And as an adult, even tho' I'm not too impressed with the movie, I can
imagine the colorful images, the catchy songs and the fun choreography were enough to sell many people on it...not to mention, the whole
"Black and white into color and back again" gimmick the movie had going for it.

[fallensaviour]

...as a kid, the Wicked Witch and the fear she put into me was enough to sell me on being a fan.

And as an adult, even tho' I'm not too impressed with the movie, I can
imagine the colorful images, the catchy songs and the fun choreography were enough to sell many people on it...not to mention, the whole
"Black and white into color and back again" gimmick the movie had going for it.

To this day if I see it on TV I stop what I'm doing and watch it.!?!?
I find the film mesmerizing.I think of it as a metaphor for life,It's not about the destination it's about the journey to get there.

[number 6]

Silent Running: preachy and boring, why is this considered a classic? I love nature as much as the next guy, but watching Bruce Dern channel Phil Donahue while talking to a couple of inarticulate robots for an hour and half is not my idea of a good time.

Logans Run: I know I'll get flogged for bringing this one up 'cause I know there's alot of love for this movie here, but honestly, I don't get what the big deal is. I saw it once about 5 years ago and have absolutely do desire to see it again. Didn't hate it, it was just meh.

2001: I get the whole influentlial angle, but what I don't understand is how all the people who love this movie hate ST:TMP. They're basically the same movie. I consider myself a pretty disciplined viewer, but I get alot more antsy watching this one than I do ST:TMP. I think the key to understanding 2001's appeal is dropping some acid. IMO if you have to do drugs to "get" how great a movie is, that disquilifies it because, after all, that really would work with just about any movie. I'm sure Catwonan's great when you're hopped up on PCP.

Escape From New York: I remember all my friendds talking about this movie in school and when I finally saw it, I was very underwhelmed. Maybe it's because I had built it up in my mind as being something much different. But I think this movie's more of cult thing so maybe that's why I don't get it.

Blade Runner: I'm a little split on this one because the visuals and style appeal to me, and I find the themes interesting. But I've never been compelled to buy it because I know it would just sit on my shelf and never get watched. I would own just so I could say 'look, I own Blade Runner'. I certainly get the influential aspect of this movie, but the fact there's a half dozen different cuts of the movie would seem to suggest that there's a fundamental problem with the movie, like doing one more re-edit tweek is going to fix it.

As far as the Boba Fett thing, I think his popularity is largely due to ESB. He was mysterious, there was the suggestion that he was a real bad **** and nothing on screen contradicts that. ROTJ is what ruined it, not just his death (although that's a big part). In ESB he's portrayed as a freelance mercenary, in ROTJ is just Jabba's stooge who does absolutely nothing.

[MIB41]

Here are my entries:

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace - The logic menace is more like it. I can't find sympathy in a 10 year old kid that delivers a Mickey Mouse performance from a story that offers nothing more than a empty, stereotype, conveyance of mother/son relations with an over abundance of gifts bestowed upon a kid that already possesses the uncanny ability to fly spacecrafts with alarming skill. Yeah George, I get it. He's "special". Too special and completely unbelievable... kind of like the effects that went with it. Ask the Oscars...

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Am I the only person who felt creepy at the idea that Natalie Portman (who hadn't changed much in appearance from Menace) was now gazing with sexual tension at a boy she easily could have babysat for in the previous entry? Yet somehow "Anakin" has mysteriously caught up with her... Someone please call the logic police!!! And don't even get me started with the dialogue in the field. Easily the most teeth mashing, mouth clinching, face covering, embarrassing dialogue in this galaxy (or anywhere else). And what about those effects? Yoda fighting like Daffy Duck... Let's ask the Oscars... Nope. Still nothing for effects...

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones -Please! Someone attack Lucas Ranch! What are we making here George?! A finale or a Universal monster movie? Darth Vader climbs off the table like the Frankenstein monster? Sweet mother of God. The great, daffy Yoda is suppose to possess wisdom and foresight, yet he can't see the dark side collecting right next to him? Are you kidding me? "Future difficult to see." No she-it. Try some Kenner Star Wars glasses. "Kenner...hmmmm. Hee, hee. Yes. Now the future is very clear. Kenner toys is the true dark side. BEWARE!"
Academy do we have a winner in effects this time? STRIKE THREE!!! Your out of there!