When I was reviewing Avatar: The Last Airbender, I mentioned that I wished every show was like it. I have now discovered another series that is just as good, and I want to share what it is that makes a good speculative fiction series: 1) Great Characters Personally, if you can think of any great story, it really is about how deep and great the characters are. The main … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday: Gravity Falls
Speculative Fiction
Speculative Fiction Saturday: So Bad, It’s Good Month Concludes with the Sharknado Trilogy
Okay, so there is a lot of "So Bad, it's Good" films. Many of them are really accidental, such as films like The Room and Birdemic. The issue with them is that their creators really meant to do something serious, and it failed so hard that it is just so flippin' hysterical. The issue with Sharknado is that it was purposely made to be so bad that it is good, and I'm … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday: So Bad, It’s Good Month Concludes with the Sharknado Trilogy
Speculative Fiction Saturday, So Bad, It’s Good Month: The Faculty
I realize that this month I have been reporting on films that are deliberately so bad that they are good, and this is a deliberate attempt. The issue with The Faculty is that its premise is so far-fetched that it should have failed, but it just didn't. Part of the reason why this film works is that it is in the hands of Robert Rodriguez. If you aren't familiar with this … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday, So Bad, It’s Good Month: The Faculty
Speculative Fiction Saturday, So Bad It’s Good Month: Turbo Kid
Well, we are now reviewing a film called Turbo Kid, and with that title like that, you know it can't be good, but is it so bad that it is good? The answer is yes. Granted, it isn't the best "so bad it's good" movie that I've ever seen, but here's the strangest thing: if this film were released in the eighties, it would have been taken seriously. The premise is about how … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday, So Bad It’s Good Month: Turbo Kid
Speculative Fiction Saturday, So Bad It’s Good Month: Kung Fury
This month, I want to talk about films that are so bad, that they are good. In this case, I am going to write about films that are essentially deliberately made this way. This is the issue with creating comedy. If you are creating a story that you can't take seriously, then often anything goes. However, I believe that there is a limit to this, but like I have said … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday, So Bad It’s Good Month: Kung Fury
Speculative Fiction Saturday: Devil’s Advocate
Last week, I told you that I enjoyed the Keanu Reeves movie of Constantine, a story filled with angels and demons, even if they are not necessarily biblical in their depiction. While I am comfortable watching a film where spiritual warfare takes a very physical form, I just found that I had a hard time believing in the basic concept behind this film. Before I get to … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday: Devil’s Advocate
Speculative Fiction Saturday: Constantine
I have to say that most films that I have seen like Constantine are generally full of things that even the Bible doesn't believe in, but it almost looks like it should. Films with God and the Devil feel like they should be liked by Christians, but they are often the ones most boycotted. I personally think that Constantine has some incredibly good ideas, and it is a wild, … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday: Constantine
Speculative Fiction Saturday: Tomorrowland: What is this film about?
Tomorrowland is one of those films that looks like it should have worked. I mean, it's named after an attraction at Disneyland, and it worked with Pirates of the Caribbean, but not with The Haunted Mansion. The previews made it look like it would be filled with imagination, and that part didn't lie. Hey, you know what they didn't show on the preview? What the movie was … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday: Tomorrowland: What is this film about?
Speculative Fiction Friday: Darkman, and how did I miss this one?
Yes, you read right, this is Darkman. I realize that this film is 26 years old, but I have no idea how I missed it. I remember seeing a preview for it while I was waiting for Back to the Future III to start, and I realized that makes me old, because this was the summer after I graduated high school. I actually think that I was starting college when this film came out, so … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Friday: Darkman, and how did I miss this one?
Speculative Fiction Saturday: San Andreas
I remember seeing the previews for this film, and thought it was a Roland Emmerich film. If you aren't familiar with his body of work, he has made essentially the modern-day disaster flick with Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012. After all, it has a big disaster going on, full of characters that you follow along the way. I knew this film was not going to be … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday: San Andreas
Speculative Fiction Saturday: Home, a kid’s movie that adults can appreciate
I might be a little late on this film, but it does take place during Christmas. I was not excited to see this film, and the only reason why I saw it was because it is free on Netflix. The ads for it did not look good, because I thought it was another "child meets alien" story like E.T., The Iron Giant, Lilo and Stitch, and Earth to Echo. The trailers for this film did … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday: Home, a kid’s movie that adults can appreciate
Special Holiday Speculative Fiction Saturday Comes Early with Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Unleashed
I have mentioned more than enough times how I wasn't certain if I wanted to see Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Of course I was planning to see it because, well, it's Star Wars, and I grew up with it. As it so happens, the other site that I write for, The Gospel Herald, wanted me to write about it. You can read what I wrote about it here, but there is a warning … [Read more...] about Special Holiday Speculative Fiction Saturday Comes Early with Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Unleashed
Speculative Fiction Saturday: A Nightmare Before Christmas
Considering that Christmas is coming up, I figure I should probably review a speculative fiction Christmas movie. Something that I realized the other day that a lot of Christmas stories have nothing to do with Christmas. I mean, if you think about It's a Wonderful Life, it really is about a guy who realizes that everyone has a destiny. The story just happens to take place on … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday: A Nightmare Before Christmas
Why I Could Miss “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
Okay, I think that we all know that Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is coming this week. I suppose this is the landmark movie release of the year, and it will make a whole lot of money. To me, I don't know if I wanted it. I've probably said this before a year ago, and if I missed it, I'm not certain if I would be too upset. Granted, it won't look as good on the … [Read more...] about Why I Could Miss “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
Speculative Fiction Saturday: Her
This film is just very interesting, and it is one that honestly doesn't deserve the "speculative fiction" label. The story is about a man who is very lonely and develops a relationship with an operating system on his computer and smartphone. I believe that I actually talked about this film earlier this week. Okay, this story, told by Spyke Jonze, a director who has done … [Read more...] about Speculative Fiction Saturday: Her