This is the classic scene from this movie, where the line about chewing bubblegum and kicking ass comes in. A cheesy WWE-esque action movie with some humorous one-liners. And yes, I got Alexei and I our limited edition tickets for SF42. Hmm, will HGTTG be on the bill? ^_^
Pods here, get your pods here, can’t snatch a body without a pod. Getcha pods here. The last of the B-movies this year was the classic 50s. I’m pretty sure they showed both verdions in a recent year, but didn’t find it in mu notes. I’ve seen this one a lot, which adds to my disappointment of it as the last film oh SF41.
I will try to do a post moryrm this year, despite not getting to it last year. ^_^
Now we enter the home stretch, with 3 B-movies in a row, starting with thos 50s classic. Usually thr B-movies are spread out in the middle of the program, but this year they are all at the end. The last movie is usually a big hit/blockbuster, or premiere, and I prefer it that way. Hopefully next year. Oh yeah, I gotta get my tickets now. ^_^
This was one of the movies I hadn’t heard of, and it turned out to be a powerful film. Creepy, bittersweet, emotional love story. The highly questionable ethics seem to
me to drive the timeline of the base concept to be from the 50s.
I feel like going into more detail, but I don’t want to spoil it for others who haven’t seen it yet. I recommend seeing this one. ^_^
The title says it all. A comedy involving a nice guy exterminator, and the result of military experiments of alien DNA gone bad, accidentally. Not the worst, and not the best.
Apparently David and his son bailed before this movie started. That leaves Alexei and I, and Alexei is off to nap. ^_^
This was a cute short in an Abott and Costello style, with punny humor, and schtick. It was fun. ^_^
This was another new movie. The concept here being the dumbing down of human civilation due to dumb people having more kids than smart people. That and an army experiment in hybernation sets up our slacker hero as the smartest man on the planet. Note the giagantic Costco, with enough couches for, well a lot of dumb people.
They have been playing music after the movies, that fit the theme of the movie. Cool. ^_^
Here we see the ship Riddick is held prisoner in crashing into a planet. Those that survive the crash may wish they didn’t. A relatively new film, featuring Vin Diesel not being fast and furious.
Our ranks are dwindling. Ken left at 1:30am, and Steve left after this Movie. Richard left earlier in the evening, around 8pm as I recall.
^_^
The space ship designed and built by David Bowie’s World Enterprises to take him back home. Another classic I finally got to see. Quite the artistic piece, although not as hard to follow as some flicks at past Thons. ^_^
Often we have premieres and other new films, though not so much this year. This is the first recent film of the night. I hadn’t seen it yet, and it had some interesting reflections of the current tech industry. And some stretches of the imagination as well. ^_^
Another oldy, this time from 1925, and with restored sound. Modern cities, flying machines, and a peace organization bent on keeping America and Europe from going to war. They even had a channel tunnel between England and Europe.
Something I don’t recall from previous years, and in the time slot in the program titled Quantum Singularity, the pic above, of folks with birthdays close to the Thon. ^_^
A Thon full of classics. This was the directors cut, the first time I’ve seen it, and about time.
One thing Garen mentioned in the opening was that they are selling commemorative tickets at this Thon for next years Thon. Sounds good to me, and Alexei. ^_^
An early oldy this year, with this “A Trip to Mars” silent film, from the 20th century. If you look closely in the lower left, you will see our excellent live accompaniest, Jeff Rapsis. ^_^
Did I mention that our front of balcony seats this year have less than zero knee room? That’s OK, I’m used to shifting, as none of the seats here have all that much leg room. None of which detracts from this classic good alien vs bad earthmen movie, with Jeff Bridges snd Karen Allen.
After the movie, I got a chance to grab some water, and this movie was great for introducing our new to Thon rituals, as one of the main characters was named Mark, and introduced often. MARK!
^_^
The traditional tin-foil hat contest, as seen above, is known by many names, and now by the name Alien-Deflecting Helmet Device contest (ADHD). We only had 4 this year, who trickled in just in time, and 2 of whom didn’t even have tin-foil. The right most was the winner. ^_^
At last, the folks from my neighborhood are all here, David and his son were the last ones to arrive. Selfie stick needed to get us all. ^_^
If you are in the market for mogwai, this is the place to go. But with great Mogwai comes great responsibility. Sunlight kills them, no water, and no feeding after midnight. Or ruin will come to you, via Stooges as little green goblins.
A movie with a message, and it ain’t pretty. Next up, more classics, with Starman. ^_^
What would a marathon be without a little forgetfulness. We got started a little later than I wanted, ah well. We made good time, got on the subway, and I let myself be distracted trying to get a messsge on my phone before I noticed we were at the 2nd station out. We got off and waited 10 minutes for a train back. So we were a bit late and our usual center balcony spots were too scattered for our group, so we got seats in the lower left of the balcony.
They started with memorials, then had us sing Space Oddity in tribute to David Bowie. the pic is one of a couple awards they gave out at the start.
And we are off!!!!!!!
There really isn’t a lot to do to get ready. Plan parking, food, staying warm. Oh, and the little extras that make it fun. As you can see, my weapon of choice was a little dusty. Nothing a little wipe down couldn’t fix.
My food choices have been pretty steady the last few years. This year I am including almonds, as they have become a daily staple for me. When I did my shopping with Alexei today, I ended up referring to an old list, so I may try picking up a missing item or 2 once there.
Water
Naked juice
Baby Carrots
Pringles
Apples
Oranges
Plums
Nectarines
Sun Chips
Grapes
PB&J sandwich
PB&Honey
Swiss cheese sandwich
Coca Cola
Nantucket Nectars – in Nalgene
Beer Nuts
Can’t forget our tickets, although I did one year. Just Alexei and I from my family, and 5 of our neighbors. Still not happy about the cold and the wind chill warning. ^_^
The temps for this weekend are expected to be below zero. Brrrr. We had such a warm winter so far, I thought this year the ‘Thon might not be so cold. Ah well, it is here, and Alexei and I will be in attendance, as will 5 of our neighbors. After my dad wandered off last year, I decided it was too risky to bring him, and Mischka decided not to go this year.
As you can see below, it looks like a pretty good line up. I plan to do my regular updates through out, so watch for the #sf41 hashtag, or filter out those tweets. 🙂
Here is the lineup for this years SF41 Marathon.
They are in alphabetical order.
Actual screening order is TBD
Program subject to change.
BIG ASS SPIDER
(US, 2013) Greg Grunberg (Heroes) is an lowly but passionate exterminator. When an army experiment goes awry, it is up to him to save LA, the day, and maybe get the babe. 85m
d: Mike Mendez
BLADE RUNNER, Final Cut
(US, 1982)
Rotten Tomatoes 100%! Visually spectacular, intensely action-packed and powerfully prophetic Ridley Scott’s definitive Final Cut includes extended scenes and never-before-seen special effects. The classic with Harrison Ford.
DONOVAN’S BRAIN
(US, 1951) Lew Ayres & Nancy Reagan (yeah, that one) star in an adaptation of Curt Siodmark’s tale of a brain in a bottle, unleashed. 85m.
d:Felix E. Feist
EX MACHINA
(US, 2015) A remarkable cast with Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson star in Alex Garland’s cautionary tale of a sexy bot, a manipulative genius & the man stuck between them. 108m
d: Alex Garland
HIGH TREASON
(UK, 1928) Long thought to be a silent scifi film, a sound version was restored by the British Film Institute & the Library of Congress. This 35mm is the result. 95m
d: Maurice Elvey
GREMLINS
(US, 1984)
Joe Dante’s great tale of an inventor who purchases a cute, fuzzy little “Mogwai” from a Chinatown shopkeeper for his son. Naturally, they forget the rules and things get a little hairy.
HIMMELSKIBET
A Trip to Mars
(1918, Denmark) Researchers traveling to Mars are surprised to find a peaceful vegetarian & pacifist civilization. First space opera with World War I influences. direct from the Danish Film Institute, Silent, with music by Jeff Rapsis
IDIOCRACY
(US, 2006) It’s 2016 & the Presidential campaign features some rather lame candidates, so what better time to bring Luke Wilson & Maya Rudolph back 10 years to see how prophetic they were.
d: Mike Judge
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS
(US, 1956) When alien pods begin taking over a small CA town, no one believes it. This classic stars Kevin McCarthy & Dana Wynter. Er, don’t fall asleep while watching this.
d: Don Siegel
MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH
(UK, 1976) The late, David Bowie’s signature film is that of an alien looking for water. It is also his first screen role. With Candy Clark & Rip Torn
d: Nicholas Roeg
NEVER LET ME GO
(UK, 2013) Kiera Knightley, Carey Mulligan & Andrew Garfield are typical English students, except graduation holds a surprise. Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s bestselling, Booker Prize novel & with Oscar nominated Charlotte Rampbling.
d: Mark Romanek
PITCH BLACK
(US, 2000) A space ship crash lands on an isolated planet. One of the survivors is a noted criminal, but everyone will face something far worse. With Radha Mitchell & Vin Diesel
d:David Twohy
STARMAN In 70 mm!!!
(US, 1984) Karen Allen plays a recently widowed woman who suddenly finds her husband is alive except he’s responding to a n invite. Jeff Bridges stars.
d: John Carpenter
THEY LIVE
(US, 1988) A drifter discovers the gap between the rich and the poor is a conspiracy by aliens. Special sunglasses reveal their true nature. A sly satire on Reaganomics, is sadly more true today. With the late Roddy Rowdy Piper. 97m
d: John Carpenter
Perley's Pontificating Place 