Written by: Emilio D’alise (SoSF Staff Journalist)

As I’m listed as a contributing journalist, I was sitting around today thinking I should contribute something to this site. I was thinking I should do it more often than once every four to six weeks. The problem is, what do I write about?

Sure, I could follow the example given by some movies of late. That is, I could use catchy phrases, elaborate sentences, LOUD WRITING, and forego the use of a seamless narrative to make any kind of point.

Unfortunately, while I believe it works reasonably well to draw in a certain segment of the population when dealing with a visual medium, I doubt it would work as well for the written medium. Namely because I don’t think that particular segment of the population likes to read in the first place. If I sound a little bitter, it’s because I don’t understand how a whole industry literally swimming in money consistently comes up short in its attempts to provide quality entertainment.

OK, what I’m really frustrated about is this: the lack of quality movies is making my Netflix subscription less valuable than it originally appeared.

Sure, I have some movies in my queue, but they are second and third choices to movies I have already seen. Often I order movies out of desperation, but once in my home they sit on the coffee table as I opt instead to watch Blade Runner, The Mummy, Highlander, The Fifth Element, or Serenity. One might think this is a result of having too much leisure time on one’s hands, but it is quite the opposite; I have little leisure time to sit and enjoy a good movie, so I’m more discerning as to what I choose to spend a couple of hours watching.

That is not to say there have not been a few decent movies this past year . . . it is to say there have been no great movies this past year. Maybe it’s just me; maybe my standards for entertainment are too high. It is not enough for me to have great visual effects. I crave the interesting plot, the engaging characters, and a premise allowing me a few hours escape to a world different than the one I live in.

I could resort to watching some of the excellent series currently on television. But all those require a fair amount of time; an investment and commitment I’m unable to make at this particular point in time. It is a near certainty once the complete series are available on DVD my Netflix subscription will once again get a good workout. Old favorites will go back to sit, fondly remembered, on my shelf.

Meanwhile, as long as Hollywood can blow $150 million on a movie like Pirates of the Caribbean, or $260 million (!?!?!) on a movie like Spider Man 3, and then pull in nearly $1 billion in box office receipts for each, they will pass on movies like . . . like . . . well, dang it, I cannot think of any 2007 science fiction movies I really liked. Maybe The Golden Compass, although I thought they could have done a better job adapting the book. Some people are going to point to The Transformers as a good movie from 2007, but at best that can only be claimed in comparison to the rest of the crop, and not for actual merit.

A quick check of the website www.The-Numbers.com tells me there were 750 movies released in the calendar year 2007. Scanning the list I am reminded of some movies I watched and somewhat enjoyed, but none I’m interested in owning or watching again. Curiously, as my expectations for science fiction movies have risen, I am more apt to watch any old action or comedy since I don’t expect a whole lot from them other than mindless entertainment. And perhaps that is the problem; I like science fiction. I like it so much that I want more from it than mindless entertainment. There are a number of upcoming releases, and announced movies, which sound as if they have a shot at becoming classics in their own right. But then, the 2007 batch had that same chance. Based on past experience, I am hopeful, but less than optimistic.