As for TV shows, the short lived WITCHBLADE that lasted two seasons was interesting. The witchblade allowed Sarah Pazini to transend time and space to alternate realities.
Time Travel movies
- Thread starter John@Bophe
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As for who blew it, the latest Star Trek springs to mind. Can't they come up with a new concept besides time travel for these things? They've got the whole damn galaxy to play in, for pete's sake! And don't get me started on the idiotic villain who - instead of warning his people about their impending destruction - waits around for 25 years (doing what, I dunno; surfing porn on the Internet, I guess) until Spock is old enough to kill. What a steamin' heap o' buffalo loaf!
What Dreadlylocks said. While Nero could escape the Klingon prison at any time, he still had to wait 25 years to intercept Spock returning. What you and Crackerfunk aren't considering is that Nero is going to save Romulus the red matter fate, by eliminating both Spocks (young and old), as well as vaporizing Vulcan. Nero's wife will be much younger or not born, yet. She would be destined for his younger self.
STAR TREK (the reboot) is not perfect, but it is one of my all time favorite movies and I'm a huge fan of the original series (own the episodes on DVD) and movies. I never cared how politically correct and tame subsequent series became. This latest movie brought back much needed character conflict, fighting and womanizing. The beauty of this new direction is that no old scenarios need be repeated. This can go on indefinitely, without fear of contradicting the episodes or previous movies. There truly is a new universe of possibilities.
It's not like time travel hadn't reared its head before. I can think of 3 STAR TREK (original series) time travel episodes - "Assignment Earth," "City On The Edge Of Forever" and "Tomorrow Is Yesterday."
BTW, I really dug TIME CRIMES. I also really like a Jim Belushi/Frank Whaley movie, called RETROACTIVE! TIME AFTER TIME, RUN LOLA RUN and even FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR sucked me in. Of course, the TERMINATOR movies and BACK TO THE FUTURE series are on top of my list. BUTTERFLY EFFECT is powerful.
My point exactly. Add to that half the Trek movies and you've got a seriously tired concept for one franchise.
I'm astounded at the popularity of the Abrams Trek. My wife and I have both been Trek fans since it was naught but re-runs in the 1970's. For all of Classic Trek's cheezy production design, overacting and what have since become cliched plot points, the scripts are still hands-down some of the most intriguing sci-fi ever written. Only the first movie captured any of that mystery (though Wrath is definitely the best of all the movies).
We both despised Abrams' movie with a passion. I could write a book about how bad this movie is just from a storytelling perspective, and my wife could write a second book about how Abrams betrayed the original characters. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against JJ Abrams. I thought his Mission: Impossible was the best of the three, despite the efforts of the great Brian DePalma and John Woo (though that's damning with faint praise, to some extent).
We like to refer to the latest Star Trek as Space, 90210.
We will just have to disagree. I thought the Kirk/Spock conflict dynamic made the movie. I agree about WRATH OF KHAN, but I also love SEARCH FOR SPOCK and VOYAGE HOME. The first movie had the best music score and Klingon opening, but I thought the rest was a bloated and boring version of "The Changeling" episode. (The one with the probe, Nomad)
My point exactly. Add to that half the Trek movies and you've got a seriously tired concept for one franchise.
I'm astounded at the popularity of the Abrams Trek. My wife and I have both been Trek fans since it was naught but re-runs in the 1970's. For all of Classic Trek's cheezy production design, overacting and what have since become cliched plot points, the scripts are still hands-down some of the most intriguing sci-fi ever written. Only the first movie captured any of that mystery (though Wrath is definitely the best of all the movies).
We both despised Abrams' movie with a passion. I could write a book about how bad this movie is just from a storytelling perspective, and my wife could write a second book about how Abrams betrayed the original characters. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against JJ Abrams. I thought his Mission: Impossible was the best of the three, despite the efforts of the great Brian DePalma and John Woo (though that's damning with faint praise, to some extent).
We like to refer to the latest Star Trek as Space, 90210.
Hmm, that's interesting. I actually felt the Abram's "Trek" was quite faithful. Perhaps the reason for the discrepancy between our opinions might be explained by the fact that you're a bigger fan of the original series than I am. Don't get me wrong, I like it, and I grew up on it, but only to a certain extent. I'm more a product of the movies (I like all the even ones), and TNG.
Grand adventure, and a sense of fun. It was like having all the action/adventure of "Undiscovered Country", combined with the silliness of "Voyage Home". Definitely my favorite "Trek".
On a somewhat related side-note, I can't wait to see "Super 8"!
@Mike,
You are right, the first Trek movie was very much a combination of The Changeling and The Doomsday Machine episodes. Still loved it, though; didn't find it the least bit boring -- but then I named my ProdCo "2001 Productions".
It had that sense of mystery about it that none of the other movies - except maybe First Contact (another favorite) - had.
I saw a special preview of Voyage Home. It was introduced by Nichelle Nichols (in person). I was sitting about four rows back in this huge theater. Before the screening she was drawing names from a drum for giveaway items - posters, t-shirts, etc. After she'd drawn several names, for no reason at all she pointed straight at me and said, "You're next." I don't know why; maybe she read the infatuation in my eyes. Anyway, she drew the next name AND IT WAS ME!!! Everyone in the theater was blown away. She had no idea who I was. Pretty cool and weird...
You are right, the first Trek movie was very much a combination of The Changeling and The Doomsday Machine episodes. Still loved it, though; didn't find it the least bit boring -- but then I named my ProdCo "2001 Productions".
It had that sense of mystery about it that none of the other movies - except maybe First Contact (another favorite) - had.I saw a special preview of Voyage Home. It was introduced by Nichelle Nichols (in person). I was sitting about four rows back in this huge theater. Before the screening she was drawing names from a drum for giveaway items - posters, t-shirts, etc. After she'd drawn several names, for no reason at all she pointed straight at me and said, "You're next." I don't know why; maybe she read the infatuation in my eyes.
Anyway, she drew the next name AND IT WAS ME!!! Everyone in the theater was blown away. She had no idea who I was. Pretty cool and weird...That's pretty cool, Mick!
Dude, I am a huge fan of the original series and this new STAR TREK was my "AVATAR." I can't think of another movie that I liked that much since STARSHIP TROOPERS. I have to admit that the biggest arguement I had over it was with a NEXT GENERATION fan. I never really got into NEXT GENERATION or the others. Captain Picard is cool, but he's not physical. The philosophy is different; it shuns money and materialism, whereas greed fueled a lot of characters (Harry Mudd, etc.) in the old stuff. I like to see characters being human and conflicted. I did find myself watching some VOYAGER stuff, with the least interest in DEEP SPACE 9. I guess I'm a sucker for the lady Vulcan in ENTERPRISE and the Borg woman, Seven of Nine.
I like a lot of sci-fi, but I tend to gravitate towards ultra-violent science fiction/horror, like ROBOCOP, TERMINATOR and ALIEN. For example, I really enjoyed PANDORUM. If the material feels too much like a soap opera, I lose interest. That's the case for most television shows, for me. I did like THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES though.
Part of that deleted Klingon scene, that Dreadlylocks mentioned, is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU0y63Kvds8
Dude, I am a huge fan of the original series and this new STAR TREK was my "AVATAR." I can't think of another movie that I liked that much since STARSHIP TROOPERS. I have to admit that the biggest arguement I had over it was with a NEXT GENERATION fan. I never really got into NEXT GENERATION or the others. Captain Picard is cool, but he's not physical. The philosophy is different; it shuns money and materialism, whereas greed fueled a lot of characters (Harry Mudd, etc.) in the old stuff. I like to see characters being human and conflicted. I did find myself watching some VOYAGER stuff, with the least interest in DEEP SPACE 9. I guess I'm a sucker for the lady Vulcan in ENTERPRISE and the Borg woman, Seven of Nine.
I like a lot of sci-fi, but I tend to gravitate towards ultra-violent science fiction/horror, like ROBOCOP, TERMINATOR and ALIEN. For example, I really enjoyed PANDORUM. If the material feels too much like a soap opera, I lose interest. That's the case for most television shows, for me. I did like THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES though.
Part of that deleted Klingon scene, that Dreadlylocks mentioned, is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU0y63Kvds8
Does anyone remember THE FINAL COUNTDOWN (1980), starring Kirk Douglass? That's a GREAT time travel movie.
Cracker, before you and I die, we're going to work on a feature film together. I promise you this.
Heh, mentioning that reminded me of MILLENIUM. Pretty sure the plot from this was nicked for one particular X-Files episode, as well.
Also, FREEJACK (oh lordy, that was a terrible one)
For those who were talking about and are interested in knowing more about Primer but havent read this yet:
http://theprimeruniverse.blogspot.com/
http://theprimeruniverse.blogspot.com/
I would like that very much. Your planned feature is one I look very forward to learning about in your production, and even more forward to seeing.
Watched Hot Tub Time Machine again tonight. Man that movie is funny.
I was surprised to see three pages of replies and nothing on Dr. Who. The classic series is not only extremely entertaining but the way they made the most out of every dime nickel and penny, or whatever the UK version of those are, and out of every camera angle on small sets is so impressive. Also on time travel viewpoint, the ability to regenerate and to even see yourself as another actor. You really have to respect that series, it's crew, and it's writers one of which was the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy's own Douglas Adams.
As for the star trek time travel on the somewhat recent prequal, would it not be true that in order to travel back to change the past, the original timeline of the original series would have to remain unchanged? Therefor it did not restart anything or erase anything, it only continued it from a point in the past on a separate timeline. Looks like we are walking the line of a paradox doesn't it?
As for the star trek time travel on the somewhat recent prequal, would it not be true that in order to travel back to change the past, the original timeline of the original series would have to remain unchanged? Therefor it did not restart anything or erase anything, it only continued it from a point in the past on a separate timeline. Looks like we are walking the line of a paradox doesn't it?
The "Millennium" I'm thinking of came out in 1989 and starred Kris Kristofferson & Cheryl Ladd, and was a terrible version of the excellent John Varley novel.
Don't forget that Terry Gilliam adapted Chris Marker's La Jetée (1962) into 12 Monkeys (1995).
One of my favorite time-travel flicks is Takashi Yamazaki's 2002 film Returner.
One of my favorite time-travel flicks is Takashi Yamazaki's 2002 film Returner.
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I wanna bump this thread up because I'm working on a time travel script and I'd like more suggestions for movies to watch and books to read.
BTW, watched a decent time travel film last night - TRIANGLE -- the protagonist gets stuck in a time loop on an abandoned cruise ship. It starts out rough, but gets better on board the ship, and the ending drags. But like I said, it's decent.
BTW, watched a decent time travel film last night - TRIANGLE -- the protagonist gets stuck in a time loop on an abandoned cruise ship. It starts out rough, but gets better on board the ship, and the ending drags. But like I said, it's decent.
