30 Day Sci-Fi Challenge -- Day 1

Favorite Sci-Fi Movie -- Jurassic Park

I know what some of you are thinking. "Wait, you said Back to the Future was your favorite in the last challenge!" Yes I know, but that was because I had already selected Jurassic Park in that challenge and I don't like doubling up if I don't have to. Jurassic Park is actually my favorite Science Fiction movie. BTTF is close though.

I've loved this movie since the first time I saw it, and it always makes me feel so good. I talked about this movie at length during the Film Challenge so I won't do that again. I will mention two things that I talk about every time this movie comes up. First, the score is amazing. I still listen to it quite often, and I think it's John Williams' best work.

30 Day Film Challenge -- Day 29

Favorite Film as a Kid -- The Land Before Time

In 1988 Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Don Bluth teamed up to bring a movie about a group of young orphaned dinosaurs who are trying to reach one of the last remaining safe places, called The Great Valley.  Their journey is dangerous, and difficult but they are able to come together as friends even though they are all different species. It's a story about friendship, and being able to accomplish anything if you work together.

It also has one of the saddest scenes in movie history.

30 Day Film Challenge -- Day 21

Favorite Scifi/Fantasy Movie -- Back to the Future

I do love this film, and the entire trilogy. When I was young BTTF 2 was my favorite, and I kind of dismissed BTTF 3 as a huge fall off in quality and story. Wow, was I an dumb little kid. 


They all are truly amazing for different reasons, but at the same time they all hold the same basic messages. Simple things like friendship and loyalty, and complex scifi things like time is a thing not to be messed with. 

30 Day Film Challenge -- Day 19

Favorite Action Film -- Raiders of the Lost Ark

I love this film so frigging much. Long before George Lucas lost his edge and became a shell of himself, he and Steven Spielberg created this classic. It was both a homage to the serials the two filmmakers enjoyed and a spoof of action movies of similar style. In doing so they created one of the greatest, if not the greatest Action-Adventure film ever. 


It would spawn 3 sequels(only two of which I officially recognize), a TV show and multiple video games.  


Also, the score is amazing. 

30 Day Film Challenge -- Day 11

A Film by Your Favorite Director -- E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg)

My favorite director is Steven Spielberg, and there are so many movies I could have chose. Jaws, Close Encounters, Schindler's List, Raiders of the Lost Ark, etc. I think though that E.T. best exemplifies why I like him so much. E.T. is a science fiction film that is different from almost every other of it's kind. There are a lot of alien invasion movies, and a lot government conspiracy movies, but this one is a totally different idea. E.T.'s people are not invading Earth, they are just visiting, and E.T. gets left behind by accident. It's the reverse of a future human mission to another planet perhaps. 


E.T. then meets and becomes friends with young children. Children who are afraid at first, but won't call the police, or want to experiment on him. They like E.T. because he's different, and special and he later in the film he help them deal with the issues going on in their lives that they don't fully understand yet. The ending is different too. E.T. does get to go home, which is happy, but it's not a totally happy ending. Eliot loses his friend, and he has to deal with that. 


E.T. is a film that is about wonder and the innocence of children. The film also doesn't talk down to the audience at all. The story is simple, and the message is clear without having to massage the points again and again. I wish more films were like E.T. Maybe, this would be a better world. 

30 Day Film Challenge - Day 3

A Film You Watch to Feel Good -- Jurassic Park


I have loved this movie since I first watched it. If that wasn't obvious from the podcast episode I did then you weren't paying attention. The movie is so inspiring in many different ways. It promotes following our dreams, but also cautions us to look before we leap. It shows us dinosaurs through the eyes of a child filled with wonder, the eyes of a scientist filled with intrigue, and the eyes of everyone else filled with terror. 


John Williams' score in this film is beautiful, and I do think it's his finest work. I listen to the soundtrack often and like all great soundtracks it has the power to bring you back to the emotions you feel during the movie.