Brit Sci-Fi

January 10, 2009

I love science fiction and fantasy movies. Being a child of the STAR WARS generation (we’re like the Baby Boomer generation, except with a better soundtrack), I slobber at every glimpse of a space ship or a flashy new special effect. I’m a Pavlovian geek, I guess.

It’s too bad that Hollywood doesn’t appreciate science fiction films like I do; for every 2001: A SPACE ODESSEY we have twenty films like SPACEHUNTER: ADVENTURES IN THE FORBIDDEN ZONE. The studio honchos mistakenly believe that having a giant transforming robot step on a birdbath constitutes actual science fiction filmmaking. They would be wrong.

Thank the Maker that the British have yet to be swallowed by American imperialism. Due to a curious British phenomenon known as “intellectual superiority,” America’s English cousins still believe in outdated concepts like character development, story cohesiveness, and logical plotting. Their science fiction shows and films generally explore actual science fiction concepts; one episode of Tom Baker’s DOCTOR WHO probably has more thought-provoking hard-science concepts than the entire STAR TREK franchise.

Which leads me, in an indirect way, to the revelation of the new trailer for the hard science fiction film FRANKLYN. The British film stars RYAN PHILLIPPE and EVA GREEN in a murder story about a man leaping across alternate universes. Here is the trailer:

It looks incredible.

This space/time conundrum featured here reminds me of the last great American science fiction film, DONNIE DARKO. The trailer also shows off a vibe reminiscent of DARK CITY.

Most of all, though, the film looks like it is taking huge chances. It is the work of first time writer/director GERALD MCMORROW, who has created what will obviously become a cult classic among fanboys … just like DARKO. I just hope McMorrow won’t crawl up his own ass like DARKO director RICHARD KELLY with SOUTHLAND TALES, one of the worst films of recent times.

British science fiction fans rejoice: FRANKLYN opens there on February 20, 2009.

Oh, did I mention that FRANKLYN does not have a release date in the United States yet? Ugh … it’s probably being held up due to negotiations for an Aerosmith ballad that can be slapped over the credits in order to make it “acceptable” to American audiences.

Dumb.

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1-31-10
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With the DGA and the Producer’s Guild lining up behind Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker, it’s pretty much guaranteed to take the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. And that’s a good thing; it was the best film of 2009 in a weak year. Just as long as Avatar doesn’t win, I’m fine.

1-29-10
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It’s hard to believe that Miramax will now be absorbed into Disney and will disappear forever. This is the studio that produced gems like Pulp Fiction, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, and Clerks. Of course, it also produced over-hyped crap like The English Patient and The Aviator.

Hmm … perhaps it was for the best after all.

1-22-10
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My first thought when I saw these promotional stills for the upcoming Oscar show was: “Geez, Steve Martin looks like he’s lost or in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s.” My second thought was: “Man, this show is going to feel like it’s Oscars 1978.”

1-21-10
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This is a surprisingly in-depth look behind the scenes at the making of Avatar. Like the movie itself, there is very little attention paid to the story, while the effects take center stage.

1-20-10
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This news segment is interesting in that it shows how defensive and weird Mel Gibson has become in recent years. That 2006 anti-Semitic remark still haunts him. I say it’s time to move on.

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