[AceRimmer2007]

I missed Boa vs Python? Dammit! Who won?

Truth is these things are cheap to crank out and they provide a stable base of advertising money. Besides, without movies like these how would most of the world go on believing that science fiction can be safely ignored? It's a valuable service they provide.

[BTsdragon]

Well, I have to shamefully admit I am looking forward to watching tonight's werewolf movie. But only because Kevin Sorbo stars in it. I recorded it and will watch it later. However that's the only reason I'm watching one of Sci Fi's creepy mutant creature movies. For good ol' I-miss-Andromeda Kevin

[firsTraveler]

If "Tale of the Mummy - woman finds amulet unleashing ancient undead feind" was on Sinamax or Showtime it might be worth a look. Would also apply to Rise: Blood Hunter.

NYC: Tornado Terror: giant twister threatens the Big Apple - replace tornado with huricain and you get a belivable senario.

[Alex-the-Cylon]

I missed Boa vs Python? Dammit! Who won?

Truth is these things are cheap to crank out and they provide a stable base of advertising money. Besides, without movies like these how would most of the world go on believing that science fiction can be safely ignored? It's a valuable service they provide.

BoaVSPython was a frakking masterpiece!!!

[EnGal]

Mmmm Now I think I know where are coming all of the ***** that are aired at Midnight on the french channel...

But seriously :

Heatstroke - a model (who is also a soldier) fights aliens that are causing global warming.

Is this a joke? I can't stop laughing reading this.... Alien causing global warming? LOL

[BrianOblivion]

Is this a joke? I can't stop laughing reading this.... Alien causing global warming? LOL

What's so funny about that? It worked very well twelve years ago when it was called "The Arrival"...

[eber322]

Is this a joke? I can't stop laughing reading this.... Alien causing global warming? LOL

Almost as funny as the idea that humans are causing it.

[JLDGv2]

Too frakkin hilarious............... must leave thread.......................

[atlantissux]

Now I won't pretend that any of these movies are Oscar-worthy, but some of them are entertaining. Most of these types of movies air only on Saturday nights, so it doesn't affect the channels other programs.

I really liked Boa Vs. Python. It's got not just one, but TWO giant snakes. Mammoth had a lot of humor and how could you not love a movie called Frankenfish. It's one of the best giant mutant killer fish movies I've ever seen.

One of my favorite Sci Fi original movies which is not on your list is called Monster. I think they just aired it again last week. It's got a cheesy monster, but it's a fun movie, because it really pokes fun at cheesy movie monster movies and cliches.

[invaderzim_7]

I have to agree with AceRimmer2007. These movies are easy to write because they are so formulaic and easy to produce because they are so cheap. And Sci-Fi is more gauranteed a profit, which they need to pay their bills and to stay on the air.

But sometimes I like these movies.

I do question what the 2007 writer's strike accomplished. It may have resulted in a better deal for writers but they're still cranking out the same old predictable stuff for Sci-Fi and all the networks.

[BrianOblivion]

I have to agree with AceRimmer2007. These movies are easy to write because they are so formulaic and easy to produce because they are so cheap. And Sci-Fi is more gauranteed a profit, which they need to pay their bills and to stay on the air.

But sometimes I like these movies.

I do question what the 2007 writer's strike accomplished. It may have resulted in a better deal for writers but they're still cranking out the same old predictable stuff for Sci-Fi and all the networks.

Sci Fi makes no profit from these films -- the maximum amount of money they spend for any "Original Picture" is 750k (the producers are responsible for coming up with the remaining funds, usually through foreign sales), and the titles they acquire they pay far less for. Just like every other commercial TV network, Sci Fi receives its revenue from commercials, and if their ratings are up, they can charge more for advertising time on the network. That's it. Some individual films may do better in the ratings than others, but it is so inconsistent that the commercial time is pretty consistently the same price. Now, the mini-series and series are another matter altogether, and are more expensive to produce, and have more expensive commercial slots or are even promoted in association with one company or another.

As for the writer's strike, I assure you that 99% of the Sci Fi Original Pictures are not written by WGA members, and the strike was completely irrelevant to those who make these movies. Most of the writers of these films are lucky to make between five to ten thousand for writing a script, which is far below WGA rates, and most of the directors make between fifteen to thirty thousand (maybe), whis is also far below DGA rates. Most of the films have only one union association at all, and that is SAG, although a few shot in the U.S. and Canada recently have had to utilize IATSE employees or contracts. Other than that, the strike was about being treated fairly, and to expect that miraculously TV writing would suddenly improve drastically just because the writers are being treated better is a fallacious thought.

[SylvreWolfe]

Are you sure about all that??

[BrianOblivion]

Are you sure about all that??

Very much so.

[Guy Incognito]

Tale of the Mummy - woman finds amulet unleashing ancient undead feind.
Heatstroke - a model (who is also a soldier) fights aliens that are causing global warming.
Rise: Blood Hunter - woman reporter awakens/becomes undead avenger.
NYC: Tornado Terror: giant twister threatens the Big Apple
Abominable: Bigfoot.
Alien Apocalypse: no description needed.
Alien Hunter: no description needed.
Alien Siege: no description needed.
Andriod Apocalypse: no description needed.
Attack of the Sabre Tooth: no description needed.
Aztec Rex: Steve from 90210 in a black wig fighting the worst CG dinosaur ever.
Bats: Human Harvest - no description needed.
Beyond Loch Ness - Loch Ness Monster, ensuing havok.
Bloodsuckers: no description needed.
Boa Versus Python: Alien Versus Predator except between (large) snakes.
Bugs
Cereberus: Demon dog of the ancient world, bad costuming.
Chupacabra: Goat suckers unleashed.
Deadly Swarm: Flies? Locusts? Hornets? Nope. Bees.
Disaster Zone: Volcano in New York - no description needed.
Dragon Fighter: ancient dragon eggs unearthed. Havok ensues involving Dean Cain.
Earthstorm: exploding moon. B-movie actors. Havok ensues.
Frankenfish
Gargoyles: Wings of Darkness - no description needed.
Harpies: Greek Orestia gone wrong.
Haunted Prison: no description needed.
Heatstroke: X-model and elite commando battle aliens causing global warming.
Headless Horseman
House of the Dead 2: where House of the Dead 1 left off.
Ice Spiders: Spiders made of ice (sans flavoring).
Infected: Deadly disease causes havok.
Kaw: Revenge of the crows.
Larva: Something deadly is spawning. Havok!
Locusts: the 8th Plague: Genetically altered bugs fight back!
Magma: Volcanic Disaster
Mammoth: Vengeful Wooly Mammoth wreaks havok.
Man-Thing
Mega Snake: Deadly (large) snake.
Minotaur: Ancient chimera wreaks havok!
Ogre: Ancient scourge wreks havok!
Pterodactyl: Ancient bird wreaks havok (Starring Coolio)!
Path of Destruction: Monster storm wreaks havok!
Pythons 2: They're back from part 1.
Raptor Island: Ancient dinos hunt Lorenzo Lamas.
Reign of the Gargoyles: Ancient creature of lore wreaks havok!
Rock Monster
Showdown at Area 51: AvP but at Area 51.
Supergator: Large Gator wreaks havok!
Wraiths of Roanoake: New England-style undead, ancient evil.

Is anybody listening?

I'm listening.
I also notice that Mansquito is conspicuously absent from your list. What gives?

[Fizzix]

This discussion pops up every... so often. And I always say that Skiffy should give up on those, invest in real TV, and reap the benefits.

Yay, SG-1 (yay, they killed it before it killed them and/or went bad, boo, it's dead), yay BSG (though I've kinda stopped watching again), yay showing Firefly, yay showing Doctor Who and the Sarah Jane Adventures. Why not put more yay programming on and less "oh... *flip to infomercial*" programming? RLY.

[Funkgunn]

Why not put more yay programming on and less "oh... *flip to infomercial*" programming? RLY.

Late night, when your tired and hallucinating... infomercials and sci-fi movies sorta run together in your head...

Reign of the Blue Ray (it came, it saw, it ruled the competition)

Bigfoot Screen TV (what size is it? big enough to kill you!)

Alien Microwave (heats the earth at a fraction of the cost)

Ghost Diamonds Sale (get these deals or they will haunt you!)

Boa vs Viper Graphics Card (this snake loves color and contrast... of your BLOOD!)

The Tornado Vacuum (cleans your house... off the face of the Earth!)

Rolex Rex (that is right, A giant dinasur AND hand crafted presision timing)

[SylvreWolfe]

Very much so.

And you would be wrong.

[Kiley]

Not sure what to say. One of the prolific posters here used to say they made huge profits off of the crappy Killer Catfish, Deadly Gator movies. It was how they were able to put out their mini series. He made it sound like Oz or the Dune Series were losers in cash, and propped up by the weekly joke of the week Mansquito movies. If that is true, I am sad, sci fi is a channel I don't even watch anymore, i just check the site to see if they are working on a new mini series.

[BrianOblivion]

And you would be wrong.

Considering that I produce films for cable and Sci Fi on occasion, I think I know quite a lot more about it than you.

What I stated above is EXACTLY the way it works for the Sci Fi Original Pictures. Do a little research, why don't you, before you jump to conclusions or call someone a liar?