Sometimes the Space Channel has some odd choices. One wonders "And what does that have to do with sci-fi, or even space?Oh Space, Space - why do you vex me so?
- Laurie Smith, 2007 blog comment.
No, seriously, what were you thinking? Today's lineup was one of the most marginal science fiction lineups you've ever programmed. Okay, it doesn't include Jaws, but it's about on a par in terms of wondering what went wrong.
Let's look at the list, in no particular order: Executive Action - fail, it's an action film. Under Siege, ditto. Under Siege II - see comment re: Under Siege. The A-Team - already covered the last time you programmed it under the mistaken impression that it was science fiction (or maybe fantasy). Face/Off - actually marginally science fiction, thank you. Crank? Hmmm....I'm going to go with action film again. The Expendables - action film. Expendables II...anyone in the audience? Please, don't answer all at once - yes, thank you, action film. Looper - FINALLY, an acceptable little time travel movie, which presumably made the program list because of Bruce Willis.
And the weird thing is that the rest of the week, before and after, is pretty good in terms of suitable selections - what happened today?
For New Year's 2007, you showed Strange Days, a quirky but well done science fiction film whose pivotal action actually takes place on December 31st - why not make that a yearly tradition? In fact, why not program the whole day with quirky little films, all of the wonderfully unique off-the-beaten-path movies* like Strange Days: Dark City, The Zero Theorem, Code 46, Immortal, The Quiet Earth, Altered States, Solaris, Wizards, The Fountain - have I got a full day yet? Brazil, Soldier, Sunshine, Monsters - that should do it for a full programming day, one that might well attract some positive feedback from the critics.
Admittedly, this isn't a list of movies that's going to attract the attention of the cool kids, but let's face it, the people who are watching Space on New Year's Eve are probably not the cool kids anyway.
Regardless - happy New Year, everyone! One more step into the future...
- Sid
* This entire list is taken from two or three shelves of my DVD collection, and you know, "wonderfully unique off-the-beaten-path" actually covers quite a wide selection of science fiction movies - if not all of them.
What about movies about giant spiders or dinosaurs on a rampage through a major US city? Sci fi or action?
ReplyDeleteGiant spiders, dinosaurs in the modern age, aliens, or all of the above - science fiction. In the case of giant spiders and dinosaurs, maybe not great science fiction, but science fiction nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteSlightly over the top techno-props, the sort of thing that so often used to make an appearance in James Bond film, do not mean that the movie is science fiction. IN fact, in spite of the prevalence of that sort of thing in so many Bond films (admittedly less so in recent years) I don't think that anyone considers those films to fall under the category of SF.
- Sid