Saturn Awards 2018: Best Science Fiction Film Release

Alien: Covenant:  There were too many sequels this year that didn’t bring anything new to the table.  Michael Fassbender’s performance was oddly boring to me.  One of my favorite actors, Jussie Smollett, was in it, but that’s all I can say for his character. I rolled my eyes whenever Danny McBride was on screen, as I kind of can’t stand him.  I tried, though, because he was part of the “heart” of the story.  It could have been about any other actor and I would have been more invested.  Katherine Waterston is always good, though I hate to admit that I was distracted by her hair cut.  I’m sorry, but for me the Alien movies are played out, and it barely held my attention.

Blade Runner 2049:  Harrison Ford is in it, but not enough.  The premise is great, but it took way too much time getting there.  It was weird to see Sean Young, and Robin Wright, and Jared Leto, of all people, in a weird role.  I’m not in love with Ryan Gosling like everyone else.  I find him weirdly expressionless as an actor.  The atmosphere felt like a retread of the original, but the casinoish place in the wasteland was cool.  I’m pretty ambivalent.  Half of the movie could have been cut and it would have been more cohesive.  Here’s my ultimate take: it could have been structured like an extended episode of CSI.  The medical mystery was the heart, which leans itself to a fascinating, entertaining, and fantastic movie.  They added a bunch of crap to be “atmospheric” and it unnecessarily pushed up the run time and tested my patience.

Life:  Alien knock-off.  The scene where the alien first escapes was great, though.  And the ending could be setting us up for a potentially awesome sequel.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi:  “Why?  I’ve seen your daily routine – you are not busy.”  My heart broke a little when Billie Lourd was in the opening scene.  This was right after I got my usual chill hearing John Williams’ iconic score and seeing the classic STAR WARS opener.  My, how I have been trained to derive pleasure from that from an early age.  I still don’t like Adam Driver (who mumbled all the way through), and not only because he did you know what.  Then Princess Leia…the first 20 minutes of the film had my emotions swinging all over the place.  And then I was laughing again at Chewbacca and those little creatures.  Then Luke and R2…are they trying to make me cry?  I still like Daisy Ridley (who still reminds me of Keira Knightley), but Rey essentially destroys this little island and doesn’t apologize to the little nun-like creatures.  That seems weirdly out of character.  And Luke Skywalker was too melodramatic until the end, where he mellowed back out.  Is it just me, or do Luke and Leia look a lot alike now?  Like, believably twins now?  Anyway.  Well, it was the Resistance versus the Empire…First Order, whatever…again.  For some reason that never gets old.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets:  Bad acting.  A male lead that didn’t have enough swagger, even though I like Dane DeHaan in other things.  Cartoonish special effects.  Half-baked romance.  Cara Delevingne’s dead eyes.  Nonsensical plot.  I wanted so badly to like this.  I liked Rihanna, that’s about it.

War for the Planet of the Apes:  These movies are also getting old.  I don’t like war movies in general.  Historical ones like to get too graphic, and ones like this no longer feel fresh.  At this point it’s mostly just war, even though I know we’re meant to be trying to bridge the “humanity” gap in ourselves.  They just don’t make me care, which is what you need to be a successful series.

 

So… Which is Best?:  I’m not happy with my choices.  But I’ll grudgingly go Star Wars.  It had spots of humor, good vs. evil, characters that feel like family members, and it was entertaining without trying to be a horror movie.

 

image credit: movieweb.com

Flatliners (2017)

Why???:  God, I don’t know.  Hollywood can’t leave anything alone?

No, Really, Why?:  Seriously.  I have no idea.

The Original?:  I watched the original at many a slumber party (I’m that old) and we loved it.  Each character had a well-defined thing that haunted them, and something specific they had to own up to in order to be released from the terror.  The new one kind of does that, but it is ill-defined.

Go, Diego, Go!:  I like Diego Luna, mostly because of Rogue One.  He’s kind of a wee man, though, and sometimes Nina Dobrev seemed bigger than him.  And she’s by no means a normally-sized woman.  She’s dinky.  So that was weird. Maybe an optical illusion?

Ellen and the Priest:  For some reason I found it shocking the Ellen Page and James Norton got it on.  I’m so used to her playing asexual/lesbian, etc., that I just wasn’t expecting it.  And James Norton as a playboy…I bet he took this because he was afraid of being typecast.  For those that don’t know, he stars as a priest/clergyman/pastor character on the popular PBS show Grantchester.

Kiefer!:  The only one of the original cast to make an appearance in this is Kiefer Sutherland.  So, if you’re playing the Kevin Bacon Game this is a useful link!

Not a Remake:  More of a sequel.  No, more like a completely different movie with the same basic premise and the same title.  I liken this to when two suspiciously similar movies come out in quick succession.  Think The Illusionist and the Prestige, First Daughter and Chasing Liberty, Armageddon and Deep Impact, Volcano and Dante’s Peak, Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down, Mirror Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman…you get it.

The Verdict?:  I’m not going to tell you not to watch this one…it’s not awful.  It’s just not great.  While it is dated, go watch the original.  Because it was original.

 

image credit: IndieWire

Miracle Mile (1989)

Quick opinion:  Unexpected and took it self too seriously.  Extremely entertaining.  A surreal thriller.

Living the Dream:  How much do I love a Tangerine Dream soundtrack?  So much.  In Miracle Mile the music is overwhelming, but it works for the over-the-top everything of this movie.  Can’t imagine it?  Think Legend (1986), Risky Business, and Vision Quest.

How have I lived my life without this movie?:  Really, how?  I have always been a movie nut and I’m shocked and appalled that this movie slipped through.  I thought I had seen the best crazy 80’s movies!  And this is crazy.

Mare?  What did you do to your hair?:   Good Holy God, does Mare Winningham have horrible hair in this movie.  I kept staring at it.  Awful.  Bad.  And worse, it’s stolen directly from David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, Pinups era.  Ugh.

Dr. Greene?:  I knew Anthony Edwards had been in things before “making it big” on ER, but I did not see this performance coming.  At the beginning, when I thought this was going to turn into a comedy, I got really excited to see him doing goofy things.  I was not let down.  I saw him do super goofy things, but this is definitely not a comedy.

Time-capsule?:  Not exactly.  This is so incredibly 80’s, and at the same time so bizarre that it was more like watching science fiction taking place on a distant planet.  This is one of those movies that mostly takes place on one night, and that pacing and the type of thriller this is made it possible to see a lot of stereotypical 80’s L.A. characters.

Final thoughts:  Wow.  I couldn’t look away.  Cheesy and oddly tension-filled, mostly due to the relentless soundtrack.

Image from syfy.com.

Two Months until the Saturn Awards!

One of my favorite awards is the Saturn Award!  Horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and action movies are never rewarded…except by me and the Saturn Awards.  (I got tired of removing the superfluous commas, so I decided to leave the rest as the list is found on the official website.)  I’ll work my way through as much of this list as possible.  Here are the nominees, from saturnawards.org:

Best Action / Adventure Film Release

Everest
Furious 7
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation                                                                                                     The Revenant
Spectre
Spy

Best Actor in a Film

Domhnall Gleeson, (Ex Machina)
Harrison Ford, (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
John Boyega, (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
Leonardo DiCaprio, (The Revenant)
Matt Damon, (The Martian)
Paul Rudd, (Ant-Man)
Samuel L. Jackson, (The Hateful Eight)
Taron Egerton, (Kingsman: The Secret Service)

Best Actress in a Film

Blake Lively, (The Age of Adaline)
Charlize Theron, (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Daisy Ridley, (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
Emily Blunt, (Sicario)
Jessica Chastain, (The Martian)
Mia Wasikowska, (Crimson Peak)

Best Animated Film Release

Anomalisa
The Good Dinosaur
Inside Out
Kung Fu Panda 3
Minions
When Marnie Was There

Best Comic to Motion Picture Release

Ant-Man,
Attack on Titan, Part 1,
Avengers: Age of Ultron,
Kingsman: The Secret Service,
Peanuts Movie, The,

Best Fantasy Film Release

Age of Adaline, The,
Baahubali: The Beginning,
Cinderella,
Goosebumps,
Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, The,
Ted 2,

Best Film Costume Design

Avengers: Age of Ultron, (Alexandra Byrne)
Baahubali: The Beginning, (Rama Rajamouli, Prashanti Tipirineni)
Cinderella, (Sandy Powell)
Crimson Peak, (Kate Hawley)
Kingsman: The Secret Service, (Arianne Phillips)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, (Michael Kaplan)

Best Film Director

Alex Garland, (Ex Machina)
Colin Trevorrow, (Jurassic World)
George Miller, (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Guillermo del Toro, (Crimson Peak)
J.J. Abrams, (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
Peyton Reed, (Ant-Man)
Ridley Scott, (The Martian)

Best Film Editing

Ant-Man, (Dan Lebental, Colby Parker Jr.)
Furious 7, (Leigh Folsom Boyd, Dylan Highsmith, Kirk Morri, Christian Wagner)
Jurassic World, (Kevin Stitt)
Kingsman: The Secret Service, (Eddie Hamilton, Jon Harris)
Mad Max: Fury Road, (Margaret Sixel)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, (Maryann Brandon, Mary Jo Markey)

Best Film Make Up

Black Mass, (Joel Harlow, Kenny Niederbaumer)
Crimson Peak, (David Marti, Montse Ribe, Xavi Bastida)
Hateful Eight, The, (Gregory Nicotero, Howard Berger, Jake Garber, Heba Thorisdottir)
Mad Max: Fury Road, (Lesley Vanderwalt, Damian Martin, Elka Wardega)
Sicario, (Donald Mowat)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, (Neal Scanlan)

Best Film Music

Baahubali: The Beginning, (M.M. Keeravani)
Crimson Peak, (Fernando Velazquez)
Hateful Eight, The, (Ennio Morricone)
Mad Max: Fury Road, (Tom Holkenborg)
Sicario, (Johann Johannsson)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, (John Williams)

Best Film Production Design

Baahubali: The Beginning, (Sabu Cyril)
Crimson Peak, (Thomas E. Sanders)
Jurassic World, (Ed Verreaux)
Mad Max: Fury Road, (Colin Gibson)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, (Rick Carter, Darren Gilford)
Tomorrowland, (Scott Chambliss)

Best Film Special / Visual Effects

Avengers: Age of Ultron, (Paul Corbould, Chris Townsend, Ben Snow, Paul Butterworth)
Ex Machina, (Andrew Whithurst, Paul Norris, Mark Ardington, Sara Bennett)
Jurassic World, (John Rosengrant, Michael Lantieri, Tim Alexander)
Mad Max: Fury Road, (Andrew Jackson, Tom Wood, Dan Oliver, Andy Williams)
Martian, The, (Richard Stammers, Anders Langlands, Chris Lawrence, Steve Warner)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, (Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Neal Scanlan, Chris Corbould)

Best Film Writing

Crimson Peak, (Guillermo del Toro, Matthew Robbins)
Ex Machina, (Alex Garland)
Jurassic World, (Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly)
Kingsman: The Secret Service, (Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn)
Mad Max: Fury Road, (George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nick Lathouris)
Martian, The, (Drew Goddard)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, (Lawrence Kasdan, J.J. Abrams, Michael Arndt)

Best Horror Film Release

Crimson Peak,
Insidious: Chapter 3,
It Follows,
Krampus,
Visit, The,
What We Do in the Shadows,

Best Independent Film Release

99 Homes,
Bone Tomahawk,
Cop Car,
Experimenter,
Room,
Trumbo,

Best International Film Release

100 Year-Old-Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, The,
Goodnight Mommy,
Labyrinth of Lies,
Legend,
Turbo Kid,
Wave, The,

Best Performance By A Younger Actor in a Film

Elias / Lukas Schwartz, (Goodnight Mommy)
Jacob Tremblay, (Room)
James Freedson-Jackson, (Cop Car)
Milo Parker, (Mr. Holmes)
Olivia DeJonge, (The Visit)
Ty Simpkins, (Jurassic World)

Best Science Fiction Film Release

Ex Machina,
Jurassic World,
Mad Max: Fury Road,
Martian, The,
Star Wars: The Force Awakens,
Terminator: Genisys,

Best Supporting Actor in a Film

Adam Driver, (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
Michael Douglas, (Ant-Man)
Michael Shannon, (99 Homes)
Paul Bettany, (Avengers: Age of Ultron)
Simon Pegg, (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation)
Walter Goggins, (The Hateful Eight)

Best Supporting Actress in a Film

Alicia Vikander, (Ex Machina)
Carrie Fisher, (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
Evangeline Lilly, (Ant-Man)
Jessica Chastain, (Crimson Peak)
Lupita Nyong’o, (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
Tamannaah, (Baahubali: The Beginning)

Best Thriller Film Release

Black Mass,
Bridge of Spies,
Gift, The,
Hateful Eight, The,
Mr. Holmes,
Sicario,

TELEVISION AWARDS
Best Action / Thriller Television Series

Bates Motel,
Blindspot,
Fargo,
Hannibal,
Last Ship, The,
Librarians, The,
Mr. Robot,

Best Actor on a Television Series

Andrew Lincoln, (The Walking Dead)
Bruce Campbell, (Ash vs. Evil Dead)
Charlie Cox, (Daredevil)
David Duchovny, (The X-Files)
Grant Gustin, (The Flash)
Mads Mikkelsen, (Hannibal)
Matt Dillon, (Wayward Pines)
Sam Heughan, (Outlander)

Best Actress on a Television Series

Caitriona Balfe, (Outlander)
Gillian Anderson, (The X-Files)
Kim Dickens, (Fear The Walking Dead)
Krysten Ritter, (Marvel’s Jessica Jones)
Melissa Benoist, (Supergirl)
Rachel Nichols, (Continuum)
Rebecca Romijn, (The Librarians)

Best Fantasy Television Series

Game of Thrones,
Haven,
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell,
Magicians, The,
Muppets, The,
Outlander,
Shannara Chronicles, The,

Best Guest Performance on a Television Series

Alex Kingston, (The Husbands of River Song)
John Carroll Lynch, (The Walking Dead)
Laura Benanti, (Supergirl)
Scott Glenn, (Daredevil)
Steven Brand, (Teen Wolf)
Victor Garber, (The Flash)
William Shatner, (Haven)

Best Horror Television Series

American Horror Story: Hotel,
Ash vs. Evil Dead,
Fear The Walking Dead,
Salem,
Strain, The,
Teen Wolf,
Walking Dead, The,

Best New Media Television Series

Bosch,
Daredevil,
DreamWork’s Dragons,
Man in the High Castle, The,
Marvel’s Jessica Jones,
Powers,
Sense8,

Best Presentation on Television

Cannibal in the Jungle, The,
Childhood’s End,
Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song,
Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow,
Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!,
Wiz, The,

Best Science Fiction Television Series

100, The,
Colony,
Continuum,
Doctor Who,
Expanse, The,
Wayward Pines,
X-Files, The,
X-No Opinion, Check here if you have no opinion in this category

Best Superhero Adaptation Television Series

Arrow,
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,
Flash, The,
Gotham,
Marvel’s Agent Carter,
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,
Supergirl,

Best Supporting Actor on a Television Series

David Tennant, (Marvel’s Jessica Jones)
Erik Knudsen, (Continuum)
Kit Harington, (Game of Thrones)
Lance Reddick, (Bosch)
Patrick Wilson, (Fargo)
Richard Armitage, (Hannibal)
Toby Jones, (Wayward Pines)
Vincent D’Onofrio, (Daredevil)

Best Supporting Actress on a Television Series

Calista Flockhart, (Supergirl)
Danai Gurira, (The Walking Dead)
Gillian Anderson, (Hannibal)
Lena Headey, (Game of Thrones)
Melissa Leo, (Wayward Pines)
Melissa McBride, (The Walking Dead)
Tovah Feldshuh, (The Walking Dead)

Best Younger Actor on a Television Series

Brenock O’Connor, (Game of Thrones)
Chandler Riggs, (The Walking Dead)
Dylan Sprayberry, (Teen Wolf)
Frank Dillane, (Fear The Walking Dead)
Jodelle Ferland, (Dark Matter)
Maisie Williams, (Game of Thrones)
Max Charles, (The Strain)

 

 

Image from withanaccent.com.