From jgoldie@sccs.swarthmore.edu Fri Dec 9 14:24:32 2005 Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2005 14:18:10 -0500 (EST) From: Jillian G. Waldman Reply-To: presidents@swil.org To: SWILnews Subject: SWIL movie voting Two meetings ago, we nominated an awful lot of things to be shown as SWILmovie next semester. We also discussed whether or not we should keep the current time for SWILmovie (Monday at 10pm, in SC 101), or move it to another time. In order to determine whether this is a good idea, we'd like you to fill out a brief survey, along with your movie votes. Please email your responses to presidents@swil.org by December 18th. == Brief Survey == Do you think SWILmovie should be shown earlier in the evening? If so, why? Do you think SWILmovie should be shown on a night other than Monday? If so, why? Are you actually likely to come to SWILmovie? Please indicate whether you could attend SWILmovie if it were shown: Monday at 7pm Monday at 9pm Monday at 10pm Tuesday at 10pm Tuesday at 7pm Tuesday at 9pm Wednesday at 7pm Wednesday at 9pm Wednesday at 10pm Thursday at 7pm Thursday at 9pm Thursday at 10pm Any other comments/questions/suggestions? == Movie Nominations == The following were nominated to be shown as SWILmovies next semester. You're eligible to vote if you're likely to come to SWILmovie, regardless of member/nonmember status. You may vote for fifteen of them. Votes will be counted, and the movie schedule set, by the beginning of next semester. Fifteen movies will be shown, and they will hopefully be a somewhat even mix of science fiction and fantasy. The final list of movies will be posted at http://www.swil.org/movies.html All movie descriptions are courtesy of the IMDB, with due thanks and appropriate shifting of blame. ~ The Ironic Presidency ----------------------------------------------------- Amazon Women On the Moon (1987)(Sci Fi) A spoof 1950's sci-fi movie, interspersed with various comedy sketches. Skits include a man being attacked by his apartment, a funeral hosted by classic comedians, and a teen-age boy's big night turning into a nightmare. Back to the Future (1985)(Sci Fi) Marty McFly helps out his friend Doc Brown, and ends up being taken back in time by Doc's time-machine. Marty, a boy of the 80's, has to come to grips with being in the 50's and get his parents to fall in love to set straight the damage his presence has done to the events of the past. Batman (1966)(Sci Fi/Fantasy) The archvillains of The United Underworld - The Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler and The Penguin - combine forces to dispose of Batman and Robin as they launch their fantastic plot to control the entire world. From his submarine, Penguin and his cohorts hijack a yacht containing a superdehydrator, which can extract all moisture from humans and reduce them to particles of dust. The evildoers turn the 9 Security Council members in the United World Building into 9 vials of multicolored crystals! Batman and Robin track the villains in their Batboat and use Batcharge missles to force the sub to surface. Batman Begins (2005)(Fantasy/Sci Fi) As a boy a young Bruce Wayne watched in horror as his millionaire parents were slain in front of his eyes, a trauma which led him to become obsessed with revenge but his chance is cruelly taken away from him by fate. After disappearing to the East where he seeks counsel with the dangerous but honorable ninja cult leader known as Ra's Al-Ghul, he returns to his now decaying Gotham City overrun by organised crime and dangerous individuals manipulating the system whilst the company he inherited is slowly being pulled out from under him. The discovery of a cave under his mansion, and a prototype armoured suit leads him to take on a new persona, one which will strike fear into the hearts of men who do wrong - he becomes, Batman. In the new guise, and with the help of rising cop Jim Gordon, Batman sets out to take down the various nefarious schemes in motion by individuals such as mafia don Falcone, the twisted doctor/drug dealer Jonathan 'The Scarecrow' Crane, and a mysterious third party that is quite familiar with Wayne and waiting to strike when the time is right. Batman Returns (1992)(Fantasy/Sci Fi) Having defeated the Joker, Batman now faces the Penguin - a warped and deformed individual who is intent on being accepted into Gotham society. Crooked businessman Max Schreck is coerced into helping him become Mayor of Gotham and they both attempt to expose Batman in a different light. Earlier however, Selina Kyle, Max's secretary, is thrown from the top of a building and is transformed into Catwoman - a mysterious figure who has the same personality disorder as Batman. Batman must attempt to clear his name, all the time deciding just what must be done with the Catwoman. The Black Cauldron (1985)(Fantasy/Animation) Centuries ago, in the land of Prydain, a young man named, Taran is given the task of protecting Hen Wen, a magical oracular pig, who knows the location of the mystical black cauldron. This is not an easy task fot The Evil Horned King will stop at nothing to get the cauldron. Brazil (1985)(Fantasy/Sci Fi) Sam Lowry is a harried technocrat in a futuristic society that is needlessly convoluted and inefficient. He dreams of a life where he can fly away from technology and overpowering bureaucracy, and spend eternity with the woman of his dreams. While trying to rectify the wrongful arrest of one Harry Buttle, Lowry meets the woman he is always chasing in his dreams, Jill Layton. Meanwhile, the bureaucracy has fingered him responsible for a rash of terrorist bombings, and both Sam and Jill's lives are put in danger. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)(Fantasy/Horror) Buffy is an air-head cheerleader who is chosen by a guy named Merrick to fend the world of Vampires. When Merrick first informs Buffy that she is the "chosen one," she thinks he's crazy, but then strange things begin to happen. First, Buffy's friend Cassandra and many other kids form her school turn up missing and are later found "dead" with bite marks on their necks. After many other strange ocurrences, Buffy then realizes that those bite marks were made by vampires, and that they really are out there. She comes to to horrifying truth that she is the "chosen one." Carrie (1976)(Fantasy/Horror) Carrie White is a shy young girl who doesn't make friends easily. After her classmates taunt her about her horrified reaction to her totally unexpected first period one of them takes pity on her and gets Tommy Ross, her boyfriend and class hunk to invite Carrie to the senior prom. Meanwhile another girl who has been banned from the prom for her continued aggressive behaviour is not as forgiving and plans a trick to embarrass Carrie in front of the whole school. What she doesn't realise is that Carrie is ... gifted, and you really don't want to get her angry. Conan the Barbarian (1982) (Fantasy) Conan was still a child when he saw his parents murdered and his village burned by a horde of savages, lead by the semi-god Thulsa Doom. They took him to the north, where he grew up working like an animal, and was later sold as a slave. His master trained him to be a warrior, and made a fortune by using him in fights. But there comes one day, when he gives Conan his freedom, and the chance to take his revenge after so many years. Cube 2: Hypercube (2002)(Sci Fi/Horror) Eight strangers find themselves waking up in a strange cube-shaped room with no recollection of how they came to be there. Soon discovering that they're in a strange fourth dimension where our laws of physics don't apply, they have to unravel the secrets of the "hypercube" in order to survive.... Dracula (1992) (Horror/Fantasy) This version of Dracula is closely based on Bram Stoker's classic novel of the same name. A young lawyer (Jonathan Harker) is assigned to a gloomy village in the mists of eastern Europe. He is captured and imprisoned by the undead vampire Dracula, who travels to London, inspired by a photograph of Harker's betrothed, Mina Murray. In Britain, Dracula begins a reign of seduction and terror, draining the life from Mina's closest friend, Lucy Westenra. Lucy's friends gather together to try to drive Dracula away. Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) (Horror/Fantasy) A masterful spoof from the mind of Mel Brooks. The rich English are attacked by Dracula (Leslie Nielsen) and Dr. Van Helsing (Mel Brooks) is brought in to save the day. Final Sacrifice (1990)(MST3K)(Fantasy/Horror) Ruled by the evil Satoris, an ancient cult of Canadian wrestlers, the Ziox, are bent on world domination. Instrumental to their plan is a map to the ancient Ziox cult idol, recently discovered by a young boy, Troy. When the Ziox invade his home to recover the map, he flees and ends up in the bed of a passing pickup truck, driven by Rowsdower. Rowsdower and Troy become friends, and together search for the lost idol before the Ziox can claim it and take over the world. The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)(Fantasy/Musical) Bart has only one enemy in the world: his piano teacher Dr. Terwilliker. Dr. T has a mad plan to force 500 young boys to practice at his magnificent piano 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Bart is the only hope to save these boys from being enslaved. Fantastic sets, screenplay, and even song lyrics were provided by Dr. Seuss. Features the only piano academy ever known to be equipped with prison cells and surrounded by an electric fence. Flash Gordon silent episodes (selection)(1936)(Sci Fi) A rogue planet is 'rushing madly toward the earth.' Impending doom creates worldwide pandemonium. But maverick scientist Dr. Zarkov hopes to stay disaster by travelling to the new planet in his experimental rocket. Two chance-met strangers, athletic Flash Gordon and damsel in distress Dale Arden, go with him. Arrived, the trio find Mongo to be a planet of wonders, warring factions, and deadly perils, its orbit controlled by Emperor Ming who has his own sinister plans for earth. Can our heroes, armed only with science and sex appeal, stop him? Flight of Dragons (Animation/Fantasy)(1982) A young Boston writer goes back in time to an era where wizards and dragons reign and science is barely known. The realm of magic, however, is being threatened by the realm of logic, so Carolinus, the green wizard decides to shield it for all time. Ommedon, the evil red wizard, stands in his way. Carolinus then calls for a quest that is to be led by our hero, who is none other than Peter Dickinson. Ghostbusters (1984)(Fantasy/Sci Fi) Three odd-ball scientists get kicked out of their cushy positions at a university in New York City where they studied the occult. They decide to set up shop in an old firehouse and become Ghostbusters, trapping pesky ghosts, spirits, haunts, and poltergeists for money. They wise-crack their way through the city, and stumble upon a gateway to another dimension, one which will release untold evil upon the city. The Ghostbusters are called on to save the Big Apple. Help! I'm a Fish! (Hjælp, jeg er en fisk) (2000) (Animation/Fantasy) Three children accidentally get turned into fish after drinking a potion made by an eccentric scientist. The kids end up in the sea, with one problem. They must find and drink the antidote within 48 hours, or forever remain as fish. The Hobbit (1977)(Fantasy/Animated) Bilbo Baggins the Hobbit was just minding his own business, when his occasional visitor Gandalf the Wizard drops in one night. One by one, a whole group of dwarves drop in, and before he knows it, Bilbo has joined their quest to reclaim their kingdom, taken from them by an evil dragon named Smaug. The only problem is that Gandalf has told the dwarves that Bilbo is an expert burglar, but he isn't.... Hook (1991) (Fantasy) Peter Pan (Williams) has grown up to be a cut-throat merger and acquisitions lawyer, and is married to Wendy's granddaughter. Captain Hook (Hoffman) kidnaps his children, and Peter returns to Never Land with Tinkerbell (Roberts). With the help of her and the Lost Boys, he must remember how to be Peter Pan again in order to save his children by battling with Captain Hook once again. Howl's Moving Castle (Hauru no ugoku shiro)(2004)(Anime/Sci Fi/Fantasy) A love story between an 18-year-old girl named Sofî, cursed by a witch into an old woman's body, and a magician named Hauru. Under the curse, Sofî sets out to seek her fortune, which takes her to Hauru's strange moving castle. In the castle, Sophie meets Hauru's fire demon, named Karishifâ. Seeing that she is under a curse, the demon makes a deal with Sophie--if she breaks the contract he is under with Hauru, then Karushifâ will lift the curse that Sophie is under, and she will return to her 18-year-old shape. The Land Before Time (1988) (Animation) An orphaned brontosaurus named Littlefoot sets off in search of the legendary Great Valley. A land of lush vegetation where the dinosaurs can thrive and live in peace. Along the way he meets four other young dinosaurs, each onea different species, and they encounter several obstacles as they learn to worktogether in order to survive. The Lost Boys (1987)(Fantasy/Horror) A mother and her two sons move to a small coast town in California. The town is plagued by bikers and some mysterious deaths. The younger boy makes friends with two other boys who claim to be vampire hunters while the older boy is drawn into the gang of bikers by a beautiful girl. The older boy starts sleeping days and staying out all night while the younger boy starts getting into trouble because of his friends' obsession. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)(Sci Fi) After Raymond returns from the Korean War as a decorated hero, the other members of his platoon can't really remember what he did to win his medal. Two of the soldiers start having recurring nightmares, and one of them decides to investigate Raymonds current activities. What dark and sinister secrets are being withheld by the Government and the Army ? Miracle Mile (1988)(Sci Fi) A young man meets and falls in love with a young woman at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. This area is known as Miracle Mile, and the whole movie takes place there. They make a date, which he misses, and while he is searching for her, he accidentally finds out that we are about to start a nuclear war. The Mouse that Roared (1959) The Duchy of Grand Fenwick decides that the only way to get out of their economic woes is to declare war on the United States, lose and accept foreign aid. They send an invasion force to New York (armed with longbows) which arrives during a nuclear drill that has cleared the streets. Wandering about to find someone to surrender to, they discover a scientist with a special ultimate weapon that can destroy the Earth. When they capture him and his bomb they are faced with a new possibility: What do you do when you win a war? Open Your Eyes (Abre los ojos) (1997) (Sci Fi) A very handsome man finds the love of his life, but he suffers an accident and needs to have his face rebuilt by surgery after it is severely disfigured. Surreal, sinister, and beautiful. Pleasantville (1998)(Fantasy) Two siblings flee reality by waching Pleasantville - a 1950's b&w soap opera, where everything is just...pleasant. After their TV is broken by a strange repair man, they suddenly find themselves in Pleasantville, as Bud and Mary-Sue Parker, completely assimilated, in black and white, with new parents...pleasant ones. David wants to get out of the situation as well as his sister, but whereas he tries to blend in (effortlessly, with his knowledge), she does what she likes to do. The more rules are broken, the more colorful life gets in Pleasantville, USA. Prince of Space (MST3K)(Yusei oji)(1959)(Sci Fi) A Group of space men from the planet Krankor who resemble chickens are led by their leader, Phantom to invade Earth. But a strange superhero named Prince of Space (actually a bootblack in disguise) arrives to defeat the spacemen. Although the weapons of the aliens cannot harm the Prince of Space, the Phantom continues to fight, and many plot twists (including capturing a group of elderly scientists) ensue. Watch out for the Giant! Psycho Beach Party (2000) (Horror) Spoof of 1960's Beach Party/Gidget surfing movies mixed with slasher horror films stars Lauren Ambrose as Florence Forrest, a not-so-innocent girl in 1960's Malibu who becomes "Chicklet" the first girl surfer at Malibu Beach, only Florence suffers from schizophrenia and occasionally her alter ego Ann Bowman, a sexualy agressive, foul-speaking girl, comes out in which during that time several beach goers are found murdered. The suspects include Chicklet herself, surfer greu Kanaka, B-horror film actress Bettina Barnes, exchange student Lars, and even Chicket's own mother. Puma Man (MST3K)(L'Uomo puma)(1980)(Fantasy/Sci Fi) Professor Tony Farms discovers that he is really Puma Man, a superhero who is descended from the gods. Together with an Aztec priest, they try to thwart the plans of Kobras, who is in possession of the sacred puma mask, and plans to hypnotize government leaders with it and take over the world. Puma Man spends most of the movie flying awkwardly and jumping around, leaving the Aztec priest to perform all the physically demanding tasks. Robin Hood (1973)(Animation/Musical) Retelling of the Robin Hood legend with animals for the characters. Robin Hood is an outlaw who starts to form a gang in Sherwood Forest to fight the injustices of the Sheriff of Nottingham, who levies unpayable taxes upon the people. The Ruling Class (1972) A member of the House of Lords dies in a shockingly silly way, leaving his estate to his son. Unfortunately, his son is insane: he thinks he is Jesus Christ. The other somewhat-more respectable members of their family plot to steal the estate from him. Murder and mayhem ensues. The Shining (1980)(Fantasy/Horror) Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) gets a job as the custodian of the Overlook Hotel, in the mountains of Colorado. The place is closed down during winter, and Torrance and his family will be the only occupants of the hotel for a long while. When the snow storms block the Torrance family in the hotel, Jack's son Danny - who has some clairvoyance and telepathy powers - discovers that the hotel is haunted and that the spirits are slowly driving Jack crazy. When Jack meets the ghost of Mr. Grady, the former custodian of the hotel who murdered his wife and his two daughters, things begin to get really nasty... Solaris (2002)(Sci Fi) Upon arrival at the space station orbiting an ocean world called Solaris a psychologist discovers that the commander of an expedition to the planet has died mysteriously. Other strange events soon start happening as well, such as the appearance of old acquaintances of the crew, including some who are dead. A modern remake of the Russian 2001. Spider-Man (2002)(Fantasy/Sci Fi) When bitten by a genetically modified spider, a nerdy high school student gains spider-like abilities which he must eventually use to fight evil as a superhero. Spider-Man II (2004) (Fantasy/Sci Fi) Peter Parker is beset with numerous personal problems while Spider-Man confronts the brilliant Dr. Otto Octavius, who has been transformed into "Doctor Octopus" (aka, "Doc Ock"), a multi-tentacled menace. Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003)(animated shorts) (Fantasy/Sci Fi/Animated) Immediately after the events of Star Wars-Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the Clone Wars continue. The Separatists launch masses of Battle Droids while the Republic has an entire arsonal of Clone Troopers to blow them away. Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker are also participating in the fights against Count Dooku and his defiant separaists. Jedi Masters Yoda and Mace Windu, take part in the battle as well. While down on Coruscant, Padme Amidala, Chancellor Palpatine, C-3PO and R2-D2 hope nothing but good for our heroes. Will the Republic emerge triumphant? Will Dooku and his separatists be brought to their knees? And will Anakin truly bring balance to the Force, or will he bring absolutely tyranny? Stargate (1994) (Sci Fi/Fantasy) A small group of US troups and an Egyptologist use an ancient device found in 1920s Egypt to transport themselves to a distant planet. There they discover a planet with humans resembling ancient Egyptians who worship the god Ra. Stay Tuned (1992) (Sci Fi/Fantasy) Roy and Helen Knable are having problems. After a fight over Roy's slow transformation into a couch potato, Spike, a high ranking devil, appears to offer Roy the ultimate satellite system. Roy signs without realizing he has sold his soul. When he is sucked into the cable version of Hell, Helen is sucked in with him. They go through the satanic variety of cable TV where dying will consign them to damnation. Shows they find themselves on include, Driving over Miss Daisy, Northern Overexposure, and Autopsies of the Rich and Famous. Roy must take charge and save them from the dangers of this cable Hell. The Sword in the Stone (1963) (Fantasy/Animation/Musical) Arthur (aka Wart) is a young boy who aspires to be a knight's squire. On a hunting trip he falls in on Merlin, a powerful but amnesiac wizard who has plans for Wart beyond mere squiredom. He starts by trying to give Wart an education (whatever that is), believing that once one has an education, one can go anywhere. Needless to say, it doesn't quite work out that way. Transformers: the Movie (1986)(Sci Fi/Animation) A movie involving the battle between the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, two warring factions of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron, the plot also involves the giant planet named Unicron, who's ready to consume anything that stands in its way. The only thing that can stop Unicron is the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, which is possessed by the Autobots and which the Decepticons, through Unicron's orders, plan to take away from them. Twelve Monkeys (1985)(Sci Fi) An unknown and lethal virus has wiped out five billion people in 1996. Only 1% of the population has survived by the year 2035, and is forced to live underground. A convict (James Cole) reluctantly volunteers to be sent back in time to 1996 to gather information about the origin of the epidemic (who he's told was spread by a mysterious "Army of the Twelve Monkeys") and locate the virus before it mutates so that scientists can study it. Unfortunately Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990, six years earlier than expected, and is arrested and locked up in a mental institution, where he meets Dr. Kathryn Railly, a psychiatrist, and Jeffrey Goines, the insane son of a famous scientist and virus expert. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)(Sci Fi) The oceans during the late 1860-92s are no longer safe; many ships have been lost. Sailors have returned to port with stories of a vicious narwhal (a giant whale with a long horn) which sinks their ships. A naturalist, Professor (Pierre) Aronnax, his assistant, Conseil, and a professional whaler, Ned Land, join an US expedition which attempts to unravel the mystery. Underworld (2003)(Fantasy/Horror) Selene (Beckinsale), a beautiful vampire warrior, is entrenched in a war between the vampire and werewolf races. Although she is aligned with the vampires, she falls in love with Michael (Speedman), a werewolf who longs for the war to end. What Dreams May Come (1998) (Fantasy) Chris Neilson dies to find himself in a heaven more amazing than he could have ever dreamed of. There is one thing missing: his wife. After he dies, his wife, Annie killed herself and went to hell. Chris decides to risk eternity in Hades for the small chance that he will be able to bring her back to heaven. The Witches (1990)(Fantasy/Horror) A young boy, recently orphaned, is taken to England by his grandmother. At a hotel in which they are staying, a group of witches have gathered at a conference to prepare a plot to rid the world of all children. Yellow Submarine (1968) (Fantasy/Music/Animation) The Beatles agree to accompany Captain Fred in his Yellow Submarine and go to Pepperland to free it from the music-hating Blue Meanies. Young Frankenstein (1974)(Sci Fi/Horror) A young neurosurgeon (Gene Wilder) inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback called Igor, a pretty lab assistant named Inga and the old housekeeper, frau Blucher. Young Frankenstein believes that the work of his grandfather is only crap, but when he discovers the book where the mad doctor described his reanimation experiment, he suddenly changes his mind...