Like before, here are my quick takes on the genre-related films I've watched in the last several weeks.
Donnie Darko (2001) - Despite time travel being one of my favorite subgenres of SciFi, this psychological time travel thriller failed to overly impress me. The whole film was spent trying to figure out what was going on in the life of troubled teen Donnie Darko, and when it was revealed, it seemed like no big deal. And man, was it god-awful slow.
Dreams With Sharp Teeth (2008) - Love him or hate him, Harlan Ellison is one of the most influential and interesting personalities in the field and this captivating documentary comes close (but not close enough) to getting inside his head. Sunshine (2007) - I alternated between boredom and disbelief in this film thanks to its casual pacing and unbelievable portrayal of science. On the positive side, the premise was good and the photography was great (with the exception of the jittery camera effect of the unexpected visitor).
eXisTenZ (1999) - Me before the movie: Ooh, a virtual reality thriller! Me after the movie: WTF? Ah...written and directed by David Cronenberg. Bizarre. However, intriguingly so.
Up (2009) - Science fictional ideas (Lost World, imaginative inventions) leaning towards the fantastical in a sad, funny and ultimately heartwarming film. Fanboys (2008) - A Blues Brothers for the Star Wars generation. Lots of Star Wars humor and a bunch of impressive cameos.
Comments (4)
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Posted by John DeNardo at Thursday July 02, 2009 at 12:22 AM
© 2009 SF Signal
eXisTenZ (1999) - Me before the movie: Ooh, a virtual reality thriller! Me after the movie: WTF? Ah...written and directed by David Cronenberg. Bizarre. However, intriguingly so.
I have a very bizarre affection for this film which outstrips its actual merits.
Posted by Paul on Thursday July 02, 2009 at 6:26 AM
I thought "UP" was just stunning. I've been saying for awhile that Pixar's not only left everyone else in the dust, in terms of their sheer storytelling ability...but that they're telling these amazing stories that are as much for kids as for adults, with zero pandering to anyone. I thought WALL-E was a work of art, and I think UP is even more so. Heartwrenching film.
And I was intruiged about Sunshine, but now I'm less certain. I may not bother adding it to my Netflix cue now.
Also the Harlan DVD, I got from Netflix the very moment I could get my grubby hands on it, and I adored it. Watched it twice. I'm a big Harlan Ellison fan, of both the writing and the man, and I enjoyed it no end. Whadda guy. I was a bit grumpy that I had to send the disc BACK, damn it.
Posted by Pete on Thursday July 02, 2009 at 8:00 AM
eXisTenZ was a Canadian Indie film, and emboided all that is Canadian Indie films - of which I admit I suffer an odd attraction for. I liked it, and its weird - disjointed telling. Along the lines of Last Night and Memento. Films designed to leave you saying "WTF?"
Not everyone's cup of maple syrup, though 
Posted by Kristine on Thursday July 02, 2009 at 9:53 AM
I liked the theatrical version of Donnie Darko more than the Directors Cut. Left a lot more to the imagination; was more of an atmospheric period piece than scifi. The Directors Cut adds half an hour of exposition to explain all the weird shit going down, and in so doing fails to contribute anything of dramatic value.
Posted by Matte Lozenge on Thursday July 02, 2009 at 4:56 PM