STILL DREAMING
film_ music_ scifi
Happy to report that Inception is a killer movie. In the words of brother Jack ‘it’s a masterclass in intelligent film making’. One of a rare breed that might have actually started with a good idea rather than a marketing plan. That really is living the dream.
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HYPE MACHINE
film_ music_ scifi
I’m not convinced. After watching the new Tron Legacy trailer and now hearing some of Daft Punk’s (supposed) tracks for the film, I’ve started to get that sinking feeling. No doubt it’ll look slick & sexy, what Hollywood blockbuster doesn’t?, but I suspect it will once again be a triumph of style over substance – no surprises there then. But why get Daft Punk in the mix and not actually let them do their thing? It’s early days, and I’ll admit to being a tad over cynical, but I guess it’s in the vain hope that come Christmas I’ll be proved wrong,
Monsters
film_ scifi
This is looking SO dope.
TRON DISC GAME
music_ quaid_ scifi
No it’s not some new Quaid concept mix sleeve art, but a chance to geek out over some Tron Legacy costume promo shots.
But speaking of Quaid & promo’s, he’s currently mixing down the first couple of tracks from his forthcoming Metropolis project: ‘Adonis Blu’ & ‘Futura (love theme from Metropolis)’ both to be released digitally as part of a Metropolis promo package.
There may even be a short film to go with it…we’ll keep u posted.
FRIDAY FUSION (MUSIC FROM THE FUTURE SPECIAL)
music_ scifi_ unified theory
Had to have one from ‘Battlestar Galactica’ in the series. Like the previous Music from the Future post it’s once again Stu Phillips at the controls – though all the synthy tracks I can find off the score seem to have a similar feel to that ‘Something kinda Funky’ vibe from ‘Buck Rogers’, so my guess is he’s got Ian Underwood in the mix too.
And like Buck much of the soundtrack is predominately orchestral with an obligatory spacey disco track thrown in. But digging a little deeper I found this gem which is a more noodly proggy synth piece, hence bringing it back ever-so-tangentially into the fusion sphere for today’s FF post.
Overall, though there are some electronic moments in the score, particularly in the SFX, it’s hardly noteworthy when compared to the out-there futuristic vistas of ‘Logan’s Run’ or the analogue madness of Gill Mellé’s ‘The Andromeda Strain’.
But to my mind this track at least feels like something you should be hearing on a Cylon Base ship, even if in the rest of this future the music is fairly predictable.
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Aliens 3
film_ scifi
(pic via kiel bryant’s insanely good flickr stream)
Aliens 3 seems to be one of those films that always causes ructions (sci-fights, maybe?). I still remember the crushing disappointment of seeing it at the 11 am showing on the day it came out. It was so, so poor. In recent years (especially since the release of the alternative Fincher cut) I’ve often heard it described as a ‘hidden gem’ or a film that’s ripe for re-evaluation. Maybe. But I’m not so sure.
What is clear is that the behind the scenes struggles were the root cause of the films (many) failings. Although vaguely aware of the pre-production pain, I hadn’t realised quite how much till reading this amazingly thorough overview.
The image above is taken from the concept art from one of the scrapped script revisions. In an early version the monastic/futuristic medieval themes which eventually turn up in Fincher’s version are explored in more depth. (More here)
Some people claim this is the long, lost classic Alien3 we should of had. Again, I’m not so sure. I think the problem for me with Alien 3 revisionism in general is it’s hard to get past what a body blow the film ended up being to the franchise. To think of how it could have been just makes it even worse.
My view is echoed in the conclusions of the Aliens 3 overview link from earlier in the post. The films should have followed the plot lines of the Dark Horse graphic novel.
“Alien: Book One” would have been a helluva film.
EDGE SOUNDTRACK
culture_ electronic_ music_ scifi_ synth
2 tracks from a dope little iPhone game called ‘Edge‘ sounding like some vintage early 80’s library music with touches of that ‘Boards of Canada’ style treatment — no surprise then that the games’ soundtrack composers are all French, drawing on their rich electronic heritage. More tracks here. Thanks to Manny for the heds up.
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There be Monsters
film_ scifi
Gareth Edwards‘ Monsters sounds amazing.
Super low budget and selling itself as ‘Lost In Translation meets War of the Worlds, this could be the holy grail: a dark edgy scifi film you can take the mrs to.
Sign me up.
SONIC FICTION
culture_ music_ scifi
Another snippet from Simon Reynolds fascinating article about Science Fiction and Future Music from Loops Journal. Gotta get me a copy…
The Gift
film_ scifi
Click Here to watch the short in High Definition on YouTube.
This is dope. Put together by Ridley Scott protege Carl Erik Rinsch, this self funded short is apparently a teaser for a full length feature that Rinsch has in mind. Jokingly described as a mix between 2001, Bladerunner and Doctor Zhivago with a bit of Bourne-style action (I’m not laughing, I’m trying too busy re-arranging my trousers) this could be one to watch out for.
You get the feeling that the District 9 / Children of Men style of ‘realistic’ Sci-fi could bare some incredible leaps for this kind of movie.
Read more (including some sick concept art) at /Film
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