Dog blog 5 - space

Space
Right. Enough of this philosophy rubbish. Here’s what really matters: space. At the cinema. And going to see space with my pal Martin after we’ve both been for a curry. It’s a tradition. It’s fab. In a word (or, technically, two): it’s space.

"Space" for me is a film with the following characteristics:

Usually, a science fiction or fantastic premise

I'd also include supernatural films, but not pure, totally scary, horror. And not films about Christmas. Cartoons are in a fairly grey area, unless they are set in space, like Final Fantasy.

Again, usually, set in space

But, the film need not be, provided it has all of the other characteristics listed here. Phenomenon for example would have a good chance of being included within “space”.

Special effects

And ideally lots of them. Gadgets and computers are always good too.

An entertaining plot

But, the plot can be fairly rubbish, provided the special effects are really, really good. Like The Day After Tomorrow. Or Independence Day. Or anything else really by Roland Emmerich. Having said that, Stargate is actually quite good storywise. 2012 looks good too, and it's nice to see Roland going back to his roots and doing a really low budget film for a change:

Stop being so serious

If you haven’t already, get yourself a space companion and indulge yourselves. You don’t want to read philosophy and watch New World Cinema all the time.

Even Wittgenstein had a break from the Tractatus, and took himself off to the cinema to watch westerns. But only because there wouldn’t have been much good space on when he was around. Incidentally and, to be honest, irrelevantly, Wittgenstein's brother Paul was an accomplished professional pianist, and lost his right arm in the First World War. Undaunted and unabashed, when the war ended, Paul went back to his old job and commissioned pieces for left hand only. Ravel wrote a piano concerto for him. Britten also wrote music for him.

Classic space – The Dog's quick top 5

The Battlestar Galactica remakes. Sci-fi at its best, exploring philosophy, humanity, post 9/11 social commentary, reason and will - and all from an empathic point of view. This gives the show its strength – you understand the characters ordering suicide bombers, carrying out military coups, switching loyalites - and why they’ve come to the decision they’ve made. Even if you don’t agree with them. And great acting. Especially from Eddie (wait while I take a pause before I finish this sentence to create even more dramatic tension) Olmos. And plenty of robot babes, and the lovely Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck.

Predator. My favourite Arnie film. An alien tries to take out a team of crack green berets in the jungle. Van Damme plays the alien in some scenes. Great special effects. Directed by John McTiernan, who also did the Hunt for Red October. Which is so good, it could be space.

Dark City. If you’ve not heard of this, you’re in for a treat. It should be in anyone’s top space top 5 (well, OK, top 10, or maybe 15). All is not what it seems in the city. I won’t tell you any more. I wouldn't want to spoil it.

Silent running. Man in space, going a bit crazy about biospheres. And stuff.

The Matrix. Existentialism, kung fu and ground breaking special effects (the “bullet time” shot has been copied in many, many films after it). There is only one film. The Wachowski brothers did not make 2 middling sequels. No, no, no.