Eye on Sci-Fi - Alien 5, Star Wars, Orphan Black, Prachett and more..

By Ken Parker

This is the first in a monthly blog that will cover things in Sci-Fi that have caught my eye.  I won't be covering the Marvel and DC movies as that will be another blog and everything Gerry Anderson is another monthly series (although I may cheat once in awhile).  This is more of a random look at some of the bigger sci-fi news and my personal opinions on things. This, being my first part, is a bit bigger than it should be so for that I apologize.  So here we go.

Alien Costume at SDCC 2014 - Way Cool!!

Adam Savage has built an incredible space suit costume from Alien and wore it at Comic Con 2014.  It took him 10 years to make.

See photos and video at this site

https://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/tv-news/mythbusters-adam-savage-alien-comic-con-costume-021940140.html

San Diego Comic Con 2014 - More TOYS!

Here are a few more sites and pictures of some of the toys on display at San Diego Comic Con 2014

http://news.toyark.com/

http://toynewsi.com/index.php?catid=379&blogid=1

So cute!

http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/

San Diego Comic Con Reports - TOYS!!

A couple of sites have begun posting photos of some of the toys debuting at San Diego Comic Con 2014.  Here are a select few photos and links to their originating web sites.

http://screenburn.kotaku.com/its-time-for-comic-con-and-that-means-its-time-for-lots-1610010478/all

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/68119

Alien - Isolation Video Teaser - The Nostromo Crew

My reaction - 

Crew of Nostromo re-unite - Alien Movie Cast in the new Alien Videogame

Alien: Isolation, a new video game that looks really good, will have some guest voice acting in the form of Sigourney Weaver (Ripley), Tom Skerritt (Dallas), Veronica Catrwright (Lambert), Harry Dean Stanton (Brett), Yaphet Kotto (Parker) and Ian Holm (Ash).  Their likenesses and voices bar Holm will be lent to the game play.

The game will feature a couple of downloadable bonus levels which will feature the setting of the 1979 movie, Alien and players can play one of the characters listed above.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/67933

I don't have a recent game system and have not purchased a game for a PC in many years but this game may change my mind!!

Alien Egg Chamber Playset

ReAction is coming out with an Alien Egg Chamber Playset that can be used with your Alien action figures.

The set is a Comic Con exclusive.  The company is also coming out with an exclusive mystery action figure, housed in replica Alien egg as well as a vinyl Alien action figure that resembles a mini version of the original 18" Alien toy that came out originally.





http://observationdeck.io9.com/alien-egg-chamber-playset-is-age-inappropriate-fun-for-1601588953

H.R. Giger Has Passed Away

The incredible designer who worked on the movie Alien, passed away at the age of 74.  His artwork was certainly identifiable and superb and his skills were used in the overall look of the Alien film.

sources include http://www.littlegiger.com/



http://kotaku.com/r-i-p-1575555242/+lightninglouie

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/13/us-people-giger-idUSKBN0DT0HX20140513

Prometheus 2 Planned for March 2016

Michael Green (Green Lantern) is to be writing the sequel to the Alien prequel, Prometheus.  This movie is promised to have more connections with the Alien franchise as well as more androids played by Michael Fassbender (David in Prometheus).

While I was disappointed in Prometheus, I thought it's scope was excellent.  Lets hope they can improve on things for the sequel.

Alien Merchandise Overload

It is the 35th anniversary of Alien and to celebrate, companies are devising ways to take people's money.

Sega has a new video game - Alien Isolation

NECA is producing some Alien action figures including one of Ripley and this guy below*

*Soon to be on my shelf on display!

Also there will be books, busts, comics, card game, miniatures and even some Hallmark Ornaments!!

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/66246

My Top Sci-Fi and Fantasy Disappointments

By Kenneth Parker

Over the years we all have had experiences where we went to go see a movie or sat down to watch a TV show and were devastated on what we saw.  Whether it was high expectations or just the fact that the product was bad, we were let down by the hope of something better.  Often this happens with sequels but it could also happen for something that looked good in the trailer or had all the elements for a good outcome.  In any case, we are left shaking our heads and either being sad or even mad, wondering how this could happen.

I have chosen a few of my own personal experiences, some you would expect to see while others might be controversial.  Not everything on my list is a bad product.  Some are excellent but because of expectations or other factors, they are deemed a let down to some degree. 

Aliens - Eclectic Method

SDCC - Alien Action Figures

You learn something new everyday.  Did you know that Kenner made an Alien action figure back in 1979?  Sure and I actually have one that I bought at a convention a few years back.  This 12" figure did not sell well and so Kenner ceased production on their 3 and 3/4" figure series.  Wait, What??  I didn't know that.  Yes, apparently Kenner was working on Star Wars figure sized versions of Ripley, Ash, Kane, Dallas and the Alien.  Some prototypes were made but Kenner never went through with it due to poor sales of the 12" Alien.

Anyhow, the company Super7 has access to those prototypes and has decided to go ahead with production of these figures.  They will stay in the vein of figures from that time and keep the same packaging design and the figure appearance from that time period.  The figures will have various accessories (I hope Kane in space suit has a helmet and maybe even a face hugger).

http://collider.com/alien-kenner-action-figures/179743/

http://blog.super7store.com/

Oh, look, the original prototypes and Kane does have a helmet!! 

My Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies of All Time - #3

My Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies of All Time - #3

by Ken Parker

Among my criteria of excellent Sci-Fi movies I include strong visuals, a soundtrack that envelopes the viewer and high concept ideas that are both thought provoking and exciting. So many movies on my list have elements from these but also may have great stories, top notch acting and just that magic touch. I am also a sucker for dystopian depictions and commentary on society of today. One thing that I may have not mentioned as a criteria in some Sci-Fi movies is realism. Not only do I like seeing a movie that could be real but when a film goes out of its way to sell the setting and ideas without going too far, I am happy. Movies such as Sunshine, The Abyss and 2010 are examples of this realism.

When a film takes place in the future it may be harder to sell the look of the film. You can certainly push your imagination to accept that a ship can travel faster than light or that time travel is possible. When a movie presents realistic settings, concepts and characters, that is when things can get very interesting. My final three films on my list all excel at realism. There is a look of each that could exist in the future. The concepts are within grasp of a possible future.

When a film bases some of its ideals in reality while expanding on the wonderous ideas of alien life, space travel and artificial life, it really hits a sweet spot for me.

The official synopsis of Ridley Scott's mysterious 'Prometheus'

This still photo from "Prometheus" doesn't give anything away, does it?

Two of the epic sci fi film franchises - "Blade Runner" and "Alien" - were brought to life by director Ridley Scott.

We're calling "Blade Runner" a franchise because it's been released in more versions than we care to count. Plus, Scott is making either a prequel or sequel to the film that originally starred Harrison Ford.

But first, Scott will be releasing "Prometheus." It, too, is shrouded in mystery. It's been connected to the "Alien" series. And disconnected.

The return of Rick Deckard? Director Ridley Scott working on new 'Blade Runner' movie

Multiple media sources are reporting that director Ridley Scott is planning a new "Blade Runner" movie,

Jen Chaney of The Washington Post, among many others, reports that Scott will direct a continuation of the 1982 original that starred Harrison Ford as a replicant-hunter on a near-future Earth:

It’s not clear at this point whether the new film will be a prequel or a sequel, or how it will expand on the dystopian narrative originally laid out in a novel by Philip K. Dick. But Deadline’s story says it will not be a remake, which should be a relief to those who feel a sense of extreme loyalty to Rick Deckard, the “Blade Runner” protagonist played by Harrison Ford.

Scott currently is working on "Prometheus," a prequel to his classic "Alien" series. Has he run out of new ideas or will he be moving these stories forward? Time, not Internet rumors, will tell.

Thanks for the tip, The_Knights87.