Poll Results: What Subgenre of SciFi Do You Enjoy?

You have voted and the results are now in for What Subgenre of SciFi Do You Enjoy? It was a multiple click poll so lots of folks choose lots of choices but reigning supreme was Time Travel with 62%! Yay! We like Time Travel, or at least more than 1/2 or use really really like Time Travel. In second was a tie at 43% between Aliens & Utopic/Dystopic Societies (one of my personal faves).

Lots of the categories got lots of love, so it seems clear that we love our SciFi in many of it's Subgenres. Here are the complete results:

62% - Time Travel
43% - Aliens
43% - Utopic/Dystopic Societies
37% - Classic SciFi
37% - Monsters
37% - Post-Apocalyptic
37% - Space Travel
31% - Mutation
25% - Conspiracy SciFi
25% - Disaster SciFi
25% - Futuristic SciFi
25% - Realistic SciFi
25% - Robots
18% - Virtual Reality

Thanks for voting!

Book to Film Club June 2011 Book: On the Road by Jack Kerouac

On the Road by Jack Kerouac



The classic road trip novel of the Beat Generation which is also apparently largely autobiographical. I think this really will be the most guy-ish of the year and easily just 'one of those you have to read' types of book. It was my most hesitant choice for the club but curiosity as well as being such a well-known and well-loved title made it make the cut in the end. Personally, it's my least fave of the Book to Film Club, but I don't want to rain of the parade of those who enjoyed it so I'll keep my opinions separate (you can read my review of the book here).



Things to ponder on the book:

• Did you enjoy reading it?
• Was it what you were expecting?
• What did you know about the book before reading it?
• What did you think about the writing style?
• What did you take away from reading the book?
• Is there anything you would change about the book?
• Who would you recommend the book to?

About the upcoming film adaptation:

• How do you feel about the casting of the film (Sam Riley as Sal, Garrett Hedlund as Dean)?
• What do you hope to be the focus of the film?
• What do you think is essential to keep from the book in the film?
• What do you think they can trim away from the book to the film?
• What do you think the challenges of the adaptation may be?
• Do you have any hesitations on the adaptation?
• What are you most looking forward to about the film adaptation?

If this was a re-read:

• How did reading it this time compare with your previous time reading it?
• Did you notice anything different this time round?
• Did your interest and focus stay on the same stories, places and moments, or did it shift?

If you choose to shelf this out one:

• Was there a barrier (genre, focus, reception) ?
• Have you already read it?
• Would you consider trying it later?
• Will you join us again in July for The Help?
  
  

Reviews by Book to Film Clubbers:

Shannon



Film Adaptation

Film version stars Sam Riley (Control, Franklyn) as Sal, Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy, Country Strong) as Dean, Kristen Stewart (Twilight, Adventureland) as Marylou and Kirsten Dunst (Bring it On, Interview with the Vampire) as Camille; directed by Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries, Central Station). Specific release date is still to be confirmed, but it still is listed at 2011. I'll be keeping tabs on it for the Book to Film Club and certainly will share when a confirmed release date has been announced.



We are half way through the year in the Book to Film Club, but you can join our journey at any time. Sign up for updates here.

On the Road (Book Review)

Book: On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Reason to Read: June Book Selection for the Book to Film Club, and just 'one of those' that is on many to-read lists.

On the Road was a huge challenge to get through, and if it wasn't for the Book to Film Club I would have stopped reading it pretty soon after starting. I will admit that at about the half way point I sped-read the remaining half, which didn't feel all that different from the first half. I sense that it must be very much 'of it's time' and represent ideas and experience that people may want to have, but it just didn't do anything for me.

The book follows Sal and his friend Dean in the 1940's who have several cross country adventures (and misadventures) around the US. Sal is the protagonist, but it feels like he always puts himself in the shadow of Dean, and in a way I always felt the book put itself in the shadow of something else. The focus and energy is almost about what they could be doing or would be doing, and rarely enjoyed what they were actually doing. They seemed to want crazy experiences, but then when they had them never seemed to be happy - at least Sal, as the book is from his perspective. I also felt like they were presented as friends, but they weren't really even nice to each other. It was all about chasing the dream, and I prefer stories about living the dream.

Oddly, the book was pretty much as I expected. I had hoped to connect to it more but in all honestly it's not a book for me - I'm sure I'm not the target market and I doubt any woman is. It's easily the most male of the titles on the Book to Film Club and although I always try to see things from different perspectives and I find reading is a great way to understand different people and different points of view, but in this I couldn't find any way to relate and eventually became disinterested.

I will give it that the casting for the film is absolutely perfect with Sam Riley (Control, Franklyn) as Sal and Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy, Country Strong) as Dean. No real comment to the casting of the women in the film, although I like both Kristen Stewart and Kirsten Dunst but the women characters seemed so undimensional I could barely tell one from another. The film version is directed by Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries, Central Station) and a specific release date is still to be confirmed, but it still is listed at 2011. I'll keep you up to date when we get confirmation of a release date and I'll certainly see it being the completist that I am and loving the cast, but that's the draw for me over the subject or story.

Film Fan Fridays for Friday June 24, 2011

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday June 24, 2011!

In limited release this week we have just two release this week starting with The Future is Now! which is a documentary-style film exploring the importance of art and it's connection to us and society through the eyes & journey of skeptic and we also have The Beginning of the Great Revival which boast having 150 stars in it (wow) and is a chronicle of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.

In wide release this week we have 2 releases this weekend with animated automotive sequel Cars 2 along with Bad Teacher which stars Cameron Diaz as a teacher who decides to save up for implants to snag a man to take care of her. We also have in wide release mid-next week revving up for the holiday weekend with Transformers: Dark of the Moon as a Wednesday release and it's the third film in this TV to film series adaptation about robots in disguise from director by Michael Bay.

Have a great weekend!

Shannon

Festival Watch

Greek Film Retrospective
June 24 - 26, 2011 at The Royal in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

International Indian Film Festival
June 24 - 26, 2011 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada including the IIFA Awards on Saturday June 25, 2011 at Rogers Centre

Parkdale Film and Video Showcase
June 24 - 26, 2011 at various locations in Parkdale in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

ReelHeART International Film Festival
The Filmmakers Film Festival
Continues until June 25, 2011 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday June 24, 2011 Releases

Bad Teacher
Dir: Jake Kasdan (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Orange County)
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake, Lucy Punch, John Micheal Higgins
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Beginning of the Great Revival
Dirs: Sanping Han & Jianxin Huang (The Founding of a Republic)
Cast: John Woo, Andy Lau, Wei Tang, Daniel Wu, Liu Ye, Chang Chen, Chen Kun
China
Limited Release
No Official Film Site Found, IMDb Page, Trailer

Cars 2
Dirs: John Lasseter (Cars, Toy Story) & Brad Lewis (feature film directorial debut)
Cast: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Joe Montegna, Cheech Marin
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Future is Now!
Dir: Gary Burns & Jim Brown (Radiant City).
Cast: Paul Ahmarani, Liane Balaban
Canada
Limited Release
NFB Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

Wednesday June 29, 2011

Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Dir: Michael Bay (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Pearl Harbour, The Island, Armageddon)
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Alan Tudyk, Hugo Weaving, Leonard Nimoy
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of June 24, 2011**

Movie Moxie Podcast 41: Super 8 and True Legend

This week on the Movie Moxie Podcast Shannon chats about recent releases of Super 8, True Legend, shares a funny thing happened on the way from the theatre story and as always looks at DVD releases and upcoming Theatrical releases. Please don't mind the ambient sounds including thunder, rain, cat purring and a few sirens. Ah, summer living in Toronto!

You can also subscribe to the Movie Moxie Podcast here:
Subscribe through iTunes here.

0:00 - 01:30: Intro
1:30 - 5:45 Super 8
5:45 - 9:30 True Legend
9:30 - 12:00 A Funny Thing Happened....Story Time!
12:00 - 18:30 DVD Releases
18:30 - 22:30 Upcoming Releases
22:30 - 24:30 Outro

Show Notes:

• Theatrical Films Reviewed: Super 8, True Legend
• DVD Releases for June 21, 2011
• DVD Films mentioned: The Adjustment Bureau, Battle: Los Angeles, The Eagle (DVD Review), Happythankyoumoreplease (DVD Review), Beat the World (DVD Review, Podcast Review), Mega Python vs Gatoroid (DVD Review)
• I mention the Tuning into SciFi TV B-Movie Reel Podcast, specifically the Mega Python vs Gatoroid epidode
• Review for upcoming release of The Future is Now!
• I mention the Transformers: Dark of the Moon Trailer

Promo: Tuning into SciFi TV's Saturday B Movie Reel Podcast

Summer of SciFi Announcement

Sad news, folks. I'm having to put a hold on my Summer of Sci Fi and epic exploration of tons of the awesome sub-genres, niche genres and genre mashing goodness. Originally I just delayed the marathon but I've realized it's just too much at the moment. I've never, ever, stopped a marathon, challenge or anything-a-thon once I've started our of the 16 I've participated in, led or done on my own over the years. Since I first announced the Summer of SciFi I've found out that I'll be moving smack-dab in the middle of summer and I know with that in mind I can't do this marathon to justice with the time and attention it deserves. I'll still be reviewing all the 2011 summer science fiction films that I see (and that's still lots!) and hope to come back to this exploration in the future.

I'll keep the original post as a home base for reviews for summer SciFi films, and it already includes X-Men First Class and the awesome film Super 8 and I look forward to Cowboys and Aliens, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and many more of the films coming out this summer.

Thanks so much for your understanding! Looking forward to getting settled in a new place soon.

Happythankyoumoreplease (DVD Review)

DVD review of the beautiful and touching drama Happythankyoumoreplease starring Josh Radnor, Michael Algieri, Malin Akerman and Kate Mara.


Photo - Courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment

Writer/Dir: Josh Radnor - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Josh Radnor, Michael Algieri, Malin Akerman, Kate Mara, Zoe Kazan, Pablo Schreiber, Tony Hale
USA, 2011

Reason to see: Had strong acclaim which got me curious.

Happythankyoumoreplease is a fantastic film following the lives of friends in New York. I almsot hesitate to open with that as it sounds so cliche or blase, but believe me Happythankyoumoreplease is neither blase or cliche, it's very honest, funny and emotionally real. I loved that it finds the truth of it's characters, and even when those truths are not the most glamourous or endearing, it still shows them with an honest and open light.

We follow Sam (Josh Radnor who also wrote, directed & produced the film) a writing working on getting his book published and making the transition from short stories to novels. He's friends with Annie (Malin Akerman of Watchmen), pseudo-cousins with Mary-Catherine (Zoe Kazan) and currently interested in Mississippi (Kate Mara). Wow, I just noticed that one of the things I loved about the film was that it showed non-romantic male/female relationships, and that's even more evident as the other guys in the film are mostly attached to one of the women's stories, not Sam's story. Furthering the drama is Mary-Catherine whose is at a tipping point in her relationship with Charlie (Pablo Schreiber) and Malin Akerman dealing with the challenges of love and work, or sometimes both with another Sam in the film, played by Tony Hale.

The cast is amazing at showing the depth and complexity to the relationships of the characters. I was particulary taken with Malin Akerman and Zoe Kazan, as well as the young Michael Algieri who plays Rasheen. I also loved that our main guy Sam (Josh Radnor) is that amazing balance of not unlikable, but so 'guy' ish, doing things that you think "He isn't going to do that.. is he?" and is believable 100% of the time. I always believed the characters in the film, their troubles and trials along the way, from their outbursts to their moments of acceptance and true friendship. The film really resonated for me on a positive emotional level, something that feels rather rare. Happythankyoumoreplease lays things bare and is emotionally real without feeling like you are being raked over the coals. I felt for each and every character in the film, whether they we doing something beautiful or being a bit of a jerk, you could always understand where they were coming from and why they did what they did. A truly masterful film and one that I highly recommend.

DVD Extras:

• Audio Commentary with producer/writer/director/actor Josh Radnor and producer Jesse Hara I really enjoyed the commentary which serves as a open discussion and reflection on the film and process of film from decisions of locations, casting, working with the actors and actor interaction, the timing and locations of when scenes where shot, on what was improved on the day, logistics, changes along the way, the use of music including the score and songs by Jaymay, the inspiration for moments, lines and characters plus using the red camera, being a first time filmmaker, shooting in 22 days, the challenge on independent cinema, on being festival circuit and lots of notations and shout outs to friends, extras and people that helped and supported the film along the way.
• Happythankyoumoremusicplease - featuring Jaymay (6 minutes) film clips, music and interviews with producer/writer/director/actor Josh Radnor, music supervisor Andy Gowan and singer/songwriter Jaymay on the music in the film in terms of how the music came together for the film, the New York nature of the music and the film, the emotional honesty of both the film characters and the music and how the music interplays with the film, especially with the song Never Be Daunted
• Deleted Scenes (5 scenes, 9 minutes) great selection of scenes here and as often with extra scenes I can see why most of them were cut but I loved having the chances to see more from these fantastic actors in the roles of great characters. I was particularly with a scene between Zoe Kazan and Pablo Schreiber that had such an emotional intensity that it blew me away. Well worth checking out.
• Trailer

Happythankyoumoreplease is available on DVD and BluRay as of June 21, 2011. Check it out over at Amazon.ca (DVD), Amazon.ca [Blu-ray] & Amazon.com (DVD), Amazon.com [Blu-ray]

Shannon's Overall View:
I adored it
I'll watch it again
I highly & widely recommend it

Return to Film Reviews or see more DVD Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2011


Josh Radnor and Kate Mara in Happythankyoumoreplease. Photo - Courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment