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» Hatrack River Writers Workshop » Forums » Grist for the Mill » New SciFi/Fantasy movies

   
Author Topic: New SciFi/Fantasy movies
Dark Warrior
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So I was most looking forward to James Cameron's Avatar. Probably because I am a Michelle Rodriquez and Sigourney Weaver fan. They have done some great sci-fi projects. But, I just saw the trailer for the new Clash of the Titans remake. Looks like it has promise, but I have a nagging feeling I may be let down. But then again, Liam Neeson is in it so it must be good.

Clash of the Titans
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800320/

Avatar
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/

Any upcoming SF/F movies you are looking forward to?


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Pyre Dynasty
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I hadn't heard of the new Clash of the Titans, I hope they have a little bit of the sensibility of Harry Hausen. It doesn't matter what tool you use if you use it wrong.

Avatar looks interesting, I'll wait to hear from some of my favorite reviewers.

I did have one that I was looking forward to, like really looking forward to but it has slipped my mind at the moment, sorry.

(There is always the comic book movies, Captain America, The Avengers, Deadpool, Wolverine II, Green Lantern, Iron Man II even though I am still quite pissed that they replaced Terrance Howard with Don Cheadle. I like Cheadle but I was so dearly looking forward to Howard's use of intense subtlety applied to War Machine.)


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Dark Warrior
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Talking about Avengers...Don't forget Thor starring Chris Hemsworth (George Kirk in the new Star Trek) and of all the super hero ones, yes Avengers I am most looking forward to...and I will boycott Wonder Woman if non-acting Megan Fox stays cast in that role.
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InarticulateBabbler
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[qoute]I hope they have a little bit of the sensibility of Harry Hausen[/quote]

You mean Ray Harryhausen, right?


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Pyre Dynasty
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*Slaps self in head.

Yes, I mean Ray Harryhousen, I had just gotten out of four (Or possibly five) hours of math test and was a little low on brain juice. I also forgot about Thor, actually I was thinking that it was already out and I had seen it. (Turns out it was just an old Hulk movie I was thinking about, but that was a good one.) There was a rumor that Megan Fox was in the running for CatWoman. Personally I don't believe it considering the pristine casting of The Dark Night.


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Dark Warrior
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I say this in all seriousness. There have been talks about Cher playing a past her prime catwoman.

I agree with you about Jim Rhodes. But I am looking forward to seeing Mickey Rourke as Whip Lash...all his plastic surgery seem to give him the perfect storm of villanous looks and the stills of him look great.


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Teraen
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Its based off of a video games, but Prince of Persia looks promising.

I had my doubts when Jake Glyenhall was selected to be Persian of all things, but then I saw the special effects and realized it has some potential...


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Robert Nowall
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Don't know...none of the current crop seem terribly appealing...since I had such a good experience with WALL-E and Up, I might try Toy Story 3 when it rolls around, or whatever Pixar puts up next. (Decided to pass on the current Disney traditionally-animated movie, what was it, The Frog Prince? Maybe when it rolls around on video.)

I can see remaking Clash of the Titans, since the first one wasn't particularly good...but this won't have all that Harryhausen stuff this go-round...


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Dark Warrior
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Avatar was pretty good. A couple of good sci-fi concepts. A felt like I was watching Red Prophet in space.
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Robert Nowall
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Been waiting for someone to bring this up again.

I remember I went to see James Cameron's Titanic at the movies, because the subject matter, the sinking of the Titanic, is dear to my heart and a lifelong interest...but Avatar just doesn't have that kind of resonance for me.

Besides, some of the reviews seem to indicate that Avatar lays Cameron's political beliefs onto the plot with a trowel---which would be bad enough if I agreed with them.

I'll pass.


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philocinemas
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I saw Avatar on Thursday at midnight (Thursday was an eventful day for me). I LOVED IT!

The storyline is OK - very similar to a recent animated movie, Battle for Terra, but with the addition of the actual "avatar" concept. However, I found it to be very moving and inspiring.

The visual effects were stunning. Definitely watch this one in 3-D (I don't think it's being offered any other way, but just in case it is, see it in 3-D - the glasses are polarized instead of using red/blue paper ones).

Cameron has been my favorite director since way back in 1986, after "blowing me away" with The Terminator and Aliens. Sure, there have been better movies by other directors, but Cameron is the only "old-timer" who hasn't dropped any bombs (I don't count Piranha 2 since he didn't actually finish that one).

Edited to add: I don't agree with most of Cameron's political viewe either, but that's the case with most of the directors in Hollywood - I still thought it was a very good movie.

[This message has been edited by philocinemas (edited December 20, 2009).]


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philocinemas
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Robert, Avatar wasn't any more political than Wall-e was - you should give it a chance. Visually, it is worth it!
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Robert Nowall
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I didn't go to see WALL-E at the movies, either...
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shimiqua
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I saw Avatar too, and loved it. No wait, I LOVED IT.

Beautiful movie, really cool aliens, and a brilliant magic system. The cg effect merged seamlessly with the real life stuff. Well done. I definitely think it was worth the money to see it in 3D. It felt like I was inside the story, and there were no random 3D gags. No spit takes, or arrows shot at you, kind of thing.

There was, in my opinion, a lot of politics shoveled through, but for the story and the characters it worked.

I dug it.
~Sheena


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Robert Nowall
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I've gotta say...I thought there was a fair amount wrong with Titanic. The storyline seemed contrived to put someone everywhere something happened...and the acting, particularly the leads, seemed poor. (I saw it that way, despite heaps of praise in the media for the acting couple of Leo and Kate.) It did look like they spent every cent of that two hundred million price tag on what was actually on the screen---I rate this higher than any other movie about the Titanic except A Night to Remember.

As for Avatar...well, here's a link to a review from Locus Online that, I think, addresses the science-fictiony aspects of the movie better than the other reviews (positive and negative)---and also points out what the movie rips off from SF...

http://www.locusmag.com/Reviews/2009/12/all-energy-is-borrowed-review-of-avatar.html

[hope the link works]


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Dark Warrior
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Curious on thoughts...

has anyone seen the recent movie Pandorum--a sci-fi thriller that had the feel of Resident Evil in space(Same producers)--that has also read the short story Command Transfer by Dean Spencer, published in IGMS issue # 13?

http://www.pandorummovie.com/
Link to the trailer. Mild violence warning in trailer.

[This message has been edited by Dark Warrior (edited January 03, 2010).]


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Dark Warrior
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quote:
News media reports this morning put its "take" at over one billion dollars---so I guess it doesn't matter if I spend my seven-fifty on it or not.

It's Ok Robert...I saw it twice so that made up for you.


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Owasm
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talking about SF/Fantasy, Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes ended up being very steampunkish.
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dougsguitar
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The last movie I went 'out' to see was '9'...
Before that we were still waiting on Y2K. I don't get out much.

I did recently see Appleseed... very cool CG action!


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Pyre Dynasty
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Last night I woke up in the middle of the night and watched Woverine. I rarely watch a movie first run.
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Robert Nowall
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I was going to buy the "9" DVD last week, but didn't...I may pick up one in a couple of hours, along with "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," which is supposed to be out today.

Now that I've got a Blu-Ray player, I've got to get titles in that format---which is worth it.


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Rhaythe
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It's an older movie, but I really enjoyed "Sunshine", especially in high-def. Worth the watch for any sci-fi fans out there... though it gets wacky in the end.

The soundtrack is spectacular writing fuel, too.


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Robert Nowall
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Would you believe Best Buy was out of Blu-Ray copies of "9" this week? I might've bought it regular, but decided not to.

(Actually, right now, there are two movies floating around called "Nine" or "9" or somesuch...the other is a turkey remake of a Broadway musical of Fellini's "8 1/2"...pick up the last-named movie if you want to see it in a good version.)


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Dark Warrior
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For the Dragon and CGI lovers

http://www.howtotrainyourdragon.com/

Trailer to the new Dreamworks CGI movie How To Train Your Dragon


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rich
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I wasn't a really big fan of SUNSHINE (the "forgot" excuse that precipitated the calamities was too far-fetched for me; there were better ways to do that, though after listening to the commentary, I understand WHY Garland went that route).

However, I will watch anything and everything written by Alex Garland and directed by Danny Boyle.


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billawaboy
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Isnt Speilberg working on a movie version of blackholes and timewarp with the author Kip thorne?


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LDWriter2
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quote:
Originally posted by Dark Warrior:
For the Dragon and CGI lovers

http://www.howtotrainyourdragon.com/

Trailer to the new Dreamworks CGI movie How To Train Your Dragon

Thought there was some discussion of this movie somewhere but anyway for the Train fans here. There is a stage production by that title. It's here sometime soon. It looks like "real" dragons from the pictures advertising it.
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LDWriter2
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And The new Star Trek movie teaser.

Not like your usual ST.

Article

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Robert Nowall
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On How to Train Your Dragon...there's a TV series on the Cartoon Network that I think is derived from the movie, but I've only seen one episode and I'm not sure...
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LDWriter2
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Oh man, would I like to see it. It is based on the animated movie.

The dragons are as real as they could make them, there was an article about the show and a lot of it had to do with how they did the dragons. Never done before type of stuff. It takes 300 semis to move everything.


But at $51 for the cheapest ticket my wife said no way even though we really could do it. We could buy the second to lowest ticket too I'm sure but whatever it is it will be pricey.

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LDWriter2
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Just found this on the Apple movie Trailer site "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones" It's based on a series of books I've seen. I haven't read any even though I have come close.

A series of half angels fight evil beings: werewolves, witches, vampires etc. Some of the books seem to be a bit too much on the romance side for me, plus they seem to be written for YA. Even that last hasn't stopped me from reading something before but this series seems to be related to "Twilight" in one sense.

Offical Site

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LDWriter2
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And this update to a Fairytale


Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. The siblings have grown up.

Trailer

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LDWriter2
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A Ringworld miniseries.


More info here

EW.com post.

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History
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quote:
Originally posted by LDWriter2:
A Ringworld miniseries.


More info here

EW.com post.

And Arthur C Clarke's Childhood's End!
Though I say this with gritted teeth when I remember the two good tries (3003; 2010) but failures of Phillip Jose Farmer's Riverworld.
http://www.syfy.com/riverworld/

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Robert Nowall
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I suppose it's nice that somebody is finally buying up these properties with an actual notion of making them---if I recall right, Childhood's End has been optioned, on and off, since its publication around sixty years ago.

Of course, SyFy will, likely as not, botch it if they do it. Probably drop all of Niven's "Known Space" background and make it as if some fifty-years-from-now starship has found its way there. (Was it SyFy who did Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea?)

*****

Perusing the old 2009 posts...I note that I watched (and enjoyed) "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," but never got around to watching "9"...right after that, I decided to stop picking up so many of these movies I never get around to watching. Though I have bought (and not watched) a few.

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LDWriter2
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I've seen "Childhood's End" around for a long time but I don't recall ever reading it. Of course if I read it thirty years ago or so I might not.


And I too hope they do to "Ringworld" what they have done to others. That especially includes what they did to Dresden Files. Should have called it something else.

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LDWriter2
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My local paper came out with a list of summer movies and release dates.

Some I didn't know which surprised me.

This is one of them.

Trailer

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shimiqua
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Oblivion was lame. Lame yet expensive. So... worth seeing.

JMO, but this is why it didn't work for me, it started out as a horror movie, with creepy monsters...for like a reason, but then by the end, they bad guys were so lame, that they had to put children in harms way just so that you'd celebrate when the bad guys are conquered. Also...why did they need to show the boringist sex scene in the history of forever, but then pan away in the real love story. Also, why does a triangle need water? Also, how did the lady give birth by herself, and a million of other logic defying ridiculousness.

It was honestly like they took a Syfy channel movie script and then decided to put a hundred million dollars to make it, without fixing the script. I'm wondering if it was written by Hubbard, and scientology money funded it, honestly, it's that dumb.

But it was pretty, so I don't feel like I wasted my money. I just think they don't do enough SciFi to do SciFi stupid.

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Robert Nowall
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Pasting in after copying from the Internet Movie Database, the directing and writing credits are:

Directed by
Joseph Kosinski

Writing credits
Joseph Kosinski (graphic novel)


Joseph Kosinski (original story)


Karl Gajdusek (screenplay) and
Michael DeBruyn (screenplay)


I don't recall seeing the original graphic novel, offhand...

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LDWriter2
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Guess what movie Harrison Ford is in.


WOW


The special effects look great.

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