Weekly Theme

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

Risselada — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:08:14 GMT

Anyone here seen Letters from a Dead Man? I was just reading about it at a few places and it sounds pretty interesting.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

Risselada — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:03:35 GMT

indieabby88:

Risselada:

mercurial:
Lastly, Wall-E, which is apparently the best movie ever.

Well according to the current IMDB Top 250, it's not the best movie ever, but it is the sixth best movie ever right after Pulp Fiction at #5 and right before Schindler's List at #7

How is that determined? Is it number of hits on the site? Percentage of positive reviews? Box office returns? I mean, I love Wall-e as much as the next person, but dontcha think it's a little soon to call it a classic?

It's based entirely on user ratings. Although there is some complicated algorithm involved that they won't release so that people can't try to manipulate the list. Nonetheless, when a movie first comes out that people really love it usually shoots really high on the list and then starts to move down a bit after a while.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

indieabby88 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:59:13 GMT

Risselada:

mercurial:
Lastly, Wall-E, which is apparently the best movie ever.

Well according to the current IMDB Top 250, it's not the best movie ever, but it is the sixth best movie ever right after Pulp Fiction at #5 and right before Schindler's List at #7

How is that determined? Is it number of hits on the site? Percentage of positive reviews? Box office returns? I mean, I love Wall-e as much as the next person, but dontcha think it's a little soon to call it a classic?

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

Risselada — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:51:18 GMT

leeroy711:

Risselada:

leeroy711:
What are your favorites and more importantly why??????????????

Le Dernier Combat (The Last Battle) is the wonderful first feature film from director Luc Besson featuring of course Jean Reno. Although maybe not my favorite post-apocalyptic film, it may be the best in setting a real solid post-apocalyptic atmosphere all around. Including the strange raining fish.

I'm glad you mentioned this one. I'm a pretty big Besson fan but I haven't ever been able to get my hands on a copy of this one. Netflix has a listing of the film but you can only save it (release date unknown). I wasn't sure if it would be worth the trouble of finding an OOP copy on ebay though.

I rented a DVD of it from my library several years ago. It's probably worth looking for if you are a fan of this genre and Besson, but it's not so fantastic that I would pay more than the average price of a DVD for it.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

unclefestering — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:26:45 GMT

I just wanted to give a give a little love to the 1984 end of the world flick, Night of the Comet. I just love the idea of the only survivors are two Valley Girls who see the end of the world as a great time to get everything they want at the mall for free. If only they had a solution to the zombie problem...

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

leeroy711 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:22:00 GMT

Risselada:

leeroy711:
What are your favorites and more importantly why??????????????

Le Dernier Combat (The Last Battle) is the wonderful first feature film from director Luc Besson featuring of course Jean Reno. Although maybe not my favorite post-apocalyptic film, it may be the best in setting a real solid post-apocalyptic atmosphere all around. Including the strange raining fish.

I'm glad you mentioned this one. I'm a pretty big Besson fan but I haven't ever been able to get my hands on a copy of this one. Netflix has a listing of the film but you can only save it (release date unknown). I wasn't sure if it would be worth the trouble of finding an OOP copy on ebay though.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

Risselada — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:19:56 GMT

leeroy711:
What are your favorites and more importantly why??????????????

I would like to mentione a couple more that no one has said yet.

Six-String Samurai is a lot of fun especially for anyone who loves some classic early rock-n-roll style guitar playing. The hero appears to be modeled after Buddy Holly. But other than that it's your classic barren desert post-apocalyptic landscape.

Le Dernier Combat (The Last Battle) is the wonderful first feature film from director Luc Besson featuring of course Jean Reno. Although maybe not my favorite post-apocalyptic film, it may be the best in setting a real solid post-apocalyptic atmosphere all around. Including the strange raining fish.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

Risselada — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:47:57 GMT

unclefestering:
Not to be picky, but I always thought that Battle Royale took place in an alternate history of Earth where the Japanese Empire controlled all of Asia at the end of World War II. I wouldn't put that in the same category as living in the aftermath of the world's end.

Battle Royale is no alternate reality it's a reflection of some of the real fears overwhelming Japan. The current generation of kids are so radically more violent and rebellious towards ancient traditions and customs of politeness that have been held so strongly until just the previous generation, the current adults there are terrofied of them and thus putting up such extreme laws to try to scare and control them back. This is what I've heard at least.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

Risselada — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:41:58 GMT

mercurial:
Lastly, Wall-E, which is apparently the best movie ever.

Well according to the current IMDB Top 250, it's not the best movie ever, but it is the sixth best movie ever right after Pulp Fiction at #5 and right before Schindler's List at #7

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

leeroy711 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:21:21 GMT

lopezdash:

Just wanted to plug another group here on Spout, DOOMSDAY.

Shameless...........................just shameless.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

lopezdash — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:14:02 GMT

Just wanted to plug another group here on Spout, DOOMSDAY.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

lopezdash — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:02:05 GMT

unclefestering:

If you haven't seen it, check out A Boy and His Dog (1975). It once again proves that there is a limit to how much even the post apocalyptic world needs Don Johnson's sperm. Also when your dog is smarter than you, you shouldn't leave him behind just to chase some tail.

This has to be one of my favorite films, in the genre and ever.

Lack of respect, wrong attitude, failure to obey authority.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

lopezdash — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:59:01 GMT

pippin06:

I don't know that I've seen artsier films about the apocalypse and its aftermath. Recommendations?

I don't know how "artsy" it is, but if you're looking for a warped film that is fascinatingly hilarious, check out A Boy and His Dog.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

leeroy711 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:58:19 GMT

unclefestering:

mercurial:

Yeah, I was probably stretching a bit with Battle Royale, but you have to admit that the film alludes to certain things that make it seem like the natural order has been destroyed and/or the world is trying to recover from some pretty apocalyptic shit.

Yeah, the movie is about a government's attempt to completely breakdown all sense of loyalty between people and blowin' people up real good. Certainly apocalyptic from the sense of ever trusting another person again. There may be another list there like living under the fist of Big Brother.

Don't get ahead of us now, this is the weekly theme group and you can bet that before long we will do the Orwellian Theme.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

unclefestering — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:41:39 GMT

mercurial:

Yeah, I was probably stretching a bit with Battle Royale, but you have to admit that the film alludes to certain things that make it seem like the natural order has been destroyed and/or the world is trying to recover from some pretty apocalyptic shit.

Yeah, the movie is about a government's attempt to completely breakdown all sense of loyalty between people and blowin' people up real good. Certainly apocalyptic from the sense of ever trusting another person again. There may be another list there like living under the fist of Big Brother.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

SkyPilot — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:13:52 GMT

leeroy711:

In reference to The Stand, did you watch any of the Jeicho series on CBS. It lasted 1 and 1/2 seasons but it pretty much begins with the end of the world. I rented the DVDs from netflix and made through the first two. I was really into it but for some reason haven't been able to finish it.

I haven't seen that, I'll have to check it out.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

leeroy711 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:05:03 GMT

SkyPilot:

The Stand made a huge impression on me when I was in junior high. It came on either four nights in a row or four Sundays in a row, can't remember...but anyway, I remember after watching the first installment I was lying in bed, too frightened to go to sleep. I went downstairs to turn the VCR off, because it was taping the next horrifying installment, and I thought it would be able to get to sleep more easily if I stopped the taping.

But The Stand had really gotten under my skin, because the next day I started up the second installment. Although I was scared out of my wits I kept hoping the tape would carry through whatever scene I was watching: "Please, just a little longer...a little longer... dang!"

In reference to The Stand, did you watch any of the Jeicho series on CBS. It lasted 1 and 1/2 seasons but it pretty much begins with the end of the world. I rented the DVDs from netflix and made through the first two. I was really into it but for some reason haven't been able to finish it.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

SkyPilot — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:31:52 GMT

My favorite post-apocalyptic movie is Doomsday, but I still have fond feelings for Waterworld, which is the first post-apocalyptic movie I ever saw.

Has anyone mentioned Judge Dredd? I saw this on video after I saw Waterworld, and I was struck by these two very different visions of environmental catastrophe: tons of water, civilization nearly destroyed vs. almost no water, civilization totally urbanized.

The Stand made a huge impression on me when I was in junior high. It came on either four nights in a row or four Sundays in a row, can't remember...but anyway, I remember after watching the first installment I was lying in bed, too frightened to go to sleep. I went downstairs to turn the VCR off, because it was taping the next horrifying installment, and I thought it would be able to get to sleep more easily if I stopped the taping.

But The Stand had really gotten under my skin, because the next day I started up the second installment. Although I was scared out of my wits I kept hoping the tape would carry through whatever scene I was watching: "Please, just a little longer...a little longer... dang!"

The Stand made me think about how I would act in a post-apocalyptic society. In other words, it made me reflect on my character, how I'd behave when there aren't conventional consequences. That's why I'll argue that in this sense Lord of the Flies is post-apocalyptic.

This might be another stretch, more like a pre-apolcalyptic movie: Children of Men. Takes a very simple premise and makes it believable by keeping it mysterious; a stark contrast to another end-is-nigh movie, The Happening.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

leeroy711 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:45:59 GMT

Hee Hee Hee. I am sooo disappointed in myself (& the rest of you for that matter). This topic has been up for a whole 8 hours and still no one has mentioned the classic sci-fi Hell Comes To Frogtown.

This may be the most rediculous b-movie I've ever seen................................... ever. And I want to watch it right now.

"The great nuclear holocaust has come and gone, and humanity is hanging on a string. Women rule what's left, and the world is filled with giant mutant humanoid frogs who have started their own communities. Fertile human males have become one of the rarest things on Earth. This really low-budget sci-fi adventure chronicles the exploits of one of those men, the wandering loner Sam Hell (as played by former wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper). The tale begins as Hell is caught and tried for raping a woman. Realizing that he is fertile, Medtech, the organization devoted to repopulating the world, takes him and forces him to wear high-tech underwear designed to control his lusty tendencies and to keep him from squandering his seed on infertile ladies. The organization then forces him to go deep into froggy territory to bring back the fertile women stolen by the amphibian's leader. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide"

There's also a sequel, Frogtown 2 but I haven't seen it.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

mercurial — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:26:25 GMT

unclefestering:

Not to be picky, but I always thought that Battle Royale took place in an alternate history of Earth where the Japanese Empire controlled all of Asia at the end of World War II. I wouldn't put that in the same category as living in the aftermath of the world's end.

And if you are going to put Omega Man and I Am Legend on the list, I'd say you need to put the original film version, The Last Man on Earth, with Vincent Price as the scientist/hero/killer.

Yeah, I was probably stretching a bit with Battle Royale, but you have to admit that the film alludes to certain things that make it seem like the natural order has been destroyed and/or the world is trying to recover from some pretty apocalyptic shit.

Nice call on the first I Am Legend adaptation, I haven't seen any of the three yet.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

unclefestering — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:56:45 GMT

mercurial:

So many fun little features to choose from, where ever shall I begin?

Undeniably the best (or just the most pervasive) films about living in a post-apocalyptic society are:

Battle Royale

Those straddling the line with extreme lovers and haters:

The Omega Man

I Am Legend

Not to be picky, but I always thought that Battle Royale took place in an alternate history of Earth where the Japanese Empire controlled all of Asia at the end of World War II. I wouldn't put that in the same category as living in the aftermath of the world's end.

And if you are going to put Omega Man and I Am Legend on the list, I'd say you need to put the original film version, The Last Man on Earth, with Vincent Price as the scientist/hero/killer.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

leeroy711 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:28:07 GMT

indieabby88:

It's been almost exactly a year since I saw "Delicatessen," a movie which I absolutely adore. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to celebrate the one-year anniversary of my first viewing with a second one. I love Jeunet's visuals and his strange ability to make what should be a stomach-churning subject (cannibalism) seem like a charming quirk in his characters, rather than a desperate last resort.

I love Jeunet, his rythemic timing sequences are awsome and I think Delicatessen has my favorite.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

leeroy711 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:22:14 GMT

mercurial:

12 Monkeys & La Jetee

Delicatessen & The City of Lost Children

Those straddling the line with extreme lovers and haters:

Reign of Fire

Tank Girl

I was wondering if anyone would bring up Tank Girl. I thought I may have been the only one that liked it.

As For La Jetee, I think I've seen it. Is it told entirely through still shots. I really can't remember if I liked it or not or if I maybe just saw part of it on the special features or 12 monkeys.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

indieabby88 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:13:09 GMT

It's been almost exactly a year since I saw "Delicatessen," a movie which I absolutely adore. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to celebrate the one-year anniversary of my first viewing with a second one. I love Jeunet's visuals and his strange ability to make what should be a stomach-churning subject (cannibalism) seem like a charming quirk in his characters, rather than a desperate last resort.

As much of a Gilliam fan as I may be, I was never very keen on "12 Monkeys." I thought Brad Pitt's performance was great, but other than that I thought the movie was confusing, and too frenzied for me to follow.

On a more recent note, I got to see "Wall-e" this weekend and thought it was fantastic. I did like the first half, with its darker atmosphere and grander sense of what a trash-choked planet looks like, to the second half, which turned into a kind of Dr. Who meets Brazil starring robots.

Then, of course, you have the campy greatness of "Omega Man," which I watched as part of Filmspotting's 70s Sci-Fi marathon. Pretty much an awesomely bad movie. Great for watching on a weekend with a bunch of friends for some MST3K-style fun.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

mercurial — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:28:13 GMT

So many fun little features to choose from, where ever shall I begin?

Undeniably the best (or just the most pervasive) films about living in a post-apocalyptic society are:

Battle Royale

The Matrix

Mad Max, The Road Warrior & Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

12 Monkeys & La Jetee

Delicatessen & The City of Lost Children

Those straddling the line with extreme lovers and haters:

The Day After Tomorrow

The Matrix Reloaded & The Matrix Revolutions

And those that have been cast into the gallows of film history:

Titan A.E.

Aeon Flux (the movie, not the television series)

The Postman

Teenage Caveman

Battlefield Earth

Lastly, Wall-E, which is apparently the best movie ever. I haven't had a chance to see it yet. And The Road, which has yet to come out yet, but after having read the book I am utterly certain the film will be incredible.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

leeroy711 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:15:14 GMT

pippin06:

I like 12 Monkeys a lot in this vein because I can really see a virus being the source of our post-apocalyptic demise, what with our developments toward biological warfare and our penchant for playing God; plus, this film is just warped enough (a la Gilliam) to make too much sense.

The thing I liked the most about 12 monkeys was the idea that psychology was just the newest religion and that people defer their own judgement to that of a "professional" because they have a PHD.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

leeroy711 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:11:43 GMT

unclefestering:

leeroy711:

But in my favorite post-apocalyptic film of all time, Jean-Pierre Juenet's Delicatessen we are reasurred that no matter why it happens, we will be eating each other by the end of the day.

What are your favorites and more importantly why??????????????

If you haven't seen it, check out A Boy and His Dog (1975). It once again proves that there is a limit to how much even the post apocalyptic world needs Don Johnson's sperm. Also when your dog is smarter than you, you shouldn't leave him behind just to chase some tail.

I think you're the third person to recommend this one. Move to top of queue.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

unclefestering — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:22:36 GMT

leeroy711:

But in my favorite post-apocalyptic film of all time, Jean-Pierre Juenet's Delicatessen we are reasurred that no matter why it happens, we will be eating each other by the end of the day.

What are your favorites and more importantly why??????????????

If you haven't seen it, check out A Boy and His Dog (1975). It once again proves that there is a limit to how much even the post apocalyptic world needs Don Johnson's sperm. Also when your dog is smarter than you, you shouldn't leave him behind just to chase some tail.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

pippin06 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:57:17 GMT

leeroy711:

We're going to start this off right, in the future. This weeks them is dedicated to all those films set in the backdrop of the aftermath. "Aftermath of what?" you may ask. War, depression, crime, environmental disaster.............whatever, there all good ideas.

In John Carpenter's Escape From New York we learned that crime could lead to a society under martial law.

In Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys we found out that it will be a virus that takes us all out.

But in my favorite post-apocalyptic film of all time, Jean-Pierre Juenet's Delicatessen we are reasurred that no matter why it happens, we will be eating each other by the end of the day.

What are your favorites and more importantly why??????????????

I like 12 Monkeys a lot in this vein because I can really see a virus being the source of our post-apocalyptic demise, what with our developments toward biological warfare and our penchant for playing God; plus, this film is just warped enough (a la Gilliam) to make too much sense.

Then, there's the Terminator films - where AI takes over. And for that matter, The Matrix. Both are sleek. Both involve mean robots and stuff. Both are cool. Will John Connor ever succeed, though? There's going to be a fourth Terminator!

There's one with a religious bent that I don't think many people know or care about which has its ground in more biblical terms, and that's The Seventh Sign. It's really more pre-apocalyptic, but I like how it tries to stay deliberately non-religious, even though it's concepts come directly from Revelations, more or less. It's not the greatest movie, but it has that spooky vibe important to all movies of this type.

I don't know that I've seen artsier films about the apocalypse and its aftermath. Recommendations?

Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

leeroy711 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:37:14 GMT

We're going to start this off right, in the future. This weeks them is dedicated to all those films set in the backdrop of the aftermath. "Aftermath of what?" you may ask. War, depression, crime, environmental disaster.............whatever, there all good ideas.

In John Carpenter's Escape From New York we learned that crime could lead to a society under martial law.

In Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys we found out that it will be a virus that takes us all out.

But in my favorite post-apocalyptic film of all time, Jean-Pierre Juenet's Delicatessen we are reasurred that no matter why it happens, we will be eating each other by the end of the day.

What are your favorites and more importantly why??????????????