Galaxy Quest

[GirlyGhoul]

This is another thread I searched for but did not find. Which is weird because I could have SWORN there was one. I know I've talked about this movie with Greecies before- but maybe not in a thread of it's own. So if there is a thread, forgive me. My searching skillz obviously suck.

But all that said, I watched this movie last night as it was getting lots of love in the Alan Rickman thread. He, of course, is sublime in the movie. (Well, he was sublime in everything) But it's more than just him. The movie itself is pitch perfect. Everyone gives such awesome, funny, endearing performances. You can really believe that they were a beloved cast on a beloved show.

It really captures the crazy world of fandom at a con. But it does so without mocking the fans. In fact, one set of fans helps save the day.

Plus, all the comic beats are on point. Like when they try to beam up the 'pig-lizard' and assure Taggart that it went well but Teb goes 'But the animal is inside out... And it exploded' and then when Taggart starts freaking out Gwen just stands up, flings some pig guts off her intercom and says 'Hold please'. I had to re-watch that little moment several times.

But everyone is so great! I still think Alan Rickman has the best character arch in the movie, but I love how everyone works together and everyone has some emotional arch or block they have to go through... Well except Tony Shahloub's character. He seemed surprisingly adaptable to the situation and so didn't change much (beyond gaining a love interest by the end) I kind of wish they would have taken a little time to flesh his character out more. It's cute that he was the only one never freaking out about their situation- But why was he so calm and accepting? And why did he snack so much? It was amusing that he was so constantly chill and always munching on something- but I wanted to learn more about him.

I also think they could have explored Tommy's character a bit more. He was a child star, so now that he was a washed up adult non-star there had to be something more going on in his psyche. They could have fleshed it out in a few sentences.

Still, these are just nit-picks and really, it's because I love this movie so much that I want to know more about Tommy and Fred than what was shown.

It's one of my faves and one I'm glad people are adding to their Alan Rickman Memorial Marathons as we sadly mourn *sigh* By Grabthar's Hammer.

[gremlin45]

Alexander: You're just going to have to figure out what it wants. What is its motivation?

Jason: It's a rock monster. It doesn't have motivation.

Alexander: See, that's your problem, Jason. You were never serious about the craft.

*adores*

[kostgard]

Jan 18, 2016 15:24:17 GMT -4 GirlyGhoul said:

But everyone is so great! I still think Alan Rickman has the best character arch in the movie, but I love how everyone works together and everyone has some emotional arch or block they have to go through... Well except Tony Shahloub's character. He seemed surprisingly adaptable to the situation and so didn't change much (beyond gaining a love interest by the end) I kind of wish they would have taken a little time to flesh his character out more. It's cute that he was the only one never freaking out about their situation- But why was he so calm and accepting? And why did he snack so much? It was amusing that he was so constantly chill and always munching on something- but I wanted to learn more about him.

It took me a while to figure this out, but Tony's character is supposed to be stoned all the time, which explains the snacking and the chill attitude. I don't know if that is a play on a former Star Trek-esque actor in the real world, but that's what's going on. Once I figured that out, he made a lot more sense.

The other joke with him is that every time he's introduced as "Tech Sargeant Chen" he squints his eyes - because he's playing a dude named "Chen" but he's clearly not Asian. Clearly a joke on the way back in the 60s and 70s on television as long as you had dark hair, you could be cast as any "ethnic" person (Leonard Nimoy himself was cast as a Native American).

I don't know if they kept these jokes with his character quiet because they are slightly controversial (drug use, casting across race lines) or if they just thought it would be funnier this way, but if you watch Shalhoub closely, he's doing a lot of subtle funny stuff.

I also love that you never see Rickman's character out of costume. Even when he's at home and talking on the phone with Gwen, he's still got the headpiece on.

[GirlyGhoul]

Jan 18, 2016 17:32:24 GMT -4 kostgard said:

It took me a while to figure this out, but Tony's character is supposed to be stoned all the time, which explains the snacking and the chill attitude. I don't know if that is a play on a former Star Trek-esque actor in the real world, but that's what's going on. Once I figured that out, he made a lot more sense.

By all the sons of Warvan! I have watched this movie 80 million times and NEVER picked up on that! He's so chill and unfazed... and constantly eating! I paid attention to those two aspects of his character but never put them together to come to this obvious conclusion! BWAH HA HA!! Yes, now I will look at Fred 'Kwan' in a whole new light! Thanks!!

Ironically, while I didn't catch on to the obvious, I did pick up on the more subtle fact that both he and his character have Asian surnames while he is clearly not Asian as being an obvious 'fail' to hire someone with the correct ethnicity- which did happen a lot on lots of TV shows and movies. (And he does say that Fred Kwan is not even his real name) So I got why he compulsively squinted his eyes when his name was mentioned... but did not catch on as to why he had the munchies and was always chill.

I should turn in my Cheech and Chong fan club card immediately.

[kostgard]

Even after I figured it out, it still took me a while to catch stuff like he's always carrying a brown paper bag around (which probably contains more than snacks). I guess it slides by because none of the other characters acknowledge it. The closest you get is when Guy asks him "Are you stoned?!" when he comes up with idea of digitizing the rock monster onto the ship. A natural question in that situation, but the answer for Fred is "Yes. Always."

[Deleted]

A pretty good oral history of Galaxy Quest. Its funny how everyone sounds like their character. Tim Allen was kinda an asshole, Alan Rickman was not amused by Tim, Sigourney was obsessed with her hair and boobs and everyone else was just happy to be there. I watched it this weekend with my Mom who was a big Alan Rickman fan but had never seen it. She really liked it. I hadn't seen it in a long time. I remembered the storyline fairly well but I was really suprised at how well the special effects held up. I don't know if they were practical or CGI or a mix but they still looked pretty impressive.

[bluemuna]

“We gotta get out of here before one of those things kills Guy!”

Always my loudest laugh. I teach a science fiction class, and we watch this movie. I just rewatched it over the Christmas break. Love love love it.

[kostgard]

Jan 18, 2016 21:49:05 GMT -4 @bronze said:

A pretty good oral history of Galaxy Quest. Its funny how everyone sounds like their character. Tim Allen was kinda an asshole, Alan Rickman was not amused by Tim, Sigourney was obsessed with her hair and boobs and everyone else was just happy to be there. I watched it this weekend with my Mom who was a big Alan Rickman fan but had never seen it. She really liked it. I hadn't seen it in a long time. I remembered the storyline fairly well but I was really suprised at how well the special effects held up. I don't know if they were practical or CGI or a mix but they still looked pretty impressive.

Thanks for that - it actually explains the questions I had about Shalhoub's character mentioned above (based on David Carradine - a white dude playing an Asian on "Kung Fu" and the rumor that he was stoned the whole time, and they were subtle with the stoner humor so they could keep their PG-13 rating).

Though once you see it, not so subtle. I mean seriously. The dude was sooooo stoned.

[Mierin]

I just saw this for the first time last weekend and enjoyed it.

I never realized Shalhoub's character was stoned, heh. I might have to re-watch it!

[GirlyGhoul]

Jan 18, 2016 21:49:05 GMT -4 @bronze said:

A pretty good oral history of Galaxy Quest.

Wow! Great article! And it explains almost everything I was wondering about (Flat out calls Fred a 'stoner') But originally Tony Shahloub was trying out for Guy. When they decided to put him in the Fred Kwan role they pretty much had to rewrite his whole character on the spot and so a lot of what he said and did was made up as they went along. It all totally makes sense now because his character always seemed like the one who didn't have any backstory. He did, but the backstory was scrapped at the last second and Fred formed almost organically through the efforts of Tony Shaloub and the director. Makes total sense. Giving him the love interest was brilliant!

I'm stunned that they almost dropped the trashcan scene with Brandon. That's one of the best gags in the movie!