I am number 4...more then just a pretty face. Posted by Imajica , Monday, February 28, 2011 at 5:52 PM, in Labels: Alex Pettyfer, Armageddon, Dianna Agron, I am number 4, Michael Bay, Pittacus Lore, Timothy Olyphant, Transformers

I have a preteen daughter and still have an "excuse" to go see movies that I would most likely feel a little odd seeing on my own. I only have a few years left to use her to this advantage so I try to make the most of it. I was the one who initially suggested that we see "I am number 4", based on a young adult science fiction novel by Pittacus Lore. I believe she was a little hesitant at first to say that she wanted to see it because because I am usually very critical of "teenage" genre films.

I am sure that films are still the same as when I was younger, it's just that I have have officially become "old" in a sense. She typically packs herself away in her room to watch Disney Channel alone. She can have Hannah Montana all to herself. I had to explain to her that I was young once and watched many movies and TV shows just like most of the stuff on Disney channel. So, it is OK to want to just watch a movie when you are ten because you think it looks "cool". There needs to be no deeper meaning.

So, we went to our local movie theater and settled in for the hour of previews before the movie. I actually like how they do it in Germany: a cartoon would play before the movie. I often forget what movie I am there to see after the 5th preview and the 3rd reminder to turn my phone off.

As per this being a Michael Bay movie, director of Transformers and Armageddon, I was told by someone to fully expect explosions throughout the movie. I forgot to bring ear plugs. I was happily surprised by this movie, however. It was very well made and it didn't play down to the audience that it was made for. The plot of the movie centers around John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) who is number four of nine aliens who are being killed off (in order) by an invading race (the Mogadorians) which destroyed their home planet.

John Smith has been given a guardian on Earth, Henri (Timothy Olyphant) I would like to add that from a females perceptive, this was an excellent choice. This is a movie made more for teenagers but this adds more appeal for female adults. As far as the female love interest, Sarah Hart (Dianna Agron), she has been toned down from her Glee character. However, she is just as sexy as a small town girl who loves to stay behind the camera. I have never been one for science fiction movies that stress "romantic love" to make up for lack of plot and you forget that you are watching a movie about aliens and space. I feel this film added just enough to keep the whole audience engaged.

I loved the special effects. As the movie progresses, John Smith begins to develop "superpowers" due to his extraterrestrial nature which could be anything from him being able to generate light from his hands to telekinesis. The action scenes were choreographed excellently and I don't feel like any scene was taken for granted due to it being a movie made for teenagers. There is a huge explosion at the end, Michael Bay style, but I will forgive him for this one because it was worth it and he kept himself pretty much contained for most of the movie. The movie is just one roller coaster ride and it even has a somewhat cute dog in it (spoilers!). The novel is the first of a proposed six-book series and I am actually looking forward to seeing what comes next.

Muppets in Space!! Posted by Imajica , Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 6:06 PM, in

Farscape was an Australian-American science fiction television series that aired from March 19, 1999 (1999-03-19) to March 21, 2003 that utilized various alien makeup and prosthetics just as many shows set in galaxies far far away do. However, they didn’t stop there.  The show was bold enough to use puppets or as I like to affectionately call them, muppets as two of their main characters.  The show featured Rygel and Pilot, who were animatronic puppets provided by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.  

Rygel - standing ( or rather sitting) at an impressive 26 inches.

Pilot - Even better than "The Navigator"

  

I actually missed watching this show the first time around it was on because I was in college and either trying to study or asleep (plus I didn’t have any money for cable).  A couple years ago, I started watching it simply because of its concept: a show like Star Trek with more humor in it that found a way to put muppets in it?? No one that says they like Sci-fi could avoid at least watching one episode just to get a feel for it. Well, I watched one and I was hooked.  

The lead human character, John Crichton, is a modern-day American astronaut who accidentally flies into the entrance of a wormhole near Earth during an experimental test flight.  He is adjusting to his new surroundings the best he can even though he is often viewed as an idiot.  He somehow manages to remain just cocky enough to appeal to both males and females during the series.  The main female character ,Aeryn Sun ,plays a stranded Peacekeeper but there is more to her then just being a warrior.  As the show progresses, more depth is added to her character as she is able to show her vulnerabilities.  

What really set the show apart was the muppet concept.  It was a fresh and new idea and it was very well done.  Rygel is the formerly deposed ruler of the Hynerian Empire and former Peacekeeper prisoner for over 130 cycles.  He is always getting into trouble and for the most part only looks out for himself.  Pilot is a member of a race known simply as "Pilots," who are bonded with the organic Leviathan spacecraft and become their  navigator companion, and liaison to passengers.  Pilot is much more then this throughout the series though and I found him to be often the most gentle and caring of all of the characters.  The dialogue for the Rygel and Pilot was excellent throughout the series and whenever they were “interacting” with the actors, I never thought to myself ,”It’s a muppet.” 

I challenge anyone to make another show with muppets in space that works so well...even down to dealing with muppet love and sex (as yes, they did that as weird as that may seem).   I leave you with this clip from Rygel....

Sequels...from Hell!! Posted by Imajica , Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 6:58 PM, in

I am a sucker for sequels because I always want to know what happens  after the credits finish rolling. Unfortunately when I find out in the dreaded part 2, I am always greatly disappointed that I looked behind the curtain and find out that my imagination is so much better then the reality that the movie studio wants to feed me.  If I am lucky, it turns out to be just a a cheesy and dull knock-off of the original.  However most of the time, it is a clutter f**k of a movie with scenes thrown together that might follow some of the premise of the original movie and it has some the original actors in it (if you are lucky that they even want to show their face in it and if they do they are usually desperate for work.)So here goes....

My Top Worst Sci-Fi Movie Sequels (in no particular order)

S. Darko  - A follow-up to Donnie Darko (which should have never had a sequel) which follows the sister Samantha Darko 7 years later.  They basically try to copy what was done in Donnie Darko and do it badly.  I think that they missed the point of an "original" idea.

Highlander: The Quickening  (on up!) - Let me start off by saying that I love Highlander (the first movie) and the series was great.  The movies after one made no sense and just got worse and worse.   "There can be only one" So  how come at the end of multiple Highlander movies he is the only one, but then there are more immortals in the next? In Highlander 2, when they added the space aspect I had no idea where they were going with that.  I was fine with the Highlands.  I just recently watched the Source again and was disappointed once again.  The ending was horrible with the inspirational music playing as you get to watch a baby in the womb.  I have had enough.

Lost Boys: the Tribe -  I had to put it in here just because it really pisses me off.  The original is a great example of modern day film making.  The original was not Twilight (Thank god!) but a modern day vampire tale with examples of real scary vampires.  Yes, there was some humor in it and you can it is dated but it still has style.  The Tribe was just the OC with vampires in it.  Don't even bother with this one.  

STAR WARS: EPISODE I — THE PHANTOM MENACE - My impression of Star Wars has always been epic battles in space with heroes that you love and villains that you love to hate. I still get so wrapped up in the action that I feel like I am on the Millennium Falcon or the Death Star.  All I remember about Episode one is Jar Jar Binks (unfortunately) and other then that the characters were forgettable.  I understand that it was supposed to be a "different time" in episode one however I felt that Binks was very distracting in the scenes while the other characters didn't inspire me to cheer them on or to cower in their presence like I am sure some kids did when they first saw Darth Vadar.    Binks is no Chewbacca.  I stood in line to see this movie when it first came out and I was hoping for so much more considering that Lucas has had 22 years to think about ideas for the movie. I was very disappointed.





Tell me what you think? Which sci-movies really should have said "There can be only one"??

3 Under Appreciated Sci-Fi Movies that Everyone Must See Posted by Imajica , Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 6:54 PM, in

I have been in love with the sci-fi genre ever since I can remember.  Some of my earliest happiest memories are of sitting down to watch Star Trek re-runs with my father.  I couldn't wait each week to watch a new episode (at least to me they were) so I could see what new aliens would pop up.  I guess that might be where I got my need to look for more in sci-fi movies then just what was spoon fed to me at my local movie theater.  There are some great sci-fi movies that come out at the movie theater that become blockbuster hits but often the true gems fall to the way side.  With so many other movies to compete with that fit the cookie form of what audiences "want", I am not surprised. Here are 3 movies that were greatly under appreciated and deserve another look if you are a sci-fi fan!

"Let the tuning begin!"

Dark City
A man wakes up with no memory of who he is in a world that is always dark.  To make matters worse, he is being pursed by these strange beings that have telekinetic powers.  I actually saw this movie in the movie theater when it was first released.  The theater was couldn't have been more empty and what a shame.  This movie is beautifully filmed and the costume design is excellent. The plot to the movie is so well written and keeps you guessing that you almost don't realize you are watching a sci-fi movie until the very end.    

"Do you believe in time travel?"

 

Donnie Darko

This movie is actually about time travel.  And yes, there is a large bunny in it as well. You know how when people say that there are no more original ideas for movies anymore? Well, they haven't seen this movie.   It stars a young Jake Gyllenhall, as a boy who narrowly escapes an odd accident and then he is manipulated by this large bunny to commit a series of crimes. But is there a bigger purpose behind these crimes? Watch the movie and find out!

So if you wake up one morning and it's a particularly beautiful day,
you'll know we made it.

Sunshine

 I recently watched this movie on Syfy Channel.  It didn't look very interesting based on the description: A team of astronauts are sent to re-ignite the dying sun 50 years into the future.  I was so wrong.  The cinematography and special effects were excellent.  There is a scene at the end of the movie where you get to see the sun re-ignite and it is so beautiful.  There is also an added mystery to the movie  when crew members begin to die off.  This movies keeps your interests in it's entirety.

So those are my recommendations.  What I love most about sci-fi is the that anything is imaginable.  I think these three movies are a good representation of that.