unsung genre film recommendations?

[eldritchhobbit]

First of all, in case you didn't know about it, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Database is an online index to over 60,000 historical and critical items about science fiction, fantasy, and horror. It can be a terrific resource.

Also, TORn has reminded everyone to be certain to vote (or vote again) now for this year's ORC Awards. I do have a "horse in the race" - Tolkien on Film: Essays on Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, which includes a chapter I wrote, is up for the second category, "Best Tolkien themed book published in 2005" - but regardless of which nominees you support, be sure to vote!

Incidentally, is anyone attending The One Ring Celebration later this month?

Fourth, we have joined Netflix, and we're merrily catching up on our genre history by watching those films that somehow got away. I was pleased to see how many early and international movies were included in the library. Do you have any unsung, older, or off-the-beaten-path films or series, especially in the science fiction/fantasy/horror genres, that you recommend?


And last, a quote for the day:

In the first place you remember a single deluge only, but there were many previous ones; in the next place, you do not know that there formerly dwelt in your land the fairest and noblest race of men which ever lived, and that you and your whole city are descended from a small seed or remnant of them which survived. And this was unknown to you, because, for many generations, the survivors of that destruction died, leaving no written word.
from Plato's "Timaeus"

Comments

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, you may have heard of this one, it has elements of fantasy and horror (which is just dark fantasy, really). Anyhoo...I love "Snow White: A Tale of Terror." Sigorney Weaver is the evil queen. Sam Neil is Ms. White's dad and Shelly Duvall has a bit part (ending bloodily-is that a word?) as the mom. Lots of blood, even some sex (see icon) and some pretty good performances. I assume you are familiar with the Storyteller series?

Anyhoo, I heard a review of "New World." Ebert and Roper gave it two thumbs up. I can't figure out when it is coming here, though. It is not in my area yet. *Pouts* I have seen the preview lately and it has really whetted my apitite.

[euclase.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I really like Snow White: A Tale of Terror, too. If you're in the right mood for it (dark as it is), it's soooooo good.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Sweet! Now I really want to see this!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thanks for the recommendation! This I must see. And I'm glad to know I'm not the only one waiting... and waiting... and waiting for The New World!

[euclase.livejournal.com]

*falls out of chair* LMAO! Your icon!


Off-the-beaten path recs on the fly: Alphaville, Cronos, Panic in Year Zero, Being There, The Devil Rides Out, Dragonslayer, The Rocketeer

:-)

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

Oh, man. Why do I always forget about Dragonslayer? I guess it has been too many years since I have seen it. I love that movie!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Wonderful! *adds to list*

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! Just the kind of thing I'm looking for. I have seen Being There (loved it) and The Rocketeer - the rest I've added to my list. I've seen Alphaville mentioned in several places, and the description for Panic in Year Zero looked completely up my alley. I'm looking forward to all of these. Thanks so much for the recs!

[serpentcoils.livejournal.com]

oh wow, thanks for the link to the database. :D it's great.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome! I only recently found it, and I thought it was too good of a discovery not to share. :)

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the 2002 Hallmark version of the Snow Queen (with Bridgit Fonda)? I was recently thinking about how much I'd like to recommend that to you (and discuss it. ;-)

And yes... The Storyteller series!

In the guilty pleasures catagory: Flesh and Blood with Rutger Hauer. It's awful but a favorite. (Get as unedited a version as you can.)

[fungus-files.livejournal.com]

I've been trying to find Flesh and Blood in vid shops for a long time now! Only ever found one copy that was dodgey and wouldn't play. It is truly bad, but I remember it so well. Tom Burlinson (our "Man from Snowy River" icon) is in it, too!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oooh! *writes these down* Thank you so much for the recommendations! These sound great. (Rutger Hauer - 'nuff said.)

[fungus-files.livejournal.com]

I'd rec Gemini (Japanese horror) if you haven't seen it. It's not as hyped as the others but definitely has its moments.

Also, there's an excellent european horror film I saw on TV years ago that I can't remember the title for. It's Dutch or Danish, I think, and features a "murdered child in attic" narrative. Really moody style and well done. Sorry - that was kind of pointless not being able to give you the name! *sheepish g*

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll mark that down. And I'll keep my eyes open for any film that matches your Dutch/Danish description. I appreciate it!

[theladyrose.livejournal.com]

One Two Three is a bit of an off-beat Cold War comedy (a favorite genre of mine :D) about an American Coca Cola executive, played by James Cagney, and his experiences behind the Iron Curtain in Berlin during the start of the 1960's. As a history buff I think you'd be quite entertained!

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

Horst! Horst!!! This was the first time I ever saw him do comedy - awesome! I'll add *any* of his other films to the list of must see's, even though they don't really fit the theme... Eldritchhobbit, you *have* to see Tiger Bay if you haven't - TRUST ME. ;-)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Sweet! This sounds awesome. I'm marking this down. Thank you SO much!

[semielliptical]

I'm not sure if it's off-the-beaten path (since it starts Vincent Price) but a fun, somewhat cheesy, but also frightening old horror movie is The Tingler. Most memorable in our household for the Tingler nightmare that I had the night after we watched it - I screamed loud enough to wake my husband, and possibly the neighbors, and sent the cats running from the room.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, this sounds like a winner! Thank you! (Great story, too - though I'm sure it's more entertaining now than it was when it happened!)

[fenice-fu.livejournal.com]

I would NOT recommend Event Horizon...I don't know if it qualifies as off the beaten path but, even though I consider myself to have a strong constitution, there was still way more blood in that movie than I'm comfortable with. And it gave me the super creeps. which..well, if you're a horror fan maybe it would be OK for you.

I was talking with a tea pal the other day, he's screening films for a con in Boston, the film list is here: http://2006.arisia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=68

Eldritchhobbit, I have an unrelated question about the direction of some convention programming and convention demographics..would it be OK for me to contact you via email to ask a question or two?

[sneezythesquid.livejournal.com]

I liked Event Horison because of how unsettling it was. Great work by Sam Neil and "before he was Morpheous" Fishburn. It has the vibe of Lovecraft in space, with an interesting ending.

And oh yes, there is blood.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Fantastic list for the Boston con! I really appreciate your help. And feel free to contact me. Thanks again!

[sneezythesquid.livejournal.com]

I'll have to think about it, but as always I will heartily recommend Forbidden Planet on the off chance you haven't seen it. It's serious with moments of humor (some unintentional with the passage of time), and is the roots of Star Trek, plain as day.

In the "Not Quite Fantasy, but close and insperational" department, I recommend Captain Blood ('35) with Errol Flyn (the original swashbuckler), and Prisoner of Zenda ('37) with Ronald Colman, a young David Niven & Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as a villain (another classic swashbuckler, with great plot and swordfights). They ooze fun, excitement, and have that little thing we used to call "class". :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

You know, it's been ages since I've seen Captain Blood, so I'm using this as an excuse to do so again. And I've added Prisoner of Zenda to the list (thanks for specifying - it looks like there are several versions out there). I do love Forbidden Planet. You rule - thanks for the recs!