As promised, it’s a full-spectrum sampling of modern, big-budget sci-fi movies, ranging from the sublime to the urinous:
Aliens (1986), in which the sequel to a reworking of an old 50’s space-monster premise somehow turns into a futuristic take on the Vietnam War…
Independence Day (1996), in which an update of the old 50’s alien-invasion premise somehow turns into a terrible Irwin Allen flick…
RoboCop (1987), in which Paul Verhoeven strkes the perfect balance between satire and exploitation for what sadly seems likely to be the last time in his career…
Transformers (2007), in which Michael Bay succeeds in making me wish I were watching something by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich…
and…
Waterworld (1995), in which Kevin Costner inexplicably convinces Paramount to blow $175 million on a Mad Max movie.
#1 by Blake Matthews on October 13, 2008 - 7:33 pm
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When I saw “Aliens” as an 8 or 9 year-old back around 1990 or so, I thought Sigourney Weaver was the greatest actress to ever walk the grove. That continued for about 8 years, which was when I discovered Michelle Yeoh.
#2 by Dave Causey on October 13, 2008 - 9:43 pm
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Good reviews all around.I remember,being somewhat of a aircraft nut,wondering what those AIM-120 ‘Slammers’ were going to do to those HUGE saucers,and why didn’t they load SLAM-ER Cruise missiles.And yes,an FA-18C Hornet is quite a bit different to fly then a crop-duster! I think I remember them saying that Quaid’s character flew F-4 Phantoms during Vietnam,but he still wouldn’t be able to jump into the F-18 that easily.
#3 by Joshua on October 14, 2008 - 6:24 am
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Wait, Bill Paxton was in Terminator?
#4 by El Santo on October 14, 2008 - 6:48 am
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“Wait, Bill Paxton was in Terminator?”
Yup. He’s the poor bastard who supplies Arnold with his clothes at the beginning. It’s a little role, sure, but sometimes I like to draw attention to such nearly invisible appearances by actors who got big parts elsewhere.
#5 by Blake Matthews on October 14, 2008 - 7:58 am
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Will any of screeners you review count as part of Nathan’s Month of the Living Dead?
#6 by El Santo on October 14, 2008 - 9:09 am
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Let me think… No. Doesn’t look like it. There will, however, be a cannibal movie I hadn’t even known about until they sent it to me, so some gut-munching will be in the offing at least.
#7 by Turzman on October 14, 2008 - 11:29 am
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Excellent pot-pourii, or should I say, “smattering” of reviews. Well done, Sr. Saint.