Archive for the Sci-Fi and Fantasy category
Just returned from 2012. Nothing much to say about that - quite tiring dialogs and super melodramatic overacting, but definitely still carries some memorable moments in movie imagery - like the destruction of Las-Vegas (first in movie history if I am not mistaken), and many others. It’s a very Californian movie - many inside jokes that are funny in California. The only notable actor in the whole set is only Woody Harrelson (Natural Born Killers, A Scanner Darkly), playing a crazy conspiracy-theorist hippie broadcasting the end of the world. Awesome and funny performance.
Anyway, as always lots of goodies before the movie…
Here is a great ad. Listen to the sound effects, this is pure nostalgia (Steve Austin anyone?)
As for trailers, I had fun figuring out which video game this movie trailer is based on.
Lastly, this is the first time I see a full trailer for Avatar, which is arguably the most hyped movie of the year. Expected Dec 18 - I hope its interesting as the trailer is.
District 9 is one of the most original and memorable movies of the past years. Its also not easy to watch emotionally (its rated R for violence and gore), but you can’t stop - it is a suspenseful action Sci-Fi at its best, with enough effects, action and explosions to please, but with the look and feel of a low budget documentary.
The visual style of the movie is striking - a pseudo-documentary on the extraordinary events that happened that day, including interviews with various reporters, breaking news feeds, shots from security cameras and live action. This immediately immerses you in the action and is very realistic.
The lead actor is funny, emotional and likable. Superb performance from a guy that has never acted before. Another amazing tidbit is that the movie was made in a budget of $30M, which is about 1/7 of today’s Sci-Fi budget (Transformers cost $200M).
The story is compelling, completely original, and unexpected. The less you know, the bigger the punch in the stomach you will get. If you think you know what the movie is about from the trailers, you are wrong. This is intentional.
Do not read any reviews on the movie, as each of the ones I have read has different spoilers, just go see.
What if at the other side of the wall of your village there was a complete other mythical and forbidden world?
What if a fallen star that landed in this magical world would manifest as a lovely girl?
Based on a smart and original story by Neil Gaiman (Coraline, Good Omens), Stardust is a wacky and fantastic adventure - dramatic and suspenseful while light-hearted and hilarious at the same time.
Director Matthew Vaughn (Lock Stock, Snatch) assembled a brilliant cast - from the relatively unknown but charming Charlie Cox and Claire Danes in the leading roles, supported by awesome performance by Robert de Niro as the dreadful pirate Shakespeare (or is he?), Michelle Pfeiffer as the sinister decaying witch, and a touch of Peter O’Toole as the hilariously devilish dying king of the fairy kingdom.
Vile and murderous princes, evil witches, sarcastic ghosts, flying ships, swordplay, pirates and unicorns are all weaved into a charming tale about loyalty, betrayal, magic and love.
The majestic locations and wonderful camera sweeps remind of The Lord of the Rings in some parts. Coupled with captivating music, high-quality production and topped by the wacky humor that reminds of The Princes Bride, this fairytale for adults is a gem that for me is an instant genre classic.
Very rarely comes a TV series that is so innovative, intelligent and fresh as The Lost Room, that changes your expectations from what TV should be like.
The Lost Room is a brilliant and intelligent Sci-Fi channel mini-series, with a fantastic and original plot. I don’t want to give even a hint as to what this is about (not to ruin even a minute of it), but this supernatural mystery thriller will hook you from the first minute till the very last.
Complementing the top-notch effects and good acting, the series music was exceptionally touching. This mini-series has a mesmerizing, eerie and melodic score, that made me want to hear more.
We saw it almost straight through, and stopped only to get some sleep. I prefer to think of it as a superb 6-hour movie - it does not have the slowness and fillers of regular TV series (Lost, to mention the obvious, has very little story development per hour, with its 80% flashback fillers). The Lost Room is simply impossible to stop watching, and is one of the best Sci-Fi/Fantasy movies I have ever seen.