New for Summer of 1996

Also note interesting goodies on TV for late summer/early fall of 1996!

• Phantom (from the comic book, a super hero patrols the streets at night...The Chief Editor's Son Raised "The Question"...). Also hope that the biography channel repeats its showing of The Phantom, a biography of the world famous cartoon character, featuring film clips from the movie, and lots of panels from the comic book classic, as well as dramatic reading (well they didn't try all that hard) of the text.
• Escape From L.A. (Kurt Russell reprises his role as Snake Pliskin). A dissappointing film despite being directed by James Cameron and stars like Peter Fonda and Kurt Russell. It looked like they scrimped on the scenery and effects, and the plot, while having some interesting twists, just felt too simple. In the end, Pliskin decides to blow technology away, to keep the U.S. (the dominating power in the world) from becoming a huge police state run by a meglomanic of giant proportions.
  Peter Fonda's role as chief surfer dude doesn't come off, and its entirely his fault...but then who can blame the actor? Like wow, dude, he doesn't see much daylight surf, ya know?
• Phenomonem Interesting to see a new set of sci-fi stars emerge...this one is Get Shorty's John Travolta. See our Box Office Heros for more on new SciFi stars.
• The Arrival (starring Charlie Sheen as a technician that has seen too much)
• Independence Day (The question "Is There Life Out There" is answered in a chilling finality) - Also see a fans dissenting opinion.

Also, here are a pair of action movies that are borderline Sci-fi for this summer,

• Eraser - The "Arnold" movie for this summer.
• The Rock - The Sean Connery/Ed Harris/Nicholas Cage movie for this summer.
• The Frighteners - Michael J. Fox hunts some pretty scary dudes from the spirit world. (Horror movies are real close to sci-fi...you know the science of the paranormal :))
• Solo - Similar to The Universal Soldier we have a cyborg who picks out his skin and joins the ranks of an elite group of soldiers, only to rebel against his orders. Rent the video only if you are bored to death, otherwise don't waste YOUR cash.
• Chain Reaction Keanu Reeves stars in a thriller about a new process that uses water for fuel, and of course the oil companies are trying to make him and his discovery dissappear.

Also, we thought we'd say a few words about interesting Sci-Fi we saw for the first time just recently...

• Strange Days (starring Ralph Thinnes, produced, directed, and screenplay by James Cameron)
• Dr. Who (TV film on Fox)
• Mission Impossible (from the series, starring Tom Cruise...see our comment on The Phantom above)
• Powder A young boy turns out to have some wild powers, besides just being a real nice guy.
• Broken Arrow A disenchanted and greedy Air Force pilot (John Travolta) decides to steal a B-2 Stealth Bomber and of course the weapons on board. Similar to the plot for the James bond film Thunderball.