7 sci-fi ways to spend Sunday night instead of watching the Oscars
If the Oscars don't want sci-fi, then maybe we don't want the Oscars.
It's not unheard-of for the Academy Awards to snub much of the science fiction films that come out during the course of a year, but that doesn't make it right. So we're proposing that, rather than endure 4 hours of acceptance speeches for films you didn't see, you put together your best sci-fi-themed cocktail, maybe hunker down with a few friends, and celebrate science fiction instead.
We've got seven fun alternative ways to pass that Oscar time. Check 'em out and choose one!
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Have A Star Trek: TOS & TNG Extravaganza!
Start with the pilot episodes, The Cage and Encounter at Farpoint. Then watch The Naked Time and its sequel, The Naked Now. Was George Takei right? Is Next Gen's take on the original the worst episode? Which pilot episode works better?
Watch Futurama's Greatest Hits
The beauty of Futurama is that all of it qualifies as sci-fi. Plus, it has an endless supply of really fantastic episodes which would make it ridiculously easy to watch so many you'll be covered in bed sores. Well, not covered. We recommend Where No Fan Has Gone Before, Jurrasic Bark, Roswell That Ends Well, and TIme Keeps on Slipping to get you started.
Play some classic sci-fi-themed arcade classics
They're available in collections, on your phone and tablet -- classic arcade game creators loved sci-fi, they crafted some of the most enteratining stuff in the genre and, best of all, it's totally interactive. So bust out Asteroids, Galaxian, Defender Missile Command, Sinistar, Galaga, and whatever else suits your fancy.
Read the Thanos stories that may be adapted into Avengers 2.
So you got to the end of Marvel's Avengers, saw Thanos and either got really excited or scratched your head because you have no idea who Thanos is. Either way, now is the time to read all the stories that surround Thanos and that pesky Infinity Gauntlet. So pick up the trades, find the original issues, or just give a digital download of Thanos' Quest, Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity War, and Infinity Crusade. When you're done, you'll be teeming with thoughts for the Avengers sequel.
Mainline the novel of Cloud Atlas
Sure the film had its flaws, but surely it deserved something in the way of an Oscar nom, even if it was just in a technical category. The movie isn't getting a DVD/Blu-Ray release until May, but David Mitchell's original novel is available right here, right now. If you want to completely ignore the Oscars/Oscar Parties/human civilization, then why not curl up on the couch and get some heavy reading done?
Watch Deep Space 9 and Babylon 5 side by side
It's one of the greatest nerd debates of all time -- who came up with the concept first, J. Michael Straczynski or Ronald D. Moore? And who did it better? Watch the two hour pilots of each show back to back and see where you stand.
Watch the two Serenitys
If (when) Joss Whedon finally brings Firefly back, you want to be ready. The best way to do that is to hunker down with your best brown coat and watch the pilot episode and the feature-length film, both entitled Serenity. Go figure. That way, you'll be able to figure out how Whedon should continue the story. I mean, clearly he needs our help!
