Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Movie Clip Wednesday - Best Science Fiction


Boxer is hosting a Movie Clip Wednesday Meme where everyone picks a clip from their favorite movies based on a weekly theme. This week's theme is BEST SCIENCE FICTION. I didn't have to think on this one too much. I remember seeing a very cryptic trailer for this movie in the theater in late 1976 (it might have been when I saw Jaws) and thinking - what the hell? The suspense that this movie generated even before I saw it was memorable - because I am remembering it today. That movie was 1977's Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

This was at a time when UFOs, alien abductions and Area 51 were in vogue. This was a sci-fi movie the likes of which I had never seen. Most movies to this point never really showed the aliens and their space craft up close. They were always some nebulous thing that you would just get glimpses of. This movie started out that way but really delivers at the end. Richard Dreyfuss as Roy Neary, the every-man utility worker was really good in this. And his wife, Teri Garr was still pretty hot. I couldn't find my favorite scene where he and Jillian (played by Melinda Dillon) escape from the military and take off their gas masks. I remember holding my breath when they did that. Here's the movie trailer:



If you want to see more really good sci-fi movies, then head on over to Boxer's.

23 comments:

Princess said...

Dear Buzz Kill,

I liked this movie and it was ground breaking at the time with it's storyline and Special effects.. the cast was great too. Contact with Aliens. Who would have thought? And here we are years later, all still waiting for confirmation...

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

light, sound, actions,
what fun video!
cool post!

Milk River Madman said...

Great clip. Great movie. Speilberg was really on his game in the 70's.

LẌ said...

Very good choice!

My daughter was a classmate of the girl who played Dreyfus' daughter in the movie. Still cracks me up to see her on film.

Jenny said...

Great pick. Mr. Boxer and I often will start making Devil's Tower out of food when bored or hate what we're eating. I always liked the first and could easily watch again. I had a little crushee on Dreyfus too. (I loved him in Jaws.)
Happy MCW. No blog jinxes this week.

Jenny said...

XL - very cool about your connection to the movie.

Heff said...

"Teri Garr was still pretty hot" Ha !!

Buzz Kill said...

Princess
They walk among us and are mostly democrats. Relax, it was just a joke.

Jingle
Welcome to the buzzkill. That whole scene where the computer was comunicating with the aliens through light and sound was pretty cool.

Madman
The man really was. Just about eveything he touches turns to gold.

xl
A brush with greatness. Was it Adrienne Campbell (I looked it up)? IMDB says this was the only movie she made. One of the sons was actually Richard Dreyfuss' nephew.

Boxer
When I have piles of dirt after sweeping the kitchen floor, I always say "this means something". The kids have no idea what I'm talking about.

Heff
Come on, this was shortly after she did Young Frankenstein and she was hot back then. Have a look:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/4053174905_351c97745f.jpg

You gotta like the way she's holding that candle.

chickory said...

beep beep beep bomp beep
beep beep beep bomp beep
beep beep beep bomp beep
beep beep beep bomp beep
beep beep beep bomp beep

ice cream! *giggle*

i loved the beginning of the movie with
the first ships making their presence visible. didnt love the tiresome bad home life scenes as dreyfus cracks up. (editor! please!)

happy MCW

Heff said...

Oh, hell man - I was AGREEING with you !

moi said...

We re-watched this recently and found that unlike many movies of this genre that were made decades ago, it still holds up really well. And, I've climbed that sucker of a tower. Very weird rock.

Happy MCW!

Buzz Kill said...

Chicky
You really like doing those artistic patterns don't you? I thought Dreyfuss having a nervous breakdown and building the trashcan devils tower in his basement was pretty funny.

Heff
As long as you were agreeing with me.

BlazngScarlet said...

Ooooohhhhh .... awesome pick! :D

Aunty Belle said...

heh...some of hear it, an some of doan't.

Classic selection, BuzzK!

happy MCW

Dani said...

This movie ROCKED!!!! Loved it then, love it now.

Buzz Kill said...

Moi
Really, that's cool. Is there a trail or di you actually mountain climb?

Scarlet
Glad you like.

Aunty
I hear it.

Dani
This movie is holding up to time pretty well.

Karl said...

Good evening Buzz Kill,

I really enjoyed this movie and you're right about Teri Garr. Of course if it really happened we'd be screwed.

Happy Clip Day!

LaDivaCucina said...

Just watched this (again) not too long ago and now don't feel the need to watch for a long time (if DJ Nevah L8 doesn't manage to find it playing again, that is! grrr...) Surprisingly, this movie DOES hold up well and yes, TERI GARR WAS HOT (i liked her in Mr. Mom too) She was kinda cute and goofy.

I liked District 9, worth it to get out on Netflix again, Buzz.

moi said...

Nooooooooo. It was an actual six pitch-climb. The first three were rated something like 5.gazillion. Hardest thing I've ever done. I had bruises head to toe. Funny thing is, after we completed the first three pitches, we got rained down. And once on the ground, learned that the last three pitches were cake walks. D'oh! One of these days, I'm going back to finish.

Pam said...

I can't believe I didn't make it over here to comment for MCW! This is one I have actually seen and might even see again. Because it is mostly a detective story, really, isn't it? I think so anyway.

Aunty Belle said...

Wow--congrats on Haiku win BuzzK!!

Buzz Kill said...

Karl
Relax, that's why it's called science fiction.

Diva
I just recently read that Teri Garr has MS - sad. I'm sure District 9 will be on HBO soon.

Moi
Very cool. I've never done any climbing and I think it may be too late for me now.

Pam
As sci-fis go this is pretty tame and you're right, it kind of is a detective movie. I never thought of it that way.

Aunty
Thanks. I think I get a lot of the pity votes.

LaDivaCucina said...

Hi Buzz, I came over here in case you didn't check back at my comments:

RE: the molasses rum chicken: Hey Buzzy, that's GREAT! I thought that chicken was the bomb! I'm sure yours turned out good, the ginger would have added some heat and I'm sure the lime juice worked fine. Thanks so much for the feedback.

By the way, I got your joke about the "elegance" of the pork sticks! I thought the same, but what can you do? Tasted great!