the best movies never made

King Thomas

Banned
The Tommyknockers

A documentary about those British soldiers (known as Tommies in WW1) who dug tunnels under the German lines to plant mines and launch surprise attacks.
 

Maximara

How to Live Forever (1942)

Biography of Japanese-American Ichirō Chinen who died manning an anti-aircraft aboard the USS Arizona. Noted for its final scene where Ichirō yells his last words "Those who die for Kings and Emperors are forgotten while those those die for Liberty live forever!"


Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory (1941)

Biography of US General Robert E Lee often noted for its portrayal of Lee's struggle between serving his state of Virginia or the Union. Noted for its final scene where on his death bed Lee mentally walks through a cemetery with row after row of crosses as the final lines Lincoln's Gettysburg Address are read.

Heart of Darkness (1933)

US title of Darwin Kampf the German film of the 1919 novel by the science fiction writer Adolf Hitler regarding exploits of Corporal Az Gruber and his fellow soldiers as they storm the capital city of the Leader. The horrors committed in the name of national, racial, and culture purity Gruber and his men see are nothing to the final horror of who or rather what the Leader is really is. Notable for portraying racial stereotypes in a positive light and for Adolf Hitler's portrayal of both Corporal Az Gruber and The Leader.
 

Maximara

housemaster said:
Man of Steel : A documentary about Joseph Stalin and his handling of the USSR
Ride Along: A documentary about A New york police department and its program with citizen ride alongs
United Passions : A film focusing on the Arab-Iraseli Conflict and two lovers on different sides of the conflict dealing with it got horrible reviews due to its weird ending and horrible handling of a serious issue is often watched as a so bad its good movie.
Click to expand...

Funny thing there is a documentary called Stalin: Man of Steel (2006); it showed up on the History channel and there are a few copies of it bouncing around the internet.
 

housemaster

Taxi Diver : A comedy about a depressed Taxi driver who through words of Wisdom From his mentor who dying of cancer who has learned to look on the bright side of life the hit song " Always Look on the bright side of life " as performed by Michael Jackson went golden and often has radio play to this day. Staring John Candy and Charles Heston .
 
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Ogrebear

Ogrebear

Star Trek: The Lions of the Night

From Wikipedia,

Star Trek: The Lions of the Night is a 2004 American computer-animated action adventure movie set in the popular Star Trek universe during the 70 year time period between the movie Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The films details Captain Sulu taking command of the USS Enterprise-B to stop a Kzanti invasion of Federation Space.

Star-Trek-The-Lost-Fleet-Te.jpg
Film poster by Court Jones

[Contents] show

Plot

It is 2294, and Captain Sulu has just taken command of the USS Enterprise-B after the repairs following her rather disastrous maiden voyage (Seen in Generations) have been completed. Sulu has brought from the Excelsior Commander Pavel Chekov as First Officer, and Doctor Christine Chapel as Chief Medical Officer, and Lt Tuvok at Science. Joining him on-board are Commander Uhura on Communications, Ensign Demora Sulu on Helm, Lt Commander Rafaele Buonarroti in Engineering, Orion Lt Tenger as Security Chief, and Efrosian Lt Commander Fenn Marruu at navigation.

As the film opens is Sulu trying to joke with Tuvok but failing, Captain Montgomery Scott is giving Engineer Buonarroti some last minute advice, and Commander Uhura is sorting through the comms traffic- a reference is made to the Excelsior under Captain Rand wishing them well. Scotty comes to the Bridge to give Chekov, Uhura, and Sulu a farewell- sending McCoy’s best as well before departing. Captain Sulu then has Ensign Sulu take the Enterprise B out from Dock.

Quickly the Enterprise is called from her shake down cruise by a distress call from the USS Surak, a Vulcan science ship commanded by Captain Spock. Enterprise races to her location and on arrival goes into combat with several unknown red vessels, the main one easily the same size as the Enterprise herself.

RakshasaShipComparison.jpg
Ship comparison chart from The Making of Lions of the Night

Enterprise unleashes everything at the unknown vessel managing to cripple her after almost depleting her armament stores. The other smaller vessels leave. Captain Spock reports that the Surak will need some time for repairs, before they can warp. Sulu sends Engineering and Medical teams. Uhura has been analysing the enemy communications, and thinks she knows who they are.

A briefing of Officers is conducted wherein Uhura reveals the enemy is the Kzinti – which sparks a round of discussion regarding the Earth-Kzinti war and the Federation-Kzinti situation- a timeline is established that shows effectively the UFP has not been playing attention to the Patriarchy.

It is suggested that more could be found out from an EVA into the Kzinti ships remains. A tactical squad of security personnel, Tuvok, Tenger, and with Chekov in command leaves via shuttle. After finding access to the ship, the crew encounter alien corridor shapes, dead bodies, and even a few alive ones; some fight back, others are too injured. Chekov has the injured ones transported to Sickbay under a security lockdown.

Eventually the team find a computer core and Tuvok begins to hack into it. As he does the team has to fight off a number of Kzinti including what appears to be an officer from the uniform rank, bearing and weaponry. As the attacks increase Chekov cajoles Tuvok to work faster. Tuvok manages to break into the Ships database, and begins an upload to the Enterprise. As soon as its done Chekov has them beamed back, while the shuttle is remote piloted back.

While Tuvok and the Science department analyse the recovered data. Chekov, Sulu and Tenger attempt to talk to the captured Kzinti in Sickbay, however they find them all sedated. Doctor Chapel explains they became violent if she went near them. If not for Tenger’s guards stunning them all, she shudders to think what might have happened. As it is her Vulcan nurse Selar, had to manhandle the heavy bulky bodies. Sulu finally gets a good look at his enemy. As they discuss Kzinti anatomy and physiology and how it relates to the Caitians a call comes in from Tuvok- and they report to the lab.

Kytheri-Sketch.jpg
Concept sketch for the Kzinti by Court Jones

Tuvok has discovered that the actions so far are not just an incident, the USS Enterprise is facing a full Kzinti invasion of the Federation. Tuvok thinks he has narrowed down their incursion points- a series of navigation buoys that the Kzinti are using as guidance markers to guide their ships into UFP space- disrupt these and the invasion will fall apart.

Captain Sulu suggests that Captain Spock takes the data and the news to the nearest Starbase, in the Surak, while the Enterprise takes care of the buoys, and any invaders they can find. Spock wishes them ‘good hunting’ before departing with his ship.

Enterprise makes to depart- Sulu orders the Kzinti warship destroyed before they leave*. The first of the navigation buoys is only by a couple of scout ships; Uhura highjacks the buoys’ systems to listen to the Kzinti network to get a better idea of the force and the location of the other navigation buoys. Sulu has Uhura report the findings to Starfleet. The second buoy is more heavily guarded, with one of the larger battleships there and some fighters- who prove to be very hard for the Enterprise to target, but blow up easily when hit. As they travel to the third buoy strategy and systems are adjusted to allow for more independent aiming and firing of the phaser banks.

At the third buoy Enterprise encounters the Dark Stalker a cruiser sized ship. The flagship of the Kzinti invasion force.

Kzinti-Crusier-color-sketch.jpg
Dark Stalker concept art by Court Jones

They are hailed this time by its Kzinti Captain, Curragh-Captain, who threatens and warns them, tells them there will be no negotiations, only death. Sulu simply cuts the line and starts firing on the buoy. The Kzinti Captain however is better than the others encountered so far and is able to match and force the Enterprise onto the defence, damaging the wrap drive. The buoy is still destroyed, and Sulu orders impulse at full speed. The Dark Stalker keeps up, with occasional fire, until Tuvok manages to configure the deflector dish to send out a wave of ‘interference pulses’ that can knock the Kzinti ship offline- Sulu orders Sulu to ‘handbrake turn’ the Enterprise allowing Tuvok to disable the Dark Stalker, which works.

As the warp into the last system it becomes clear that the last buoy will be more problematic. Not only has the Kzinti force rallied there, but the Dark Stalker is behind them too. Enterprise hides in a gas giant while a strategy meeting takes place. Marruu suggests a plan of using shuttles to tractor asteroids from the outer belt in this system and using them as slingshots on the main ships. It will be very difficult, but direct hits at near warp 1 should rip through the Kzinti forces. Sulu gives his approval and a team is put together. A preparation montage shows the shuttles being prepped- with Engineers boosting their shields and tractor emitters. Enterprise’s crew are armed against boarding parties, Sickbay prepared, the torpedo bays loaded.

Uhura confirms Dark Stalker has arrived, which is the agreed cue to attack. The shuttles slip out from Enterprise – eight in all, and are seen tractoring asteroids, whilst Enterprise flies at full speed into the fleet, all guns blasting. All eight shuttles then scream into the melee behind her, letting loose their rocky cargo at the lead ships. The Dark Stalker is barely touched, but several of the battleships are destroyed. Kzinti fighters scream after the shuttles, but Enterprise cannot help them. Six would return for a second bombing run. Only three would make a third. There would not be a fourth.

Enterprise is pummelled from all sides; Sulu tries a trick she has theorised and short hops to warp making Kzinti ships fire on each other – then their warp drive is damaged. Enterprise ducks, dives, and twists through all sorts of planes during the fight.- really showing off the ships power and speed. However it is obvious that Enterprise cannot take the level of fire, as shields begin to buckle, multiple warp signatures are detected- Starfleet has arrived! Led by Excelsior, the fleet is a rag tag bag of Constitutions, Miranda’s, and a few Klingon Birds of Prey commanded by General Worf Spock managed to convince to come along for the Glory of the Fight. The new ships make all the difference and soon the Kzinti are on the run. Dark Stalker remains concentrated on Enterprise – it seems her Captain is the son of Chruft-Captain that Sulu, Uhura, and Spock defeated in 2269- and he wants revenge!

Taking a gamble Sulu targets their engines with an asteroid one of the destroyed shuttles had left, delivering it at almost point blank range- damaging Enterprise, but stopping the Dark Stalker dead in space, allowing Enterprise to rake her with fire. Captain Sulu has Uhura hail them. From a damaged bridge Curragh-Captain refuses to surrender- even when Sulu threatens a reverse invasion of Kzinti space, and reducing the Kzinti to nothing more than Federation play kittens. Sulu has no choice but to order a full volley of torpedoes and phasers at the flagship – which explodes in spectacular fashion.

With the Flagship gone, the other Kzinti jump away from the battle. By now however Tuvok has the calculated the location of the Kzinti home-world Kzin and Enterprise, with Excelsior warp away. The Federation warp drives are much faster than the Kzin version which allows Captain Sulu to be in orbit threatening to bombard Kzin to rubble unless the Patriarchy surrenders before their fleet arrives back. The Kzin leader the Highest of Kzin stalles for time, hoping the Dark Stalker would return; instead the Kzin fleet limped back to the home-world, a full three-quarters of the ships destroyed, all damaged. Sulu again demanded their surrender or they would destroy all the remaining ships, then the planet. This time the Highest of High agrees to a ceasefire while he talks to his Council. Sulu gives him an hour.

At 59 mins the Highest of High hails- the Kzinti will surrender to Captain Sulu. The war is over.

*It is never mentioned what happened to the prisoners.

Voice Cast

George Takei as Captain Hikaru Sulu
Walter Koenig as First Officer Commander Pavel Chekov
Majel Barrett as Chief Medical Officer Doctor Christine Chapel
Tim Russ as Science Officer Lt Tuvok
Nichelle Nichols as Communications Officer Commander Uhura
Jacqueline Kim as Helmsman Ensign Demora Sulu
James Gandolfini as Chief Engineer Lt Commander Rafaele Buonarroti
Talon Tears as Security Chief Lt Tenger
Glenn Morshower as Navigator Lt Commander Fenn Marruu

Guest Starring

James Doohan as Captain Montgomery Scott
Leonard Nimoy as Captain Spock
Grace Lee Whitney as Captain Janice Rand
Christian Slater as Communications Officer
Michael Dorn as General Worf

Production

It’s 2003, Season 2 of Enterprise is airing, but its not getting great viewing figures, Jimmy Diggs pitches an idea to Paramount Exec’s for a movie-era cgi film called Star Trek: The Lions of the Night featuring an invasion of the Federation by a re-militarized Kzinti. Diggs has a script, some mock CGI, maquettes of the Kzinti, and a rough guide for how to use the Kzinti in the Star Trek universe. He also critically has the support of of George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Leonard Nimoy, D.C. Fontana, Larry Niven, and Majel Barrett-Roddenberry; Michael Okunda, Manny Coto, and others on Enterprise are interested in the idea as a way of linking the TOS/Movie Era Trek to their ongoing series- possibly even showing the Earth-Kzinti war in a later season.

Paramount, having avoided losing the Trek TV franchise during the Viacom breakup, but badly needing some good publicity cheaply, decides to cash in on Sulu’s fanbase and green-lights Star Trek: The Lions of the Night which is scheduled for an October 2004 release. It is strongly ‘suggested’ to the Enterprise show-runners that tying into the film might work better for them than the suggested Xindi arc planned for Season 3….

Release [show]

Reception

Star Trek: The Lions of the Night was released just a poll of Star Trek fans found a majority in favour of more series set in the period between TOS and TNG. It was released in a limited number of cinemas on the same night as it was broadcast on TV, a popular move with many fans.
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 88% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 203 reviews; the weighted average score is 8.8/10.

The film won the 2004 Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television, it also won the 2005 Saturn Award for Best Writing. The film was nominated for the 2004 Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (lost to The Incredibles), the 2004 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation Long Form (lost to Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), and the 2004 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (lost to The Incredibles).

A long running argument among Trek fans is the effect Lions of the Night had on the in production live action TV series Star Trek: Enterprise. Many have suggested the half year Xindi arc of Season Three was cut down from a full season to make way for the build up to the Earth-Kzinti arc in Season 4. Plus the ending of the Temporal Cold War in Season 3 is implied a ‘clearing of the decks’ for the Kzinti arc in Season 4. No evidence has emerged to prove this theory. As it stands the tight, fast paced Xindi Arc was well received by most fans who felt a full year would have been too long [citation needed].

The Season 4 Earth-Kzinti war expanded out information provided in the TAS episode The Slaver Weapon from 1973, going into detail of the war. The Kzinti were rendered with motion capture over actors performances- a first for Star Trek. Like the Xindi arc of the year before the War was kept to the first half of the season, though fall out and references would echo through the next three season, including during the major Season 5-6 Earth-Romulan War episodes.

Sequel

Having proved the fans would accept well made animated Trek Paramount had no issue with commissioning a Sequel to The Lions of the Night called Episode 2: Kilkenny Cats which dealt with the fall out of the Kzinti war and how to patrol their space, enforce the peace etc. The Enterprise crew would all return for the Sequel, which was released in 2006.

LOTNKC_Poster_8_5x14_300dpi.jpg


Further animated Captain Sulu adventures came out in 2008, and 2010. They where joined by animated Star Trek: The Next Generation films in 2009, and 2011. In 2009 the decision was made to produce a new live action show (the animated adventures having been the only Star Trek since 2007) Star Trek: Discovery set in the post Dominion time period and all animated series where ‘suspended’ leading to an ongoing fan movement to reinstate them. Star Trek: Discovery launched in 2011, and is currently in its fifth Season, but Paramount has yet to make an announcement about the animated adventures return.

Reference [show]

External Links
Concept Art at Jimmy Diggs PhotoBucket
More Concept Art by Court Jones
 
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King Thomas

Banned
Taylor Swift-A film about a Mafia Princess named Angelica Gambino whose cozy life is shattered when her father rats out all his friends to avoid prison and she has to move to Nebraska from New York and take on the WITSEC name of Taylor Swift.
 
Gasmask134

Gasmask134

I wanna play!
Downfall (2013)

A 3 hour epic renown for its historical accuracy on the invasion of Japan in 1945-1947, one of the bloodiest campaigns of the second world war. Choosing to take the perspectives of both sides.
 

King Thomas

Banned
The Lady in the Van (1988)
A film about Eleanor of Aquitaine, who in her time was known as The Lady In the Van because she rode in the vanguard of the Second Crusade.
 
Sasalele

Sasalele

The Red Gate (1934)
This supernatural psychological drama is about a man who dies and finds himself in a purgatory. A demon shows him two gates, one red and one blue. Both gates will lead to him to start life a new, but only through one gate will he find true happiness. The man chooses the red gate, and finds himself a young prince in medieval Europe. He eventually becomes king through a secret plot in which his uncle, The King is assassinated. The man soon loses his sanity after he himself is almost poisoned. He has almost his entire court sentenced to death due to their suspected unloyalty. He starts receiving hallucinations of World War I era Europe, and can no longer tell what reality is. Out of confusion, he unknowingly orders the confusication of crops from hundreds of poor farmers to feed his army. When the farmers revolt, the man orders entire villages to be destroyed by knights in biplanes dropping baskets of burning coals. The man goes into a deep depression after seeing a knight bury a little girl. Enemy soldiers soon surround the city and enter the king's castle after loyal armies abandoned the king. A soldier throws a spear into the man's heart killing him. The man finds himself in hell, where the demon tells him the two gates actually led to the same place and that fate did not bring cruel death to the man, but the man brought it on himself by acting like a tyrant. The film ends as the demon starts laughing.

The film is widely considered Director and Screenwriter Adol Hitler's magnum opus for both its stunning visuals and unique plot.
 
NHBL

NHBL

Independence Day

This film tells the story of Tara McBride, an Irish American growing up in Boston, in a family where the word of the priest is everything, and questioning the church or priesthood is absolutely unacceptable. Tara is one of many abused by priests, but has been brainwashed into having the same attitude of her family.

But some of her school friends are Wiccans and other pagans, who realize that something is wrong. The first part describes her coming to realize that questions are a good thing to ask, no matter what is being questioned. The film then goes into her accusations, estrangement from her family as they support the church without reservation, and the eventual indictment—which is rendered meaningless as the priest is transferred to Vatican City.

Although Tara is on the road to recovery at the end, she never reconciles with her parents—and the final scene depicts her younger sister speaking to the priest’s replacement.



A somber film—one young woman finds her freedom, but others still suffer. The movie was harshly condemned by the Vatican, but won numerous Oscars, and helped bring the Catholic abuse scandal into the light.

(I wrote this some time ago, although I didn't post it--or if I did, I can't find it in the thread.)
 

ANARCHY_4_ALL

NHBL said:
Independence Day

This film tells the story of Tara McBride, an Irish American growing up in Boston, in a family where the word of the priest is everything, and questioning the church or priesthood is absolutely unacceptable. Tara is one of many abused by priests, but has been brainwashed into having the same attitude of her family.

But some of her school friends are Wiccans and other pagans, who realize that something is wrong. The first part describes her coming to realize that questions are a good thing to ask, no matter what is being questioned. The film then goes into her accusations, estrangement from her family as they support the church without reservation, and the eventual indictment—which is rendered meaningless as the priest is transferred to Vatican City.

Although Tara is on the road to recovery at the end, she never reconciles with her parents—and the final scene depicts her younger sister speaking to the priest’s replacement.



A somber film—one young woman finds her freedom, but others still suffer. The movie was harshly condemned by the Vatican, but won numerous Oscars, and helped bring the Catholic abuse scandal into the light.

(I wrote this some time ago, although I didn't post it--or if I did, I can't find it in the thread.)
Click to expand...
I'm intrigued; any production notes, cast, or crew?
 

housemaster

John Carter : A biopic about the 40th president of the United States and the two years he spent in office before getting killed by John Hickley . jr.
Alien : A realistic space drama dealing with humanity first contact with titular alien and how to let them know they come in peace .
Harold And Kumar go to White Castle : the documentary of two reporters Harold Jones and Kumar Patel who investigate the shady side of the burger chain Whit castle released in 2003 was responsible for the closure of White Castle two years later.
 

MusuMankata

Ladri di Bibiclette (Drama): An Italian film talking about the plea of the Croatians in Istria, forced to live by selling scrap metal and steal bikes (hence the name). Considered "unitalian" by the regime, the movie was first shown in theater in 2003, when the Fascist Film Committee was disbanded and censorship loosened.
 

King Thomas

Banned
Downfall

A documentary about the destruction of the UK economy after it left the EU.

Willow

A film about the Wicker Man from the point of view of Willow.
 
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