ALL SCI-FI

[Pow]

Ivan directed some of my very favorite films over the years.

National Lampoon's Animal House, 1978, Meatballs, 1979 (I just watched it again last week), Stripes, 1981, the classic Ghostbusters, 1984, Dave, 1993 and the SF comedy film My Super Ex-girlfriend, 2006.

Ivan leaves behind some wonderful movies. He will be missed.

[Bud Brewster]

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And don't forget my personal favorite, Evolution (2002).



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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

Sorry Bud, Evolution was the least fav film for me that Ivan directed.

[Bud Brewster]

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Mike, for God's sake — please tell me your not serious!

You're a devoted fan of 1950s sci-fi and a true defender of Harryausen's animation — and yet your saying you didn't love Ivan Reitman's brilliant comedic tribute to both the Golden Age of Sci-Fi and Harryhausen's creations?

As much as I love Ghostbusters 1 and 2, this movie stole my heart the first time I saw it in a theater in St. George, Utah, while escorting my mother to that city when she was arranging the purchase of her retirement home in 2001.





It wasn't until a few years later, after buying the DVD of this movie, that I discovered portions of the movie had been filmed in Page, Arizona — where Mom and I spent several days during a trip to see the Grand Canyon!

Suddenly I realized that I had either visited or passed by numerous shooting locations which were shown in this delightful movie!

In fact, the place were the meteorite hits and creates an opening into the cavern where the alien lifeforms proliferate is in fact a humble observation point overlooking Lake Powell!

Mom and I had turned off the road which lead to the Lake Powell dam near Page, where we had stopped to enjoy the view.

Little did I know I was standing in the spot where the movie had shot those scenes — and then cleaned up the area to leave no trace of their presence!

The dirt road that lead off to the scenic point was just a few miles from the point where the main road crossed over the bridge which lead into Page, a quaint little city that provided many of the shots we see in Evolution.





So, my love for this imaginative and enjoyable movie is not only based on it's considerable artistic merits — it's also based on it's similarity to 1950s movies like It Came from Outer Spae, along with my personal connection to it after realizing I'd been to the very place where the movie was filmed!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

I can certainly respect your emotional attachments to this film, Bruce, where your lovely mother is concerned.

I've also seen films & TV shows that have been shot in Utah, taking advantage of its majestic beautiful scenery.

I just found Evolution so-so for my taste. Granted, I haven't seen it in a spell. I just recall sitting there watching it and thinking it ranked as a 2-star movie for moi. One Star=Poor, Two Stars=Fair, Three Stars=Good and Four Stars=Excellent.

[Bud Brewster]

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I understand, Mike.

As a matter of fact, my long-time friend (and fellow artists) Jim Peavy (click on link for his ASF gallery) was not a bit impressed with Evolution either — and yet he, too, is a life-long 50s sci-fi fan and a Harryhausen devotee!

He also can't understand why I liked Godzilla (1998) — and I don't share his enthusiasm for that fat, ugly Japanese version!

Maybe if you snuggled up with that lovely lady of yours and shared Evolution, you might be infected by her delighted peels of laughter and her enthusiastic squeals of delight at the special effects!

And even if that doesn't change your mind, it still sounds like a 'little slice of heaven' to this lonely old man . . .
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)