Playlist Thunderdome and The Cinemasochist

by Supergenius

It’s all over, folks. But something new is coming.

First, thanks to everyone for your votes. The final T-dome winner was REM with “It’s the End of the World as We Know It,” garnering 21 of 42 votes and beating the Beatles and Europe (who, let’s face it, is the REAL winner). The full list of winners is at the bottom of the post.

So what now? Well, I’m done with this feature. Others such as Logan may resurrect their regular music threads. Instead, I announce with some trepidation my new feature:

THE CINEMASOCHIST

The Cinemasochist is an experiment in blog poll, popular consensus and cinematic nightmare. Each week (or whenever I can stomach it) I will ask you for your picks of worst movie on a given theme, and I will watch the winning (losing?) pick and report. Or rather, I will force myself to watch it and report. Think of me as your movie-going punching bag. Throw your worst at me, I dare ya.

Caveats in film choice: I reserve the right to refuse choices based on profanity, nudity and other R-rated content. It’s only a right — sometimes I will prefer that stuff, actually. Also, the film has to be available on netflix - save your obscure choices. Other than that, let ‘er rip. My only control over the process is in determining the overall theme.

With that, I announce the first theme: SPACE OPERA. Let me have it, friends.

And here is the final listing of all Playlist Thunderdome winners:

  • Elvis Costello - Allison
  • Jet - Look What You’ve Done
  • Talking Heads - Psycho Killer
  • Guns N Roses - Paradise City
  • Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze
  • Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
  • The New Pornographers - Letter From An Occupant
  • The Smiths - There is a Light that Never Goes Out
  • The Police - King of Pain
  • Violent Femmes - Kiss Off
  • Cat Stevens - Wild World
  • Aretha Franklin - River’s Invitation
  • Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride
  • Dire Straits - Romeo and Juliet
  • Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
  • The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
  • The Doors - L.A. Woman
  • The Carpenters - On Top of the World
  • Boston - More Than a Feeling
  • Prince - When Doves Cry
  • Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl
  • The Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be
  • U2 - I Will Follow
  • The Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
  • Coldplay - God Put a Smile on Your Face
  • The Shins - Caring is Creepy
  • Adam Ant - Goody Two-Shoes
  • REM - Man On The Moon
  • Barenaked Ladies/Sarah McLachlan - God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
  • The Beatles - She’s Leaving Home
  • Stevie Nicks - Edge of Seventeen
  • Public Enemy - Night of the Living Baseheads
  • The Who - Baba O’Riley
  • The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
  • Led Zeppelin - Ramble On
  • Massive Attack - Teardrop
  • The Frames - Cry Me A River
  • Uncle Tupelo - New Madrid
  • Big Star - Thirteen
  • Everything But The Girl - Mirrorball
  • Simon & Garfunkel - 59th Street Bridge Song
  • Rob Base & DJ EZ-E - It Takes Two
  • Radiohead - High and Dry
  • The B-52s - Private Idaho
  • Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You
  • Tracy Chapman - Fast Car
  • The Ramones - Judy Is A Punk
  • The Beach Boys - Wouldn’t It Be Nice
  • Danzig - Mother
  • Jackson Browne - These Days
  • Stars - One More Night (Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead)
  • REM - It’s the End of the World as We Know It

    • 61 Comments

    1. What in the world is a space opera?

      Comment by Susan M — June 29, 2006 @ 11:47 am

    2. “Space opera is a subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that emphasizes romantic adventure, exotic settings, and larger than life characters.”

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 11:48 am

    3. STAR WARS is the most popular example; THE LAST STARFIGHTER is another.

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 11:53 am

    4. I don’t know…Ice Pirates?

      Comment by Brian G — June 29, 2006 @ 11:54 am

    5. OK, then. Barbarella.

      Comment by Susan M — June 29, 2006 @ 11:54 am

    6. Both Ice Pirates and Barbarella are actually good movies. What, no Battlefield Earth?

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 11:55 am

    7. Flash Gordon (1980)

      Comment by D. Fletcher — June 29, 2006 @ 11:56 am

    8. Now you’re talking D. — although I LOVE its theme song by Queen. “Flash!! Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh….. Savior of the Universe!”

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 11:58 am

    9. All right…Battlefield Earth.

      Comment by Brian G — June 29, 2006 @ 12:03 pm

    10. Other people have mentioned “Yor, the Hunter From the Future.” My reply: that is a FANTASTIC movie, what are you talking about??

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 12:04 pm

    11. There’s always Conan, the Barbarian.

      Comment by D. Fletcher — June 29, 2006 @ 12:15 pm

    12. Conan’s not Space Opera, D! Silly.

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 12:16 pm

    13. If you actually think Barbarella is a good movie, then the winner/loser has got to be Flash Gordon.

      Comment by Tim J. — June 29, 2006 @ 12:18 pm

    14. The definition creates a lot of gray areas. And a lot of space opera is stuff that I _like_ — Star Wars, Stargate, Dune, Last Starfighter, that kinda stuff.

      What’s the worst? The Fifth Element, maybe - it was pretty blah. Some would probably say Flash Gordon — but again, I liked that one. (How can you go wrong with a badguy named Ming the Merciless and a soundtrack by Queen?)

      Comment by Kaimi — June 29, 2006 @ 12:23 pm

    15. Oh! Dune. I thought I might literally die in the theater from lack of brain stimulation.

      Comment by D. Fletcher — June 29, 2006 @ 12:28 pm

    16. I liked the Fifth Element.

      I’m tempted to say Dune or The Phantom Menace, but Battleship Earth has got to be pretty bad.

      Comment by BTD Greg — June 29, 2006 @ 12:32 pm

    17. Dune WAS pretty bad. Phantom Menace was similarly awful, but at least had great costume design and nice effects (and the podrace was fun, for what it was).

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 12:38 pm

    18. I’ve never seen Battlefield Earth, but I say we pool our power as voters and impose it on Supergenius.

      Comment by Kaimi — June 29, 2006 @ 12:48 pm

    19. Battlefield Earth is the lowest rated space opera on the IMDB “Bottom 100″ list.

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 12:57 pm

    20. I forgot.

      The problem is that Supergenius is not discerning. He thinks everything is good.

      This will never work.

      Comment by Brian G — June 29, 2006 @ 12:59 pm

    21. Googling, here are a few other candidates:

      Mission to Mars (2000)
      Starship Troopers 2 (2004)
      Space Truckers (1997)

      Comment by BTD Greg — June 29, 2006 @ 1:06 pm

    22. How has no one said Starship Troopers yet?

      Comment by Ryan Bell — June 29, 2006 @ 1:13 pm

    23. OOoh! Starship Troopers 2!

      Saw part of it on HBO. May be the worst movie I’ve ever seen.

      (However, it may be so bad it’s watchable — mystery science theater kind of thing.)

      Comment by Kaimi — June 29, 2006 @ 1:25 pm

    24. IMDB recommends The Creature Wasn’t Nice.

      Comment by William Morris — June 29, 2006 @ 1:27 pm

    25. Ryan,

      ST-2 beats ST by a substantial margin. Here’s the best way I can describe it. Imagine the first movie. Now, remove from ST-1 the special effects and the weird humor (which seemed to work for some people, though I didn’t really get it). Then replace the cast with worse actors (yes, it’s possible) and the script with a worse script (also possible, alas). Then shoot it with really bad camera work.

      The only redeeming quality of ST-2 is that it was so bad it went straight to video, rather than tormenting any theater crowds.

      Comment by Kaimi — June 29, 2006 @ 1:30 pm

    26. I echo the vote for Battlefield Earth, a terrible, terrible movie. I also suggest Supernova (2000).

      Comment by SFW — June 29, 2006 @ 1:55 pm

    27. ugghhhh, Supernova. That’s a step below Event Horizon.

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 1:59 pm

    28. It’s a problem with rating “bad” things. Some things are bad because they’re boring. But other things like Starship Troopers and Flash Gordon are so bad, they’re entertaining.

      Comment by D. Fletcher — June 29, 2006 @ 2:12 pm

    29. I leave it to you to decide whether I watch an entertainingly bad film, or whether I just suffer for naught.

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 2:20 pm

    30. Super G - you,sir, are a wuss.

      If you were really committed to this idea, you first theme choice would have been chick flick.

      Comment by Jennifer — June 29, 2006 @ 2:20 pm

    31. Jennifer, this is me dipping my toe into the fetid pond. Not to worry, all genres will have their day.

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 2:22 pm

    32. I love Mission to Mars.

      Comment by Susan M — June 29, 2006 @ 2:34 pm

    33. I’ll give people until 5 p.m. PST for their choices, then I’ll create a little poll based on comments, which I’ll keep open a few days. Winner (loser) is what I watch.

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 2:37 pm

    34. I nominate MANOS, THE HANDS OF FATE, SPACE MUTINY, and LASERBLAST.

      Comment by Brian G — June 29, 2006 @ 3:29 pm

    35. Or LEONARD PART 6. Maybe HOWARD THE DUCK.

      C’mon, folks, we need to make Supergenius suffer.

      Comment by Brian G — June 29, 2006 @ 3:35 pm

    36. Has anyone seen Doom? I haven’t … but it seems it could fit into this category.

      Comment by danithew — June 29, 2006 @ 3:35 pm

    37. oooohhhh. DOOM. that’s borderline really - mostly action/horror.

      Manos isn’t space opera. Neither is Leonard Part 6.

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 3:39 pm

    38. How about ZARDOZ.

      Comment by Brian G — June 29, 2006 @ 3:42 pm

    39. Okay, we need to solidify the rules because SG is copping out by either saying it’s a good movie, or that it doesn’t fit the category.

      Comment by Brian G — June 29, 2006 @ 3:45 pm

    40. Brian, what do you want me to say? Neither Manos nor Leonard part VI have anything to do with space.

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 3:47 pm

    41. Maybe this feature should be called, “The Picky and Selective Cinemasochist.”

      Comment by Brian G — June 29, 2006 @ 3:52 pm

    42. Zardoz is campy fun. Logan’s Run?

      Comment by D. Fletcher — June 29, 2006 @ 3:54 pm

    43. I saw this movie once on some cable channel that had a weekly showing of The Worst Movies Ever Made. I don’t know the name, and I’ve never been able to find it since. It was a 60’s space movie. It had some guy in this big robe, I think with a giant handprint on it. He had all these women slaves, but one rebelled. So the man had the other women kill her. She was tied up on this table/altar and the other women started pawing at all her clothes. And that’s how she died. By women pawing at her clothes.

      It was too awesome.

      Comment by Susan M — June 29, 2006 @ 4:00 pm

    44. Logan’s Run is a great flick, D. I hold it out as Michael York’s finest. Wasn’t Bryan Singer going to remake it?

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 4:01 pm

    45. Susan, I think you’re describing Manos, the Hands of Fate.

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 4:02 pm

    46. Eh. Have you seen Logan’s Run lately? It’s pretty cheesy. Those polyester dresses everyone wears. Plus, Michael York is in Cabaret, Three Musketeers, Murder on the Orient Express, Romeo and Juliet, and plenty of other movies far superior to LR.

      Anyway, I’ve got the DVD of it.

      Here’s my final suggestion:

      Queen of Outer Space, with Zsa Zsa Gabor

      http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052104/

      Comment by D. Fletcher — June 29, 2006 @ 4:06 pm

    47. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (the one with Mos Def)

      or

      Stargate

      but only if you think they’re bad (like me).

      Comment by Bryce I — June 29, 2006 @ 4:14 pm

    48. D., I only wish that classic was available on Netflix. Alas!

      Comment by Supergenius — June 29, 2006 @ 4:15 pm

    49. There is some movie where the guy from the Waltons flies around space in a giant moosehead. Does anyone else remember that? I suggest it or Pluto Nash (although, that’s not really space opera, is it)

      Comment by HP — June 29, 2006 @ 4:18 pm

    50. YES! It’s Manos!

      http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/manos/notapproved.jpg

      Comment by Susan M — June 29, 2006 @ 4:25 pm

    51. Pluto Nash! Pluto Nash! Pluto Nash!

      Comment by Brian G — June 29, 2006 @ 4:27 pm

    52. Hitchhiker’s Guide, Bryce? I watched it last night and had a great time. I can see someone not loving it, but the idea that it could be used as Vogon poetry to torture SuperG is just ludicrous.

      Comment by Tom — June 29, 2006 @ 4:46 pm

    53. Oooh, Lost in Space with Joey from Friends?

      Comment by Bryce I — June 29, 2006 @ 6:03 pm

    54. Tom, it’s a bad movie when the opening credits are the highlight of the film (very good opening credits, though).

      Chalk it up to fanboy disappointment (fanboy is probably not the right word).

      Comment by Bryce I — June 29, 2006 @ 6:05 pm

    55. Oh man! I love Mystery Science Theatre 3000- now that’s the way to watch a horrible movie!

      Comment by tracy m — June 29, 2006 @ 6:11 pm

    56. Bryce, OK, I grant that the opening credits are the best part of the film. But those are some of the best opening credits I’ve seen in a while.

      I do seem to remember people comparing the movie unfavorably to the book. I solve the problem of movies not being as good the book by not reading books. I’m rarely disappointed by adaptations.

      Comment by Tom — June 29, 2006 @ 7:35 pm

    57. I too thought Hitchhiker’s Guide was horrible. Even though I’m not a rabid fan of the books, I liked them and read them all years ago. I thought the movie was very disappointing. I thoughth it was badly paced and seemed pointless. There was no real attempt to make the book into something cinematic.

      That said, I don’t think it was close to the worst space opera, just sadly mediocre.

      Comment by BTD Greg — June 30, 2006 @ 8:38 am

    58. Tom, the books are hilarious. And the British tv miniseries was MUCH better than the movie. You should rent it.

      Comment by Susan M — June 30, 2006 @ 9:27 am

    59. i just saw this video with Stevie Nicks in it. I guess that it’s about Dave Stewart’s (from the Eurythmics) first group in the 70s that never released their album back then, and now there’s a big VH1 special on them July 5th @ 6.

      anyone else heard about this?

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGvmz32ajao&search=platinum%20weird

      Comment by borat — June 30, 2006 @ 12:28 pm

    60. Zardoz was a lot of fun to watch.

      A co-worker made me a very amusing Zardoz t-shirt featuring a large picture of a very hairy Sean Connery.

      Comment by NFlanders — June 30, 2006 @ 6:24 pm

    61. What about Enemy Mine with Dennis QUaid and Louis Gosset Jr?

      Comment by Tim J. — June 30, 2006 @ 8:27 pm