http://thenewstalkers.com/feed/group_discuss Mon, 09 Nov 2026 14:58:55 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/19846/dune-part-2-is-going-viral-for-its-popcorn-bucket-that-some-joke-is-nsfw http://thenewstalkers.com/sandy-2021492/group_discuss/19846 Sun, 28 Jan 2024 22:02:05 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/8698/the-vast-of-night-review http://thenewstalkers.com/evilone/group_discuss/8698
The official explanation of The Vast of Night is:
In the twilight of the 1950s, on one fateful night in New Mexico, young switchboard operator Fay and charismatic radio DJ Everett discover a strange audio frequency that could change their small town and the future forever.

The move stars Sierra McCormick as 16 year old Fay Crocker who while working the operator switchboard for the sleepy little New Mexico town in the 1950's. Shortly after her shift starts the town's radios station news is interrupted by an weird noise. She hears the same noise again when someone calls in sounding frantic, but almost impossible to make out. After a few calls get cut off Fay calls the DJ Everett Sloan, played by Jake Horowitz, asking if he knows what it is.
Written by Andrew Patterson (as James Montague) and Craig W. Sanger, the movie has an X-Files - Twilight Zone feel to it. As with many small budget films it's more concerned with dialog than fancy visual effects to push the story along. The VFX that they do have is done exceptionally well. There is one long shot where the camera goes zipping around town from Fay through the high school basketball game to Everett. It's a super shot that's done seamlessly. 
Director Andrew Patterson and cinematographer M.I. Littin-Menz create a moody expectant urgency that once you give into it you're swept into a story of why and what. The audience is not catered to or talked down to. It feels authentic, atmospheric, and a little weird in the best way.
The Vast of Night if available for streaming now on Amazon Prime.

]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2020 15:05:29 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/6993/disney-ceo-star-wars-creator-george-lucas-felt-betrayed-by-sequel-approach http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/6993
Disney CEO: Star Wars creator George Lucas 'felt betrayed' by sequel approach
Bob Iger's memoir reveals how Lucas really felt about the first in the franchise's sequel trilogy.
BY JENNIFER BISSET, c/net, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

Anaheim, California.
Getty Images

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,
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George Lucas (left) and Bob Iger at the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Media Preview at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.  Getty Images
George Lucas hasn't exactly hidden his feelings about   Star Wars: The Force Awakens , the first in the franchise's sequel trilogy. In 2015, when the movie came out, he very carefully said,   "I think the fans are going to love it."   That was the same year he'd said   Disney's   handling of his films, which he referred to as "kids," made him feel like he'd   "sold them to the white slavers."
Now, four years later, Disney CEO Bob Iger is reliving Lucas' disappointment all over again. Lucas   "didn't hide his disappointment" over The Force Awakens, Iger said in his autobiographical memoir Iger's The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company, released Monday.
Lucas felt there was "nothing new" about the sequel directed by J.J. Abrams. 
"In each of the films in the original trilogy, it was important to [Lucas] to present new worlds, new stories, new characters, and new technologies. In this one, he said, 'There weren't enough visual or technical leaps forward,'" Iger said.


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But now we also know how Iger feels about Lucas' take.
"He wasn't wrong, but he also wasn't appreciating the pressure we were under to give ardent fans a film that felt quintessentially Star Wars .
"We'd intentionally created a world that was visually and tonally connected to the earlier films, to not stray too far from what people loved and expected, and George was criticizing us for the very thing we were trying to do."
Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4.05 billion. In 2015, The Force Awakens arrived and mostly fared well with critics and fans. However, some found it derivative of the original trilogy, and Lucas apparently had his own issues with it. 
"George immediately got upset as they began to describe the plot and it dawned on him that we weren't using one of the stories he submitted during the negotiations," Iger wrote. "George knew we weren't contractually bound to anything, but he thought that our buying the story treatments was a tacit promise that we'd follow them, and he was disappointed that his story was being discarded. I'd been so careful since our first conversation not to mislead him in any way, and I didn't think I had now, but I could have handled it better."
Added Iger: "George felt betrayed, and while this whole process would never have been easy for him, we'd gotten off to an unnecessarily rocky start."
The   next big Star Wars release   will be   The Mandalorian   series, arriving on   Disney Plus   Nov. 12. Then we get  The Rise of Skywalker , the final movie in the sequel trilogy, arriving Dec. 20.
Will Lucas be a fan?
At least he liked The Last Jedi.
]]> Tue, 24 Sep 2019 21:56:53 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/6527/denis-villeneuves-dune-movie-could-be-a-sci-fi-masterpiece-a-generation-in-the-making http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/6527
Denis Villeneuve's Dune Movie Could Be a Sci-Fi Masterpiece a Generation in the Making
It's the most famous sci-fi novel of all time. And it's considered impossible to adapt into a film.
By Matt Miller, Esquire, February 14 2019



This year, production is set to begin on the latest film adaptation of   Dune , Frank Herbert's beloved fantasy epic. With sci-fi maestro Denis Villeneuve ( Arrival ,   Blade Runner 2019 ) behind the project, his   Dune adaptation is one of the most anticipated movies of the decade, given the property's long, complicated history.
So, what is   Dune   actually about?
Published in 1965, Herbert's   Dune   is the world's best-selling science fiction novel of all time. It's also considered one of the best books of all time, along with a seminal work in the sci-fi genre. The book is set far into the future in an intergalactic feudal society where powerful noble houses fight for control over resources, armies, and planetary power. Paul Atreides is the heir to his powerful house, whose Duke Leto rules the planet of Caladan. House Atreides is ordered to take control of Arrakis, a barren desert planet with a brutal climate, but is the only place to mine Melange—a natural resource that produces a drug called Spice, which allows humanity to unlock their minds to be able to perform highly complex tasks.
On Arrakis, however, Duke Leto is betrayed by the Emperor and their rival House Harkonnen, which sets off a battle over the valuable planet of Arrakis. The planet itself is inhabited with giant sandworms and a native population known as Fremen, who, over generations, have learned to survive with water as their most precious resource and currency. When Paul is targeted as a potential messiah to lead the planet—and galaxy toward a new era—an epic story of war, betrayal, and mysticism unfolds.
Why was it so popular?
Well, upon its release,   Dune   received a heap of critical praise, winning both the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award for Best Novel. It kicked off an entire series that included five sequels. But the book itself was considered groundbreaking for its unique depiction of the future that tackled complex issues of environmentalism and gender dynamics. It also was hailed as the seminal work of a generation fascinated with psychedelics, as the Spice substance resembles a drug that helps the user reach untapped areas of the mind.
If it was such a big deal, has it become a movie?
Well yes, and that's exactly what's so controversial. There have been many attempts to adapt   Dune   into a movie over the decades, most famously by film genius David Lynch in 1984. That version was a massive failure, both critically and commercially, and is considered one of the biggest flops in movie history. Other attempts have been made by Ridley Scott, Peter Berg, and even Frank Herbert's son, but none ever made it into production.
An underwhelming miniseries version was released on Sci-Fi Channel in 2004, but there remains no movie adaptation that has done the book justice. Because of its scope—and the complex internal dialogues and depictions of psychedelic visions—many critics have considered the book impossible to adapt into a movie.
So, now we might actually get a good   Dune movie?
Well, that this is being directed by Denis Villeneuve—whose fantastic   Arrival   was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and   Blade Runner 2049   was a visual wonder—is very promising. Villeneuve has proved himself more than capable at adapting time-bending narrative structures into films (like   Arrival ) and create visual masterpieces (like 2049, which included stunning scenes that would make for a very gripping   Dune ).
Who is going to be in the new   Dune   film?
This is also very promising. Timothée Chalamet will play Paul Atreides. Rebecca Ferguson is his mother, Lady Jessica. Oscar Isaac is his father, Duke Leto Atreides. Stellan Skarsgård will be the villain, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. Dave Bautista is the Baron's nephew, Glossu Rabban. Zendaya is Chani, an important woman in her Freman tribe. Javier Bardem is in talks to play Stilgar, the leader of the Fremen tribe. And Josh Brolin has joined the cast as Gurney Halleck, a minstrel warrior. Most recently,   Deadline reported   that Jason Momoa will join the film as Duncan Idaho, a skilled swordmaster for House Atreides.
When is it supposed to be out?
Production is expected to being sometime this year, making the release date sometime in 2020, most likely.
MATT MILLER   Culture Editor Matt is the Culture Editor at Esquire where he covers music, movies, books, and TV—with an emphasis on all things Star Wars, Marvel, and Game of Thrones.

]]> Sat, 13 Jul 2019 08:13:51 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/5849/sci-fi-films-that-are-under-the-radar http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/5849
Sci-Fi Films That Are Under The Radar
By Justin Adams, GeekInsider, June 18 2015

We all know the  classic sci-fi movies , but there have been just as many that have fallen under the radar. Some of them have a lot to offer. So let’s talk about some of these lesser known sci-fi movie gems.


Night of the Comet   (1984)


First up is   Night of the Comet . The movie begins as a comet that has been away from Earth for 65 million years returns–and the world as we know it ends. All those exposed to the comet have either been reduced to dust or turned into zombies, except for a select few who were protected from exposure. Our main characters are LA teenage valley-girl sisters Regina and Doris, who survive due to pure luck and are now left in a brave new world. They also have to deal with a team of scientists who hid during the comet’s passing and have their own motives. The movie is now a cult classic, not because of its plot but because of how it treats the sci-fi/post apocalypse tropes with self-aware characters and a plot focused more on them than the monsters or antagonists. The movie influenced   Joss Whedon’s   Buffy the Vampire Slayer , which similarly overturned convention and featured self-aware characters.


THX 1138   (1971)


Although it was an influential film,   THX 1138   remains unknown to most. The movie is set in a dystopian society in the far future where an ant-like society of workers toil without emotion of any kind, kept it this state by drugs. When worker THX 1138 stops taking these drugs, he begins to feel again and becomes an outcast in his society. While it’s similar to past dystopian fiction like   1984 ,   Brave New World , and   We ,   THX 1138 succeeds in taking themes from all these works and presenting them as a whole with visual flair. The film was also the first big screen commercial film for George Lucas (who directed and wrote the film).


Zardoz   (1974)


First, let’s get this out of the way: Sean Connery’s costume looks ridiculous. Now that that’s been addressed, I want to go into why John Boorman’s   Zardoz   is worth your time. In the year 2293, Earth is a wasteland separated into 2 camps: The Brutals and the Eternals. The Brutals grow food, rape, pillage, murder, and worship the gun, which “brings forth death” and despise the penis “which brings forth life,” and are given order by their “god” Zardoz, a flying stone head. The Eternals, as their name suggests, live forever and have no sex drive.
This separation is ruptured when a Brutal named Zed stows away in the mouth of his god and emerges in Eternal society–a curious curiosity. The film is interesting both due to the visuals and the sci-fi themes it explores (the “false reality”   in films such as   The Matrix , the ennui that comes with immortality, and the upper-class gaining the benefits and safety of technology while others are left to die). What the film is about is harder to answer. Is it about class-warfare? Gender or sexuality? The Apollonian ethos vs. Dionysian ethos? All of them? None? Whatever the case, the movie made me think, which is what all good sci-f+i does. Check it out, just be prepared to have to pass through a membrane of strangeness.


Rollerball   (1975)


The original, NOT the remake. Another dystopian future, this one ruled by corporations (hard to imagine, eh?) where all sports have been replaced by the corporate state sponsored Rollerball. Just as the spectacle of gladiators kept the populace of ancient Rome docile, so too does Rollerball. But when one Rollerball player, Jonathan, begins to become more popular than the game itself, the foundation the sport and society are built on threatens to crumble. A fascinating critique of how spectacle both dehumanizes and distracts the public.
Justin Adams

Justin is a freelance writer and student. When not satiating his endless curiosity, he enjoys binge watching TV shows, reading comics, spending time with friends, and the Birmingham nightlife.

]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2019 01:50:41 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/4702/travelers-season-2-coming-soon http://thenewstalkers.com/trout-giggles/group_discuss/4702
https://www.netflix.com/title/80105699
The second season starts December 29 on Netflix. Yay!
I've been waiting for another season to start
]]> Wed, 20 Dec 2017 09:00:50 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/4548/what-is-the-best-science-fiction-series http://thenewstalkers.com/gordy327/group_discuss/4548
For the science fiction buff , here is a list of some science fiction series that has appeared on television, both past and present. For this list, I have only included live action sci-fi series that appeared on TV. So no movies, comic book stories, anime, ect.. The focus is on series which involved aliens and/or space travel. Travelling between universes, dimensions, realities, ect., is allowed. But TV series that were not meant to be science fiction, but rather contain sci-fi elements will not be considered. Also, no animated (computer or traditional) or anthology series. So sorry, you will not see ALF, Twilight Zone, or Star Trek: The Animated Series on this list (even though those were good shows too). Also, superhero based shows are off the list. Each series must also have had at least one full season of shows or is confirmed to have a full season. So no miniseries only. If you did not see a show on this list but think it should be considered, let me know. Bear in mind, given the sheer number of science fiction series that have been on TV over the years, this is probably an incomplete list. So let me know which series you liked best. Please, try to pick just one "best" series from the list. Based on your replies, I might try to narrow the list down to a Top 5 or 10 list. Thank you and enjoy. Star Trek: The original Series
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: Deep Space 9
Star Trek: Voyager
Babylon 5
Star Trek: Enterprise
Battlestar Galactica/Galactica 1980
Battlestar Galactica (reboot)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Firefly
The Orville
Quantum Leap
Sliders
V: The Series (1984)
V: the Series (2009)
Voyagers
Space Precinct
War of the Worlds
Alien Nation
Land of the Giants
Time Trax
Earth 2
Space: Above and Beyond
Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda
Lexx
Stargate SG1
Stargate Atlantis
Farscape
Flash Gordon
Earth: Final Conflict
]]> Sat, 28 Oct 2017 08:36:26 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/4202/see-the-federation-and-starfleet-costumes-and-props-from-star-trek-discovery http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/4202


See all the uniforms and the article here:
http://trekmovie.com/2017/07/20/sdcc17-see-the-federation-and-starfleet-costumes-and-props-from-star-trek-discovery/
]]> Mon, 14 Aug 2017 12:57:48 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/4158/sci-fi-short-film-the-secret-number http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/4158
I thought this was interesting. String theory suggests dimensions beyond the one we experience. This video suggests that we can't experience these other dimensions because we don't have the math. What if...............

]]> Thu, 03 Aug 2017 07:22:30 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/4157/stranger-things-season-2-official-final-trailer-netflix http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/4157 Thu, 03 Aug 2017 07:18:05 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/4154/firebase-from-oats-studios-and-neill-blomkamp http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/4154 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 17:20:20 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3530/doctor-strange-movie-trailer-2 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3530

This film is to be released in November, '16.  I can hardly wait, but I guess I'll have to.  This is gonna be great !
]]> Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:59:34 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3529/the-first-reviews-of-arrival-are-in-and-theyre-out-of-this-world-rimshot http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3529

 
]]> Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:51:32 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3354/gene-roddenberrys-son-will-produce-new-star-trek-series http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3354
From :  ttp://www.denofgeek.us/tv/star-trek/253462/gene-roddenberrys-son-will-produce-new-star-trek-series




Gene Roddenberry's son, Rod, has joined CBS's new Star Trek series as a producer.

CBS' new Star Trek TV series is off to a very good start. Not only has the network chosen Bryan Fuller, a franchise veteran, to helm the series as showrunner , but the writers' room will also boast the talent of Wrath of Khan writer-director Nicholas Meyer . Add to the list Rod Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, who will join Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, and Fuller as a producer. 
Rod Roddenberry previously worked with Roth on Trek Nation , a 2011 documentary about Star Trek ’s impact. Now they'll work together again to bring this new Star Trek series to life. The series is set to launch in 2017 on CBS' All Access digital video on-demand service.
"Moral dilemmas, human issues, complex characters, and a genuine sense of optimism: These are the cornerstones of Star Trek and are what have made it such an influential and beloved franchise for the last 50 years,” Roddenberry said in a statement. “While I will always be humbled by its legacy and the legions of fans who are its guardians, it’s a genuine honor to be joining a team of imaginative and incredibly capable individuals whose endeavor it is to uphold the tenets of Star Trek ’s legacy while bringing it to audiences in a new era and on a contemporary platform."
"Gene Roddenberry, the Great Bird of the Galaxy, left a finely feathered nest for all who love Star Trek to enjoy," showrunner Fuller said in a statement. "It is only fitting that Rod Roddenberry and Roddenberry Entertainment join our new Trek adventure to ensure that his father’s legacy of hope for the future and infinite diversity in infinite combinations runs through our tales as Gene Roddenberry intended."
And from:  http://www.treknews.net/2016/03/01/nicholas-meyer-different-star-trek/http://www.treknews.net/2016/03/01/nicholas-meyer-different-star-trek/



Nicholas Meyer, who was announced as a writer-producer on the new Star Trek television series, recently shared his thoughts on the upcoming project with Den of Geek . During the interview, the Wrath of Khan director discusses his hopes for the show and the challenges it will need to overcome.
When asked about the series’ format and whether it will be episodic self-contained stories or larger season-long story arcs, Meyer said:


I think it’s going to be a different Star Trek. It will go in a different direction. And I think that is probably good. Because the thing that mainly troubles me about Star Trek is the fear of it being maybe re-treads of itself. And to the degree that I had any influence on the thing [Star Trek] at all was that at least while I was there, we were fooling around. And if you’re not fooling around, then things can become stale. And I think that Bryan [Fuller]—who is a very clever fellow—has ideas—some of which I’ve heard—that are innovative and different. Different is what got me interested.


On what the show’s biggest challenge will be, Meyer said:


The same fear and challenge of every project. It’s called “failure.” Fear of failure!


Discussing the world’s political landscape and how it may play into the show, Meyer said:


The one thing I can relate to you is that The Undiscovered Country—according to Bryan [Fuller]—is a real sort of taking off point, or touchstone for how I guess he’s thinking about the direction of the new show. I don’t want to be misquoted and I don’t want to misquote him, but he’s fond of that film. Let’s put it that way.


The new Star Trek series will be helmed by Bryan Fuller and is set to debut in January 2017 on the digital over-the-top platform CBS All Access.
]]> Wed, 09 Mar 2016 21:10:35 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3347/mars-had-a-volcanic-blowup-so-huge-that-it-tilted-the-whole-planet http://thenewstalkers.com/petey-coober/group_discuss/3347




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By John Wenz





Mar 3, 2016







99

 



Earth has had some whoppers of volcanic explosions in the past, including one that may have been half of the one-two punch that led to the extinction of dinosaurs. But Mars can easily blow any of that away. It once had a volcanic eruption so huge, that it tilted the entire face of the planet by 25 degrees.
Sometime 3.5 billion to 3 billion years ago, when the planet was still wetter and warmer than it is today, the largest volcano in the solar system exploded. That volcano—the Tharsis volcanic dome—is 96.3 miles by 77.7 miles. When it exploded all those years ago, it disrupted the mantle and crust of the planet (though not the rest of the interior), shifting the whole outside crust up 25 degrees. When the volcano exploded, it did so with a mass of a "billion billion" metric tons of matter, or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 metric tons. 
This event may have also created the ancient riverbeds we see today by redirecting water flow. It also explains why there are water ice "glaciers" underground far from the poles of the planet, and why the Tharsis Tholus is located near the equator today. The results of the study from Géosciences Paris Sud, Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, and the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona were published yesterday in Nature . 
Source: Nature




]]> Thu, 03 Mar 2016 19:15:47 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3207/the-best-and-the-worst-serious-films-about-space-travel-and-mars http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/3207
The Best and the Worst (Serious) Films About Space Travel and Mars

By Johnny Rico, Action & War Movies Expert, About.com

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)


The Best!

Let's get this one out of the way first.  When you've got a Top 10 list about space travel and astronaut movies, it's almost a rule that somewhere on your list, you have to include 2001: A Space Odyssey.  Kubrick's master work, released in 1968, was so far ahead of its time, and set the design for so much of how the future would feel, that it's really the base genetic code of every other space move to follow in its footsteps.

 Although the actual movie has both brilliant moments and "what the hell?" moments, its historical prestige deserves it an honorary spot on the "Best" list.

Click this link to check out the other 11 choices.

http://warmovies.about.com/od/Sci-Fi/ss/The-Best-and-the-Worst-Serious-Films-About-Space-Travel-and-Mars.htm#step1

Comment by Buzz: 
Most of the films listed have been produced fairly recently, so I did not post this under the Classic Cinema group, but Science Fiction Fanatics is a good home for it. There is a considerable number of classic space travel films I would choose if I were putting together a best/worst list, other than the ones chosen by Johnny Rico. For worst I would have chosen Planet 9 From Outer Space and I would have trouble coming up with a #1 best, but I think the episodes 4, 5 and 6 of Star Wars will have to do. If the choices had been among sci-fi films instead of the limited space travel and Mars categories there are much better films than Star Wars.

What would be your choice for Best and Worst space travel and mars films?.
]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2015 05:40:57 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3183/star-wars-faq-how-was-anakin-skywalker-created http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/3183
Star Wars FAQ:  How Was Anakin Skywalker Created?
By Amelia Hill, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Expert, About.com
 
  Shmi Skywalker (Pernilla August) in 'Episode I': "There was no father.".  Lucasfilm Ltd.
Anakin Skywalker had no father. This apparent virgin birth is a common element in many hero myths, and helped convince many Jedi that Anakin was the Chosen One of ancient prophecy. Anakin's true origins, however, may have been more sinister.
Created by the Force

In Episode I: The Phantom Menace , Shmi Skywalker tells Qui-Gon Jinn that Anakin had no father, and she "can't explain what happened." Qui-Gon theorized that Anakin was conceived by midi-chlorians -- microscopic organisms that help Jedi connect to the Force -- which would explain Anakin's unusually high midi-chlorian count.
Created by Sith Experiments

In Episode III: Revenge of the Sith , Palpatine tells Anakin about Darth Plagueis, a Sith who learned to manipulate the Force to create life. His tale implies that Darth Plagueis manipulated the midi-chlorians to create Anakin -- a belief more explicitly embraced by later Sith Lords .
Which View is Correct?

Qui-Gon's theory about Anakin's creation implies that the Force has a conscious will, and acts on its own to fulfill prophecy. The Sith theory of Anakin's creation is consistent with the Sith view of prophecy: that it is less of a prediction and more of a suggestion that one must act to fulfill.
On one hand, Anakin's high Force-potential, birth into slavery, and late Jedi training made him a good candidate for Sith manipulation, suggesting that Darth Plagueis did create him for that purpose. On the other hand, becoming a Sith put Anakin in the right position to fulfill the prophecy of the Chosen One from the Jedi perspective and destroy the Sith.
Both viewpoints have merit and are accepted by different characters in the Star Wars universe.
It's even possible that both theories are true (from a certain point of view): that Darth Plagueis was only able to manipulate the midi-chlorians to create life -- a feat his apprentice was unable to replicate -- because of the Force's will to create Anakin. ]]> Sun, 01 Nov 2015 20:22:16 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3182/the-mouse-on-the-moon-a-short-study-of-the-predictions-of-science-fiction http://thenewstalkers.com/ttga/group_discuss/3182 The book was first published in 1962, seven years prior to the actual landing on the moon.  One thing that struck  me was that the astronauts from the Duchy of Grand Fenwick chose the date of July 20th as their take off date, because the moon was to be at perigee (closest point of approach to Earth) at that time.  It was only after I thought about it for a while that it occurred to me that the date of the actual moon landing was July 22, 1969.  Was it coincidence, was it for the same reason given in the book (perigee) or did Mr Wibberly know something that the rest of us didn't?  No solid answers, of course, but something interesting to think about.  I've found, as a general rule, that, of the predictions given in science fiction, most are fairly wide of the mark, but some are dead on.
In any case, if you're interested in a cute comedy that might actually make you think, I strongly recommend both The Mouse that Roared and The Mouse on the Moon .  Since they've both been out of print for decades, they may be hard to find, but definitely worth reading.
]]> Sat, 31 Oct 2015 18:25:26 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3161/how-back-to-the-future-rides-its-delorean-through-the-rich-tradition-of-time-travelling-fiction http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/3161
http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/3160/how-back-to-the-future-rides-its-delorean-through-the-rich-tradition-of-time-travelling-fiction

If you wish to comment, and are not yet a member of that group, membership is open and automatic if you click to join. ]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2015 07:23:08 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3158/my-favorite-dr-who-tom-baker-where-is-he-now http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/3158 Baker, who turned 81 this past January, has been making headlines recently. Not just any ol’ news, Star Wars news . Baker has been asked to lend his voice to a character specifically created for him as part of the Star Wars series, with Baker saying at a Day of the Doctors  convention, “I’m going to be in this new Star Wars thing, you know? I’m going down to record some voices for this new character they’ve created for me, very soon.” It’s not clear which Star Wars project he’s attached to, but no matter what, it’s pretty cool that the character was created for his voice specifically (according to the Doctor).

READ MORE HERE:
http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2015/09/tom-baker-where-is-he-now/ ]]> Wed, 21 Oct 2015 15:45:18 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2914/john-ringos-and-some-friends-legends-of-the-aldenata-seriesa-re-printed-review-of-mine http://thenewstalkers.com/neale-osborn/group_discuss/2914 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 23:26:26 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2911/doesnt-anybody-read-robert-a-heinlein-anymore http://thenewstalkers.com/neale-osborn/group_discuss/2911 Sat, 11 Aug 2012 16:21:40 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2824/discovery http://thenewstalkers.com/broliver-thesquirrel-stagnasty/group_discuss/2824 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:50:22 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2822/the-sine-creative-short-fiction http://thenewstalkers.com/broliver-thesquirrel-stagnasty/group_discuss/2822 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 01:11:36 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2818/dichotomy-first-part-of-an-extended-and-as-yet-incomplete-series http://thenewstalkers.com/broliver-thesquirrel-stagnasty/group_discuss/2818 Mon, 21 Jan 2013 23:42:33 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2816/dichotomy-second-installment http://thenewstalkers.com/broliver-thesquirrel-stagnasty/group_discuss/2816 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:55:28 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2781/yesterdays-fantasies-todays-inventions http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/2781 ]]> Thu, 14 Feb 2013 06:04:33 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2779/is-dune-done http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/2779


Notwithstanding the negative reaction which David Lynch's 1984 version of Frank Herbert's "Dune" had earned (including Lynch's own personal distaste for it), a remake was seriously considered, but now seems to be dropped. Even though I know I'm not joined by many others in my opinion, Frank Herbert's Dune series of novels were my favourite science fiction reading in my adult years. While I was a teen I had virtually devoured all of Edward E. (Doc) Smith's novels about Skylarks and Lenses, often referred to by Sci-Fi critics as "Space cowboy stories". However, Dune was more complex and full of technology, religion, conflict, treachery, heroism, good and evil, making for much interesting reading. I'm not critical of the original Lynch movie, or the TV mini-series that followed, or of the further series "Children of Dune" . However, I would really like to know what is happening.
The latest I have been able to find out about the proposed remake was this:
http://www.reelz.com/movie-news/9679/dunes-spice-wont-flow-at-paramount/
Do any of you sci-fi fanatics have any further news?
]]> Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:08:47 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2755/sacre-bleu-by-christopher-moore-and-other-stuff http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2755 Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:50:27 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2736/jim-butcher-fans http://thenewstalkers.com/miss-construed/group_discuss/2736 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 21:43:50 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2516/dalek-relaxation-tape-and-dalek-workout http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2516 Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:06:19 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2421/anyone-remember-the-stars-my-destination http://thenewstalkers.com/swamijim-sez/group_discuss/2421 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:50:56 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2318/two-sci-fi-short-films-the-gift-and-rosa http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2318 Sat, 01 Jun 2013 10:25:30 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2290/attention-dr-who-fans-the-doctor-who-puppet-episodes-1-2-and-3-plus-christmas-special http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/2290 Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:47:39 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/1798/great-moments-in-sci-fi http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/1798 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 04:47:09 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/1787/reaping-for-dummies-not-sf-but-fun-anyway http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/1787 Thu, 26 Dec 2013 19:32:35 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/1786/azarkant-a-sf-short-film http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/1786 Thu, 26 Dec 2013 20:11:57 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/1711/lot-254-a-film-on-vimeo http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/1711 Tue, 04 Feb 2014 22:35:08 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/1678/godzilla-2014-trailers http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/1678 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 09:35:59 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/1463/we-rank-the-most-important-props-in-sci-fi-and-fantasy-history http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/1463
8. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial Elliots BMX We were torn between this and ET himself who, being a puppet, is technically a prop himself (and is arguably pretty darn important). But we had to go with the bikenothing sums up the movies feel of suburban innocence and eighties nostalgia better. Fun fact: according to this article , the bike actually has been boughtand riddenby the lead singer of rock band Kasabian. 7. Terminator the T-800 Arm Its the scariest looking prop on this listbut also arguably the most bad-ass. The T-800 arm marks the moment that mainstream movie sci-fi went truly gory in the mid eightiespaving the way for blood-stained blockbusters ever since! 6. Back to the Future The Delorean The Delorean is a reminder that great sci-fi can be big budget and exciting while retaining a grounded sense of humour about itself. After all, who would be crazy enough to make a time machine out of such a garish eighties monstrosity other than the inimitable Doc Brown? If youre going to time travel, why not do it in style?! Sure, sure. 5. Star Trek The Phaser The Phaser sums up the ethos of the Star Trek universe perfectlyits sleek, stylish and understated, but its also humanedesigned primarily to stun rather than kill. Whats more ,an original is worth worth hella dolla. One from the 1960s series went for $231,000 just last year. 4. Star Wars Luke's Lightsaber The lightsaberthe Arthurian broadsword for the seventies generation. Star Wars is a series that (at least in its original incarnation) was pitched somewhere between sci-fi epic and medieval folktale. Two strains that meet with this little gadget. And, like the phaser, a copy from the set will fetch a pretty penny. Lukes own sword went for almost $250,000 at an auction in 2008. 3. Doctor Who The TARDIS It says something about how iconic a prop is when its more recognizable as something from a TV show than for what its actually designed to resemblein this case, a 1960s London Police box. Travelling back in time and walking around the city in that decade would be an excitingand highly confusingexperience for any Whovian, thats for sure. 2. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy The One Ring Does any other single prop so effectively sum up an entire film franchise as The One Ring? We think not! Although a number of different versions of the prop were created (some of which reportedly ended up with the actors), the master prototype is valued at over $50,000. 1. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Buck Rogers Ray Gun Thats right, weve gone ultra historical for the last entry. But were not trying to be difficult. Before Buck Rogershis first movie appearance was in 1933there were no Ray Guns. This is the prop that inspired multiple generations of high-tech-sci-fi pistolry and lazer-themed weapons in general. Truly, a piece of nerd history. Did we miss any? http://www.sparknotes.com/mindhut/2014/05/12/we-rank-the-most-important-props-in-sci-fi-and-fantasy-history ]]> Sun, 01 Jun 2014 21:01:03 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/748/atropa-a-short-film http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/748 Sat, 10 Jan 2015 21:56:17 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/747/we-were-not-made-for-this-world-a-short-video http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/747 Sat, 10 Jan 2015 22:00:40 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/745/envoy-a-short-film http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/745 Sat, 10 Jan 2015 23:06:12 -0500 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/406/5-classic-dystopian-movies http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/406 A subgenre of science fiction, dystopian movies have their roots in the fiction of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, and early examples often depicted a bleak future where humanity has been homogenized by soul-crushing technology. Later sci-fi dystopias focused on a not-too-distant future where society has been decimated by crime or some cataclysmic event. Here are five dystopian sci-fi films.

Click this link to read about the 5 dystopian movies: http://classicfilm.about.com/od/movielistsbygenre/tp/5-Classic-Dystopian-Movies.htm This link takes you to a list of links and the second link (at this time) is the Dystopian article, so click the second link to take you there. I can't get the original link to go directly to the article. ]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2015 05:17:50 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/402/great-moments-in-sci-fi http://thenewstalkers.com/buzz-of-the-orient/group_discuss/402 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 06:07:07 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/140/3d-printed-violin-looks-like-a-sci-fi-sea-creature http://thenewstalkers.com/petey-coober/group_discuss/140 https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/3d-printed-violin-looks-sci-011207487.html This article, 3D-printed violin looks like a sci-fi sea creature , originally appeared on CNET.com . Enlarge Image Video screenshot by Leslie Katz/CNET 3D printing has a way of making the most ordinary objects look like alien life forms . Even the stately violin gets a dramatic, futuristic makeover when put through the 3D-printing paces. We've seen it happen once with a strange and beautiful stringed instrument from architecture studio Monad that came out looking like a klingon weapon. Now we see it again with a transparent 3D-printed violin that looks like it would be more at home in a Mars symphony hall than the court of King Louis XIV. This one, called the 3Dvarius , is a fully playable electric violin based on the storied Stradivarius, known for its craftsmanship and superb sound. Related stories This strange and beautiful object is a 3D-printed violin 3D-printed prosthetics turned into musical instruments "Combining the precision and power of 3D printing with ancient violin-making skills, its innovative design, in the service of violinist, marks a further step towards the perfect symbiosis between musician and instrument," reads the site for the product. French musician Laurent Bernadac designed the instrument using 3D-modeling tools. He printed the body using stereolithography , or SLA, which involves printing products a layer at a time by curing a photo-reactive liquid resin with a UV laser or similar power source. He then removed the excess resin, first manually and then using precision tools; cleaned the surface with a high-pressure blowing tool; and sanded the body into smoothness. Then came the tricky part, stringing the violin and progressively tuning it to get just the right timbre. The result is a lightweight prototype instrument (named Pauline, by the way), whose strings can withstand the tension of being played with abandon -- and produce a pretty ear-catching sound in the process. Watch Bernadac play the crazy-looking violin of the future below. (Via Designboom ) ]]> Thu, 13 Aug 2015 02:56:16 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/115/leading-scientists-agree-that-the-octopus-is-basically-an-alien http://thenewstalkers.com/petey-coober/group_discuss/115 http://entertainment.ie/life/Leading-scientists-agree-that-the-octopus-is-basically-an-alien/368982.htm Leading scientists agree that the octopus is basically an alien We've long suspected that octopuses / octopodes / whatever are so damn creepy and unsettling, they've GOT to be aliens. After all, they're capable of slipping through the tiniest of openings to escape, they're able to figure out a jam jar works and they're essentially the evil genius of the deep sea. Dr. Clifton Ragsdale, a leading researcher at the University of Chicago, conducted the first genome sequence of the octopus and found some pretty interesting results. For one, it is completely different from all animals - or humans, for that matter. "The octopus appears to be utterly different from all other animals, even other molluscs, with its eight prehensile arms, its large brain and its clever problem-solving abilities," explained Dr. Ragsdale. He went on, quoting zoologist Martin Wells who first postulated that the octopus must be alien. "In this sense, then, our paper describes the first sequenced genome from an alien." Humans carry 25,000 protein-coding genes whereas the octopus has 33,000 - that's a total of 8,000 more coding genes than us. PAY ATTENTION IN THE BACK THERE, I'M NOT REPEATING THIS. Anyway, the sequencing conducted at the University of Chicago also had a few other discoveries. For one, the researchers think they've cracked how the octopus is able to think so fast and how it registers taste through its suckers on its tentacles. Sorry if you were eating just there. Moreover, the octopuses' ability for its tentacles to continue functioning - even after it's been dismembered - is being adopted and researched for use in robotics. So when the robot apocalypse eventually happens and we find out that dismembering them has little or no effect, we'll have the octopus to thank. Wonderful. Look, it's all very exciting - but here's the takeaway. The octopus is an alien who is biding their time until they develop an evil formula to conquer the surface. Be. WARNED. ]]> Wed, 19 Aug 2015 23:25:42 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/103/the-leap-short-film-on-vimeo http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/103 Sun, 23 Aug 2015 23:24:36 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/102/dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-zombies-and-the-giant-killer-plants-on-some-serious-acid http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/102 Sun, 23 Aug 2015 23:47:16 -0400 http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/59/whats-preventing-the-district-9-sequel-from-happening-anytime-soon http://thenewstalkers.com/nigel-dogberry/group_discuss/59 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 08:20:51 -0400