Oblivion

I avoid Tom Cruise films on principle, but at this point HBO stays until GoT so why not.  Oh, yeah, because I saw this, it was called Moon, and it was better.  Partly because it didn't include Tom Cruise.

Oblivion
2013, 124 minutes, directed by Joseph Kosinski

Guardians of the Galaxy

I can picture the day - 1971 - Marvel is flying high with their diverse properties.  But they're all based on Earth.  In the midst of a drug-induced hazed, someone has a bright idea.  Rather than bring a super hero to Earth, why not send a regular guy into space?  And Guardians of the Galaxy is born.*

The film really tries to maintain this campy vibe despite being reset in a modern age, and it delivers.  When you are establishing your base as a talking racoon and a tree, why not throw in a 1970s soundtrack and smooth dance moves?

Guardians of the Galaxy
2014, 122 minutes, directed by James Gunn

* I have no idea if this is how it actually happened.  It seems probable.

District 9

I'm impressed that a South Africa production was so eloquently able to disguise apartheid critique under a thick gory blanket of sci fi, the way it's meant to be done.  Plus Wikus Van De Merwe is such an awesome action hero, it's hard to not root for him as both a speciesist mid-level manager and a blood-thirsty killing machine.

For more commentary see my original review from 2009.

District 9
2009, 112 minutes, directed by Neill Blomkamp

Alien Raiders

I almost saw the world premiere of this low-budget sci-fi action film back in 2008.  When I grabbed it off Showtime this summer, I had no recollection of seeing it before, but the first few scenes brought back memories.  I wish there were more films made like this - low budget, decent story, English, enough sci fi to make the action/horror stuff worthwhile.  It's a fun, if still predictable, ride.

Alien Raiders
2008, 85 minutes, directed by Ben Rock

Scary Movie 4

Don't ask.

Scary Movie 4
2006, 83 minutes, directed by David Zucker

V/H/S/2

Having acquired a heap of knowledge and a pile of leftover tapes from their first outing, this second installment of the V/H/S horror line feels more polished and... boring... than the first.  Sure, everything tied together better in a central theme: private detectives are asked to look for a college student who's been missing for a few days.  At his house, they find lots of static-y monitors and piles of VHS tapes.

This time, it all feels more predictable in its narration.  There's a story with ghosts, one with zombies, one with occult, and one with aliens.  It's all nice and tidy.  And that's what makes it boring.

V/H/S/2
2013, 95 minutes, directed by Simon Barrett, Adam Wingard, Eduardo Sanchez, Gregg Hale, Timo Tjahjanto, Gareth Huw Evans, and Jason Eisener

The Paramount was already running an hour late after their first film.  I stayed in line for Evil Dead for two hours, but when the film was supposed to have started and the previous screening was still letting out, I bailed for dinner and a sure spot at this midnight film.  Knowing now that some people made it (barely) to both thanks to V/H/S/2 also being inexplicably delayed, and knowing that I didn't care much for the midnight film, makes me angrier at the Paramount and SXSW for being unable to keep their schedules even remotely on time.

Encounter at Raven's Gate

Close encounters in the Australian outback, filmed and set in the 1980s amidst small-town drama.  It baffles me.

Encounter at Raven's Gate
1988, 94 minutes, directed by Rolf de Heer

Showdown at Area 51

When the newer guy on Burn Notice crashes from the sky, chased by a big guy in a gas mask wielding nanobot shurikens, only some B-movie actor dude and Chiana from Farscape (strangely, as a human) can save the world.

This isn't a very good movie.  It's especially not very good late at night on Siffy when I should be asleep, with regular breaks so Jimmie Johnson can hawk Extenze.

Showdown at Area 51
2007, 96 minutes, directed by C. Roma

Mission to Mars

Usually, when I see a science fiction film that bothers to explain artificial gravity, I presume they want to pursue some sense of scientific rigor, at least for the mundane things not necessary to advance the "fiction" portion of the science fiction plot.  This was alas my downfall with Mission to Mars, for I tried to evaluate it as a good film, one that would be consistent in its scientific quality.  I was quite dismayed, then, when they let someone survive down to 10% atmospheric pressure - then back up again quickly without getting the bends.  Then there was the free scene in orbit, and I was ready to write the film off as hopeless.

But then it struck me; the gravity answer was the anomaly.  This is actually a bad film where acting, storyline, and accuracy were tossed in favor of vision.  Vision, that is, of the directory or studio execs or whoever cobbled this crap story together.  Recognizing that it was low-grade cinema allowed me to appreciate it for what it is: filler for my Netflix queue.  And as that it was all right.

Mission to Mars
2000, 113 minutes, directed by Brian De Palma

Prometheus

The interstellar ship Prometheus arrives at its destination and a long, cryo-sleep journey: a planet indicated on maps of every major prehistory civilization on Earth.  Perhaps this is the home of our progenitors, our Gods.

As it happens, though, it's not.  Instead it's the home of a living goo that, in the correct circumstances, breeds in the right kind of human to become an Alien of the franchise.  This is a prequel, sort of, but not really.  It's sort of a horror film, but no, not that.  There's some action, but it's certainly not an action film.  Maybe it's a survival film, but that's not really it either.  And since I've never given a reason to develop an emotional attachment to the characters, there's no possibility of suspense.  I wanted spine-tingling insight into the backstory of the Aliens; I got something bland and rambling on screen.

Prometheus
2012, 124 minutes, directed by Ridley Scott

The Avengers

First thoughts: There are a lot of ingredients in this pot.

Second thoughts: I was wondering when the not-so-super heroes would be relegated to civilian duty while the fly-through-the-air jumping-on-buildings super heroes would save the day.  Oh, yes, here it is.  Well at least they kept it as part of the action, as an important part of the mission.

Ending thoughts: I don't think this film - aka Iron Man III and friends - was the best film I've seen this year.  Oh well.  It's made enough money that there will be another film.

Final thoughts: Stay until the end of the credits for a bonus scene.

The Avengers
2012, 143 minutes, directed by Joss Whedon

The Cooridor

The writer and director of this film describe it as a "Sunday morning hangover film", so it seems appropriate that I saw it early Sunday after a late night at the Fantastic Debates.  (No, I'm not hung over.)

Tyler, lifelong friend to Robert, Chris, Everett, and Jim, has a nervous breakdown upon the death of his mother, stabbing two of his friends before he's subdued.  Months later, all five of them gather in the woods at Tyler's mom's retreat cabin to reminisce and make amends.  When Tyler sees a strange cooridor in the woods, has his psychosis returned?  Or is he the only one sane?

This was much more cerebral than I expected, but then again that seems to be the theme this week.  The characters are obsessed with their own pasts and unsure what comes next, which resonates well with me.  This was a good film, worth seeing on a Saturday night.  Gore is minimal but present, so be prepared.

The Cooridor
2010, 100 minutes, directed by Evan Kelly

Extraterrestre (Extraterrestrial)

So, Dominic Monaghan and Elijah Wood are in the row right behind me.  They weren't involved in the film; they're just here hanging out.  Gotta love Fantastic Fest.

The film is a little slow paced.  There's no rolling-in-the-seats laughing, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.

Extraterrestre (Extraterrestrial)
2011, 90 minutes, directed by Nacho Vigalondo

The intrepid Tim League, introducing the director of Extraterestrial

Director Nacho Vigalondo introduces his film Extraterrestrial

Nacho Vigalondo alongside star Julián Villagrán of Extraterrestrial during the Q&A

Invasion of Alien Bikini

I'd say this Korean independent film gets weird, but that implies that it didn't start weird.  Filmed with a total budget of $5000, this "comedy" features an alien who must reproduce tonight, and a vow of chastity by the man she's chosen.  Light-hearted torture ensues.  Seriously.  And then it gets really weird.  Quite a head scratcher, this one.

Invasion of Alien Bikini
2011, 75 minutes, directed by Yound-doo Oh

Green Lantern

I just don't know about this one.  It's too big and too self-absorbed, like it thinks there's nothing silly about a galactic fleet of green superheroes who have a super ring but talk about their lanterns they keep at home in the closet.  And it stars Ryan Reynolds, who simply lacks any facial expression that hints at depth of character.  I understand that the "Lanterns" operate through force of will, and that humans are special because they can act despite fear, but the constant breaks from action to talk about with his friends made it even harder to not notice how hard they tried to push against the inherent cheesiness of the story.  It just doesn't work for me.

And yes, they set us up the sequel.

Green Lantern
2011, 105 minutes, directed by Martin Campbell

Super 8

J. J. Abrams decided to make an homage to the 1980s kid-adventure genre.  I think he did a pretty good job.  Other than the occasional wink to the audience of the future (the Walkman, film develpment, and drug jokes), it stays pretty firmly rooted in its time and place.  Sure, there are stereotypes aplenty, but that's what an homage is.

Keep in mind that there's some bad language and a selection of body-poppin' brutality.  One difference between now and then: in the 1980s this would have been rated R.

Including the completed home movie in the credits was brilliant.  Make sure you stay for it.

Super 8
2011, 112 minutes, directed by J. .J. Abrams

Paul

This geek comedy played really well with the SXSW audience, but I'm not sure it would do well, or if I would even enjoy it, when played for the general public.

I like this team - this group of friends who have made some great movies together - but I'm not sure this is one of them.  For that I feel sad, which is exactly not what they want people to walk out of the theater feeling.

Paul
2010, 104 minutes, directed by Greg Mottola

Planet 51

This computer-animated film portrays a typical children's humans-are-the-aliens story.  What surprised me, though, was the high level of violence in this PG film.  No, no one dies, except a seemingly sentient bug which is squished under a rock, and two solders who are shown dead and lobotomized (but turn out to survive without their brains later).

I guess "modern" kids have seen worse in their online games and afternoon TV, but really it just seemed excessive.  I'd rate this PG-13.

Planet 51
2009, 91 minutes, directed by Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad, and Marcos Martinez

Princess of Mars

I've stayed away from the John Carter novel series, because, to put it frankly, it seems a little cheesy.  That said, no sci fi film is too cheesy for me, and thus here I am.

This straight-to-video classic details John Carter's first adventures on Mars, here updated to be a planet in a nearby star system, where he's sent by the CIA after suffering mortal wounds in Afghanistan.  The rest of the film, though, feels straight out of the 1950s, with rubber suits, bad acting, and broken plots.  It's about as I expected.

Princess of Mars
2009, 93 minutes, directed by Mark Atkins

Avatar

I was so set up to be disappointed, but I was so very not.  Yes, it's a very predictable plot.  It's the exact same plot as at least two different films I've seen before.  But that's ok.  Think about a movie you love, one you've seen a dozen times and can quote along with the dialog.  I think of my first viewing of Avatar in that way - totally predictable but emphatically compelling.

Avatar in 3D
2009, 162 minutes, directed by James Cameron