Tag Archives: movie-ish

What Should the “2001” Aliens Have Given Us?

Posted on November 18, 2024 by jlredford

I recently saw “2001: A Space Odyssey” for the umpteenth time, and I have to agree with this old line: There are those who say that “2001” is the greatest SF movie ever made, and there are others who are … Continue reading →

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“Oppenheimer” and the Limits of Scientific Influence

Posted on August 19, 2023 by jlredford

One of the favorite tropes of SF is the mad scientist. He (always he) represents the disruptive power of modern science to old beliefs, and of modern technology to old ways of life. He becomes crazed with this power, and … Continue reading →

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Why Does “Avatar” Look So Dated?

Posted on January 31, 2023 by jlredford

“Avatar: the Way of Water” is an overwhelming movie. Every frame is filled with astonishing detail. The alien world of Pandora is as vivid as the most scenic places on Earth. Beyond that, the performances are rich and expressive, even … Continue reading →

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Why Care That “The Rings of Power” Is Mediocre?

Posted on October 1, 2022 by jlredford

“The Rings of Power” is a new streaming series based on Appendix A of “The Lord of the Rings”. It gives the history of Middle Earth before the War of the Ring: the second rise and fall of Sauron, the … Continue reading →

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Why Care That “Foundation” Is Bad?

Posted on November 29, 2021 by jlredford

The new TV miniseries “Foundation” is full of meaningless CGI, ponderous religious imagery, thudding messages about terrorism, imperialism and climate change, and dialogue so clunky that even a serious actor like Jared Harris can’t deliver it. So what? There are … Continue reading →

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A Heinlein Meme Started the Space Race

Posted on October 12, 2019 by jlredford

… according to the excellent Washington Post podcast Moonrise.  It’s an account of what led up to the Apollo 11 moon landing, starting with Robert Goddard, John W. Campbell, Sergei Korolev, and Wernher von Braun in the 1920s and 30s, … Continue reading →

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Is “The Biggest Little Farm” For Real?

Posted on May 28, 2019 by jlredford

This new documentary is so wholesome and uplifting that it immediately raised suspicions in my skeptical heart.  It describes the odyssey of a young couple in Los Angeles who started their own organic farm, Apricot Lane, on 200 acres of … Continue reading →

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“They Shall Not Grow Old” – the Movie Memorial of WW I

Posted on March 15, 2019 by jlredford

This extraordinary restoration of actual World War I footage shows what movies can do that practically no other art form can – take you to places that you’ll never see.  Theater has physical limitations, television has technical ones, and literature … Continue reading →

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The Best-Looking Movies of the 20th Century

Posted on January 24, 2019 by jlredford

The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. In honor of the occasion, they’ve put together a list of The 100 Best-Photographed Films. Members submitted nominations, and then an overall list was created and voted … Continue reading →

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“2001” Was Completely Wrong

Posted on January 30, 2018 by jlredford

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the best SF movie ever made, 2001: A Space Odyssey.  I actually saw it when it first came out, and have seen it many times since then.  I think I’ve also read everything … Continue reading →

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