I am currently, and proudly, involved in a selection process for an upcoming strand of the Eclectic Cinema in Cheltenham, this time the focus is on Sci-fi. In addition to my own recommendations, I have been kindly lent some titles that I have not yet watched, to see if they may be worth putting on the programme for the upcoming season.
Forbidden planet (1956)
'Nothing to do but throw rocks at tin cans, and we've got to bring our own tin cans'
I liked forbidden planet alot.
It was pleasantly unpredictable and memorable with some very good scenery and good effects for the time, I thought it was really good fun. I also noticed the little buttons on the shoulders of the officers' uniforms look almost exactly exactly like HAL 9000's eye - coincidence? Or was Kubrick a fan?
If it was indeed a small influence on the greatest all time filmmaker, then he would be one of many.. I noticed things that I have seen in other work since, not least TV like Futurama, which takes alot of influence from Sci-Fi.
Noticing connections like this is one of the joys of watching films for me, and one of the many reasons I still search out considered classics of all genres.
Altered states (1980)
I liked it alot. I think It would fit into weird cinema as much as sci fi.
A Social misfit science genius stumbles upon a technique to regress backwards through evolution and becomes an ape for a few hours (plot starts off a bit like the Fly and morphs into American Werewolf in London)
The film incorporates very creative fantasy/dream sequences which makes it a more surreal, cerebral, experiential watch than I was expecting, there is even a sequence at the end that i found reminiscent of the famous 2001 Space Odyssey stargate sequence. It's not above a good jump scare or two, and it touches on interesting themes like the untapped power of the mind. I love big ideas in film, for me it's the only medium that can really communicate on this level.
The main character begins a relationship and in the end that plays a huge part. No spoilers here but to be picky, since it was their love that won through, the relationship could have been explored more, to give it more heft in the script.
In addition to the two above, I have others I will be doing soon, chief among which is Tarkovsky's Solaris (1972) which has been on my must see list for years - so, watch this space.
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