The Black Hole (1979)

[HarlotBug3]

As a four year old my parents put up Black Hole Themed wall paper in my bedroom...I wouldn't actually see the movie till years later (still a kid). I recall it, and would like to revisit it, as the misguided accidental gem it was.

Really, I envy those who were young adults in late 70s/early 80s scifi era, the last step of effects being new rather than improved. Decades from now, kids who have never seen anything but hyper-real (not quite the same as realistic, btw) CGI will find something fascinating in the idea of actually building an elaborate prop or backdrop.

[Neville]

Being born in 1977, I'm a children of the 80s. As good as CGI is becoming these days, I still can feel my hearbeat quickening when I see an elaborate model or a maté painting. Nothing can beat old school FX, except maybe in the case of stop-motion animation. I'm glad that's gone.

(Ducks to avoid objects thrown by Harryhausen fans)

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

I just gotta say.  Go watch Wallace and Gromit one more time Mr. Anti-Clay!
Don't make me go all Ymir on you!

-Ed

[Neville]

I'm not against stop-motion on claymation films, only when it's mixed with real action. C'on, many times you can count the "cuts" in the animation in real time.

I also enjoyed some of the Harryhausen fantasy films, but when you use stop-motion in a more realistic environment it looks like crap. Take the ED-209 in the first "Robocop" movie, for example. It couldn't look more awful if they did it on purpose. Which they didn't, I'm sure.

Can you imagine how awful "Starship troopers" woul have looked with stop motion creatures? Ugh.

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

look more awful if they did it on purpose. Which they didn't, I'm sure.

Can you imagine how awful "Starship troopers" woul have looked with stop motion creatures? Ugh.

Frankly I hated that movie so much, ANYTHING would be an improvement!
But you made your point
-Ed

[inframan]

This might be one of those 'you had to have been there' movies. I really like it, but then I remember when it first came out. I had a Maximilian action figure that did battle with some Star Wars figures.