Le Voyage Dans La Lune (1902) aka A Trip To The Moon

4.5 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Georges Méliès
Written by: Georges Méliès
Actors include: Georges Méliès, Victor André, Bleuette Bernon
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Length: 14 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
What a marvelously creative and well made little sci-fi film, in fact it is one of the first of it's genre. Georges Méliès is such a gifted director that I expected greatness of this film, but still I was impressed at how well he did. It's about a group of Men who wish to travel to the moon. They work with tradesmen to build what looks like a bullet (but is actually their spaceship) that gets shot out of a large cannon. The land in the eye of the moon (love the face in the moon, every detail really was seen to) and get out only to encounter a strange world of giant mushrooms and aliens. It is just so iconic and the story is very well told and easy to follow, although it is merely 14 minutes long, it's very complete. Highly imaginative and definitely recommended, a really fun little film to watch that. It's just a shame that Georges Méliès apparently didn't receive money for this film because Edison copied it and reaped the rewards.

Availability:  On DVD

Android (1982)

3.5 / 5 Aug '10
Tagline: On a remote space laboratory, Android Model MAX 404 has learnt how to live...and learnt how to kill!
Directed by: Aaron Lipstadt
Written by: James Reigle, Don Keith Opper
Actors include: Klaus Kinski, Brie Howard, Norbert Weisser
Genre: Sci-Fi
Length: 80 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is a rather unusual and cheap sci-fi film, but on the other hand it's rather effective and well acted, plus the plot is an intriguing one. Klaus Kinski plays Dr. Daniel a Scientist on a research station who is completely alone...except for Max. Together they carry out research about Androids (who were banned several years ago for rape and various other problems that existed). Max is clumsy and awkward, weird, horny and lonely too. He watches sexual training videos for fun! When three space refugees land on their ship Max is eager to make nice with the girl. He's not the only one who has the hots for her though, Dr. Daniel has an eye for her too. It's a very strange film that leaves you kind of guessing where it's going but in a way I liked that about it. It's not going to be for everyone but I think it was a memorable little oddball sci-fi flick that should appeal to some.

Availability:  On DVD

Capricorn One (1977)

4.5 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: The mission was a sham. The murders were real.
Directed by: Peter Hyams
Written by: Peter Hyams
Actors include: Elliott Gould, James Brolin, Sam Waterston
Genre: Thriller, Sci-Fi
Length: 123 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This was one exciting thrill ride that I didn't expect at all! See it starts out getting to know three Men (James Brolin, Sam Waterston, O.J. Simpson and who are to go to Mars with the NASA space program. When they are pulled from their spaceship at the last moment before take-off many questions are left unanswered. The public believes they are onboard as the shuttle launches and our astronauts are left with a very unappealing option. Elliott Gould plays a reporter trying to crack the case and find out what's really going on though it puts him in some major peril. Seriously when this started I figured I was in for an Apollo 13 style film, but this is so much more and it goes through so many different exciting action sequences. I hate that I can't say anymore because there are so many wickedly awesome things that happen within this tale but you really should just watch it and find out for yourself. No wonder there are so many conspiracy theory people, they likely saw this movie!

Availability:  On DVD

Dark Star (1974)

3.5 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: What would you be like after 20 years aboard DARK STAR the spaced-out spaceship. The ultimate cosmic comedy!
Directed by: John Carpenter
Written by: John Carpenter, Dan O'Bannon
Actors include: Brian Narelle, Cal Kuniholm, Dre Pahich
Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi
Length: 83 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Cheap cheap cheap cheap cheap...no I'm not a chicken, just shocked by how amateurish this film looks. At the same time, that is the reason the film is so hilarious! It started out as a short film project for John Carpenter that was added onto to make a full-length film and on that level it's pretty awesome what he accomplished. It's about four spacemen (and their dead Captain who can be unfrozen to ask questions to) who are on a mission to destroy unstable planets to colonize them. As they come close to finishing their mission new trouble appears in the form of an alien (beach ball) that is hysterical! It bounces about and "fights" them and really the alien is the star of the show and worth all of the talking that comes before it. They also have to try to talk a bomb out of exploding by asking it ponderous questions, talk about your strange mission! Really quite a funny film but if you go into it expecting any sort of fright or thrill you are barking up the wrong tree...this is pure silliness.

Availability:  On DVD