Aelita: Queen of Mars (1924)

Image via Wikipedia

Here is the full science fiction movie list.

The first of my science fiction watching project is a silent USSR film featuring life on Mars.  My friends and I enjoyed our ribald and goofy comments a lot more than the movie itself.

There were three distinct sections of the movie: Mars, Earth and the bag of sugar.

MARS

The scenes on Mars were the best by far. The geometric sets were striking.  Even Gor, the guardian of energy, had a triangle-shaped key ring.  I liked the diagonally sliding door as well.

Aelita’s headdresses were my favorite bit of costuming.  The headdress you see in most of the stills resembles a spiny sea creature, it’s even stranger when she moves.  One of her gowns encouraged me to think she had three breasts.  This would have been very alien of her, if it had been true.  Alas, it’s just an unnerving costume choice.

I learned that Martians know nothing of kisses because Aelita learns a lot when she spies on Earthling Los & his wife Natasha.  The alien woman learning about sex from humans is cliched but she’s intense about it which makes it funny.

It seems the queen’s maid Ihoshka knows more about these matters.  Ihoshka flirts with the soldiers in robotic uniforms at length during one scene and she quickly takes to an Earth man when the space ship arrives on Mars.

Stealthiness must mean something different on Mars.  Ihoshka skulks about the castle in the most obvious way.  She has a wretched outfit for sneaking, I admit.  Her gown is surrounded by caging wires. Nevertheless, no one can see her even when she’s standing in their direct line of sight.  Perhaps Martians have vision problems.

One scene was too funny to take serious.  The bold Martian soldiers attack members of a rebellion with flashlights. I think they were meant to be lasers (?).  I was taken aback when a third of the Martian’s working population was “refrigerated” but I think it was about cryogenics.

EARTH

The protagonist and definite anti-hero of the film is an depressed engineer named Los.  He finds life fairly worthless, judging by his expression and body language.  One thing perks him up, a mysterious message of three words transmitted over the airwaves.  Los becomes convinced that it is a message from Mars. and begins his long quest to build a rocket ship to Mars.  He begins designing a rocket ship.  Things look pretty exciting until the main plot takes over.

THE BAG OF SUGAR

The main storyline is that of a misappropriated bag of sugar.

As this film portrays it, the USSR in the 1920s was a bad place to live.  The trains were disease carrying and overcrowded; and housing and food staples were limited. At one point, a character was bribing another with baked goods.  Their clothes were ugly and their shoes were rags.  Everything was dirty and everyone was cold.

The bag of sugar is stolen and the movie takes a generous portion of the running time to trace the hiding of the sugar, the eventual investigation, the subterfuge and various twists in the sugar plot.

I found that there were too many characters and got a little mixed up about which badly dressed character had what goal.  The good thing about Mars is that everyone was quite distinctive in appearance.

EARTH AGAIN

Despite his obsession with Mars, Los takes time out to deal with his domestic life. Los goes a lot bonkers with jealousy over his wife Natasha’s friendiless.  Los’ wife is entirely innocent but Los is channeling Othello and alternates between neglect and pettish anger with her.  The sugar, Mars and Earth plots collide in a supremely disturbing and wrong ending.

N. B.  Natasha wears the ugliest dress in cinematic history, just so you know.

SPOILERS

Science Fiction Movie Project

Image via Wikipedia

Just finished Aelita: Queen of Mars - the 1924 silent USSR movie. It was not quite what I was expecting. It’s entertaining but I don’t recommend it either. I’ll add the full review later.

Full list here.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Science Fiction Movies Watched Chronologically (moonlitgarden.wordpress.com)

1001 Movies (262 to 302)

You know that book, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die by Stephen Jay Schneider? I don’t know if I would watch some of these if I only had a little time left. I mean I’m sure they all have cinematic significance but not all of them are fun. If I were about to shuffle off the mortal coil, I wouldn’t want to watch a bunch of lame movies just beforehand.

So, I went through the ones I’d seen to check.

Movies 1-60 ::  Movies 61-100 ::  Movies 101-160 :: Movies 161-220

Movies 221-260 ::  Movies 261-300

On the rating system:
Watch anytime: Superb entertainment
Repeat viewing: Good entertainment
Worth once: if you’ve nothing better to do
Historical significance: not for pleasure

Based on 2004 edition.

No. 262. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
Type: musical
Rating: repeat viewing
Comments: This movie is a lot of fun. Rosalind Russel is even more appealing than Marilyn Monroe and she’s pretty cute.

No. 267. Shane (1953)
Type: western
Rating: historical significance
This movie seemed drenched in glorified self-pity. I refuse to see it again to reassess it.

No. 271. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
Type: musical
Rating: repeat viewing
Comments: The barn raising dance is infectious fun.  The premise of abducting brides is difficult to accept.

No. 272. Les Diaboliques (1954)
Type: crime
Rating: worth once
Comments: A pretty good mystery and good characterization.

No. 274. Rear Window (1954)
Type: mystery
Rating: worth once
Comments: A bit dated but it brings to fore the urge toward voyeurism in all of us.  This is one movie I’d like to see a sequel/remake of.

No. 281. Carmen Jones (1954)
Type: musical
Rating: worth once
Comments: Good music and a good performance.

No. 285. Guys and Dolls (1955)
Type: musical
Rating: worth once
Marlon Brando makes a strange song-and-dance man but Frank Sinatra is entertaining here.

No. 291. Marty (1955)
Type: romance
Rating: worth once
Comments: An understated romance. It’s well-done but hard to get excited about.

No. 294. Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
Type: crime
Rating: historical significance
This is an interesting film noir with an ending that spirals out of control.

No. 296. Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Type: drama
Rating: historical significance
Comments: James Dean is appealing and gives a good performance, everyone is tedious.

No. 300. The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Type: suspense
Rating: worth once
Comments: Compelling thriller with children in jeopardy.

No. 302. Forbidden Planet (1956)
Type: science fiction
Rating: historical significance
Dumb comic relief moments but an interesting interpretation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

After the break is the full list from 262 to 302:

7 Kid’s Books that should be Movies

These are all gentle stories of the every day life of families.  They are old-fashioned and charming.

Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink

What: 2 girls are shipwrecked on a island with 4 babies.  Robinson Crusoe for the tween set.

What’s in it for me:  An updated version on a pretty island with lots of cute toddlers would be so much fun.

BookAngles

Wikipedia

The Moffats by Eleanor Estes

What: Set during World War I, children of single mom get into scrapes.

What’s in it for me:  I like sweet family adventures and this one is still relevant.

Wikipedia

Homespun Light

Key to the Treasure by Peggy Parish

What: 3 kids investigate family mystery by solving puzzles.

What’s in it for me:  I love treasure hunting and they could use all kinds of gadgets to update it.

Book Lounge

Henry Reed’s Journey by Keith Robertson

What:   Teenage boy on family vacation across America gets in scrapes.

What’s in it for me:  Travelogue and wacky situations – just the ticket.

Wikipedia on the character Henry Reed

Henry Reed series

Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace

What:  Turn of the century life for 3 girls and their strong friendship.

What’s in it for me:  I think this would make a lovely TV series like Anne of Green Gables.

Betsy – Tacy Society

Wikipedia

Fan Site

All of a Kind Family by Sidney Taylor

What:  Another turn of the century family in NYC.

What’s in it for me:   I identified completely with these sisters and want to see them portrayed by actresses.

Tenement Museum

Many Moons by James Thurber

What:  A small princess wishes for the moon.

What’s in it for me:  This would make a lovely animated short.

Wikipedia

Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse “Needs”

Tantalizing bits of the Actives’ backstories are revealed in this episode.

The Actives’ glitches finally come to the fore, when several of them make a break for freedom.

Hmmm.  I guess the teaser confirms that Agent Wrong-Page apparently views Caroline and Mellie in purely sexual terms.  He also sees himself as their knight in shining armor.  He is slowly catching up; who knows, he might almost save the day.

I was interested to see a full staff meeting, and see the status of the main characters in this setting.  I was surprised at the relative gravitas that Dr.  Saunders opinions had.  Toffler and Laurence seemed to view her as a subordinate and even Boyd interacts with her as a peer.  I was also pleased to see that she cared in her own way about the poor Dolls.

I do not like like Laurence.  I suppose he’s only speaking the truth but the contempt behind his statements makes me angry.

I liked DeWitt’s outfit.

I have to say that I find November annoying.  I don’t know if it’s the actress who displeases me or the way her character has been directed or written.  I’ll have to ponder my reaction to her.  I was amused and surprised by her exhibitionist tendencies.  I also felt very little pity for the revelation of her past.  It just seemed too easy.

I was delighted, as I think I was meant to, in Sierra warning Victor to behave like a gentleman in the shower.  I like their instinctive attraction to each other, it’s very sweet which means they’re never going to survive.

Since I like Sierra a lot, I was hurting bad for her in this episode.  The wretchedness of her life past and present is unbearable.  It’s obvious that DeWitt lies about everything she does in the Dollhouse.  But it seems the distance between truth and falsehood is more of chasm in the Dollhouse than I had guessed.

The various theories the Dolls about the House are pretty amusing, especially Victor’s assessment: “we’re all gonna die.”

Here’s a crazy idea, is Echo/Caroline a relative of DeWitt’s?  DeWitt said some strange things about Echo’s behavior.

I want to see Alpha pretty soon. It was OK that the Reavers were not seen but I think Alpha should come out and play.

This was a good episode, with all the character interplay and painful revelations that I like in a Whedon show.

episode 1 GHOSTS

episode 2 THE TARGET

episode 3 STAGE FRIGHT

episode 4 GRAY HOUR

episode 5 TRUE BELIEVER

episode 6 MAN ON THE STREET

episode 7 ECHOES

episode 8 NEEDS

episode 9 A SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE

episode 10 HAUNTED

episode 11 BRIAR ROSE

episode 12 OMEGA

Pan’s Labyrith (2006)

Cover of Pan’s Labyrinth

Have there been more alien and beautiful fairyland creatures on screen?   In Guillermo Del Toro’s vision, they are fascinating, dangerous, and very far from human.

At the beginning of the Franco dictatorship, a young girl Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) struggles with a difficult family situation.  She is chosen by the fairies to complete a quest.

There is debate whether the ending of the film is happy or sad. I feel that it is both and gains some power from that.

Baquero is excellent but the cook Mercedes (Maribel Verdú) is also good and I think that the humanity of the film largely comes from her performance.

The Faun (Doug Jones performed the body) is a big part of what created the magical, alien feel to the movie.  I could happily watch the scenes of him spliced together.

Ofelia’s vicious stepfather (Sergi López) is pure villain which I think is a bit unusual.  I suppose I expected him to be clever or charming or something. He has zero redeeming qualities.  None.

The violence is heart-sickening and I couldn’t watch some of it.  Nevertheless, I prefer film violence to be unpleasant rather than the kind that is pure spectacle.

The film was a difficult viewing but it’s artfully made I do recommend it.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2012)

There has been a lot of talk of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie in development.  You’d think fans of the franchise would be delighted…but there’s a catch.  Joss Whedon will not be involved.  Nor will any of the cast from the television series.

I’ve been reading comments and blog posts about this.  It’s interesting.  Some ridicule the idea; some are cautiously hopeful.  Some plan to boycott the movie; some enjoyed the first movie and think this one will be fine.  A few dislike Whedon and are eager to embrace a Whedon-less Buffy.  It’s all a little premature though, since the projected release date is not till 2012.

But I understand.  It’s hard not to speculate.

• The first film by Fran Kuzui did OK at the box office but it wasn’t a critical success.
• Whedon’s TV version was both influential and lauded.
• Kuzui hasn’t directed a film since the Buffy movie (17 years ago).
• Whedon’s feature film Serenity based on his series Firefly bombed.
• The movie premiered in 1992: a lot of the target audience weren’t born then.
• The TV series ended in 2003, and again, many movie goers won’t have seen it.
• Fans of the movie will probably make a point to see it.
• Fans of the TV series will probably be curious.

All in all, a remake is probably the right move.

If you think of it in terms of the Star Wars franchise, a remake without the people who made the TV show seems reasonable.  See, The Phantom Menace was more successful than The Empire Strikes Back in terms of box office.  Whedon and company would just add intelligence and heart to the project, and who needs that?  Certainly not USA cinema.

Various posts and comments

• Buffy Actor Won’t Watch New Movie (perezhilton.com)
• Discuss: Is ‘Buffy’ Better Off Without Joss Whedon? (cinematical.com)
• Shocker: Joss Whedon Excluded From Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reboot (shoppingblog.com)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer to be a Remake (themovieblog.com)
• Report: Dark Buffy Reboot in Works, Sans Whedon (wired.com)
• ‘Buffy’ in for feature relaunch (movieblips.dailyradar.com)
• Buffy without Joss Whedon (tvdramas.about.com)
• Whedon-less Buffy to the Big Screen? (Sci-Fi Storm.com)
• Whedonless Buffy Reboot Planned (scifi.about.com)
• Buffy the Vampire Remake? (horror.about.com)
• Why the New Buffy Movie Should Fall into a Hellmouth (culture.bitchbuzz.com)
• No Joss Whedon For ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Reboot (splashpage.mtv.com)
• ‘Buffy’ Reboot Without Joss Whedon? (screenrant.com)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer returning to big screen (nationalpost.com)
• A ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Movie Is In The Works (For Real This Time) (pinkisthenewblog.com)
• A Buffy movie without Joss Whedon? Discuss! (filmgecko.com)

American Idol Season 8

I’ve never watched American Idol before season 8 and I never will again.

See, I had been reluctant to watch it because reality shows are simply not my favorite TV genre. They are generally too fake.

Plus, Idol is a cheesy show, everyone knows that whether they’ve seen it or not.

At the beginning, I prevaricated about it.

“What this?  I was just flipping channels.”

“No, I can’t do that on Tuesday evening.”

“Or on Wednesday.”

“Well I can, if it’s before 8/7c.”

But, American Idol is entertaining, especially the beginning with so many unique personalities and so much yowling.

No doubt Ryan Seacrest wrestles demons we have no inkling of.

Furthermore, Simon Cowell is hardly the vicious beast his reputation would have him be.

The program prompts a few questions…

Is the manipulation of the contest usually this blatant or is it just this time around?

Why are the Ford ads so bad?

Why is the show running longer with fewer contestants?

Why were there so many wretched guest singers on the elimination episodes?  Especially the disco week.  *shudders*

Why does the USA get Kris Allen and the UK get Susan Boyle?  Not fair.

Next year, I’ll be skipping the time-sucking, padded, meaningless, non-contest.

Mostly because I wish Allison Iraheta and Adam Lambert had quit the whole, dreary thing already.  I want to listen to their debut albums now!

Science Fiction Movies Watched Chronologically

Cover of Westworld

So, I’m starting a new theme for my movie watching, like my horror movies, and the mysteries, and the biographies. I’m still not done with the biopics – ugh.

This time, it’s science fiction films in chronological order.

This was a tricky list to compile. For years, I had shunned horror movies and so had some catching up to do, and mysteries are just not my favorite genre. But I like science fiction so I was forced to throw a few B movies and a few obscure movies on the list. I have a list of alternates in case some of these become unavailable or my fellow viewers and I change our minds.

At any rate, I’ve had Aelita on my movie wish list for ages and now it’s at the top of the list. I’m pretty excited about it. I’ve also started but not finished THX 1138, so that’s going to be good.

The movies I have seen before: Westworld; Alien Nation; Thirteenth Floor; and Interstella 5555. We all like Westworld (up with killer robots!). My companions hadn’t seen the others which I liked and want to see again.

The movies I had not heard of before: The Man in the White Suit; Dr. Renault’s Secret; Fortress; Koi…Gil Maya.

It was suggested watching movie pairs such as, The Time Machine (1960 & 2002) , The Planet of the Apes (1968 & 2001, and War of the Worlds (1953 & 2005). But they were mostly vetoed. I think nobody could bear to sit through the remakes.  ….I have seen the 2002 Time Machine.

This theme is going to be fun and feels just right for summer.

Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse “Echoes”

Image via Wikipedia

This is the Dollhouse’s Band Candy episode in which everyone loses their inhibitions temporarily.

College students on Freemont Campus are having psychotic episodes due the release of a experimental psychotropic drug. The Dollhouse sends out teams to help the affected.

The opening sequence with the college student and the flies was highly disturbing.  There is an unnerving amount of physical pain on this show.

What is it with Echo and motorcycles?

I was surprised that Agent Ballard and Mellie weren’t on the run.  Apparently Agent Wrong-Page is convinced that he’s not in danger from the Dollhouse.  Silly, silly man.

Poor Mellie.  She deserves a better personality implant than the one they gave her and she deserves better than Agent Wrong-Page and his Laura-like fixation on Echo.

Echo – well, we get a lot of Echo’s history to chew on in this episode.  I feel churlish for saying this but Caroline was annoying and Echo is definitely a personality upgrade.   I didn’t feel much sympathy for her friends either.

I did like the guy she befriends this time, Sam (Mehcad Brooks).  He seemed capable and smart.

Boyd only gets a little screen time but he makes the most of it.  Don’t die, Boyd!

Victor gets to be a character that has some authority and slickness as the NSA agent.  I was very pleased because he plays too many characters who barely have it together.

As with Echo, we get a sneak peek at Victor’s past, and I’d like to learn more.  Poor Sierra had to relive the episode Man on the Street.

Topher was even more twitchy and hyper-articulate than ever; I did like his “drawer of inappropriate starches.”

De Witt was not particularly revealing of herself when the band candy drug affected her.  Dominic, however, was hilarious.  I suddenly have a modicum of sympathy for the wretched character.

Not a bad episode.  I didn’t feel much emotional connection with the characters but it was entertaining.

episode 1 GHOSTS

episode 2 THE TARGET

episode 3 STAGE FRIGHT

episode 4 GRAY HOUR

episode 5 TRUE BELIEVER

episode 6 MAN ON THE STREET

episode 7 ECHOES

episode 8 NEEDS

episode 9 A SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE

episode 10 HAUNTED

episode 11 BRIAR ROSE

episode 12 OMEGA

Related articles by Zemanta

• Dollhouse (1.7) – “Echoes” (popsyndicate.com)