Once your friends know your a fan of Science Fiction, I'm sure you've all experienced that phenomenon of the "film recommendation." You know what I mean? "Oh, you like SciFi? Then you just have to see 'Glory Hookers From The Planet BoomBoom'!" You check out the listing on IMDB.com, and you're quick to learn that there's very little SciFi about those lovely ladies.
I've always said that this phenom tends to happen quite a bit because Science Fiction -- as a genre -- is so broad. Critics have long incorporated alien invasion, UFO flicks, monster movies, and even superheroes in with films like Blade Runner, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Europa Report. Fans and purists long ago surrendered pushing back, and -- instead -- we've embraced the odd, the quirky, and the borderline insane as part and parcel to what our beloved genre has to offer.
One such movie academics have long said to be SciFi is John Frankenheimer's Seconds. Released in 1966, Seconds stars a young Rock Hudson as Arthur Wilson, a banker who discovers a second lease on life when a secretive Company makes him an offer he can't refuse. Literally. The Rock ends up filling out the shoes of a newfound artist who resides in a beachfront property. Just when it looks too good to believe, he finds out it isn't ... but that's when the film truly achieves Frankenheimerian greatness.
To be fair, it really isn't Science Fiction any more than Scooby-Doo is horror, but that's another story. However, I did check it out on home video recently, and I wanted to share with you why SciFi fans might still be interested in checking it out.
Seconds: Criterion Collection release
I've always said that this phenom tends to happen quite a bit because Science Fiction -- as a genre -- is so broad. Critics have long incorporated alien invasion, UFO flicks, monster movies, and even superheroes in with films like Blade Runner, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Europa Report. Fans and purists long ago surrendered pushing back, and -- instead -- we've embraced the odd, the quirky, and the borderline insane as part and parcel to what our beloved genre has to offer.
One such movie academics have long said to be SciFi is John Frankenheimer's Seconds. Released in 1966, Seconds stars a young Rock Hudson as Arthur Wilson, a banker who discovers a second lease on life when a secretive Company makes him an offer he can't refuse. Literally. The Rock ends up filling out the shoes of a newfound artist who resides in a beachfront property. Just when it looks too good to believe, he finds out it isn't ... but that's when the film truly achieves Frankenheimerian greatness.
To be fair, it really isn't Science Fiction any more than Scooby-Doo is horror, but that's another story. However, I did check it out on home video recently, and I wanted to share with you why SciFi fans might still be interested in checking it out.
Seconds: Criterion Collection release
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