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comment by thundara
thundara  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Hubski Movie Club - Voting Thread #5

Solaris? (The version not starring George Clooney's naked bottom)





kleinbl00  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I was wondering if that really counts as "space" considering it happens partly in Moscow and partly on another planet.

thundara  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I've seen the first 30 minutes three times now and still have no clue why people like the movie so much when the rain special effects are so terribly distracting. But I am curious.

kleinbl00  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

'cuz it's soviet as fuck.

You won't really understand Solaris unless you read Solaris, which you should do. It's a hell of a book.

thundara  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Put it on the queue, but it's got a bit of competition

Meriadoc  ·  3679 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I did this last time you posted your TODO as well but...

Infinite Jest should jump to the top.

thundara  ·  3679 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It's technically unordered, but advice noted. My friend loved the book and couldn't put it down, but the entirety of my exposure to DFW is...

iammyownrushmore  ·  3674 days ago  ·  link  ·  

You're probably gonna love it. I would recommend either checking outGirl With Curious Hair or some of his short stories to help get a grasp on his style before diving into IJ.

iammyownrushmore  ·  3674 days ago  ·  link  ·  

ref and I were discussing it over here, if ya wanna go on ahead and throw your 2 cents in.

thundara  ·  3678 days ago  ·  link  ·  
This comment has been deleted.
thundara  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

And no, it is not healthy to make a TODO list out of books

blackbootz  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I've scanned the movies I have saved offline for future viewing, while I'm in nowhere Nebraska with not a lot of internet, and Solaris is the only relevant movie I have. I always assumed it was a space movie, but if it doesn't take place in space... then I'm out this round!

That, and I own the recent Prometheus, though I can already hear the groans if I suggest it.

kleinbl00  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Well, let's define "space" shall we?

I think a "space movie" has to occur, for the most part, somewhere without air in which the majority of the action occurs in an environment not bounded by any planet. Otherwise we're just talking science fiction.

"Star Wars" would likely count as a "space movie", as would any Star Trek other than Into Darkness. However, Prometheus happens mostly on another planet, as does Forbidden Planet, as does Robinson Crusoe on Mars.

By this definition, "Outland" is shaky... but as the majority of the action is driven by remoteness (it's set in the near future on Ganymede), low gravity and an utter lack of atmosphere, it's closer to being a "space movie" than Eolomea or, say, Screamers.

ecib  ·  3679 days ago  ·  link  ·  

This list seems like a good starting point:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_about_outer_space

briandmyers  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

"Silent Running" fits this definition pretty well. It's been a long time since I saw that one; not sure how well it holds up.

kleinbl00  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Ooooh Silent Running. I haven't seen it in 10 years but I saw it 10 years. Joan Baez is very Joan Baez and some of the SFX hurt, but remember - it's a Cimino. Before Deer Hunter, before Heaven's Gate, there was Silent Running.

b_b  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

What about a movie where space is an essential element, although not really a part of the narrative that we watch? I'm thinking, e.g., of Planet of the Apes (original version, as if I even need to specify). Space movie, or no?

thundara  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

If you get that one then I get Contact (Not that I'm really vying for it, since I've seen it four times already)

b_b  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm indifferent, but I was just curious as to what kb and everyone else thinks about what role space needs to play to make a movie "about" space. I suppose everyone has their own idea. PotA is reliant on space travel to set up the plot, but that's as far as it goes. Space leaves the picture in about five minutes, and from then on it isn't a theme of the movie, even though Heston believes he's on some far flung planet for the duration.

I would say Contact is far more of a space movie than PotA, as the mystery signal comes from space, and space itself is almost a character. Space represents a lot in Contact, whereas it's incidental in Apes, in my opinion.

thundara  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Aye, I'm against picking either, just brought it up as a movie that could be interpreted as "spacey" but was primarily set on planet Earth.

I'm still hoping for a ball out of left field that I haven't seen or heard of before. Barring that, I may just watch a movie starring this guy:

camarillobrillo  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Do I smell apple pie?

b_b  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

KPAX?!

(It's ambiguously "spacey".)

thundara  ·  3605 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Watched it last night, thoughtful and enjoyable, but also way too long.

b_b  ·  3605 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I don't remember it being that great, but it's been a long time. I only suggested it because it's ambiguously spacey starring Spacey. I don't know of any other films that fit those parameters.

camarillobrillo  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

This is a good point. Planet of the Apes is definitely a space movie in my book.

kleinbl00  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Not even vaguely a space movie.

camarillobrillo  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Damn you Klein. Why the hell not?

blackbootz  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Ha, wow. The juxtaposition between you and kb's answer goes to show, we need a definition of space movie.

camarillobrillo  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

He described his version a bit above but I still don't like it. What about Dune?

blackbootz  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Haven't seen it, though I don't think I could get it this week or next (remote location, not a lot of internet). So I actually shouldn't be throwing any weight around this discussion. But I love watching movies and then coming back to these.

camarillobrillo  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Well he's right I guess. At least as far as Planet of the Apes is concerned. To say why would ruin the ending.

thundara  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Haven't seen Prometheus either, but I was enticed by the Fassbender...

blackbootz  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It's a very interesting movie. I had pleasant experience, despite some of the plotholes that were endlessly "exposed" and beat to death on any reddit discussion. I found that the movie drew two opposite reactions, love or hate.

iammyownrushmore  ·  3680 days ago  ·  link  ·  

YES