Sci-Fi Malady

We kick off our discussion of science fiction through the years with a review of 1927’s Metropolis. First off, this is a silent film, so it is a completely different experience to watch. It is also highly stylized and layered with symbolism. Then of course there is the obvious pro-worker anti business message and the recurring motif of the mediator between head and hands must be the heart.

Honestly, I am not sure what this film is…pro communist, anti capitalist, anti communist and pro worker, anti business but pro worker? It is a confused jumble of ideas, but maybe because of that it remains a classic that is watched through the generations.

It is Christmas and so that means a Christmas theme. This season we are going to discuss the ghosts of sci-fi past, present and future. What does that mean? It means a discussion of science fiction through the ages and how it has changed and where it is headed…in our opinions.

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday our production and editing schedule fell behind. This review concludes NASA November. Hidden Figures discusses the role of three women in the Gemini and Apollo programs. Much is known about the astronauts and leading male scientists. Hidden Figures is a composite story focusing on three women and the roll they played in getting men into space and to the moon.

Hollywood, we don’t have a problem.

In what we think is a first all three members of the Sci-Fi Malady crew have rated a movie a 10. We all agree that this movie is the perfect mix of drama, action, comedy and historical accuracy, combined with a moving and inspiration score and excellent cinematography and effects. Every scene is needed. No moment is wasted. The audience becomes engaged with characters and the drama is conveyed through the viewpoint of humanity and the astronauts family. Finally, what more can be said about the acting? It is a who’s who of the 90’s with an all star cast with many of these greats turning in one of their greatest performances.

Apollo 13 is a fantastic movie that is about character, people and humanity at its core. It can be re-watched near infinitely and is simply a flawless masterpiece.

For our theme we have chosen to discuss Space Exploration films. I would say it is NASA November, but we are more than halfway through November. So it is really a series of films about NASA and the early Apollo program. We are starting with First Man, the 2018 film about the moon landing.

First Man is a fantastic historical documentary and biography. It pays painstaking attention to detail and recreates with reliable accuracy Neil Armstrong’s career and the the Apollo 11 flight and events leading up to it. It also provides a well researched and on point look at who Neil Armstrong was, without aggrandizing him into a caricature or fictionalized image. The film has breathtaking CGI and cinematography. As a historical documentary the film is first rate.

However as a movie it is lacking punch. This is unavoidable. The truth of Apollo 11 and the entire Apollo program is that it is the greatest adventure humankind has ever embarked upon and humanity’s greatest achievement. Unfortunately since we all know the outcome, Neil and Buzz walked on the moon and got home safely and that the flight went relatively smoothly without ever having the team seriously in jeopardy, there is no drama. Drama, conflict or emotional peril is essential for a film. Short of manufacturing one of these three from events that didn’t actual exist the film will lack the aforementioned punch. The result is a wonderful documentary but as a movie something that comes up short. That said the crew here loves this movie and gives it high marks and feels everyone should watch it…but any review of this film must honestly address the fact that it wasn’t a financial hit and so we have.

We met a lot of awesome people at : What happens when you mix a mummy and a monkey. The answer, the Mummy and The Monkey’s Very Scary Hairy Hangout!

While we take a short break before getting into NASA November we are going to start uploading some of our interviews from Ghoulardifest. While there we met Don O’Malley from Don’s Breakfast Serial, a youtuber who reviews classic horror serial films and also creates his own serialized shorts. Don is also the owner of a rare edition Sci-Fi Malady collectors edition, last of its kind coaster.

Horror month concludes with a review of a lovely little film called Chopping Mall. If the robot from Rocky IV and Short Circuit had an evil love child, the protectors are it. It is a fun and nonsensical 80’s romp about killer robots that murder young adults having a hookup sleepover party in the mall. So of course we had a 30 minute discussion on female empowerment and does it need to be heavy handed or can it be subtle. We don’t reach an agreement. this one gets off track some, but then again, what can you deconstruct in an 80’s slasher movie with killer robots?

Ignore the fact that i say this is symptom 130, it is 129. This week is a dual review, first we review the 1967 disaster They Came From Beyond Space, but we are also reviewing Horror Hotel - a syndicated “Horror Host” show hosted by Lamia, Queen of the Dark. The movie is horrendous. I wouldn’t try to figure out what is going on because I am not sure the writers knew. Aliens invade Cornwall England, because. They have mind control powers and one scientist is immune. The aliens need humans to build them a spaceship to get home. Dr. Temple tells the “Master of the Moon” they didn’t need to enslave Earth but just ask. A handshake later and the movie ends…

Horror Hotel on the other hand is great. Lamia continues the great tradition of Horror Hosts in the tradition of an Elvira or Vampira or even Ghoulardi. She gives factoids about the movie and its production as well as mixing in fun bits during breaks in the film. So give Horror Hotel a look and check it out.

The remake era is going strong. This it was the 80’s classic slasher film Child’s Play that has been remade. It probably should have been left dead. This film feels lacks an identity. Is it a science fiction film about a killer AI run amok? Or is it a Chucky movie about a killer doll. It tries to be both and fails in both regards.