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science fiction

Thor * Kenneth Branagh (2011)

The film is based on a comic which is (of course) based on Norse mythology. Losely based I might say. Loki’s mother became a father and he is a brother to Thor. The “white Ase” Heimdall became a negroid and there are some other ‘free interpretations’. Leaving them aside you get some sort of sci-fi action film with some names and themes from Northern mythology. The result is not utterly boring, but not really exiting either. Thor finds himself cast to the earth without his usual powers. He is picked up by a group of scientists and eventually won back for Asgard, which is located on some other planet. There are some funny findings, such as Bifrost as a worm-hole Thor’s ‘meteorite’ and however the ‘frost giants’ are a bit silly, the ‘fire giant’ looks great. You will get the expected spectacle, Anthony Hopkins as Odin and good-looking (computer) stages.

Bad Taste * Peter Jackson (1987)

Peter Jackson did not always make hip and slick films like “Lord Of The Rings”. In fact, his debut is an over-the-top horror-scifi-comedy. “Bad Taste” is actually a zombie-slasher in which the zombies are replaced by aliens. The acting is bad, the special effects corney. Jackson obviously tried to make his special effects as dirty as possible. Replacing brains, heads split in two, bloodsplattering and large heaps of intestines. The result of a level of the average zombie slasher. Laughs and chuckles, but story- and acting-wise not too interesting.

TRON * Steven Lisberger (1982)

Every now and then I run into some classic that I (think I) have not seen. This time this was a 1982 science-fiction. Watching “TRON” I was wondering how long there had been computers in 1982. I remember my father buying a Vic20, probably around that time, so I could not have been that long. Still “TRON” seems to contain computer animations and futuristic ideas about computers and their workings, such as “The Matrix” like story. The film is about a computer game factory where curruption made the originators to be secondary or even expelled employers. A security system is built which slowly takes things in his own hand. This system made some kind of “matrix” where computer programs are used to play deadly games and thus be killed. The computer world is a world with bright colours and game-like machines. In the film this world looks both awsome and cheap, thus making a wonderfull virtual world, especially thinking again of 1982. The surrealistic world has ways of communicating with “users” in the real world, ‘passed screen’ worlds, programs on the loose, “bits” that can only say “yes” and “no” and security. It all goes somewhere between games and a “Matrix” like computer world. A great classic!

Splice * Vincenzo Natali (2009)

This film was on my list, so I guess I read something about that that made me want to see it. Perhaps it was the producer, Guillermo del Toro? Unfortunately, “Splice” is not that good. Two young and too hip scientists work at a facility producing alternative lifeforms in order to find cures for diseases. Of course they take things a step too far. Actually this is already too much information, but anything you read about this film gives most of it away. “Splice” is a scifi, but not a fantasy, even though the creature that Else and Clive create is very fantasyfull. In any case, a slightly overrated film. The IMdB rating of 6.1/10 is already more realistic, but I give it a:

X-Files complete 9 series * Chris Carter (1993-2002)

In August 2008 I ‘blogged‘ about having bought the 9 series X-Files shoebox and now I can tell you we have watched it all. Of course I am not going to review the whole series. A fact is that just as when I watched the series on TV (from 1994 or 1995 on or so) I dropped out somewhere in what proves to be the 8th series, but I have seen several episodes of the 9th as well. It is quite clear why I stopped following the series, they were not getting better. On the other hand, even with Doggett and Reyes there are some interesting episodes. The part of Scully becomes more and more unsatisfying and in some episodes even irritating when Carter has her take over the Mulder role. In any case, overall you can see the series developing. Then less-serious experiments come in, unfortunately resulting in a complete series almost devoid of normal episodes, but initially refreshing. After a while the various directors and story-writers seem to get more of a free hand and some episodes become both amazing and fantasyfull. In general I can say that the X-Files remain one of the more interesting series of my time, but I do not grief that they stopped after a series or two too many when things were not getting better. Unfortunately the last double episode is quite the opposite a final blowout, it is even pretty horrible…
I am not interested in all the extras. Every series has extras on each disc and a separate disc with extras. I do not think I saw any of that, so I cannot comment on it. The box itself looks nice, but is not firm enough for weekly use over two years time. Not that I completely wrecked it, but let me say that I could sell it as “mint” any more. Each series has a nice booklet with information about each episode and a list with all titles (in English and French in my version). Nine times the size of a VHS tape by the way. The box is not cheap, but I do not remember the price after two years, so who gives a damn.

Moon * Duncan Jones (2009)

I have to admit that it was that nice cover that kept asking for my attention and in the end I decided to just rent this film and watch it. “Moon” is a very nice scifi, a bit in the style of the big old productions such as “Solyaris” or “Soylent Green”, with a suggestive, uncanny atmosphere. We see a man living alone on the moon, working for an energy company. Just when his three year contract runs to an end, things do not go too well for Sam. “Moon” has a nice story that not just works towards a ‘revelation’. Instead the story bears different ‘revelations’. The atmosphere is good, the acting too. One minor point is the very end of the film. “Moon” is a film for people who enjoy ‘old-style’ science fiction.

Dune * David Lynch (1984)

I had not seen this film in ages. I never bought it because Lynch himself is not very happy with this commercial project, but every now and then I feel like watching “Dune”, so in the end I just got myself a very cheap copy. “Dune” is a rather dull scifi with a story that is hard to follow. There are various actors that we also see in other Lynch films and on a few occasions there is ‘Lynchian scene’. I do not particularly like “Dune”, but it is not like I was bored stiff either.

District 9 * Neill Blomkamp (2009)

District 9We just wanted to go to the cinema, not to see a film in particular, but it is disappointing what is in the cinemas these days, even the arthouses. “District 9” was the only film that I might want to see and so we did. Blomkamp starts with some sort of mockumentary which explains the situation. It involves aliens in a ghetto in Johannesburg, everything besides that already gives away too much. When the film switches to a more ‘normal’ film, a very original story develops, mixing current social problems (xenophobia, etc.) with weird scifi elements. The key element of the ‘black stuff’ is a bit thin to me, but the writers came up with something original for sure. Towards the end “District 9” develops into a complete over-the-top action slasher which is not really my thing. The film as a whole is not too good in my opinion, but it is the story, the great findings therein and and the documentary part that make this film worth a watch.

Eden Log * Franck Vestiel (2007)

Eden Log“Eden Log” is a very dark and claustrophic French film that plays in an apocalyptic future. The story is explained slowly. In the beginning you just see a man who woke up in some dark tunnel trying to find a way out. As he explores his surroundings, you slowly get the picture of what is going on. The film is shot in black-and-white with a high dark/light contrast. The minimalistic score adds to the pressing atmosphere of the film. “Eden Log” is a great film all the way up to the very weak last scene. A great watch nonetheless.

Solyaris * Andrei Tarkovsky (1972)

SolyarisMy girlfriend read the book and then bought the film. Looking for the cover I noticed that there is also a 2002 American version with George Clooney. In any case, this film is usually presented as a science fiction, but besides the fact that a large part of this 3 hour film plays in some ship above the mysterious ocean of the planet Solaris, there is little scifi about it. The spaceship looks strangely earthly with statues, paintings on the walls, leather chairs and a library. “Solyaris” is more of a philosophical film about how humans react in different surroundings, what is reality, etc. For its time, this film of Tarkovsky must definately have been expensive and groundbreaking. Combining black and white and colour filming, elaborate stages, video-telephones, etc. makes this film not look oldfashioned at all. It is a bit long and slow, not really boring, but not as timeless as The Prisoner for example.