Popular SF Movies You Don't Get

[ctc]

>I like the Terminator ... wish they would have left it as a once-off movie

What bothered me about the sequels, comics, tv shows, etc was that the story was over BEFORE the first movie began! Skynet already lost, the Arnie-101 was it’s last plan. But then we find out it had ANOTHER last-ditch plan, and one after that, and again....

>2001 - Good SPFX do not make a good story.

I’ve been thinking about how many folks dislike this one. When it came out it really was a triumph of effects; something that’s kinda tough for us to wrap our heads around, given how many advancements had been made for the films we’d all grew up on. Tragically, the film was written to hilight these effects, hence how slow it is. But if you’ve seen better the effect is lost. It’s kinda why I don’t care for stuff like Avatar: I don’t care so much about effects, so once the kick is gone I need something else to hold my attention.

Don C.

[Godzilla]

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.

[Mikey]

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.

I kind of agree.
As a kid the only part I liked was the tornado because I thought it was scary ... even today it still looks well done.

The rest of it kind of bores me - especially the music numbers.

[EMCE Hammer]

2001 and Dune

[palitoy]

I've never actually heard people praise Dune, I know some fans of the books who think it a C plus at best.

Wizard of Oz- Yeah, I think it's hyped too much. I can't stand hearing "we're not in kansas anymore" in movies or reading it in comics.

[BlackKnight]

I just bought the Wizard of OZ for the Kids ..., man , I don't remember it being so bad, but probably haven't scene it in 20yrs either.

Not Even Jean Luke Picard Could save Dune.

[Mikey]

I tried to watch Dune once ... I just couldn't get through it.

The most thing I remember about Dune is you couldn't give away the figures

On a side note, whenever I watch Beatlegueuse? I always laugh at the Dune reference --- I guess Burton liked it

[wolfie]

I agree with Hector, you should all be strung up for dissing some of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time. Things like Dark Star and THX1138 are cult movie gold.

Even the worst Alien / Predator / Terminator / Trek film is better than most of the rubbish that comes out.

[Werewolf]

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.

[spamn]

I agree with Hector, you should all be strung up for dissing some of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time. Things like Dark Star and THX1138 are cult movie gold.

Even the worst Alien / Predator / Terminator / Trek film is better than most of the rubbish that comes out.

Put me in the Dark Star camp, then. I'd read about it for years, and when I finally rented it in the 80s was really underwhelmed. I should watch it again to be sure since I'm over two decades older now, though.

Did not like Flash Gordon at all. Was expecting a new Star Wars, got campy cheese. Still buying the BPP ReMegos, though. Max Von Sydow looked the part big time.

Tron is a movie I only love because of the FX. Otherwise, pretty lame, story and execution-wise. I think the sequel will be a huge improvement.

Escape From New York also didn't live up to its concept for me, and I say this as a big fan of 70s and 80s John Carpenter.

5th Element was a big letdown for me. Great cast, gorgeous art direction, top notch FX, and the movie was an unsubtle, unclever piece of fluff. I was really expecting a grand SF epic, and what we got instead was a cutsie slapstick wink-wink action splodefest.

Same with Independence Day. I was expecting something epic and dark, and what I got was a recycled disaster movie plot.

-----

I will say that I LOVE The Matrix, Carpenter's The Thing, and Big Trouble In Little China, and have never gotten tired of rewatching them. It pains me to see them not worshipped by others.

I'm also big on the love side of The Fountain. I consider it this decade's 2001 - a thoughtful, cerebral SF piece with a foundation in real human emotion. Though I understand that it's a divisive movie.

[Cmonster]

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.

SC

[ctc]

>Even the worst Alien / Predator / Terminator / Trek film is better than most of the rubbish that comes out.

I'll agree; but that doesn't make 'em good, just less bad than everything else.

Don C.

[jds1911a1]

Matrix hated it the first time tried it again still hated it, oh and Lost i never got either

Abyss - great cast but zzzzz sorry dozed off

T2 - and t3 never should have been made all we wanted after the first one was to see terminator skeletons and future soldiers fight and we had to wait for Terminator salvation and they messed that one up too

[CrimsonGhost]

Have to agree with Abyss. Actually not even memorable for me.

The Dark Knight I hate. Every character growls his lines and I guess Ledger played a good crazy guy but he didn't play the Joker. And for some reason, he sounds like Stewart Smalley with his stupid Chicago accent? And why is Gotham city Chicago anyway?!? Just crap from wall to wall. Well, Two-Face looked cool.

Matrix I liked, but I didn't think it was the amazing film that everyone I knew did. Whenever Canoe Reeves (yes, I know I called him canoe!) struck a Kung Fu pose, he just looked like a 10 year old.

[The Bat]

2001:a space snore fest Tried to watch it a million times and it just bores the living crap out of me.

Same here....boring, boring, boring.