Aaryk Noctivagus

Monday (Tomorrow) I'm having a friend over for a Science Fiction marathon day. I whittled down my initial list of 28 movies (which itself was selected from the couple of hundred Science Fiction DVDs I own) to 8 with a ninth in reserve.

1... 'Village of the Damned' (The John Carpenter 1995 remake)
2... 'Charly' (1968)
3... 'Cypher' (2002)
4... 'Somewhere in Time' (1980)
5... 'When Worlds Collide' (1951)
6... 'The Day The Earth Caught Fire' (1961)
7... 'Equilibrium' (2002)
8... 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (The 1978 remake)

'The Invisible Man' (1933) is in reserve.

batman

I have never thought of Charly as sci-fi before.....

Bats.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

christoph404

I thought the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was very atmospheric and very creepy! I like Donald Sutherland as an actor but was always a bit dissapointed with the remake, if I remember rightly Kevin Mcarthy makes a cameo at the beginning of the movie. Do you prefer the remake or the original? Interesting and varied choice of movies there though, I remember seeing "Charly" at the cinema yonks ago, a battle of wits with that pesky little mouse called Algernon is my lasting memory! good film though, was it science fiction? I can't quite remember the premise of the film. doesn't Charly take some wonder drug to transform him from being mentaly retarded to being super intelligent enabling him to outwit that clever little mouse! I would say Having a film festival at home is a very good way to spend a rain soaked bank holiday! Enjoy!

Carmel

Village of the Damned and Invasion of the body snatchers were 2 great films but the remakes in my opinion were rubbish, i would stick to the original far more atmosphere in the original's than the remake's. I suppose everyone to their own opinion. By the way hope you enjoyed your day of science fiction.

Joenoir

I enjoyed all three versions of Invasion, but agree the original was the best. It will be interesting to see how good the Nicole Kidman starring "reworking" is.

NappieB

Bats:

CHARLY was the film version of the Sci-fi novel "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes.

I would say it probably qualifies as Sci-Fi because in about 1965 the novel won a Nebula Award for best long story ("Nebulas" are prestigious Sci-fi literary awards, somewhat akin to "Hugos".)

I think Cliff Robertson was either nominated for best actor Oscar or actually won it for his performance in the film. Doesn't change the fact that I really dislike him!

batman

Cliff Robertson did win the Oscar. I quite liked the film but it is so long ago since I last saw it.

Thanks.

Bats.

ps .... how many films have you watched so far Aaryk?

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

DB7

The Bodysnatchers remake was a flawed but genuine attempt and it is at least watchable. There was another remake (Body Snatchers) which Gabrielle Anwar which is only memorable for some brief nudity.

Carpenter's Village of the Damned is truly awful; cheap (it could be a tvmovie) and reliant on shock rather than the original's atmospheric creepiness. (shot in the same location as Carpenter's marvellous The Fog)

Aaryk Noctivagus

In my life or in the marathon? 8 in the marathon...

In my life... I can confidently say at least several thousand different movies. I can say that confidently because I have well over a thousand movies on DVD that I own... and I have seen many more than just those.

Here's hoping you don't ask me to list them - lol

Aaryk Noctivagus

Yes. It is a Science Fiction movie

There is no surgery for the turning of a person of just 70 IQ into a fact absorbing genius. True Science Fiction often has just one Science Fictional element to set up a story which explores the consequences.

Most of what goes by the name of Science Fiction in today's movies, is really Science Fantasy or soft Science Fiction like the many Space Operas ('Star Wars', 'Star Trek').

Aaryk Noctivagus

Charly undergoes an experimental surgery technique.

Aaryk Noctivagus

The originals are great movies... but I would contend the remakes I watched in the marathon are also great movies.

I certainly did enjoy the marathon and so did my friend, Tim

Aaryk Noctivagus

I haven't heard much... but what little I've heard about it... its a stinker. They had four Directors working on it at various times... which certainly is not a good sign. And in preview screenings, different screenings have had different endings apparently.

Wolfgang

That is body snatchers for you.

My favourite sci-fi from recent years is "Dark City"; its premise is fascinating: can you change someone's nature by changing their memories, and reworking alien abduction as film noir. Not many unmissable films have been released this last decade but Dark City would be topping my list.

batman

Please list all the films you have ever watched ..... Bats.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"