I LOVED THE ABSURDITY OF it,” smiles director Dean Parisot, recalling the creation of his 1999 meta classic Galaxy Quest. “The mantra was to make the best Star Trek movie that we could and not wink to the audience. If we made a great adventure film, then the rest would happen.” Twenty years later, it’s hard to imagine self-referential storytelling as being anywhere near a new concept – but back in ’99, audiences had little clue just how ahead of its time Parisot’s space comedy actually was.
Originally in the hands of director and occasional Ghostbuster Harold Ramis, this sci-fi take on The Magnificent Seven used a familiar trope to tell a new story; one that was simultaneously a celebration of, and tongue-in-cheek poke at, showbiz ego and the power of pop-culture fandom. Two decades on, the film’s unexpected longevity has cemented its status as one of the late ’90s most endearing offerings – but strip away the gift of hindsight, and Galaxy Quest’s rise from left-field crowd-pleaser to prophetic social commentator was hardly guaranteed when production began.
Story-wise, its premise is simple: a group of washed-up actors, famous for their roles on the campy TV space adventure Galaxy Quest, appear doomed to a life of convention hall hell – until a bunch of alien superfans invites them to relive their glory days in real life, by defeating the slimy intergalactic warlord Sarris in deep space.
So far, so sci-fi; however, by dabbling in the overly dramatic arena of thespians and the pointed-ear world of fan geekery, Galaxy Quest’s message became much more potent.
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Making Alien - Jaws in Space - Forty-five years on from its original release, Alien continues to terrify. We dissect what arguably remains the most chilling instalment in the saga
The seven-strong crew of the commercial mining spacecraft the Nostromo seal their fate after reluctantly responding to a mysterious distress signal on a hostile planet. Here, a face-hugging alien from a derelict ship impregnates and later kills executive officer Kane (John Hurt) after its offspring is birthed onboard. After being unleashed, the fearsome newborn with acid for blood proceeds to dispatch the remainder of the crew.Ridley Scott's much more convoluted prequels have yet to reveal how the knowledge that led to this initial interception was acquired. However, the premise of the original Alien is perfect in its uncomplicated purity.
PURE AND SIMPLE
IN THE FINAL PART OF OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, SHOWRUNNER RUSSELL T DAVIES TALKS RELAUNCHING DOCTOR WHO
TO CAP IT ALL OFF
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF THE BBC SERIES THE TRIPODS
FRENCH REVOLUTION
THE WALKING DEAD SPIN-OFF SHOWRUNNER DAVID ZABEL ON BEING GIVEN THE TOUGH TASK OF REUNITING DARYL AND CAROL IN FRANCE
SILENT KILLERS
THE DIRECTOR OF HOLLYWOOD'S SPEAK NO EVIL REMAKE ON HORROR, COMEDY AND JAMES MCAVOY
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
THE GHOST WITH THE MOST RETURNS FINALLY - IN BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
TEENAGE DREAM
JOE LOCKE HITS THE ROAD RUNNING
MOB RULE THE PENGUIN
GOTHAM'S UP FOR GRABS IN BRUISING NEW CRIME SAGA BUT WHERE IS THE BATMAN?
SEASON OF THE WITCH
AS MARVEL TELEVISION CARVES OUT A NEW PATH FOR ITSELF, WE SPEAK TO CREATOR JAC SCHAEFFER, PLUS A CAST OF STARS LED BY KATHRYN HAHN AND JOE LOCKE, ABOUT THE MAGIC OF WANDAVISION'S SPIN-OFF AGATHA ALL ALONG
Ghouls Allowed
Even silence can't save you at this year's Halloween Horror Nights