tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5507748677937404511.post7575367260039582139..comments2024-03-28T01:36:10.408-04:00Comments on Dancin' Dan On Film: Thursday Movie Picks - AstronautsDanielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11480863610135936930noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5507748677937404511.post-90500297489181628952016-04-24T17:18:42.250-04:002016-04-24T17:18:42.250-04:00Great picks!! I almost went for Apollo 13 - great ...Great picks!! I almost went for Apollo 13 - great movie but I agree, watching that would put anyone from venturing into space.Katie Hoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01176992567322682222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5507748677937404511.post-67703037970788606202016-04-22T15:09:32.857-04:002016-04-22T15:09:32.857-04:00I also chose Gravity. I never did see Contact and ...I also chose Gravity. I never did see Contact and it's been years since I've seen Apollo 13. I don't remember much of it.Brittani Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07975067259283007280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5507748677937404511.post-90944416533210128282016-04-22T09:42:18.530-04:002016-04-22T09:42:18.530-04:00Tremendous picks! Contact is so little discussed i...Tremendous picks! Contact is so little discussed it seems nowadays which is a shame since it is unique in its mixture of fact and speculation. <br /><br />I like Gravity but not as much as you do. It has beautiful imagery but my attention drifted at times, probably because I missed it in the theatres and it really seems like the type of film that would have benefited from that.<br /><br />Speaking of which that is what added so much to seeing Apollo 13 the first time. As you mentioned it would seem knowing the outcome would diminish the impact of the film. But sitting there watching in the darkened theatre as they faced one peril after another I found myself with white knuckles as the tension mounted, that's great filmmaking for you. It's a film I rewatch often and find it engages me every time, not just the time in the capsule either but Mission Control and the Lovell's home. Great work by all.<br /><br />Actually my first thoughts for this week were Apollo 13 and The Right Stuff, another film I love, I was sure they’d be everywhere and was really surprised to see each only turn up once, at least they were mentioned. But I went in search of more obscure titles and came up with these three:<br /><br />Capricorn One (1977)-While awaiting the launch of the first manned flight to Mars the command center realizes too late to abort that a malfunction in the support system will kill the astronauts during the journey. Needing a success to continue the program the astronauts are whisked away to a false lunar surface in the desert and the entire mission faked. When the spaceship burns up on reentry and the hoax is at risk of being exposed it becomes a cat and mouse game as the astronauts fight for survival. <br /><br />Silent Running (1971)-All botanical life on Earth has ceased to exist, ecologist/astronaut Freeman Lowell (Bruce Dern) oversees a greenhouse on an orbiting space station to preserve various flora and fauna for future generations. Assisted by three robots and a small human crew who see no value in maintaining the forest, Lowell rebels when orders arrive to destroy the greenhouse in favor of carrying cargo, a decision that puts him at odds with everyone but his mechanical companions. Lowell and his robots are forced to do anything necessary to keep their invaluable greenery alive. A quiet and meditative take for the most part on the shortsightedness of the human race. <br /><br />The Reluctant Astronaut (1967)-Agoraphobic Roy (Don Knotts) runs the kid spaceship ride at the fairground but his father hopes for better and applies to NASA for him. Surprisingly he’s accepted…as a janitor. After many crazy complications Roy ends up in space as the title pilot! If it sounds preposterous, it is but then it’s a Don Knotts comedy after all.<br />joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5507748677937404511.post-31389835757266638432016-04-22T09:23:40.581-04:002016-04-22T09:23:40.581-04:00Love Gravity even though I didn't see it on th...Love Gravity even though I didn't see it on that big a screen (not my phone, though). Fantastic film. Still need to see the other two. Great post.Dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5507748677937404511.post-75653754167599482342016-04-22T07:37:14.739-04:002016-04-22T07:37:14.739-04:00I love Contact and thought it is an under-rated fi...I love Contact and thought it is an under-rated film that really makes you think. Glad to see Apollo 13 here because I thought that would be everywhere so I didn't pick that one for that reason...should have:) Gravity...ughhhh, the special effects are amazing but I can't understand how this is a great film because I found parts of it quite silly. I was not impressed at all.Birgithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439720285857050428noreply@blogger.com