The downfall of Sci-fi

[Plastic Self-Cleaning Duck]

They even made highly specultative (and completely incorrect) yet entertaining movie based on the filming of that movie.

"I'll eat her later!"

I love this film.

Even if it's based on the American publicity that Max Schreck showed up out of nowhere to star in this thing and then disappeared.  In fact, he'd made movies before and after.  Actually, he was kind of a celebrity who went to all the big parties and such and was married to a famous sculptress of the time.  Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack in his 40's before he could make sound films that might make there way to the US.

" Max Schreck: It made me sad.
Albin: Why sad?
Max Schreck: Because Dracula had no servants.
Albin: I think you missed the point of the book, Count Orlock.
Max Schreck: Dracula hasn't had servants in 400 years and then a man comes to his ancestral home, and he must convince him that he... that he is like the man. He has to feed him, when he himself hasn't eaten food in centuries. Can he even remember how to buy bread? How to select cheese and wine? And then he remembers the rest of it. How to prepare a meal, how to make a bed. He remembers his first glory, his armies, his retainers, and what he is reduced to. The loneliest part of the book comes... when the man accidentally sees Dracula setting his table."

This is as good, IMHO, as the argument John Merrick makes about Romeo not really loving Juliet in the play "The Elephant Man".

[Cosmic Muse]

Nosferatu  And that not only is older - 1922 - it survived a court order to destroy all copies when Bram Stoker's widow won a plagerism suit.

They even made highly specultative (and completely incorrect) yet entertaining movie based on the filming of that movie.



But that doesn't mean that everyone's heard of it.

You can barely get a network (except TV Land or TCM in the middle of the night) to show anything in black and white anymore....much less silent.

I think you misunderstand me. I'm not talking about 1922 though. I'm talking about the year 1927 and all those other movies that came out that year that were more financially successful at the Box Office than Metropolis.

[Plastic Self-Cleaning Duck]

I think you misunderstand me. I'm not talking about 1922 though. I'm talking about the year 1927 and all those other movies that came out that year that were more financially successful at the Box Office than Metropolis.

You mean like The Cat and the Canary?   A plot line that has been made over and over and over again?

Yeah, you're right.  I don't know what you mean.

[mrbasehart]

I think you misunderstand me. I'm not talking about 1922 though. I'm talking about the year 1927 and all those other movies that came out that year that were more financially successful at the Box Office than Metropolis.

You mean like The Cat and the Canary?   A plot line that has been made over and over and over again?

The best version of which is the Bob Hope one.  Now there was a comedian.

[Principal_Skin-trade]

You know, I know this probably doesn't qualify strictly as Sci-fi, but I think Barton Fink is an excellent Sci-Fi movie.

[Cosmic Muse]

I think you misunderstand me. I'm not talking about 1922 though. I'm talking about the year 1927 and all those other movies that came out that year that were more financially successful at the Box Office than Metropolis.

You mean like The Cat and the Canary?   A plot line that has been made over and over and over again?

Yeah, you're right.  I don't know what you mean.

I guess what I'm driving at is that fiscal amounts a movie takes in does not guarentee long term success in the future, using Metropolis as my illustration.

[Principal_Skin-trade]

I just watched Serenity... what is with the popularity with this movie? It's one of those cases where the film was terrible, it bombed and yet it's still got a following.

[bettertomorrowamy]

Did you watch all the episodes of the tv show?

[Principal_Skin-trade]

Did you watch all the episodes of the tv show?

What TV show? Firefly? I was not aware there was a Serenity TV show.

[Minnesota]

Serenity is crap. I don't understand the appeal (no I've never seen the show either)

[bettertomorrowamy]

Did you watch all the episodes of the tv show?

What TV show? Firefly? I was not aware there was a Serenity TV show.

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know I had to name the tv show.

[Principal_Skin-trade]

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know I had to name the tv show.

If there was any TV show prerequisite needed, it would have been nice to know that before I had to watch that piece of shit!!!!

[Minnesota]

sadly, I can't even fully explain 'why' I hate serenity so much. The plot was just so average and forgettable. I actually rented this movie twice because I had completely forgotten renting it the first time. Maybe I'll give it it another rental just for the purpose of writing a review ... I feel kinda like a jackass saying this movie sucks (which it does) but having little to back it up.

[Principal_Skin-trade]

Lots of sci-fi movies are touted as "great" and yet they suck ass or are at best, average. Just look at Spielbergs remake of War of the Worlds, Spiderman 3 and Revenge of the Sith.

[Minnesota]

I liked all three of the movies you just mentioned, but I agree that non of them are "great". As for Serenity, its something of a cult hit and so it has much more respect than a normal hit film ... the thing is neither you or I seem to understand the praise that Serenity gets. (damn, can't believe me and Principal finally agree on something )