Genesis Ring (2014) Well I really felt for film maker Deigh Kelin after his film finished playing. In attendance unannounced to the audience he got to hear an earful about the work he spent a year creating. Many people were not kind in their opinions of this meditative but thin tale of a bleak future where the characters in the film make a play for a brighter future. Stylish to a fault with long panning shots, minimalist dialog and the most slender of plots, where the viewer almost gets to watch the journey outside the city in real time. The feature could have really used the old film making adage "In late, out early" as every scene was too adoring of color, mood or movement. Mixed in was the idea of immortal beings and how they would view the world. Interesting that one monologue states that originality would be seen as nonexistent. Having seen endless cycles of ah hah moments the immortal would recognized that everything they are seeing has been done before. That it is mortality that allows us to think we are seeing an inspired piece of art. Sadly at only 51 yrs I can say I have seen this film before, a meditation on how to look at art and creativity by someone who has to learn first to tell a story. Hopefully Deigh will take this experience as an opportunity to reach for his next ah-hah moment.
The final two films were a real treat for us old timers and next to the film Blessid probably the best attended films of the festival so far. Made at the time of the first Doctor they are unique little films developed before the idea of regeneration became part of the story. Both of these films star the great Peter Cushing as the doctor, but more a clever earthling than a time lord of Gallifrey. On a personal note, being a fan since public television started air the Tom Baker Doctor in the late 70s it was a real treat to see both these films on the big screen. Neither is more than an entertaining novelty but both were enjoyable.
2015 Boston Science Fiction Film Festival Feb. 6-16th
"The Boston Science Fiction Film Festival and Marathon (“Boston
SciFi”) is an 11-day cinematic event held at the historic Somerville
Theatre from February 6th to the 16th. The 2015 edition marks our 40th
anniversary as the oldest genre fest in America.
The first nine days consist of a film festival that emphasizes
emerging directors with distinct visions from around the globe. The
Festival concludes with The Marathon (a.k.a., “The ‘Thon”), a 24-hour
orgiastic motion picture endurance test featuring classic, new and
schlock films. Think of it as binge viewing with 700 close friends. It
starts at noon on the 15th and ends at noon on President’s Day." - Bostonscifi.com
This year's event schedule is complete and I look forward to seeing as
much as possible. I approach the Festival like the Marathon, I want to
power through all of it not missing a film. This might not be the case
for everyone though. Great thing
about this festival is you can approach it a couple different ways. You
can buy the Festival Pass as I did and attempt to see lots of features
or you can purchase single film tickets, either way you will get to
enjoy great NEW science fiction. The Festival pass also gets you into
the 24 hour Movie Marathon Sun-Mon 15-16th which is the classic sci-fi
fans favorite event.
The start of the week means later start times and some great science
fiction. Starting at 4:45pm or so each of these days giving you time to get out of
work and gear up! So come see them all or just choose individual shows.
Note: The price goes up for individual "Same Day" tickets so buy them
ahead. I am so very excited for the opportunity to see the Doctor Who classic films from the 60's.
Genesis Ring
Director(s): Deigh Kelin
Runtime: 92 Minutes
(US)
World Premiere. Living in the last standing post-apocalyptic city, a
fringe dweller is hired for a dangerous job - delivering an unusual, and
much sought after, tech device. Made in New Hampshire.
Who and the Daleks
Director(s): Gordon Flemyng
Runtime: 163 Minutes
CLASSIC DOUBLE FEATURE -- Dr. Who And The Daleks at 7:00PM and DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH: 2150 A.D. at 9:00PM
Both are digitally remastered from original negatives with Peter Cushing playing the good doctor.
Dalek Invasion
Coterian Decay (shorts)
Director(s): Various
Runtime: 95 m. In Order
Alekto
(Swiss) Bad corporation of the future. d: Michael Mehring 23m; • 2.0
(Aust) US Premiere. A miracle drug is too good to be true. d: Ally
Burnham 14m; • The Activists (Greece) Premiere. It takes a community to
overthrow a dictatorship. d: Kostas Karydas 38m; • Nar Tarama Fallit
(Sweden) US Premiere. The world is unbearable without emotion. d: Henrik
Henziger 20m
The Sighting
Director(s): Douglas Dezzani
Runtime: 81 Minutes
(US)
World Premiere. On Feb 11th 2013, Mia Hollingworth and her boyfriend
went searching for the truth behind her mother's alien abduction. After
three days of searching, they were never heard from again. This is the
document of their journey.
The Noah
Director(s): Daniel Bourla
Runtime: 107 Minutes
"It is one of the most obscure movies ever made, it is also one of the most devastating." Film Threat
(US, 1968) A 'lost' gem showing in the ONLY 35mm in existence. Shown for
two midnight shows in 1975, this discovery is an eye opener. Set in a
post-nuclear world, a sole survivor faces loneliness and other demons.
Starring Oscar nominee Robert Strauss with Georffrey Holder & Sally
Strickland. For this rare screening, director Daniel Bourla in
attendance for a Q&A after the screening.
The Planisphere Project
Director(s): Various
Runtime: 93 m. In screening order
Kepler X-47 (US) A human zoo on an alien planet. d: Erin Li 11m •
Starlight (US) Prem. The memory of home stirs a traveler. d: Andrew
Salerno 11m • Last Sunrise (US) Prem. A transmission brings Mars into
living rooms. d: John Johnson 39m • Astro/Splice (US) Prem. A salute to
the space-craze. d: Nelson Carvajal 7m • Void (US) True love guides
star traveler. d: Justin Golightly 25m.
Genesis Ring (2014) Well I really felt for film maker Deigh Kelin after his film finished playing. In attendance unannounced to the audience he got to hear an earful about the work he spent a year creating. Many people were not kind in their opinions of this meditative but thin tale of a bleak future where the characters in the film make a play for a brighter future. Stylish to a fault with long panning shots, minimalist dialog and the most slender of plots, where the viewer almost gets to watch the journey outside the city in real time. The feature could have really used the old film making adage "In late, out early" as every scene was too adoring of color, mood or movement. Mixed in was the idea of immortal beings and how they would view the world. Interesting that one monologue states that originality would be seen as nonexistent. Having seen endless cycles of ah hah moments the immortal would recognized that everything they are seeing has been done before. That it is mortality that allows us to think we are seeing an inspired piece of art. Sadly at only 51 yrs I can say I have seen this film before, a meditation on how to look at art and creativity by someone who has to learn first to tell a story. Hopefully Deigh will take this experience as an opportunity to reach for his next ah-hah moment.
