(1) Here is Hampus Eckerman, “A happy Filer on way to see The Martian.”
(2) But did he know that The Martian is a comedy? Nobody else knew it either until the people who run a set of Hollywood awards started playing games —
The Martian is one of my favorite films of 2015. It was intellectually stimulating, inspiring, thrilling, and even funny here and there, but was it a comedy? I don’t think so, but that’s the opinion of Hollywood Foreign Press: the organization behind the Golden Globes award. Apparently, the film is being shuffled over into comedy so it’ll have a chance to snatch a few awards–any awards–from the grasps of lighter fare: something that it won’t be able to do in the drama category, where there’s stiffer competition.
(3) In case anybody is really going to Mars, NASA wants to have spacesuits ready:
NASA is not wasting any time in developing new spacesuits to be used in a variety of locations for the Journey To Mars. Two new suits, PXS and Z2, were introduced in October and they have now reached the stage of working advanced prototypes.
The PXS, or prototype exploration spacesuit, was developed to improve performance on extra-vehicular activities (EVAs), spacewalks, in low-earth orbit or outer space. The suit aims to minimize the amount of equipment necessary for long duration EVAs. The PXS has a versatile approach to fittings. Many features are 3D printed, so the suit can be personalized for any crew member and for different types of EVAs.
(4) Remember Westworld, “Where nothing can possibly go wrong…”? If you’re going to the screening of Westworld at the Ace Hotel in LA on November 15, please note that the correct start time is 1:00 PM, not 2:00 PM as displayed in the original show banner.
(5) Neil deGrasse Tyson will start a 10-city speaking tour in January 2016.
Join Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, award winning- astrophysicist, author, and host of FOX’s Cosmos for an evening of engaging conversation on science, exploration and the world as we know it.
(6) Fantasy Faction has an extensive and quite interesting report of the Gollancz Festival for Writers.
On Sunday, 18th of October, prolific SFF publisher Gollancz held the Gollancz Festival for Writers, as a sort of addendum to the already sold-out Gollancz Festival 2015. It had a smaller line-up of authors compared to the main festival itself, and focused solely on writing (obviously). I was gutted that the main festival sold out so it was a pleasant surprise when this was announced, and I snapped up tickets immediately.
The main line-up consisted of Ben Aaronovitch, Joe Abercrombie, Joanne Harris and Joe Hill. Out of these four, I’d only read Abercrombie, and I’ve also seen him at events twice before (including Fantasy-Faction’s own Grim Gathering). Joe is one of my favourite writers and also a joy to see speak, so I was already thrilled to be going, but also seeing three other authors I’ve not seen before was a massive bonus.
(7) David K. M. Klaus sent a link to Daniel Castro’s op-ed at Computerworld, “’Ban the killer robots’ movement could backfire”.
Efforts to establish a global ban on offensive autonomous weapons — a.k.a. “killer robots” — have intensified in recent weeks. This uptick in lobbying comes on the heels of an open letter calling for such a ban from a group of artificial intelligence and robotics researchers, including well-known luminaries such as Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk and Noam Chomsky.
Unfortunately, these efforts have stigmatized much-needed research on autonomous robots that will be central to increasing economic productivity and quality of life over the next half century — but only if the technology is able to be developed. Rather than allowing those predicting a techno-dystopia to dominate the debate, policymakers should vocally champion the benefits of autonomous robots — including in the military — and embrace policies designed to accelerate their development and deployment.
Klaus responded:
“Ban the Killer Robots!” sounds like a demonstration-slogan shout in a scene on Futurama or something from an Ed Wood movie, but this article is about a real organization with real concerns.
From tele-operated drones to rudimentary A.I. in battlefield machines, they’re worried about the further mechanization of war against enemies of a lower technological level which would still be using human soldiers.
Nobody uses the word “cylon” but it sure as hell was the first thing that came to my mind.
And — I am not making this up — according to Twitter, one of the followers of “Campaign to Stop Killer Robots” tweets is Edward James Olmos.
I keep remembering this quotation by Allen Ginsberg, that “We live in science fiction.” That’s always resonated with me as prophetic, and it becomes more and more true every year.
(8) The BBC would like to get Tom Hanks on Doctor Who.
‘Doctor Who’ has attracted some impressive guest stars over the years including Brian Blessed, Derek Jacobi, Ian McKellen, and more recently Maisie Williams, but it seems like the Beeb has its sights set on an even higher stratosphere of names for the future.
Peter Capaldi, the actor currently in the lead role, says his BBC bosses asked him to tap up Tom Hanks to appear on the hit sci-fi show.
Not that he’d actually have to parallel any role he’s done in movies, but Hanks has experience with some of the show’s familiar tropes – he’s been through a time paradox in Radio Flyer, had his own Pompeii moment in Joe Versus the Volcano, and had an extended lifespan in The Green Mile.
(9) John King Tarpinian has been catching up on Scream Queens: [Spoiler Warning]
I watched the other night’s episode this afternoon, they had a big belly laugh scene. Jamie Leigh Curtis is taking a shower, the opening of which is shot-for-shot the same as her mother did for Hitchcock. Except that Jamie beats down the bad guy saying, “I’ve seen the movie like fifty times.”
(10) WIRED’s article “We Flew a Lego X-Wing Into the Death Star Because Awesome” has a clever video of exactly what you’d expect from that title.
You can’t make an omelette, they say, without breaking a few eggs. Well, you also can’t blow up a Death Star without crashing a few X-wings. (That was the lesson of Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope, right?) But while that sucks if you’re Porkins or one of his pilot brethren, the collision of X-wings and Death Stars makes for some pretty awesome destruction.
(11) Today In History
- November 14, 1964: Santa Claus Versus The Martians is released – generally regarded as one of the worst films ever made…
(12) Today’s Birthday Girl
- Born November 14, year *coff* *coff*: Cat Rambo, who wrote a candid status post to mark the day.
Man, this has been a shitty year in many ways, and one full of life lessons that apparently the universe felt were overdue. Some of those I’m still grappling with. I am so freaking behind on this book it’s not even funny, but thank god for both the wonderful time spent writing in California this summer and the kick in the ass that NaNoWriMo has administered. I’m feeling hopeful about that again and making steady progress.
At the same time among the bumps there’s been plenty of bright spots. Among them my first novel, my first appearance in a Year’s Best collection (edited by Joe Hill, no less), and my first acceptance to longtime goal Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (I have been submitting there for over a decade now). I’ve had nineteen original publications come out since my last birthday, and twelve are currently forthcoming, including a team-up with Mike Resnick. Rachel Swirsky and I are working on some projects together, which is terrific fun. I have a good half dozen stories already spoken for. My collaboration with Bud Sparhawk finally got accepted so he can stop nagging me about why it hasn’t sold yet.
(13) So H. P. Lovecraft was actually a good Democrat? Scott Edelman ran this quote in a 2010 blog post, “What H. P. Lovecraft Thought of Republicans”.
As for the Republicans—how can one regard seriously a frightened, greedy, nostalgic huddle of tradesmen and lucky idlers who shut their eyes to history and science, steel their emotions against decent human sympathy, cling to sordid and provincial ideals exalting sheer acquisitiveness and condoning artificial hardship for the non-materially-shrewd, dwell smugly and sentimentally in a distorted dream-cosmos of outmoded phrases and principles and attitudes based on the bygone agricultural-handicraft world, and revel in (consciously or unconsciously) mendacious assumptions (such as the notion that real liberty is synonymous with the single detail of unrestricted economic license or that a rational planning of resource-distribution would contravene some vague and mystical ‘American heritage’…) utterly contrary to fact and without the slightest foundation in human experience? Intellectually, the Republican idea deserves the tolerance and respect one gives to the dead.
(14) You can buy Forrest J Ackerman Presents Music For Robots, created by Frank Coe, on iTunes for $9.99.
The album was released in 2005. It seems that some (all?) of it has already been uploaded to YouTube.
[Thanks to David K.M. Klaus, Hampus Eckerman, Michael J. Walsh, and John King Tarpinian for some of these stories. Title credit goes to File 770 contributing editor of the day Soon Lee.]
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Night Watch is genuinely good*, by the way, as well as being weird and unusual and new-to-me in ideas. For the people who have mentioned not having seen it or heard of it: give it a go!
*Foreign language with subtitles**, though, so if you’re not comfortable with that it probably isn’t the film for you. I know some people prefer to avoid that sort of thing.
**Ones that I’m pretty sure inspired the makers of Sherlock.
1. Monty Python and The Holy Grail
When I’m with my son and we see someone on horseback he says “Rode in?” yup, every time
2. Shrek
His wrestling team mates called my son Shrek
3. Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory
When my 34 year old daughter asks for something I say “Yes, Veruca.”
4. Conan The Barbarian
Meredith: Foreign language with subtitles, though, so if you’re not comfortable with that it probably isn’t the film for you.
I watch foreign films fairly often, and I enjoy them. But I am just so over vampire everything.
But thank you for the recommendation. 🙂
@JJ
They aren’t really vampire films. There are vampires in them but only as one of many – they’re about magic. I guess it depends on how much vampire is too much?
1. SQUIRREL ARTHUR LOVED THE COCONUTS
The Sword In The Stone (1963)
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
2. SPEAKING DONKEY TRUMPS TIGER
Shrek (2001)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
I truly cannot decide, so abstain.
3. SONGS AND COLOURS
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
Fantasia (1940)
4. HEAR THE LAMENTATION OF THE CHILDREN
Conan The Barbarian (1982)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
5. WITCHES WHO WATCHES
Night Watch (2004)
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Abstain
6. THINGS THAT GROW BIG
Big (1988)
Brotherhood of the wolf (2001)
7. DO YOU LOVE FATHER OR MUMMY MOST?
Hogfather (2007)
The Mummy (1999)
Abstain
8. HUNTERS WITH GUNS CHASING ANIMALS RUNNING AMOK
Princess Mononoke (1997)
Jumanji (1995)
Abstain
Meredith: I guess it depends on how much vampire is too much?
For me, anything past the “v” is too much. 😉
1. SQUIRREL ARTHUR LOVED THE COCONUTS
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
2. SPEAKING DONKEY TRUMPS TIGER
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
3. SONGS AND COLOURS
Fantasia (1940)
My husband would almost certainly vote the other way. Too bad for him. Of course, it seems like so far the way to bet is against anything I pick that isn’t Monty Python.. 🙁
4. HEAR THE LAMENTATION OF THE CHILDREN
Conan The Barbarian (1982)
My husband DETESTS The Nightmare before Christmas. I don’t, but I do think Corpse Bride is the much better film.
Apparently one should avoid watching the Conan commentary tracks, even if one is obsessed with commentary. But the movie is cheesy fun.
5. WITCHES WHO WATCHES
Night Watch (2004)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
ABSTAIN. Snow White has a bit of a multiple personality feel to it, and doesn’t mesh together as well as later Disney, but it is hugely influential, and the dark bits really WORK. And I’ve heard too much good about Night Watch.
6. THINGS THAT GROW BIG
Brotherhood of the wolf (2001)
7. DO YOU LOVE FATHER OR MUMMY MOST?
Hogfather (2007)
8. HUNTERS WITH GUNS CHASING ANIMALS RUNNING AMOK
Princess Mononoke (1997)
BONUS BRACKET – FOURTH HEAT
Seriously, I have read one of these, and it’s the short graphic novel. No votes.
JJ: Ah, you’re right. The Mummy had Arnold Vosloo and Oded Fehr. Same diff.
Sorry, I think you may have misspelled “difficult to decide between”, yes? (Hubba hubba.)
Voting, for the ones where I feel able to vote:
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET – FOURTH HEAT
2. SPEAKING DONKEY TRUMPS TIGER
Shrek (2001)Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Wirework over CGI any and every day.
3. SONGS AND COLOURS
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
Fantasia (1940)I have a deep fondness for Dahl and a deep, DEEP distaste for Disney.
6. THINGS THAT GROW BIG
Big (1988)Brotherhood of the wolf (2001)
Big was sweet but seems (in memory) a bit lightweight. I enjoyed Brotherhood a lot (plus, Mark Dacascos!)
7. DO YOU LOVE FATHER OR MUMMY MOST?
Hogfather (2007)
The Mummy (1999)This was tough. I like The Mummy a lot. But I love Hogfather and thought it was a remarkably well done adaptation.
2. PUNK ROCK OR HEAVY METAL?
Death, The High Cost of Living, Neil Gaiman
Gossamer Axe, Gael BaudinoKinda cheating; I haven’t read the Gaiman. But I usually like his work, and I remember pretty much hating Gossamer Axe.
Current reading: closing in on the end of The Martian. I think that even if Weir is still eligible for the Campbell, I won’t be nominating him. While the plot is interesting, there were enough clunky moments during the book that bumped me out of the experience that I don’t think he’s (so far) a skilled enough writer to warrant a Campbell nom.
I almost never say this, but I’m glad I saw the movie first.
My sister and I joke that Oded Fehr’s subtitled dialogue in The Mummy could all be replaced by “I am sexy and mysterious” and it wouldn’t change our experience of the film at all.
Mm, Oded Fehr.
@Lexica
I felt that the film smoothed out some first-book-bumpiness from The Martian – a few too many disasters, that sort of thing. Good book, really fun book, not a great book. Whether he’s on my Campbell list depends on the competition by the deadline.
I’m still convinced Mindy Park should have been played by a Korean-American actress, though.
Meredith: I’m still convinced Mindy Park should have been played by a Korean-American actress, though.
I’m still pissed off about that whitewashing. 😐
1. SQUIRREL ARTHUR LOVED THE COCONUTS
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
2. SPEAKING DONKEY TRUMPS TIGER
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
3. SONGS AND COLOURS
Fantasia (1940)
4. HEAR THE LAMENTATION OF THE CHILDREN
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
5. WITCHES WHO WATCHES
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
6. THINGS THAT GROW BIG
Brotherhood of the wolf (2001)
7. DO YOU LOVE FATHER OR MUMMY MOST?
The Mummy (1999)
8. HUNTERS WITH GUNS CHASING ANIMALS RUNNING AMOK
Jumanji (1995)
Ouch
BONUS BRACKET – FOURTH HEAT
1. SCARY ALBINOS
Elric of Melnibone, Michael Moorcock
2. PUNK ROCK OR HEAVY METAL?
Gossamer Axe, Gael Baudino
I don’t know this book and I loved the Gaiman but…I think Death would be disappointing as a movie
WHISTLEBLOW
Voting closes in one hour.
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET – FOURTH HEAT
1. SQUIRREL ARTHUR LOVED THE COCONUTS
The Sword In The Stone (1963) – 5 votes
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975) – 42 votes
So Madame Mim was a witch. And she did turn Wart into a newt this time. And this newt had no chance against the most foul, cruel and bad-tempered rodent that was ever set eyes on. “It is just a scratch”, screams newt-Wart, but a final “Ni!” quiets him forever.
WINNER: King Arthur. The other one. Oh well… Monty Python and The Holy Grail.
2. SPEAKING DONKEY TRUMPS TIGER
Shrek (2001) – 11 votes
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) – 32 votes
Speaking donkey might trump Tiger, but what about the hidden dragon? A love affair takes them out of the context and Shrek remains alone against a Matrix-like swordswoman who slices and dices everything in her way. As a family man with experience of female warriors, he knows when to retreat.
WINNER: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
3. SONGS AND COLOURS
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971) – 17 votes
Fantasia (1940) – 26 votes
Willy Wonka has chocolate, but Fantasia has got wine and drunken gods. Also the most awesome Chernabog ever. Wonka flees in his Wonkavator.
WINNER: Fantasia
4. HEAR THE LAMENTATION OF THE CHILDREN
Conan The Barbarian (1982) – 18 votes
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – 29 votes
Do you want to live forever? “No”, slurs Conan and promptly falls asleep with his head in his porridge. Jack Skellington is the winner for it is plain, as anyone can see, it was simply meant to be.
WINNER: The Nightmare Before Christmas
5. WITCHES WHO WATCHES
Night Watch (2004) – 10 votes
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) – 19 votes
The russian blockbuster against the disney classic? The darkness is dispelled by cute animals and the best organ ever. And Disney still has the scariest witch.
WINNER: Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs
6. THINGS THAT GROW BIG
Big (1988) – 22 votes
Brotherhood of the wolf (2001) – 10 votes
Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Not Tom Hanks when he has a whole toy store to play around in. The Beast of Gévaudan stands no chance against a foot-operated piano.
WINNER: Big
7. DO YOU LOVE FATHER OR MUMMY MOST?
Hogfather (2007) – 11 votes
The Mummy (1999) – 30 votes
Death may speak in LARGE LETTERS, but The Mummy is the kind of fun that the filers enjoy. Complete with locust clouds, evil scarabs and the mandator ridiculous englishman. It’s teatime for Hogfather.
WINNER: The Mummy
8. HUNTERS WITH GUNS CHASING ANIMALS RUNNING AMOK
Princess Mononoke (1997) – 29 votes
Jumanji (1995) – 9 votes
Princess Mononoke is a Myazaki and that is a hard thing to beat. Alan goes back into his board game and takes all animals with him.
WINNER: Princess Mononoke
BONUS BRACKET – FOURTH HEAT
1. SCARY ALBINOS
Elric of Melnibone, Michael Moorcock – 18 votes
Zoo City, Lauren Beukes – 14 votes
The first bonus bracket where there has actually been a contest! Elric always in the lead, but with Zoo City steadfasty remaining just a few steps behind. In the end a warlord with a penguin will have a hard time against a bloodthirsty sword.
WINNER: Elric of Melnibone
2. PUNK ROCK OR HEAVY METAL?
Death, The High Cost of Living, Neil Gaiman – 25 votes
Gossamer Axe, Gael Baudino – 8 votes
Neil Gaiman is hard to beat at his worst and The High Cost of Living is one of his more popular works. Gossamer Axe is out, but at least this bracket administrator got a new book to place in his TBR pile.
WINNER: Death, The High Cost of Living, Neil Gaiman
3. LEARNING HISTORY
Dragon Bones, Patricia Briggs – 8 votes
The Deed of Paksenarrion, Elizabeth Moon – 18 votes
The Deed of Paksenarrion was in the lead from first vote and stayed there the whole time. Paks continue to battle evil in whatever form, but for Ward the fight is over.
WINNER: The Deed of Paksenarrion, Elizabeth Moon
4. EXOTIC SETTINGS
The Shattered World, Michael Reaves – 8 votes
The Myth Books, Robert Asprin – 17 votes
There was once a beautiful world of green and gentle continent, then the world was shattered… The end. For an ending it is when the contest is against the MythAdventures. We want to see pet dragons and thats it.
WINNER: The Myth Books, Robert Asprin
As discussion is still going on in next days Pixel Scroll, we will continue with next phase of the movie bracket in this post.
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET, SECOND ROUND – FIRST HEAT
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
The Adventures of Baron Münchausen (1988)
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
King Kong (1933)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
The Thief of Baghdad (1940)
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
Jason and The Argonauts (1963)
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Being John Malkovich (1999)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
Three Hearts and Three Lions, Poul Anderson
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Death, The High Cost of Living, Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Myth Books, Robert Asprin
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
1. The Seventh Seal
2. Labyrinth
3. The Nightmare Before Christmas
4. Monty Python and The Holy Grail
5. Lord of The Rings
6. Excalibur
7. The Princess Bride
8. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings ? Series (2001 ? 2003)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Being John Malkovich (1999)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
BONUS BRACKET
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Frozen We are feuding, we are feuding forever.
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
Forehead cloth please. ehhhh ehhhh ehhhh. Oh fine. This is Halloween. This is Halloween. The soundtrack wins out.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
Frozen
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
The Adventures of Baron Münchausen (1988)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
Heated bracketeering the second:
1. Seventh Seal
2. Labyrinth
3. Nightmare Before Christmas
4. Holy Grail
5. LOTR
6. Excalibur
7. Princess Bride
8. Malkovich, because I really didn’t like CTHD. I wanted to, I tried to, it bored me to death. (I got better!)
Bonus:
2. Good Omens and fiendish dice
3. Myth Adventures
Rev. Bob: I got better!
No you’re not. You’ll be stone dead in a moment.
JJ:
Sorry, wrong scene.
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
The Adventures of Baron Münchausen (1988)
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
King Kong (1933)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
The Thief of Baghdad (1940)
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
Jason and The Argonauts (1963)
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Being John Malkovich (1999)
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
The Seventh Seal (1957)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
The Adventures of Baron Münchausen (1988)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
King Kong (1933)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
The Thief of Baghdad (1940)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
(damn, that one was tough)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
Three Hearts and Three Lions, Poul Anderson
(C’mon. Novik is good. But Anderson is a King of AH and time travel.)
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Myth Books, Robert Asprin
Another tough choice. But I really jazzed on early Aahz and Skeeve
4. {MINNESOTAN RUMBLE} – There a title for you.
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Tie
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
The Thief of Baghdad (1940)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Being John Malkovich (1999)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Death, The High Cost of Living, Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Myth Books, Robert Asprin
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Being John Malkovich (1999)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
Pass
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
Pass
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Being John Malkovich (1999)
BONUS BRACKET
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Death, The High Cost of Living, Neil Gaiman
Nasty dices…
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET, SECOND ROUND – FIRST HEAT
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
The Thief of Baghdad (1940)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
@ Meredith
“I’m still convinced Mindy Park should have been played by a Korean-American actress, though.”
I saw an interview with Weir. He said that he intended that character to be of Asian extraction, but the studio/screenwriter never clarified the matter with him and he was a bit surprised and disappointed with their choice/interpretation.
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET, SECOND ROUND – FIRST HEAT
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Spirited Away (2001)
Abstain.
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
Jason and The Argonauts (1963)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Myth Books, Robert Asprin
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
Abstain.
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET, SECOND ROUND – FIRST HEAT
1. Abstain. Never seen Spirited Away, but heard enough to persuade me against voting for The Seventh Seal anyway, no matter how much I like it.
2. The Adventures of Baron Münchausen. Could easily have gone the other way; maybe the Baron just fits “wonderful costumes and design” a little better.
3. The Nightmare Before Christmas. And another toughie; would have liked to see both these go further.
4. King Kong. But I’d prefer The Dark Crystal to have survived.
5. Lord of The Rings – Series
6. Excalibur.
7. Abstain
8. Being John Malkovich. I don’t think this one will win, though, so I’m taking the chance to vote for it while I can. Another very difficult choice.
BONUS BRACKET
1. Three Hearts and Three Lions, Poul Anderson
2. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. Easy, easy, easy: The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart. Sledgehammer/nut time. All the easy that got squeezed out of the earlier pairings ended up in this one.
4. Abstain. War for the Oaks would have got my vote over a lot of books I haven’t read, but not this one.
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
The Thief of Baghdad (1940)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET, SECOND ROUND – FIRST HEAT
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
King Kong (1933)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Myth Books, Robert Asprin
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET, SECOND ROUND – FIRST HEAT
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
The Adventures of Baron Münchausen (1988)
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Abstain
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
OUCH! Not quite weeping and wailing, but painful. A childhood favorite and all-time classic vs. an adult fav and satirical classic. I’ll go with the snarky satire.
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
King Kong (1933)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings ? Series (2001 ? 2003)
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Saccharine sweet Disney vs. Aragorn? No contest, really.
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
The Thief of Baghdad (1940)
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
Jason and The Argonauts (1963)
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Being John Malkovich (1999)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
Three Hearts and Three Lions, Poul Anderson
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Death, The High Cost of Living, Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Myth Books, Robert Asprin
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Spirited Away (2001)
Abstain; never saw Seventh Seal
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
The Adventures of Baron Münchausen (1988)
Labyrinth (1986)
Labyrinth. Münchausen just didn’t work for me. In fact, I remember absolutely nothing about it. (Was there a balloon chase? There might have been a balloon chase….) so that tells me all I need to know.
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Um. Hard choice. I have to go with Dark Crystal for its groundbreaking worldbuilding, but I won’t be sad if Nightmare wins.
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
King Kong (1933)
King Kong stands no chance against the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Lord of the Rings. No contest.
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
The Thief of Baghdad (1940)
Excalibur (1981)
Um. Um. Um. Damn it. Excalibur. (But oh, those tight, tight pants…)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
Jason and The Argonauts (1963)
The Princess Bride (1987)
To the pain!
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Being John Malkovich (1999)
Still don’t like Tiger. It was pretty and pointless. Malkovich creeped me out, but it’s a better film.
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
Three Hearts and Three Lions, Poul Anderson
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
Oh, lord. We’re making a film? Then Novik; I think she’s more cinematic.
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Death, The High Cost of Living, Neil Gaiman
How the hell do I choose? BOTH.
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Myth Books, Robert Asprin
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
Honestly, I think a film about the Myth books (which I loved) would be kitschy, so I’m going with Hughart.
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
We *hates* your dice, we does. Hates them, hates them, my precious. Chalion.
1. Abstain
2. Labyrinth
3. The Dark Crystal
4. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
5. The Lord of the Rings
6-8. Abstain
Bonus bracket:
1-2. Abstain
3. Master Li and Number Ten Ox
4. Abstain
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
King Kong (1933)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
Jason and The Argonauts (1963)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Myth Books, Robert Asprin
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET, SECOND ROUND – FIRST HEAT
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings ? Series (2001 ? 2003)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
Three Hearts and Three Lions, Poul Anderson
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET, SECOND ROUND – FIRST HEAT
I seem to be biased toward quotable films…
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Augh. TIE
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
The Thief of Baghdad (1940)
This is a vote AGAINST Excalibur.
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
Three Hearts and Three Lions, Poul Anderson
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
sorry Bob
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
This one is really hard. I think War for the Oaks is actually more feasible. Not sure how some of the important stuff in Chalion could be filmed, so
Wat for the Oaks
nanowrimo: 37061 words and WAY more story left than can actually get written by the 30th, at any sane number of words per day.
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
Unless there’s a King Kong joke in it I don’t get, it should be Inherent?
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
Voting for LotR, but I have to note, Snow White is TWO words.
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
abstain
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
This is the only one that hurt this time, because these two movies are Soooo different.
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
Both would be things I would squee and watch avidly if done right.
@ Meredith
“I’m still convinced Mindy Park should have been played by a Korean-American actress, though.”
That one went past me I must admit, Park is a reasonably common surname in Scotland though especially in Ayrshire…
emgrasso: As long as you make the 50k words, you don’t have to have a finished book. You can always keep on into December (And you can slow down then, if need be).
My first NaNo, I “won” with days to spare, but actually finished the draft of the book February 10th the next year. (And rewrites, after an extended break to clear out the story and work on Something Else, in October)
_____________
I haven’t been updating because until yesterday I had several days of 300 words or so, which even for a demi-wri-mo is too few. I started needing 833 words per day to finish November 30th; at this point it’s 1123.
But yesterday’s count was 1133, and the total so far is 10417 (I think. My LJ has the right number). So, still plugging on.
Just a few votes. Abstain on all the rest.
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET, SECOND ROUND – FIRST HEAT
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
It went past me, too; my first boyfriend was a white guy with the surname Park.
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Spirited Away (2001)
Abstain
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
The Adventures of Baron Münchausen (1988)
Labyrinth (1986)
Labyrinth
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Dark Crystal
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
King Kong (1933)
Monty Python
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Snow White was groundbreaking (really, it was. I’ve listened to a lot of old time radio from 1937 and 1938 where people were amazed at it), but I have to go with Frodo.
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
The Thief of Baghdad (1940)
Excalibur (1981)
The Thief of Baghdad (which will definitely be on my Retro-Hugo nomination list)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
Jason and The Argonauts (1963)
The Princess Bride (1987)
Princess Bride.
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Being John Malkovich (1999)
Abstain
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
Three Hearts and Three Lions, Poul Anderson
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
For cinematography reasons I’ve got to go with the Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Death, The High Cost of Living, Neil Gaiman
Ditto for Good Omens
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Myth Books, Robert Asprin
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
Ouch. Umm, I think the Hughart.
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
Again for cinematography, the Bull.
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
The Adventures of Baron Münchausen (1988)
Labyrinth (1986)
tie – I can’t make up my mind about this one.
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET, SECOND ROUND – FIRST HEAT
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Spirited Away (2001)
Oh that it just not okay.
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
The Adventures of Baron Münchausen (1988)
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Dark Crystal (1982)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
King Kong (1933)
wince
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
The Thief of Baghdad (1940)
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
Jason and The Argonauts (1963)
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Being John Malkovich (1999)
meh
BONUS BRACKET
1. ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES
Three Hearts and Three Lions, Poul Anderson
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. BOTH A WINNER AND A LOSER
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Death, The High Cost of Living, Neil Gaiman
3. WHIMSICAL STORIES
The Myth Books, Robert Asprin
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, Barry Hughart
4. IT’s TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO THINK OF A TITLE
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
Somebody needs to do something to those dice.
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET, SECOND ROUND – FIRST HEAT
1. GIANTS AMONG DIRECTORS
Spirited Away (2001)
2. WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND DESIGN
Labyrinth (1986)
3. LIVE ACTION PUPPETS VS STOP MOTION DOLLS
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
4. SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERITED IN THE SYSTEM
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
5. DWARVES AS COMIC RELIEF
Snowwhite and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
6. GRITTY OR KITSCHY
Excalibur (1981)
7. FUN AND EXCITEMENT
The Princess Bride (1987)
8. CROUCHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
FANTASY MOVIE BRACKET, SECOND ROUND – FIRST HEAT
1. abstain
2. Labyrinth (1986)
3. The Dark Crystal (1982)
4. King Kong (1933)
5. Lord of The Rings – Series (2001 ? 2003)
6. Excalibur (1981)
7. The Princess Bride (1987)
8. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
BONUS BRACKET
1. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
2. abstain
3.The Myth Books, Robert Asprin
4. abstain