The Dumbing Down of Movies (and a Rec)

The fic/art presents for the winter edition of the sshg_exchange are nearly here. Squee! There is a beautiful (and naughty) piece of artwork posted right now just to make everyone eager for more.

( ramblings about 'i am legend' and movies nowadays )

Willy-nilly, I plucked a sci-fi movie off the new release shelf at the video store last weekend. Jason and I watched it on Monday night, and it was so much more than what we were expecting. The Man From Earth was written by Jerome Bixby, a reasonably well-known sci-fi author. The idea was conceived in 1960, and the screenplay finally completed on his deathbed in 1998. Richard Schenkman, the director, turned a fantastic screenplay into an even more fantastic movie. It's a talk-y sci-fi flick, so if you're looking for flash, this isn't for you. The story revolves around a professor named John Oldman. His colleagues throw him an impromptu going away party at his cabin before he moves on to other things. The party includes four scientists who are experts in their various fields, a religion scholar, an assistant, and a student. They question John about why he's leaving until he finally confides that he is a Cro-Magnan who does not age. He claims he has been around for well over 14,000 years and typically moves on to another life every ten years or so when people around him begin to notice that he does not age. His colleagues laugh at first, but when they realize he is not joking, they begin their attempt at debunking his tale. They are unable to because John has a viable answer at every turn. This had the potential to be very silly, but it was absolutely amazing. The movie tackled biology, history, religion, life/death, and human nature with such skill that I was floored. All ninety minutes take place in the cabin, and the dialogue is non-stop. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something to stimulate your brain.

EDIT: I found the trailer for the above-mentioned movie. You can see it on YouTube here.