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Harry Lime sends Father Geek his review of GALAXY QUEST
Well ol' Father Geek received the following report from our favorite blackmarketeer Harry Lime today. Its a report on GALAXY QUEST and Father Geek hopes all sci-fi fandom types go and see this wonderful film. I 1st read the script over a year ago and commented to Harry that I felt it had alot of potential if Dreamworks handled it right. Well, they have, it is hard to have more fun in a theater than you will at this flick geeks. In Austin they are even having a costume contest screening. Coooooooool!!! Here's Lime's thoughts on the film... BEWARE... He may give a little too much away for some tastes... so read on at your own risk... You've been warned!
GALAXY QUEST is a science fiction comedy about a group of actors who get
a chance to live out their TV roles for real. It's directed by Dean
Parisot, who debuted last year with the Drew Barrymore film HOME FRIES,
and written by first-timer David Howard. It's kind of like STAR TREK
meets THREE AMIGOS. Although I'm definitely more of a STAR WARS man,
I've always found the original STAR TREK television series and 1980's
motion pictures quite enjoyable. Now, I'm not gluing crap to my head
and going to conventions in uniform (not that there's anything wrong
with that), but I'd be a liar if I said there was nothing worthwhile
about TREK. It's definitely got a lot of intentionally funny material
to be mined for satire.
The film explores the question: What if a group of persecuted aliens
searching for heroes accidentally mistook the cast of a popular sci-fi
TV show for true space travelers? The aliens in the film are a race
called Thermians, octopus looking creatures who for the most part take
humanoid shape. Oppressed and on the verge of being completely killed
off, they receive a transmission from earth: the broadcasts of the TV
show "Galaxy Quest," which they mistake for historical documents.
Impressed by the ideals of GQ, they rebuild their society to exactly
match every aspect of the show. Their final move to ensure their
survival is to acquire the brave crew of the show to help them fight
their deadly adversary, Sarris, a cartoonishly bad dude and insane
makeup effect by Stan Winston. The concept is brilliant and the overall
execution is effective.
Tim Allen stars as the Shatneresque actor Jason Nesmith, who in the film
played a Captain Kirk-like character named Commander Peter Quincy
Taggart on the popular science fiction television show "Galaxy Quest."
Allen, whose big screen legacy is so far limited to the god awful THE
SANTA CLAUSE and his skillful voice work as Buzz Lightyear in the TOY
STORY movies (since JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE doesn't exist, right... RIGHT?!),
turns in a nice bit of character acting here. Although he does use
Shatner as a jumping off point, he manages to assert his own
characterization pretty early on. Since the cancellation of "Galaxy
Quest," Nesmith and the other stars of the show have chosen to do
appearances at conventions to sign autographs and answer show related
questions for the show's rabid fans to pay the bills. Well before Allen
appears on screen, it's obvious that Nesmith isn't well liked by his
co-stars. In the beginning he's soured by being the butt of jokes, but
quickly changes gears and is overcome by a childlike innocents when he
learns he gets to be Commander Peter Quincy Taggart for real. Aside for
Buzz Lightyear, I've never really cared for Allen, but there's a real
vulnerable, human side he displays here as the beaten TV actor who gets
a second chance at being a star.
Alan Rickman co-stars as Alexander Dane, a prissy British actor who
plays the Mr. Spock-like Dr. Lazarus. He's on the verge of a mental
breakdown at the beginning of the film when Nesmith is an hour late for
their appearance. He rambles on pathetically about being a classically
trained actor who once played Hamlet, but is now typecast as the
half-humanoid, half-reptilian sidekick. Rickman, who was pretty damn
funny in DOGMA, works here as a splendid punchline on a number of
levels. His performance is dedicated and the change his character goes
through marks one of the film's more dramatic moments.
No stranger to sci-fi settings and slimy aliens, Sigourney Weaver
reminds us that she is indeed funny when she chooses to be. Correct me
if I'm wrong (and I'm sure you will), but I don't think she's done a
comedy since the second GHOSTBUSTERS movie. Her role here as Gwen
DeMarco/Lt. Tawny Madison is quite a surprise. It's almost impossible
to believe that the same actress who played the tough Ellen Ripley in
the ALIEN films is the same big breasted blonde space babe in GALAXY
QUEST. The first time I saw the poster I was taken aback. I confided
in Moriarty that I really wanted to get busy with Sigourney, as
perplexing as that sounds. Don't get me wrong, Ms. Weaver is a fine
actress. I just don't want to get busy with her… or do I? Overall, I
had a very good reaction to her.
Personally, I think Tony Shalhoub should be in every movie made. And if
you don't agree with me, then you can go to hell. Tony Shalhoub is a
national treasure. There should be a shrine to Tony. Tony is a god.
Ever since I first saw him as the cab driver in the ill-fated QUICK
CHANGE and as the fast talking studio exec in the Coen's brilliant
BARTON FINK, I've been a hardcore Shalhoub fan. Perhaps his greatest
mark in cinema was made in the masterpiece BIG NIGHT. If you haven't
seen it, go rent it right now then come back and read the rest of this
review. In short, Tony's the man. Here he plays kind of the Scotty
character. He had me on the floor. I don't want to give away any of
his bit because you just have to see them for yourself.
The rest of the supporting cast also does wonderful work. Daryl
Mitchell has some funny moments and is probably a big fan of Chris
Tucker in THE FIFTH ELEMENT. Justin Long, in his big screen debut as a
young fan of the show, gives a natural performance and will no doubt be
popping up in future films. Enrico Colantoni, who plays the Frank
Darabont lookin' dude on NBC's "Just Shoot Me," is the main Thermian who
makes first contact with Nesmith during the film's opening scenes. His
work here is exceptionally risky. It's the kind of performance that
either endears an audience or makes them want to hurl. I admire his
guts for trying to pull such a role off. And what episode of STAR TREK
would be complete without the crewmember who we've never seen before who
beams down to the planet surface only to be killed? Sam Rockwell plays
Guy, a seedy out of work actor (who may or may not have a last name) who
played that crewmember on one episode of "Galaxy Quest" and is now
serving as host at conventions. As luck would have it, he gets taken
along for the adventure and fears that he'll be "written out" of the
episode at every turn. Everyone works well as an ensemble and gives
each other room to shine.
I had a pretty good reaction to the film overall. It reminded me of Mel
Brooks when he was funny. There's also a built-in familiarity that
makes it easy to get into. One of the coolest things about the film is
the level of special effects. This is ILM's Bill George (THE PHANTOM
MENACE) and Stan Winston doing a comedy. In the past, it seemed that
great special effects were only afforded to "serious" sci-fi films.
It's great to see this kind of work now used in comedies and smaller
independent films like CITY OF LOST CHILDREN. Another great thing about
it is that it's a family film. I think kids are gonna dig the broad
comedy and visual punches while parents laugh at the comic references
and subtle work by the stars. As a genre picture, it's easily better
than the last STAR TREK fiasco (Paramount better get their asses in
gear) and could either fail like the immensely underrated THE FRIGHTNERS
and THE FIFTH ELEMENT or hit like GHOSTBUSTERS and MEN IN BLACK.
Well, I have to end this thing so I can finally go see THE GREEN MILE.
Would you believe I still haven't seen it? You'll have to excuse me if
I seem to be avoiding movie theaters as of late. Having just spent over
twenty-four hours in an ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE theater seat at the mercy of Harry Knowles and
his electrified tennis rackets at BUTT-NUMB-A-THON in Austin, I feel a lot like Frank Sinatra in THE
MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE. I'm sure I'll recover, but it'll be a long road.
--H.L.
harrylimeAICN@yahoo.com
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+ Expand All
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I'd be hard pressed to name a bad movie with him in it (that I've seen, anyway)...and the guy seems to play a different nationality in every movie, which is kinda cool. (Hollywood Jewish in Barton Fink, Italian in Big Night, Middle Eastern in The Seige, Alien in Men in Black, and...god only knows in Quick Change.) For those wondering, in real life he's Lebanese. By the way, Sigourney was in Dave, which is a comedy made since Ghostbusters 2. And she's living proof that some women do get more attractive as they age. I didn't think about her in that way at all in ALIEN or Ghostbusters, but in Alien: Resurrection she was definately easy on the eyes...now in Galaxy Quest, she's become a bona fide hottie! Definately unusual in Hollywood...
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It's nice to see this project getting good buzz. I loved the idea when I heard about it (OK, it's a bit like THE THREE AMIGOS, but it's worth exploring further), although some film buffs on the net don't seem to be that enthused by it. I hope this film is as good as this reviewer thinks- I loved the trailer, it's got the look of STAR TREK down pat and has a great cast. Shalhoub is a genius (his ability to play all kinds of ethnicities is quite impressive), Rickman is good, Allen can be funny when he really tries, and Sigourney- wow. She does indeed look utterly gorgeous in this, and will probably be pretty good. Has anyone been to the "Unofficial GALAXY QUEST Fan Site" at www.galaxyquest.com/galaxyquest? It's a mock site dealing with the "original" Galaxy Quest series, complete with episode reviews and an authentic fan site look. Good times- this should be a lark.
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He single-handedly made the show Wings watchable. Too bad he can't do the same for Stark Raving Mad. Bad writing is bad writing.
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Harry, we need a TalkBack for discussion of the Golden Globe nominations. Who deserves it, who doesn't deserve it. These always end up being good topics. I really want to talk to someone about John Malkovich's and THREE KINGS' absence from the nominees. And I want to hear how many "joygasms" (copyright, Harry Knowles, 1999) you had when you found out TOY STORY 2 was nominated. Come on. It'll be fun.
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"Frighteners comments?" Are you responding to a different Talkback, or has there been some censoring going on here? "The 5th Element was the worst piece of eurotrash space garbage I have seen in quite a while." Again, to what Talkback are you responding? Incidentally, I disagree with you entirely. The 5th Element was one of my favourite films of this decade. Still, different strokes for different folks.
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...and Tony Shalhoub *IS* in every movie.
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I'm in Melbourne Australia, and I caught the bloopers at the end of Toy Story 2 on the first day of release, a week after the U.S. release, they were waaay better than the Bugs life bloopers, and, not to say anything bad about the movie at all.. it doesn't deserve it, but the outtakes were the funniest part of the movie.. and they got the most laughs easily. You have to take the chance on seeing it agian if you missed them in the showings you saw. Ive seen it 4 times, and the outtakes were there only that one time.. cross your fingers.
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All right, so some might think love and sex in the time of AIDS isn't so funny, but I heard it was *supposed* to be a comedy and Sigourney was definitely in it.
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Dec 21, 1999 10:07:22 AM CST
Alien Resurrection wasn't meant to be funny? 'Cause it sure was
by musgrave
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Why don't you read the review one more time? It would answer some questions for you.
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I went to the same special screening as Harry, and I have to tell you - -as much as I was unprepared for it, this movie was pretty damn funny. Think about it: No one has really done a complete Star Trek spoof, and this is exactly what it is! And I'm with the reviewer above, the special effects were really, really good! How often do you say that nowadays? Usually we take special effects for granted. Go into the movie with good expectations, and you will be pleasantly surprised because . . .I had a really good time watching this flick.
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Sigourney was also in "Working Girl" as the boss of Melanie Griffith (now there's an overrated talent)...
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Just saw a sneak preview of it last night. I must say this was by far better than most of the stupid Trek movies and episodes they've had lately. Other than First Contact I can't remember the last Trek that got me droolingly excited (probably Undiscovered Country). I've never been a fan of DS9 really (mostly cause I can't stand Sisko). Anyway, I say this could possibly be the start of a better more refreshing franchise.
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I have to say that S. Weaver has always been a hottie!! The preview doesn't really show what the movie is supposed to be about so I'm glad for this review. I couldn't get over her with blond hair (I did a couple double takes on that). The fact that this is a spoof on Trek makes me want to see it more. BTW Shaloub (sp?) is very good in all the movies that I've seen him in, I hope he does more. BTW The 5th Element rocked (effects, story, soundtrack, pacing, acting). But to each their own!!
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You MUST see it, at http://www.galaxyquest.com/galaxyquest/. I nearly died of laughter. It's not only a parody of sci-fi, it's a parody of a sci-fi fan website. The description of past episodes and the interview with the bimbo actress is hilarious - anybody who's read fanzines will recognise the reverent tone.
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Is it me, or does Galaxy Quest have the basic plot as 'Three Amigos'? Now there's an 80's movie just Screaming for a Sequel (right after the do 'Golden Child II')
CB -
I honestly enjoyed Galaxy Quest a lot when I saw it on Christmas, although there were some overly talkative, small children in the theatre. However, if this film had not been released as a holiday movie, I feel certain that it would be a considerably different movie.
The makers of this film were not ignorant of Tim Allen's family audience appeal, and they surely wanted a rating low enough to hit that market for the holidays. Unfortunately, it seems that a lot of the demographic that I assume reads this web site will be missing out on a lot of the original content of the film.
On several occasions during viewing this film, my girlfriend and I noticed that the actors had been overdubbed with different dialog. At one point, Daryl Mitchell's character said, "He is full of shit!" and it was turned into "He is full of it!" and there was an even more noticeable case where Sigourney Weaver's character said "Fuck this!" and it was turned into "Screw this!"
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that there were some holes in the film. The biggest one that I perceived was that Fred, played by Tony Shalhoub, was stoned throughout the film, and they didn't show him torching up. He had a serious case of the munchies and acted very visibly stoned throughout the movie. My parents, who saw the film with us, denied up and down that the character was stoned... as if they would know.
Also, there is a scene where Alan Rickman's character says he's going to go see if there's a pub, and the scene cuts and the audience is expecting to see a scene something like Ten Forward on the Enterprise or Quark's bar on Deep Space Nine, but that scene isn't there.
So, like a splinter in my mind is the question: Will I ever get to see the whole film (perhaps in a DVD director's cut release) or is that all we get?
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