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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:30 am
by Avatar
Great post.
Yeah, I loved it. The effects and such are showing their age nowadays, but that doesn't change the fact that it was so well put together.
They took a staple sci-fi story and really made it work.
--A
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:54 am
by matrixman
Heh, at the time of its airing, I remember V's visual effects were considered leading edge for a television series. This was 1983...not a single CGI in sight.
Like that EW article said, Independence Day freely borrowed from V all those shots of massive saucers hovering over cities. ID4 was big, brash and jingoistic. V was subtle, subversive and questioning. I enjoyed ID4 a lot when it came out, but I'll always hold V in higher esteem.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:57 am
by Avatar
No question in my mind. (I didn't like Independence Day at all actually.)
--A
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 7:30 am
by matrixman
Well, maybe it's telling that EW included V in its list, and not ID4.
On further reading of the articles at their website, the people at EW seem to be on the same wavelength as me, for the most part. I should get a job with them.
I enjoyed ID4...except for President Whitmore's "Independence Day" speech. I guess I should give the filmmakers credit for showing a modicum of restraint in not having some huge American flag waving behind Whitmore as he does his thing. Wait, maybe there is. (I have the DVD, but haven't watched it in a long time.)
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 7:38 am
by Avatar
IIRC, the last scene does contain an American flag.
--A
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 9:40 am
by dlbpharmd
MM wrote:
I think Galaxy Quest very much belongs on the list. You should give the movie a chance, dlb. I love Star Trek and I wasn't offended by GQ. Smile
Starship Troopers: I'm in the camp that hates it. Also hate Total Recall.
Children of Men: I seriously should see this, as bleak as it looks.
I completely agree that 2010 should be on the list. Just knock dreck like Total Recall off to make space.
Lost and Heroes seem to be the popular new kids on the sci-fi TV block. I haven't watched them at all. Heck, I had no idea Lost was sci-fi. Are these 2 shows really that good? I guess I'm just out of touch with TV sci-fi.
I don't think I could stomach another shot at GQ. My blasphemy meter might be a little too sensitive, though.
I didn't care for Children of Men but that's not to say that you won't either. As original as the story is, there's just something about it that just never worked for me.
I do think you would like Heroes, maybe you can catch the summer re-runs.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 11:18 am
by Cail
Totally agreed on B5, it's top 5 material.
The original Matrix film was OK, but I don't think too much of it. Definitely don't think it's #1.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 1:06 pm
by sindatur
Hehe, I love Starship Troopers, but, hate the Fifth Element, never did understand the affection some have for it, I don't find most of it funny in the least, and I can't imagine the affection comes from it being a serious piece. Galaxy Quest, I also enjoy.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 3:27 pm
by Cagliostro
Matrixman wrote:Well, maybe it's telling that EW included V in its list, and not ID4.
On further reading of the articles at their website, the people at EW seem to be on the same wavelength as me, for the most part. I should get a job with them.
I enjoyed ID4...except for President Whitmore's "Independence Day" speech. I guess I should give the filmmakers credit for showing a modicum of restraint in not having some huge American flag waving behind Whitmore as he does his thing. Wait, maybe there is. (I have the DVD, but haven't watched it in a long time.)
ID4 was the first time I realized I was really getting bored with big action films. I think Face/Off verified that, as it was the first time I sat tapping my feet wanting to stand up and say "End the movie, already!"
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:01 am
by Avatar
Matrixman wrote:Wow, Av, didn't know V was one of the things that introduced you to science fiction. That's pretty cool.
And seeing the DVD of it this weekend, I just had to get it. Well, part 1 & 2 of the miniseries anyway. Now I have to find the rest.
Was glad to see that, other than the makeup and "eating," the effects haven't suffered too badly over the last 20-odd years. The story still worked. The pace seemed a little off though, no doubt due to changes in filming style, but it was still the series I'd loved. Even the GF started to enjoy it, and is urging e to find the rest of the story now.
Interesting documentary special feature...I'll comment on it when I've seen it all.
--A
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:28 am
by matrixman
Documentary feature? Didn't know there was that. I still don't have the miniseries on DVD, just ancient VHS.
Please do tell once you've watched it all.
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:31 am
by Avatar
Will do.
Have to find the rest now...was amazed by how much I remembered after all these years...it was annoying for it to end just when it started getting good.
--A
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:55 pm
by sindatur
Avatar wrote:Will do.
Have to find the rest now...was amazed by how much I remembered after all these years...it was annoying for it to end just when it started getting good.
--A
Well, in addition to V the MiniSeries, and V:The Final Battle Mini Series, there is also the 20 episode Series.
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 1:09 pm
by Avatar
As long as I get the whole storyline, I'm happy. How many parts does the original MiniSeries have?
--A
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 1:58 pm
by sindatur
Avatar wrote:As long as I get the whole storyline, I'm happy. How many parts does the original MiniSeries have?
--A
First Mini is 4 hours with commercials (originally aired as two nights with 2 hour timeslots), second mini is 6 hours with commercials (originally aired as 3 nights with 2 hour timeslots). I thought I had heard of a new project coming up in 2008, set 25 years after the Series itself, with many of the original cast, but, can't find anything on IMDB under "V". I'll check another site. BRB.
Hm, not sure why it didn't come up under "V", but, here it is
imdb.com/title/tt0366112/
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:16 pm
by dANdeLION
V sucked bad. Starship Troopers sucked even worse. Heroes and Lost don't belong on the list because they're not really sci-fi. 2010 definitely belongs on this list. Buckaroo Banzai does too. I think I'd have Fifth Element and Running Man on the list too, though there's probably something better that I forgot.
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:20 pm
by Worm of Despite
dANdeLION wrote:I think I've have Fifth Element and Running Manon the list too, though there's probably something better that I forgot.
I really enjoyed Fifth Element, and I still need to see Running Man. And I need to get Futurama Vol. 4. Geez, my sci-fi muscles are real weak these days, heh.
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 4:45 pm
by Cail
dANdeLION wrote:Heroes and Lost don't belong on the list because they're not really sci-fi.
Thank God someone else said that. I've watched both shows sporadically, and neither is sci-fi.
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:08 pm
by sindatur
Cail wrote:dANdeLION wrote:Heroes and Lost don't belong on the list because they're not really sci-fi.
Thank God someone else said that. I've watched both shows sporadically, and neither is sci-fi.
Well, Heroes has folks with super powers, so, it falls into a sub genre of SciFi, along with all the comic book movies and series of Super Heroes.
LOST, has elements that may be sciFi.
Although, since the shows are still airing, it's premature IMHO to be including them in a greatest SciFi list.
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:16 pm
by I'm Murrin
sindatur wrote:Although, since the shows are still airing, it's premature IMHO to be including them in a greatest SciFi list.
Well, since it's about specific moments in the series, not the series as a whole, I don't think there's a problem as far as that goes.