Ever since I saw the movie Elysium a few months back, all of this negativity towards new movies, books, music, etc. has been on my mind. Elysium is a solid piece of entertainment. The special effects are fabulous. The bad guy, Kruger, is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. There’s symbolism and allegory. It’s even science fiction which is one of my favorite movie genres.

So why is there so much hate? On message boards where fans proclaim their undying love for all things science fiction, Elysium was raked over hot coals again and again. Every perceived plot hole, missed theme, and poorly executed sequence was destroyed by the very fans that clamor for more smart science fiction.

Elysium vs. Empire Strikes Back

Are there problems with Elysium? Of course. Even my all-time favorite movies have issues. What disturbs me is that the criticisms don’t really stand up when compared against other great science fiction movies of the past.

Elysium Problems
Here’s a sampling of issues detractors have with Elysium:

• The have’s and have-not’s of the Elysium world have too clean of a break. How could they possibly maintained this balance between all of the rich on the space station and all of the poor stuck on Earth?
• The medical pods are not a finite resource. They are easily deployed with no effort at all. So it seems the rich are just not sharing because they’re jerks.
• Why would robots need to be irradiated as part of their manufacturing process?

There is truth to all of these criticisms. But do these faults make Elysium a terrible movie deserving of massive derision?

Take Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back for instance. It’s easily one of the best science fiction movies ever and far and away the best Star Wars film ever made. It’s generally beloved and deserves every bit of the accolades it receives. And yet, it’s plot holes and issues are no less glaring.

Empire Strikes Back Problems
Here’s a sampling of just a few of the issues I can think of with Empire Strikes Back:

• They wear air masks with no suit in the vacuum of space. You could say, they’re in a space slug so there’s an atmosphere but if that’s the case, why wasn’t Han curious as to why they were suddenly in atmosphere inside of an asteroid’s cave?
• What possibly could a space slug eat? I can’t believe there were enough ships coming along to just swallow those.
• How did the snow Wampa freeze Luke upside down? Did he have a bucket of water and held Luke upside down while he drenched the boots? How long would it have taken to make him stay frozen upside down?
• Luke randomly lands on Degobah (an entire swamp planet) but finds Yoda within a few minutes, the exact person he was looking for.

The list goes on. “But… but… Empire Strikes Back is a fantasy and some things had to be done to move the story along. No one would want to watch Luke searching Degobah for several years, trying to find life signs for Yoda.”

That’s exactly my point. Why does Empire Strikes Back get a pass but Elysium (and frankly, most new films) get shredded for the same plot issues and story contrivances?

It’s Happening Everywhere

The same thing happening for movies is also happening in books and music. The Internet comments are full of negative reactions to nearly every piece of media. Even when a piece of media is able to gain a positive majority opinion, there’s always a long list of detractors who line up to trash the work almost as if just for the very act of being contrarian.

Do films, books, music, etc. deserve to be trashed? When they suck, of course. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But I see it as more than that. We’ve become a hyper-critical culture. Almost to the point where we can’t enjoy anything because we spend the entire experience searching for flaws. We perceive it to be a weakness to love something, to put ourselves out there and admit we like something. It’s safer to hide behind a list of critiques and give a review that is either fully negative or at the very least, neutral.

Let’s continue to critique but not just for the negatives. Let’s find the positives as well. Even with its flaws, Elysium deserved better. We all want more creativity instead of sequels and remakes in Hollywood but when we get something that is genuinely interesting and well made, we can’t stop ourselves from destroying it.

Halloween is my favorite holiday. What other day can you knock on virtual stranger’s doors and get free candy? Besides, who doesn’t like to be scared? I love the fall colors and the smell of summer’s decay in the air.

Here’s a list of some of my favorite Halloween night movies. Some are scary, some are hilarious, some are important but all of them are a lot of fun.

7. The Thing (1982)

I have to put this on the list because it’s my favorite science fiction/horror film and a tradition. Almost every Halloween night, I watch John Carpenter’s classic with a group of friends (or sometimes just by myself).

6. The Nightmare Before Christmas

This is a great one for all ages. There isn’t anything particularly scary here, but the film is flat-out brilliant. From the music, to the stop animation, to the holiday mash-up, this one really gets the holidays off to a great start.

5. Nosferatu

By far, the best silent era horror film ever made. The dark black and white photography gives a sense of claustrophobia that films today just can’t match. Max Schreck is so creepy as Count Orlok, it makes you wonder if he wasn’t really a vampire in real life.

4. Young Frankenstein

A horror/comedy with Gene Wilder at the height of his genius. This one comes from Mel Brooks who left no classic horror movie untouched as he both lampooned and homaged famous horror films at the same time.

3. Friday the 13th Part III

Why not part 1 or 2? Because Jason wasn’t the Jason we all know and love (or hate). Jason wasn’t really even in part 1. His mom did all the killing. Then in part 2, he wore a bag over his head. It wasn’t until part 3 that we get to see Jason in his iconic hockey mask wielding a machete.

2. The Changeling

This is one of those horror movies that seems to always fly under the radar even though it deserves major accolades. George C. Scott (yes, Patton himself) stars in a story about a haunted house that is genuinely creepy.

1. Halloween (1978)

And of course, nothing captures the feel of Halloween night better than John Carpenter’s slasher masterpiece. It’s been copied countless times but nothing compares to the original. This is what started and defined the slasher genre and it’s still one of the best.

It has only recently been brought to my attention that Yoda’s famous quote has been misinterpreted or at the very least, misunderstood.

“Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.”

A quick Google search shows some interesting interpretations of Yoda’s famous quote:

“If you don’t try, then how can you ever do? Who can be perfect at anything the first time they try?”

“There’s no such thing as trying. You either do it or you fail.”

“Don’t just try, either do something or don’t even start.”

“Don’t try to do something. You either do it or you don’t. So it’s like yes or no, not maybe.”

“Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are correct.”

That last quote is the closest to how I’ve always interpreted Yoda’s statement. It has more to do with belief, with the spiritual, rather than the mental or physical. In fact, faith might be a better word than belief because faith prompts more action, more conviction. The dictionary defines faith as:

So when Yoda is asking Luke to do or do not, he is saying that he has to believe completely in the force. By Luke saying he’ll try, he is admitting he still has doubts about the power of the force. He is unsure if he can accomplish the task Yoda has given him because his faith is not pure.

He hasn’t conquered his fear. He hasn’t given himself completely over to the force. His mind is not prepared for the task he is to accomplish. He even says after he fails to lift the X-Wing from the swamp, “you want the impossible.”

To my point, after Yoda guides the X-Wing out of the swamp, Luke walks up to Yoda and says:

“I don’t believe it.” – Luke

“That is why you fail.” – Yoda

The lesson to be learned here is that no matter what we want to accomplish in life, the power of positive thinking, whole-hearted effort, unflinching resolve, and mental focus are absolutely required to do something great instead of just trying to do it.

Not only is Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb one of the greatest comedies of all time (also a thoughtful social commentary), it has the best movie trailer ever.

For those of you who don’t follow Stanley Kubrick’s (the director of Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining) work closely, Dr. Strangelove was the film that saw Kubrick really move into a different stratosphere as a filmmaker. While his previous film Lolita was edgy (especially for the time), Dr. Strangelove showed that Kubrick was capable of mastering any genre including comedy.

Many have copied the style of this trailer to varying degrees of success but nothing touches the original. Here it is in HD:

Admittedly, this trailer is even funnier if you’ve seen the movie. It does a great job of illustrating the absurdity of the film but the true brilliance in this trailer is that it also reflects the theme of the film (the absurdity of man being able to accidentally destroy all life on Earth through nuclear war). The comedy works on multiple levels and as is the case with the great comedies, it’s based on truth.

This was before the days of digital editing (1964). Think of how difficult it would have been to cut this trailer. All of the quick cuts, inline text cards, and sound cues had to be just right. Kubrick, being a perfectionist, undoubtedly spent endless of amounts of time getting things to line up exactly. There’s true craftsmanship on display here.

If you’ve not seen Dr. Strangelove in a while (or ever), it’s a must watch. The comedy holds up rather well even today. It’s worth it just to see Peter Sellers at a career high. I leave you with a picture of Dr. Strangelove that says it all.

Dr. Strangelove himself (Peter Sellers)

There was an interesting post the other day listing the 50 Must-See Science Fiction movies. I scored 48 of 50 on the list but there were quite a few that I didn’t agree with as a “must-see.” So I thought I’d put my own list together but I have so many favorites that I just got confused. So I decided to do a list of science fiction movies I think are just perfect.

These are the masterpieces. These are the films that define the science fiction movie genere. If you’ve seen a science fiction film in the last 20 years, chances are the director counts several of these as influences. They get better with age. They work on multiple levels as both a compelling story and a moral question.

Alien (1979)

Why did it make the list?
The perfect marriage of science fiction and horror. Not a frame is wasted. The surprise ending just keeps on giving thrills. The creature design is one of the most perfect monsters ever created.

Is it worth watching these days?
Infactically yes. With the exception of super computer “Mother”, most of the tech still looks realistic and believable. Notable for its “used” look, the near opposite of the ship design in Star Trek.

Blade Runner (1982)

Why did it make the list?
Most Anime would not exist if it weren’t for Blade Runner. It’s that influential. Harrison Ford adds to the gloom of this futurist noir. Rutger Hauer is tragedy emodied, and it has James Hong!

Is it worth watching these days?
Barring a few 80’s hairstyles, the effects are still jaw dropping. The film used lens flare before it was “cool.” The analysis of what it means to be alive will haunt you.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Why did it make the list?
The absolute gold standard in science fiction cinema. Kubrick’s film is so deep many believe it to be unintelligible  (which couldn’t be further from the truth.) The ballet-like movements of space travel still amaze to this day and the trip into the infinite continues to blow minds. I still can’t get over the fact that this was made a year before we even landed on the moon!

Is it worth watching these days?
Only if you have patience. The film is meant to be contemplative so there are a lot of long tracking shots and no dialogue for large sections of the film. If you have the patience and want to think about what is being presented, you will be rewarded.

Brazil (1985)

Why did it make the list?
A terrifying analysis of what happens when government bureaucracy becomes overwhelming. The heartbreaking ending perfectly completes the dystopian feel of the film. A superb social commentary.

Is it worth watching these days?
It’s Terry Gilliam so it’s weird (to the uninitiated). The costumes, set designs, even some of the acting choices are meant to be bizarre. Even Robert De Niro’s cameo-like role is odd. Prepare yourself for the strange and you’ll love it.

Escape from New York (1981)

Why did it make the list?
I can’t think of another movie that combines the bleakest and most debased view of humanity with the greatest anti-hero character ever created. Metal Gear Solid’s Snake character is directly based on Kurt Russell’s walking “middle finger to the world” Snake Plissken.

Is it worth watching these days?
You’ll fall in love with Snake. As with most of John Carpenter’s films, the social commentary is top notch. The synthesized music sounds like it could have been made by Daft Punk today. Check out the background matte paintings. None other than James Cameron (Avatar, Terminator 2) painted them.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Why did it make the list?
You’re probably wondering why Star Wars isn’t on the list but its sequel is. Simple answer. The sequel is better. It’s dark, it has tremendous heart, and it has a puppet for a Jedi master! Think about how crazy it would be today to use a puppet as a major character in a film like this? This is the one that made Star Wars matter.

Is it worth watching these days?
Ten times the movie that any of the prequels were, it holds up tremendously well. A perfect melding of fantasy and science fiction elements that completely ups the stakes of the previous film. The special effects are still marvelous.

The Matrix (1999)

Why did it make the list?
This film invented “bullet time”, now a common occurrence in most big budget films, it was truly ground-breaking for the time. But what’s even more impressive are the themes at play here between man and machines. It is impossible to count the number of movies that have ripped this off since.

Is it worth watching these days?
A film that makes you believe Keanu Reeves can act? Now that’s an achievement (actually, he rocks in Bill & Ted’s). Some of the CG is looking a little dated but the story is so engaging and the plot moves so fast, it more than makes this worth checking out.

Solaris (1972)

Why did it make the list?
Note, this is the Russian language 1972 Solaris, not the George Clooney 2002 remake (which isn’t terrible but not as good as this). There is a sense of deep dread throughout as if David Lynch were secretly directing scenes behind the camera. The really unique thing here is how much further this went into the psychological realm than science fiction films before it. Really ground-breaking and not just spaceships and aliens fighting each other.

Is it worth watching these days?
It is slooooow. The director is on record as saying the first 15 minutes of the film were put there to “weed out” the audience so that only the people that really cared and had patience would be left. I’m captivated by it. You may fall asleep.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

Why did it make the list?
Star Trek movies are still running on the fumes from this film. It redefined Star Trek with naval combat-like actions scenes and one of the most beloved character deaths ever filmed. Ricardo Montalban plays Khan as if he is doing shakespeare and William Shatner actually seems believable.

Is it worth watching these days?
All the technology, hair styles, & make-up, look horribly dated. The special effects are pretty strong though. The whole film is so adventurous you’ll be swept away. Besides, everyone has to watch the scene where “they put creatures in our bodies to control our minds.”

The Thing (1982)

Why did it make the list?
John Carpenter’s science fiction horror masterpiece. Kurt Russell plays a character that is just as anti-hero as his Snake Plissken but also has a hint of real sadness. The ensemble cast is fabulous. The claustrophobic setting of antarctica in the middle of a storm only adds the terror.

Is it worth watching these days?
This film is worth it just for practical effects alone. The creatures they designed will blow your mind. The tension is off the charts. The stop motion special effects look terrible but everything is so scary, it easily overcomes this.

What am I missing?