This week: We discuss one of the most awaited movies of 2009: Avatar. We take on our first fantasy sci-fi challenge. And we dive into 1951’s The Day The Earth Stood Still, the first movie in our classic sci-fi arc. We also run down the week in geek, including Sir Patrick (Stewart)'s recent knighthood, Bryan Singer’s attachment to X-Men 4, Paramount’s resounding “no” to The Wrath of Quagmire, an attempted auction of “the most realistic”? BttF DeLorean replica, and new applications for new Chuck’s new Chuck-fu powers.
Wooooooooooooooooooooo new podcast wooooooooooooooooooooo
What should I do while listening, play Mass Effect on Insanity or play Saboteur
And for the record Chuck totally copped out on the one wish super power thing…I should have bet him a quarter on that one.
Also…ladies and gentleman - Queen.
hi Audra,
here’s something to set you on the path of superpowerhood :
On Knights and stuff…
From what I understand, the British Empire, post-WWII re-organised itself into the Commonwealth of Nations. Thus New Zealand is in equal stature to the UK in it’s relation to the Queen. Therefore, an NZ knighthood, by extension, would be of equal stature to the UK knighthood, since it’s the same Queen handing them out.
While we’re still on the subject of heraldry, I just gotta say that these things are pretty hard to get. For example, the great Portuguese poet, Luis Vaz de Camoes, for all his reknown, was a mere escudeiro (or esquire, meaning shield-bearer)
Tigh On
Klaaatu
Tigh Off
I just started to podcast, but I wanted to throw out some love for the Colonel in Avatar (even though I don’t particularly like the character).
The Colonel was an absolutely admirable character. He was tough and loyal and compassionate to his side. He is single minded and not squemish. He is wlling to to the difficult thing, if it means less loss to his troops. I would argue that most people would be happy to have someone like the Colonel on their side.
He is the villain only because he is on the wrong side of the screenplay, but if you think about many, many movies…the heroes share the same qualities as the Colonel in Avatar.
I can’t believe you let him get away with, “…and then he goes all Master Chiefy on the meteor”
This song defines my 6th grade year. I listened to it a thousand times over. Kick ass.
Awwww yeah.
I’m hoping when the poll goes up folks will Vote-Team-Sean because of it 
I haven’t seen Avatar yet, I know, don’t throw things at me. I have to be honest I’m not really diggin’ the 3-D thing that is becoming popular. Everything I have seen in 3-D comes out in black and white. Let me state that the most recent 3-D I’ve seen was probably the Hannah Montana thing – after all I have an 11 year old daughter. Anyway, I’m sure that is just my eyes or how my brain processes but I would rather see a 2-D version and all of the vibrancy of color and texture. Is there something different about more recent 3-D that fixes that issue?
I thought it was Chuck’s job to decide what Master Chief does to eliminate the meteor, and our job to decide who did the best job working their way through the scenario. So I have about as much information on what Master Chief contributed as I do for Aragorn, who Audra admitted wouldn’t be able to do a whole lot.
I loved Iron Eagle as a wee lad. I mean, how could I not? A kickass soundtrack while I fly an f16 and take out some bad guys?! Movie fueled many a fantasy/daydream for me. 
Thanks for the podcast! Thanks for all the podcasts btw. You guys really rules!
I wish that I lived in the states so that I could join you guys at the meetup.
Speaking of Avatar: I have seen Avatar in 3D and also in 2D. The 3D version made my eyes ake, eventhough I think it delivered more for the movie experience.
You can not go wrong with Queen, no matter what you do!
You are completely missing out. I saw Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in 3d. The glasses kind of a pain in the SorryBarb™ however the effects are much better than previous “3D” like Jaws 3. shudder anyway…the new 3d I find to be much more immersive & less schlocky & gimicky. I have not seen AVatar yet either, I will be seeing it 3d when I do.
The only 3d movie I saw before Avatar 3d was…I think Jaws 3D at home. I was utterly blown away by Avatar’s 3D. Just excellent. I don’t want movies to not be in 3D anymore…
I’m a conservative and I didn’t get bent out of shape with the “anti-corporate” message that Cameron is saying. I love the pro-nature message also because it wasn’t the limo-liberal BS that is Hollywood feeds us. Does anyone remember what the mineral does? I only remember that the company wanted it because is was worth a lot af money.
I don’t think they said what the ore does just that it was worth a lot. Unobtainium is a term that has been around since the 50’s. And I remember seeing the first time reading Ringworld by Larry Niven. It even has a wiki page:
I think Unobtanium was some sort of super power source of some kind. I’m not sure tho. Echoing what everyone else has said, I thot Avatar was amazing. I can’t stand 3D normally because it detracts from my ability to immerse myself in the world of whatever I’m watching. With Avatar it enhanced my enjoyment of the movie. It was so well done.
I also appreciated the role reversal of human’s being the ‘invaders’ and aliens not flying spaceships.
I forget which James Cameron interview I got this info from…
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Unobtanium is some kind of superconductor or something. Nothing like it exists in our solar system (that we know of), but something like it should be able to exist, theoretically.
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The mountains float because they’re in the giant magnetic field that they mention a few times.
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I’ve not read an explanation of the waterfalls’ source. But I’ll paraphrase the Clerks cartoon’s justification of the Phantom Menace pod race: They look pretty cool.
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SQUIRREL!