A long time ago, in 1978, in a galaxy not so far away, many of us were scarred for life, by watching, with our indulging families, The Star Wars Holiday Special, an abomination that has never been re-aired, though it’s animated sequence introduced us to Boba Fett before he arrived in 1980’s The Empire Strikes…
Tag: sci-fi
Outland (1981) – Peter Hyams
Peter Hyams writes and directs this galactic update of the classic western, High Noon, that sees Sean Connery stepping into the Gary Cooper role of a lone marshall awaiting the arrival of men who are coming to kill him. With a visual look that seems to marry it with the universe of Alien (aided by…
Predestination (2014) – Michael & Peter Spierig
Somehow this little sci-fi, time travel, paradox embracing film never hit my radar when it first came out. It would occasionally pop up in my recommended lists, and I would think yeah, I should check that out, and then promptly forget about it. But the wait was worth it, because when I finally did settle…
Spaceballs (1987) – Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks is hit and miss with me, I love Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles, but Spaceballs, no matter how quotable it is, and how much it delightfully skewers the Star Wars universe (with George Lucas’ blessing, and some special effects by ILM) has never done it for me. There are moments I like, but…
Jason X (2001) – James Isaac
While writers attempted to crack the Freddy vs.Jason showdown, New Line Cinema was intent on keeping the Friday the 13th i.p. alive and also wanted to do something different. Jason X is definitely that. And unquestionably the worst entry in the entire series, despite boasting a cameo by David Cronenberg, a fun starring turn by…
Indiana Jones 4K – 40th Anniversary Celebration!
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Paramount Pictures has remastered the original four films into a gorgeous 4K collection that is as crystal clear as my memories of seeing each and every one of them in the theatre… In 1981, I remember seeing television ads for Raiders on the television,…
Demolition Man (1993) – Marco Brambilla
Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes go head to head in this sci-fi actioner from the early 90s. It also features Sandra Bullock, Benjamin Bratt, Denis Leary, Nigel Hawthorne, Bob Gunton and, sigh, Rob Schneider. Stallone plays a supercop, John Spartan, who has been tracking a psychotic maniac, Simon Phoenix (Snipes) and their confrontation at the…
The Twonky (1953) – Arch Oboler
I venture into a new section of DK Books’ Monsters in the Movies, one dealing with monstrous machines, and the first one I encounter is a sentient television set in The Twonky. This kind of sci-fi comedy is probably more relevant today, when seen through the lens of mobile phones and modern technology, instead of…
Strange Invaders (1983) – Michael Laughlin
The next alien monster film featured in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies is an interesting one in that it had possibilities and potential, but it’s execution borders on the horrible. Meant to be both homage and satire of the sci-fi movies of the late 50s the story seems like it would work perfectly –…
Paul (2011) – Greg Mottola
One tends to forget how funny Paul is. Written by stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, it is a love letter to sci-fi, geek, and pop culture and is the next stop in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies. Graeme (Pegg) and Clive (Frost) are huge geeks, and have finally made it to Comic Con…
The Mind Reels 