Top 12 Sci Fi Movies

I found this video on You Tube that is creative and fun to watch and while I do not agree with the Top 12, I sure do enjoy the clips and am reminded of some classics that I love like Logan's Run, Westworld, and Close Encounters of a Third Kind. It was a nice touch to add a montage of a lot of interesting sci fi movies made throughout the years despite time limitations because we could have a video that goes on for hours.
Enjoy the video!

Children of Men (2006)

I watched this fascinating movie last night that I had never heard of before nor the novel by the same name written be P.D. James in 1992 about a dystopian future set in the United Kingdom in the year 2027.
Women have been unable to have children for the past 18 years, and society faces less than a century to survive. There is societal collapse and terrorism and the UK is the last functioning government which becomes the destination for many immigrants legal and illegal alike who end up caged and to say they are mistreated is an understatement. The story revolves around one refugee who is inexplicably pregnant and is trying to reach a sanctuary where she will be protected and able to raise her child.
I have not read the novel so I do not know the detail the author put into explaining the cause of the infertility, why this one woman was able to conceive, and how this would change the course of events for the human race in terms of fertility.
Overall, I enjoyed the movie and especially in light of the current G20 meetings in Pittsburgh that have sparked riots, police brutality, heightened the fears some have that the swine flu vaccinations may cause sterilization, the overall civil unrest due to global bailouts of "too big to fail" financial institutions, and the simple fact that people are jobless, hungry, and desperate in many parts of the world. France recently dismantled an encampment of immigrants in a very brutal fashion which echoes to some degree events in the movie.
So this movie felt like a reflection of current events and a bit disturbing but well worth watching. Here is a clip from the movie.

Jumper and Awake

I watched two different movies with the same actor named Hayden Christensen and both were science fiction in nature. "Awake" (2007) sounded good because I like sci fi or terror with a medical slant but this one was weird and just dumb in terms of medicine. The premise of the movie is that the main character is to have a heart transplant surgery but remains conscious during the procedure even though he received general anesthesia. I guess we are supposed to turn our brains off about the medical science and just play along that a patient can be conscious and feel his ribs being cut open while under general anesthesia which by very definition means a loss of consciousness. If it were a local anesthetic then you would be awake and not feel pain but he is having heart surgery!! Like I said before, weird.
Then I saw him in "Jumper"(2008) and thought this movie might have a chance since it was based on a novel by Steven Gould but this one was just ok. The idea was interesting but hard to translate in film but if you like a lot of action it is fun and more entertaining than Awake. I hope that we have better to look forward to in terms of science fiction film because all special effects all the time is not necessary to make a great movie. I like special effects when done well and in a creative and appropriate manner in tune with the story.
Here is a clip from Jumper. Enjoy.

Quark and The Rules of Acquisition

Image via Wikipedia

The character "Quark" in Star Trek Deep Space Nine is an alien called a Ferengi who has one purpose and that is to make a profit by following The Rules of Acquisition. I find it interesting that Earth, according to Star Trek lore, has evolved past the need for currency and simply works to better the human condition. While noble in sentiment, I find it hard to believe that humans could move beyond the need for gold or silver to pay for goods and services. All other species in the Star Trek Universe use gold pressed latinum as currency and it cannot be replicated therefore it is considered very valuable. Quark is constantly trying to acquire as much as possible but working in close alliance with the Federation Earth officers it would be difficult to turn a profit since they earn no wage. It would equally be difficult to work, not earn a wage, yet live in a place in which other worlds still pay for goods with latinum. The Federation does trade technology and service for other goods but I still wonder how Earth got to that point of not needing currency. The reason I muse this issue of money at all is because I have a great interest in economy and some friends who know a lot about the world economy send me e-mails on current economic trends. Right now in the world, a majority of world currencies are simply fiat and the only real currencies are the precious metals and more specifically gold and silver which do not devalue in distressed economic times and cannot be printed (replicated) at will. It would appear that the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition have been used by the central banks for many years now, and this could be laughable if it were not so tragic, but these are just my musings in these strange times we are living.

Here is a partial list of The Rules and the link to read more. Enjoy!

1. Once you have their money ... never give it back.
3. Never pay more for an acquisition than you have to.
6. Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity.
6. A man is only worth the sum of his possessions. (From Enterprise, episode "Acquisition"; sloppy script-writing, as rule 6 (see above) was already given in DS9)
7. Keep your ears open.
8. Small print leads to large risk.
9. Opportunity plus instinct equals profit.
10. Greed is eternal.
13. Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.
16. A deal is a deal ... until a better one comes along.
17. A contract is a contract is a contract (but only between Ferengi).
18. A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.
19. Satisfaction is not guaranteed.
21. Never place friendship above profit.
22. A wise man can hear profit in the wind.
23. Nothing is more important than your health--except for your money.
27. There's nothing more dangerous than an honest businessman.
31. Never make fun of a Ferengi's mother ... insult something he cares about instead.
33. It never hurts to suck up to the boss.
34. Peace is good for business.
35. War is good for business.
40. She can touch your lobes but never your latinum.
41. Profit is its own reward.
44. Never confuse wisdom with luck.
45. Expand, or die.

More Rules are HERE.

The Disparateness of Planet Earth

I was watching the news from Mexico City a couple of weeks ago while the space shuttle was docked at the International Space Station. They were discussing the wonders of the space station and the abilities of the astronauts to make improvements and repairs and even the addition of the new treadmill. Then the news cut to a scene in South Africa in which there were dozens of elephants slaughtered for their ivory tusks. Elephants face many dangers as it is but added to it is the needless killing of these beautiful creatures. It is incredible to me to see how we humans can use our wonderful brains to propel ourselves into outer space and develop new ways to explore space and at the same time be so brutal, have such little regard for animal life and all for the greed and desire to sell ivory in the underground market and obviously people with money want to buy ivory objects or the poachers would not go to such lengths to obtain it.
I hope one day that all levels of society can respect all forms of life on Earth and learn to keep it clean and as natural as possible while still trying to explore space so that we can bring with us the same peaceful and respectful values into the outer edges of the galaxy.

Sci Fi Action Films

This weekend I am in the mood to watch some action packed science fiction movies that do not require a lot of brain power as it has been a long week and my brain is tired. What sounds perfect to me is to curl up on the couch with some popcorn, diet coke, and my favorite movies that are featured in the youtube video below.
Enjoy your weekend!!

Shatner's Raw Nerve

Image via Wikipedia

I like the interview style of William Shatner on his show entitled "Shatner's Raw Nerve" that appears on the BIO Channel. I catch the show every once in a while and I like the unique questions and relaxed feel of the show. I admire the drive Shatner possesses, he has done so many Star Trek shows, movies, conventions, his work on Boston legal, and now this talk show. He is fun, entertaining, and interesting on "Raw Nerve." The only complaint I have and I mean this in the kindest way possible is that I wish he could lose weight, and not just him but many other actors are letting themselves go. I like sci fi, horror, and action movies and shows because I like seeing people in shape and running, performing hand to hand combat or the usual battles against alien enemies. I like to keep myself in shape and it is no easy task so I really appreciate watching shows with actors in shape, not anorexic or obese but in shape. I know I have strayed from the topic a bit, but the secret ingredient in Shatner's Raw Nerve is trying to tap into the guest's sensitive areas without being rude. I like that, having tact and I tactfully and respectfully wish that not only actors but many people would care about their health and lose weight. I work in the health profession and see daily what obesity can do to a person's health.
Anyway, the show is fun and worth the time if the guest is someone I like to watch.

Dystopian Film Fest

If you have time, you might want to check out some of the movies listed on the youtube video I have included in this post. I love dystopian themed science fiction stories and I wish more people enjoyed them or at least people in positions of power as well, but then there would be no need for such tales if those that governed cared about the future of the people. If the masses were more aware of the collective power available to them, then with hard work and sacrifice we might be able to make the world a more productive,positive, and peaceful place to live; I need to believe this or I could go crazy watching the powers that be at work being corrupt and the sheeple standing by and doing nothing about it or being corrupt and uncaring where they are able to do so.
Anyway, this is a collection of some great science fiction stories to just mediocre ones, but there are plenty to choose from if you desired to have a marathon of movies with twisted futures that could await humanity.

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