TheWorldJournal.com - Entertainment

It's a Sci-Fi World: The Science Fiction Marathon
By Daniel Berman, TheWorldJournal.com

SF28

I welcome one and all to the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline for the earth's longest running sci-fi marathon. From February 16-17, 2003 I enjoyed an outer space adventure that included such intergalactic as the rarely seen "The Valley Of Gwangi" (1969). This supernatural list of creatures, little space men in blue uniforms, also beamed down films like "Invaders From Mars" (1953) and "Planet Of The Vampires" (1965). Since it's debut in 1975 the festival has packed the cinema for some futuristic fun. The SF28 has certainly combined a mixture of rare hard-to-see film footage right on up to today's current features "Minority Report", and "Equilibrium". Coming to sci-fi marathon is a change of pace from sitting at home watching my favorite cable channel on the boob tube the sci-fi channel. It's certainly a change from watching re-runs of "Star Trek", "Dr. Who", and "The Twilight Zone" among others. It's a weird combination of animation, stage performances, and unseen clips from films lost long ago. If you are a sci-fi junkie jump into your spaceship, set it for warp drive, and go where no man has gone before.

Minority Report (2002) Rated PG-13
Cast includes: Tom Cruise, Max Von Sydow, Samantha Morton, Colin Farrell, and Tim Blake Nelson

From the pages of Philip Kindred Dick's, Dick's novel, of "Minority Report", comes this futuristic adventure. Tom Cruise plays a "Precog", a somewhat of a futuristic cop who can travel into time and prevent crimes before they can happen. What was once a fool proof system ends up being one man's worst nightmare. "Precog" Tom Cruise-one of the pre-crime honchos-is a true veteran of the system and has put many of the bad people into hibernation. During an investigation he discovers that he'll be one of the "most wanted" if he doesn't clear his name. Directed by Steven Spielberg, with screenplay by Scott Frank and Jon Cohen and cinematography by Janusz Kaminiski. "Minority Report" was nominated this year for an Oscar for Sound Editing.

Metropolis (1926) Not Rated
Cast included: Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav Froehlich, Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Fritz Rasp, Theodore Loos and Heinrich George

Directed by Fritz Lang and co-written by Lang and Thea Von Harbou "Metropolis" remains to be one of the most remembered nineteen twenties sci-fi films. (But, don't forget that this is the twenties version of the sci-fi eighties flick "Blade Runner" starring Harrison Ford and Edward James Almos). Phillip K. Dick writes the story itself taking you for a ride into the future. The year is 2026, when a heartless industrialist who commands thousands of his workers to do as he wishes rules a great city. The film is brilliant for its era as with wonderful panoramic footage of the city and how two sides collide for control. Yes, this is one of those rare gems that you only get to see at SF28 on the big screen. Later, Director Fritz Lang did films like "The Big Heat" (1953) and "Contempt" (1964).

"Note: At the time it had consisted of 1,257 shots and took 16 months from beginning to end for completion the cast featured 37,383 people. The film was restored to visual perfection well worth every minute. This information came from the pages of the SF28 film guide."

The Invisible Boy (1957) Not Rated
Cast included: Richard Eyer, Phillip Abbott, Diane Brewster, Harold J. Stone, Robert H. Harris and Dennis McCarthy

Based on Edmund Cooper's short story "The Invisible Boy" during the 1950's the film became rare among American science fiction films. The story begins with a small boy named Timmy who finds himself on an adventure that included time and space travel, world domination, and robots (which originally were not part of the short story version) Robbie The Robot was inducted in the film, you'll remember Robbie from the film "Forbidden Planet" and the hit TV series "Lost In Space". The story had no robot companion and included Robbie later in production. The screenplay by Cyril Hume's perfectly parallels Timmy's relationship with his no-nonsense father who is by the way the computer genius of the family. The story begins at home when Timmy Tries to communicate with his intellectual father. When the young son discovers his father is too preoccupied to pay much attention to him he finds a new mechanical friend at first the robot seems not very bright. Out after some adjustments the robot becomes a brilliant thinking machine and helps Timmy to become the invisible boy. Try to see this film; it's a wonderful shot at your sci-fi taste buds. Two years earlier Director Herman Hoffman did "It's A Dogs Life" (1955) and later, became screenwriter for "Guns Of The Magnificent Seven" (1969).

Seconds (1966) Rated R
Cast included: Salome Jens, John Randolph, Will Geer, Jeff Corey, Richard Anderson, Murray Hamilton, Wesley Addy, and Rock Hudson

Always be careful especially if you're a grouchy, frustrated, middle-aged businessman who takes on a new look. Not even a new looks but an entirely new life for himself. His wish comes true when an underground organization makes his dreams come true after performing surgery. The people behind this mysterious underground business don't want him to remember his previous life scared that he'll reveal them to the rest of the world. With his new life to look forward to he begins his journey as a new man. If someone you knew asked you if you could be anyone who would you be? Within the body of Rock Hudson, new friends, meets a beautiful woman, has a wonderful new home. But when things get sticky for him the dream ends in a nightmare. "Seconds" is a wonderful addition to our mystery/suspense genre and it has various twists and turns that make it all the worthwhile seeing. John Frankenheimer has also directed "Seven Days In May" (1964), "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962), and "Birdman From Alcatraz" (1962).

A Tribute To Phillip K. Dick

Born on December 16th, 1928 Dick is regarded as one of the most influential science fiction writers of the late 20th century.

Dick's writing conveyed his own fears, anxieties, and psychological underpinnings. Some of the films that were presented represented Dick's written work including: Blade Runner, Screamers, Imposter, Total Recall, and Minority Report. Some of his other works already on film include King Of The Elves, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly. He had named himself "Fictionalizing Philosopher" and lived in the fear, maybe justifiably so, that he was schizophrenic. Perhaps when people read his stories they find something very valuable in such a time that we live in today his writing is just as needed as it was then. He died of a heart attack on March 2, 1982. Twenty-one years later he still capture our imaginations.

The Valley Of Gwangi (1969) Rated G
Cast included: Gila Golan, Richard Carlson, Laurence Naismith and Dennis Kilbane

I don't know sometimes when it comes to mixing dinosaurs, Mexicans, Gypies and other cool looking things happening all at the same time. (Don't let me forget those elephants that battle dinosaurs.) Truly an epic adventure that stands the test of time-well not exactly an epic. A young stud makes his way into town and discovers he has an opportunity to make some cold hard cash. A woman makes a discovery that could change there lives forever a prehistoric horse about the size of some guys wallet is the prize. They have to face a journey to the "forbidden valley" and face all kind of dangers along the way. The film is a lot of fun to see but not one of my first top sci-fi selections to see. Even though I'm not a huge fan of this particular film, James O'Connolly has also directed some real winners such as "Tower Of Evil" (1972), and "Berserk!" (1967).

Invaders From Mars (1953) Not Rated
Cast included: Helena Carter, Arthur Franz, Jimmy Hunt, Leif Erickson and Hilary Brooke

"Invaders From Mars" is one of those really tough to find sci-fi flicks-which has a really neat way of conveying 1950's filmmaking. The film was the first to present an invasion film in color.

The story begins with a typical happy household before dear old dad begins to act strangely. The fun loving dad becomes bitter and angry and starts to act with aggression toward his own family. When other people from town start to act the same way, the boy starts his own investigation.

The film follows this young boy as he tries to put together these strange happenings. "Invaders From Mars" is a great look into some of the earlier not very-rarely seen works. The film has a great feel to it and I highly recommend making the effort to see it.

Now celebrating its thirteenth anniversary, this is the second of two films in this year's marathon built from the child's point of view.

OTHER HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SCI-FI GOODIES:

Planet Of The Vampires (1965)
Sh! Octopus (1937)
Screamers (1995)
The Brain From Planet Arous (1957)
Groundhog Day (1993)
Donnie Darko (2001)
Equilibrium (2002)

You can contact the Coolidge Corner Cinema for further information on-line at http://www.coolidge.org

© April 2, 2003

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