Sci-fi spoofs: an underrated art form?

I've posted the following on an old blog. It was a lot of fun and I thought I'd share it with you here at Belle Sakura Saloon.


By the way, Zardoz (above) is a fantastic Sci-Fi movie, clever, imaginative and original.

Sci-fi spoofs: an underrated art form?

Or is it? How does one define art and more precisely how does one define form? Is form bound to shape or is it intrinsically different from an ontological perspective?

1. Neopatriarchial objectivism and cinematical conceptualism as seen in G.O.R.A. (2004)


This cinematic narrative relates to the archetypal struggle of the individual vs society as a whole. Here the aforementioned individual is embodied by a figure of the Everyman or the closest representation of the Everyman in modern society, a used carpet salesman named (interestingly enough) Arif.

Any enlightened viewer is bound to know that the meaning of that name is tantamount to the English word "Knowledgeable." This is no shallow exercise in onomastics as we can see that this is indeed a direct reference to Thomas Moore's Utopia . The parallels between Arif and Raphael Hythloday are certainly intended as are the Neo-Platonic elements borrowed from the 16th century classic. Thus these shouldn't be construed as antinomic to the inner workings of structure in the shifting paradigm that we've already mentioned.

From a Lacanian interpretation we had to emphasize the notion that neopatriarchial objectivism suggests that consciousness is used to disempower the proletariat. Furthermore the name Arif is indisputably of Arab origins thus denoting a break from the Turkish vernacular used in the cinematic narrative albeit a minor one. This rupture is furthered by the inclusion of Arabic songs and music in the movie which create a subsequent displacement that is at the core of the cinematical conceptualism which is defined in the narrative.

A further dsplacement is introduced when the protagonist is abducted by extra-terrestrial humanoids from the planet G.O.R.A. and becomes embroiled in their plans concerning the future of planet Earth. What is at stake is not as much the survival of human life as the exploration and self discovery of alien sexual identity and even the definition of what is intrinsically a fictional questioning of both genre and sexual identity.

Spoiler:

2. Underlying narratives of cinematic stasis in The Attack of the Giant Moussaka (1999)


Quantum theory implies that space-time is a self-contained continuum without boundaries. In A brief history of time, Stephen Hawking states that "the whole history of science has been the gradual realization that events do not happen in an arbitrary manner, but that they reflect a certain underlying order, which may or may not be divinely inspired."

This aptly applies to I epithesi tou gigantiaiou mousaka (The Attack of the Giant Moussaka) as we are left facing the speculative void that is a major element in the uncanniness that is at the core of the cinematic narrative. Das Unheimliche as defined by Dr Sigmund Freud in 1919 partakes in the creation of what is defined as cognitive dissonance and results from the paradoxical simultaneity of attraction and repulsion on the experiencing subject's part thus leading to the rejection of the aforesaid object.

Thus Freudian analysis would indicate when applied to The Attack of the Giant Moussaka that the topos (as it is understood in post Derridaist literary criticism) is rejected and never rationalized.

Hence the reaction of the transexual protagonist who is struggling with self realization and coming to terms with the alimentary predicament embodied by the gigantic Greek dish that threatens Athens physically without any explanation. This thinly veiled reference to the vagina dentata instrumental in gender castration is later reinforced by the shiny grey spandex outfits of the alien bimbos in the flying saucer.

These aliens commonly form a trinity on screen, a structural element which harks back to the the three Fates of Greek mythology and interestingly enough to the three Witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth as well. The bringing together of myths is done in an offhand manner which is in many ways reminiscent of Joyce's early work. In the universality at stake in the narrative we can contemplate the conflation of stasis and movement as the kinetic element becomes cinematic.

Spoiler:

3. SARS Wars (2004) or a postmodern characterization of alienative elements in industrial society


Nobel Prize laureate Elias Canetti described Kafka's The Metamorphosis as "one of the few great and perfect works of the poetic imagination written during this century".

The alienation of the individual brings up the outdated nature versus nurture debate which is represented in Khun krabii hiiroh (SARS Wars) by the importance and relevance of learning and experience through teaching and personal growth in what has been referred to as "Thailand's Citizen Kane" on supposedly more than one occasion.

In L'armata Brancaleone the plague outbreak played only a minor role whereas in SARS Wars it can be said to be a major part in the actual characterization of alienative elements that are brought to the fore as the outbreak spreads to Bangkok. The ensuing depiction of a mythopoetical reality leads to the convergence of various conflicting structural tropes as the Type 4 strain turns victims into zombies, a straight if obvious metaphor for alienated individuals.

It also demonstrates that although the protagonist may postulate that reality is distinct from consciousness in the end sexuality is capable of significance as meaning keeps eluding us. The sword wielded by the non-prosaic hero is yet another phallic symbol hinting that the inner struggle revolving around the protagonist's sexuality is nevertheless never resolved. Such a proposition is not entirely at odds with a more holistic vision as it is propounded and expounded by Gestalt psychologists.

Thereby the resolution is bound to provoke in the audience a cathartic release of emotions akin to Schadenfreude. The conflict with the overwhelmingly sexually challenging transvestite villain is indeed more important than the surface and is a direct testimony to the impact of postmodernism on society as a whole and may explain why this cinematic narrative will undoubtedly permeate Western cultural zeitgeist in the near future.

Spoiler:

Defining art and form is ultimately left to the viewer's discretion who alone is habilitated to make such a decision in a postmodern world in which the individual has no choice but to be at odds with society and can only define one's own self in opposition to others. Or as the Poet once said: "Futuaris nisi irrisus ridebis"

Very good and quite interesting. I have to return when I am more awake.

It's not to be taken at face value of course. Check out the videos, One of them has French subtitles because I couldn't find a video with English subtitles, it should be fun to watch nevertheless.

I think "Little House of Horrors" fits here. I saw the off-Brpadwau [;au. frpmt rpw seat. ot was great. The original movie is a classic and a new version was made that is also good. 90s I think.

Definitely in my opinion an art form.

OH! i love the spoofs. alot of the time they are better then the original. there are a few japanese movies i was able to see what where so out of there it is a art form of its own.

i will have to ask me dad to rent these XD

Yes, please tell us more about these movies!

This thread is a spoof but I'm always looking for interesting titles (the more exotic, the better). I like really weird movies.

Have you seen, blast senior moment "Elvira (?) Mistress of the Dark? That movie is so bad it is great. If you haven't seen try to find it.

Elvira or Vampira? Because Elvira totally stole Vampira's act.

Spaceballs!



Also, not a Sci-fi spoof, but a Karate movie spoof called Kung Pow: Enter The Fist. It's hilarious.

Feel the schwartz!

I've seen that movie, the tongue is freaky and the end absolutely crazy. The only thing I don't like is that it is actually an old movie that has been edited.

It makes the movie even more fun, IMO. A karate movie with those crazy voices? BWHAHAHA!

I've just watched the beginning of Highlander 2, it is really incredibly bad. I shudder when I think that I actually went to a movie theatre to see Highlander 3... Absolutely terrible, simply terrible. Highlander Endgame is amazingly funny I love it because it is so bad, I could write an entire thesis on how bad it is. I've heard they're making a sequel to Highlander 5 better known as Highlander the Source, which was so low budget that it didn't even get a theatrical release. These are movies that are perfect for an evening with friends.

The worst movie I've ever seen is not Beowulf (the one with Christopher Lambert) not Vercingetorix (again with Lambert) but Doomsday (with Rhona Mitra who incidentally was in Beowulf with Christopher Lambert). It's a pity because the director is not that bad (quite the opposite actually) and the cast is capable of delivering good performances but Doomsday is the most incredible movie I have ever seen. I've never seen so many plotholes or so many "wtf" scenes. The only redeeming feature is the main actress who is very good looking (although this movie doesn't really do her justice) and the badassness of the ending (clearly something that Snake Plissken would do). The entire movie could be summed up as a mix of Mad Max, Escape from NY, 28 Days Later and Braveheart.

The second worse movie for me is Bloodrayne, one ghastly movie with terrible art direction and one so campy that it is more awkward than funny. Watching Ben Kingsley of Gandhi fame strut around with an incredible wig is embarrassing enough but that's nothing compared to the rest. Bloodrayne is incredibly bad but there is nothing remotely enjoyable about it. You can find campy TV shows like Xena with better production value and better acting or action sequences...

you wanna see something fun? see Turkish star wars XD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%BCnyay%C4%B1_Kurtaran_Adam
I got to see the ET and the starwars OMG so awesome XD

there is a name for this kind of thing XD i had no idea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mockbuster

Saw parts of it. Crazy how horrendous it looks. They also seem to conflate Han Solo and Luke Skywalker and make extensive use of trampolines in action sequences.

The Turkish movie I'd like to see is A.R.O.G the sequel to G.O.R.A. from what I have read it's pretty bad and includes a T-Rex. You can't go wrong with a T-Rex. It's like Star Wars + the Matrix + Jurassic Park all rolled in one.

Generally those "mockbusters" seem to try to cater to a larger audience by borrowing elements from more than one blockbuster.

Not really Sci-Fi stuff but I couldn't resist.



Classic stuff.

The French version is even better thanks to more colourful lines:

Spoiler: