Best Sci-Fi Tournament - Round 1, Group M

[fernandito]

http://www.horrorphile.net/images/fantastic-planet-dvd-cover1.jpg

http://www.bluraywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/thearrivalbluray.jpg

http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/NnqPCBAp2fM/movieposter.jpg?v=4dc567d7

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/13/Worldcollide.jpg/220px-Worldcollide.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b0/Avatar-Teaser-Poster.jpg

http://img1.targetimg1.com/wcsstore/TargetSAS//img/p/11/32/11328947.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5d/AKIRA_(1988_poster).jpg

http://images.moviepostershop.com/tetsuo-the-ironman-movie-poster-1988-1020260389.jpg

http://www.jwfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/aiposter2.jpg

http://www.leninimports.com/metropolis.jpg

[mae]

Coming soon:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgVHJXg6Fbo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ldM3j6v83I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb9a00bXf-U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYtONKBH-6o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Mi0elohJw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3fx6TugN7g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQIkGZhKo5Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq-ds72h7mQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2ErD2N0SRA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSExdX0tds4

[mae]

Going here with:

Fantastic Planet
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Avatar
Akira
Artificial Intelligence
Metropolis

[fernandito]

I'm going to wait until I watch the Arrival and Fantastic Planet til I vote on here, but the rest will definitely be

Eternal Sunshine
Akira
Artificial Intelligence

[divemaster]

I'm not sure what to do. I really like Bill & Ted, but consider it a comedy. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of the best movies of the last 10 years, but it's a romantic drama. Sure, both have science fiction elements but I'm not sure either qualifies as a "science fiction movie."

I shall ponder this.

[fernandito]

There is only a faint vestige of sci-fi in Eternal Sunshine, but it's just enough for me to vote for it. It's one of the most powerful film viewing experiences I've ever had. Anyone who has ever been in a relationship can relate to and learn from it.

[Mattrick]

There's plenty of sci-fi in Eternal Sunshine. It's more sci-fi than Clockwork Orange despite the lack of a dystopian society.

[Tommy]

More people should see Tetsuo, I mean how could you not be a little curious after that crazy trailer? That movie is bonkers and I love it!!

[fernandito]

There's plenty of sci-fi in Eternal Sunshine. It's more sci-fi than Clockwork Orange despite the lack of a dystopian society.

What's sci fi apart from the contraption/procedure?

[Heather19]

I think I'm going to wait to vote. I have yet to watch Metropolis.

[Mattrick]

There's plenty of sci-fi in Eternal Sunshine. It's more sci-fi than Clockwork Orange despite the lack of a dystopian society.

What's sci fi apart from the contraption/procedure?

Well, the technology, how it's explained and the fact the proceedure is 80% of the film. It explores what such techonology could do and how addicting it can be as Mary says over the phone to a client, "You know you can't get the proceedure done twice in one month" and the concept that mankind would be happier if we could forget all the bad stuff that's happened to us, that affects negatively in the present. In the film we see the story of a couple who'd had each other erased from their memories (and their struggle to keep them as they are being erased, which is all pretty sci-fi as well) and once permanently erased the part that brought them together outside the mind brings them back together and so they can fall back into old patterns but once they remember they'd forgotten each other they remember how things will turn out (because of how they turned out before) and they call it a relationship before it gets to that point because mankind needs memory to learn, to not repeat the same mistakes that brought us pain and without those traumatic memories we can never grow, never change, never try to become better people. A big part of sci-fi is how technology affects us which is what Eternal Sunshine is all about, no?

[fernandito]

Fair enough. Good point(s).

[Randall Flagg]

I've never seen the 153 minute original cut of Metropolis, but I'm giving it my sole vote. I will not drink the koolaid and vote for Avatar.

[DoctorDodge]

Yeah, I liked Avatar, but...I couldn't vote for it. It's great the first time you see it in 3D, but it definitely loses a lot of its charm after that. As for Bill & Ted, despite being a comedy film, it's still a great time travel movie - the final act of the film is a great example of showing the messiness of time travel done right. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind's use of science fiction, however small, shares a lot with my favourite science fiction movies - how a key idea within the genre of science fiction affects a few key characters on a number of levels. The way it focuses on memory in the same way that, say, Inception focused on dreams is a classic example of why I love the genre. And Akira, well...dark and fucked up as hell, but still such a huge influence on the genre. I don't love it quite as much as anything Ghost in the Shell related, but it's still a great scifi/anime film.

[Still Servant]

I'm not sure what to do. I really like Bill & Ted, but consider it a comedy. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of the best movies of the last 10 years, but it's a romantic drama. Sure, both have science fiction elements but I'm not sure either qualifies as a "science fiction movie."

I shall ponder this.

Not that it's the benchmark or anything, but I have a book that lists the Top 100 Sc-fi films of all time and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is in there.

Also, it pops up on almost ever list of Sci-fi films.

[mae]

The quiet masterpiece here is AI. Such a beautiful film.

[Still Servant]

The quiet masterpiece here is AI. Such a beautiful film.

Yup. AI is one of those films that I was unsure about after watching it once. Then I went back years later and was able to fully realize its beauty.

[Mattrick]

I loved A.I when I saw it in theatres. Haven't watched it in a long time but it's underappreciated by most.

[frik]

Avatar
A.I.
Metropolis

sk

[Mattrick]

Going to promote The Arrival a bit with some quotes from Ebert's review:


There is a shot when Zane's fiancee (Teri Polo (http://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/teri-polo)) rolls to the edge of the big dish; at first, all we see is its vast white expanse, and then suddenly we see the earth below, spread out beneath her. The way the shot is constructed makes it into 10 seconds of just about perfect cinema. A lot of movies in this genre break down in the end into a simpleminded series of chases and fights. There are fights and chases in “The Arrival,” but they're generated by the plot and punctuated by revelations and possibilities, so that the movie keeps on thinking and doesn't go on automatic pilot. “The Arrival” fulfills one of the classic functions of science fiction, which is to take a current trend and extend it to a possible (and preferably alarming) future.


What I appreciated about “The Arrival” is that it stays with its thesis all the way to the end.

[mae]

Need more love for Fantastic Planet. No way should Bill & Ted make it.

[Mattrick]

I wasn't expecting Fantastic Planet to advance. One of the best films in the tournament but it's an obscure french animated film from the early 70's lol. I'm afraid whatever votes it gets is probably only a bi-product of my talking it up so much.

[mae]

Fantastic Planet is great and I honestly expected it to do much better. I always assumed it was pretty well known.


I think I'm going to wait to vote. I have yet to watch Metropolis.

Don't wait and watch it, it's great, one of the best films ever made, let alone sci-fi films.


I've never seen the 153 minute original cut of Metropolis, but I'm giving it my sole vote.

Sadly, I don't think the version available for streaming on Netflix is the new "Complete" version, but I watched that in HD and it was awesome.

[Iwritecode]

Bill and Ted has always been one of my favorite movies. I saw it when I was pretty young though and had no idea of the significance of them using a phone booth as their time travel machine.

Hell, I didn’t even know who George Carlin was at the time.

[pathoftheturtle]

I saw Fantastic Planet around '95. I mostly liked it, I think. To the best of my memory.

[mae]

Astounded at all the B&T votes.

[Mattrick]

Fantastic.....Planet.....going.....to...lose....to ................Keanu in a phone booth? isn't there a law against this?

[mae]

I don't understand it. With all due respect to the nine that voted for it, it's a pretty bad movie :confused:

[fernandito]

If Akira doesn't advance I'm shutting the tournament down.

[Merlin1958]

Fantastic.....Planet.....going.....to...lose....to ................Keanu in a phone booth? isn't there a law against this?

Not that I am a "Fantastic Planet" fan, but yes, there should be a law!!

[pathoftheturtle]

But sometimes Keanu in a phone booth is not so bad. If you don't believe that, just watch what happens after two more Matrix movies.

[Iwritecode]

Evil Duke: Put them in the iron maiden.

Ted: Iron Maiden?

Bill, Ted: Excellent!

[air guitar]

Evil Duke: Execute them.

Bill, Ted: Bogus!

:biggrin:

[mae]

How does Bill & Ted now have ten votes? This is crazy... :doh:

[Ben Staad]

Excellent!


Evil Duke: Put them in the iron maiden.

Ted: Iron Maiden?

Bill, Ted: Excellent!

[air guitar]

Evil Duke: Execute them.

Bill, Ted: Bogus!

:biggrin:


How does Bill & Ted now have ten votes? This is crazy... :doh:

[mae]

Excellent!

:mad1:

[Merlin1958]

How the hell is B&T beating, The Arrival a clear SYFY film. B&T is a F*&king comedy!!! And a mediocre one at best!!!

[Heather19]

I'm just going to vote for Eternal Sunshine and AI for now. Hopefully Metropolis makes it on, I still haven't had a chance to watch it yet.

[fernandito]

Heather - would you be opposed to checking out Akira?

[mae]

Looks like Metropolis is making it through (and it should go far in the tournament), but I'm still flabbergasted by the Bill & Ted votes. I was thinking it may get a couple but no more...

[Heather19]

Heather - would you be opposed to checking out Akira?

I'm not opposed to it, I'm just not sure how much I'll enjoy it. I do owe you some films though so maybe I'll try to check it out soon.

[T-Dogz_AK47]

More votes for Fantastic Planet!!!!

[Merlin1958]

I'm sorry, but ten votes for B&T in a SYFY tournament is a travesty. No question!!!

If you are gonna include "Parodies" then "Spaceballs" should be in there.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxlbLVcpqI



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk7VWcuVOf0

[Mattrick]

More votes for Fantastic Planet!!!!

Yes! VOTE NOW
http://prettycleverfilms.com/files/2013/11/Fantastic-Planet-Creature.jpg

[mae]

Only 27 voted here, come on, we can get a few more before this closes in a few hours.

[mae]

We have about an hour to get one more vote for Fantastic Planet to move it into a tie for sixth place! :panic:

If anybody voted for less than six titles, please consider it :unsure:

[Mattrick]

If Fantastic Planet gets into a tie break I'll have to choose between it and The Arrival which are my noms...both are super deserving of advancing. ARGH

[mae]

Sadly, Akira moves on without the need for a tiebreak. Good movie still, but Fantastic Planet is better.

[Mattrick]

Akira just knocked out two of my nominations. The two nominations I was most worried about being in a strong group like this because I knew this would happen. I am Nostradamus, obviously. Bill and Ted's crappy adventure advances and two of the best sci-fi films ever made don't make it past the first round. Sigh. I figured multiple votes would help these smaller titles but now I'm merely having flashbacks of Frailty and The Orphanage and their first round ousting in the horror tournament.

http://wickedhorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/orphanage-tomas.jpg
My sentiments exactly, Tomas.

[fernandito]

The Orphanage wasn't really that good tho. I mean it was serviceable, but nowhere near 'best of' anything.

[Still Servant]

The Orphanage wasn't really that good tho. I mean it was serviceable, but nowhere near 'best of' anything.

I agree. I was a little disappointed with The Orphanage. I prefer something along the lines of The Others or The Devil's Backbone.

[Mattrick]

I think The Oprhange is easily top five horrors of all time. Great acting, story characters and atmosphere so thick and brooding you can't cut it with a knife because you need a chainsaw. It's a heartbreaking human story that never fails to get to me and horror movies can very rarely convey such powerful drama to me. Here is a quote from Ebert's review (I know I quote him a lot but that's more because he words it perfectly and I don't want to plagerise, even if it's only on a forum):



Now here is an excellent example of why it is more frightening to await something than to experience it. "The Orphanage" has every opportunity to descend into routine shock and horror, or even into the pits with the slasher pictures, but it only pulls the trigger a couple of times. The rest is all waiting, anticipating, dreading. We need the genuine jolt that comes about midway, to let us see what the movie is capable of. The rest is fear.

Hitchcock was very wise about this. In his book-length conversation with Truffaut, he used a famous example to explain the difference between surprise and suspense. If people are seated at a table and a bomb explodes, that is surprise. If they are seated at a table, and you know there's a bomb under the table attached to a ticking clock, but they continue to play cards -- that's suspense. There's a bomb under "The Orphanage" for excruciating stretches of time.
That makes the film into a superior ghost story, if indeed there are ghosts in it. I am not sure: They may instead be the experience or illusion of ghosts in the mind of the heroine, and since we see through her eyes, we see what she sees and are no more capable than she is of being certain. That means when she walks down a dark staircase, or into an unlit corridor or a gloomy room, we're tense and fearful, whether we're experiencing a haunted house or a haunted mind. And when she follows her son into a pitch-black cave, her flashlight shows only a thread of light through unlimited menace.

And this quote he ends his review which, for me, makes perfect sense to me:


You may be capable of walking into any basement on earth, but if you go down the stairs into the darkened basement of the house you grew up in, do you still ... feel something?

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-orphanage-2007

To me The Orphange is everything horror films should be trying to be. Where as Insidious is something I think horror films shouldn't be trying to be. Give me atmosphere and dread and foreboding that permeates an entire film anyday over most of what passes for horror these days.

I haven't watched the Devil's Backbone yet though I have it now. Been waiting a long time to watch Pan's Labrythe as well. I started going through his filmography chronologically, watching Cronos and Mimic then got sidetracked somewhere along the line.