The Ohio Sci-Fi and Horror Marathons

What's up with the dismissal of PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE?

It was once, and actually, the FIRST universally 'praised' So Bad It's Good movie. Now, everybody seems to hate on it. Besides these reviews, I saw some similar comments on Twitter.

Is it just that folks nowadays have to have their fun "Bad" movies manufactured like the SHARKNADO crap on Syfy, which is basically a network taking a dump on the heads of their viewers? What happened to the love of an eccentric like Ed Wood who had NO tongue in his cheek? He was an oddball trying to do the best he could, but who made deliriously inept but enjoyable films despite himself? And, because Wood was so genuine, you had an affection for such a character? Now, it's all about crass cynical commercialism?

What has happened to cult audiences?

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Long Live the Orson Welles Cinemas

Boy, it's a good thing that no one overreacts about anything on this board.

I've been over PLAN 9 for quite a long time. When I was younger, it certainly had its appeal, especially in the 80's and early 90's when it gained its notoriety as the Best Bad Film of All Time. But it just doesn't hold as much appeal anymore, especially in the colorized version that showed as Case (which actually makes the film look more professional than the black and white version.)

But that doesn't mean that I don't like classic cult/schlock films. When it comes to Ed Wood, I much prefer GLEN OR GLENDA, which is a far stranger, almost avant-garde B-movie.

As far as the CWRU lineup goes, there has seemingly been a shift away from some of the older programming strategies in the last few years. During my first ten years of attendance, a big part of the appeal of these Cleveland events was the often eccentric diversity of the lineups. Some of the best groupings of films were often the ones that seemed mediocre in principal, but which went off life gangbusters in practice. The last few years have placed a somewhat greater emphasis on more well-known titles, and there has been a steady creep of kids films into the lineups (which isn't terrible in and of itself.)

Part of the programming evolution might have to do with Strosacker auditorium's projection capabilities. They still have a dual projector setup, which allows them access to a lot of nice archival 35mm prints (the quality of which is uniformly superb.) But their digital projector is only a standard (if still decent) video projector, not a modern DCP, so any video that's played is straight from DVD or Blu-Ray sources. It's a somewhat uneasy compromise, but it still works fairly well.

I dunno, in the end a lot of the event's appeal depends on what you want out of a Marathon. I've always enjoyed the road trip to Cleveland, the CWRU environment, the oddball duration, etc. more than the films themselves. I've always believed that a terrible lineup can definitely affect a crowd, but if the environment is strong enough, it can also elevate a decent lineup into a great event. Which is what this year was for me.

Understood. But, like I noted, I read several tweets from the event which also sloughed off PLAN 9. And, this IS the context of the announcement for SHARKNADO 3. It does seem like many folks nowadays are "over" So Bad It's Good movies if they are "old". Hipsters much prefer just out right ripping apart older movies rather than have fun WITH them (which I feel has always been the key difference: WITH rather than AT). Meanwhile, they seem to gorge on Syfy crapola as if they are post-modern "art" of some sort.

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Long Live the Orson Welles Cinemas

Actually I would have been pleased by something like Plan 9 From Outer Space showing up. Still a big favorite of mine but Dr.Bob just showed it about a month ago.
Sadly,it was the newness of the movies that kept me away. Too many Godzilla(2014) and Tremors. Would have preferred something more like Godzilla Vs. The Smog Monster and Parasite(in 3-D) and on film. But that is just me,I guess.
It seemed to me though to be too slighted towards newer movies and not enough rarities like Bloodsuckers From Outer Space,Dark Side of the Moon(90) or Moontrap.
Maybe,that is the thing they are going for. Maybe mainstreaming everything will get younger hipsters and yuppies but it was enough to keep me away.
I agree it seemed a little "too" kid friendly and not enough 60s-80s dynamic. How about Starcrash? How about Battle Beyond The Stars? How about Laserblast? How about Latitude Zero? Just some suggestions.

Anticipating the Columbus Marathon announcement, I revisited this thread.
It's a little late to hope to affect a list of the upcoming Thon by commenting on an old one elsewhere, but that's an obvious purpose of re-hashing.
However I am happy to be reminded that I am in close agreement with Joe - and that he is one of the great minds planning Columbus.
LA, Whatever you think of Mr. Neff, or of me, we are not "Hipsters."
Personally, I have been reading and watching Science Fiction longer than you, LA, perhaps longer than you have been alive. (Although I do not have a tenth of your educated knowledge. I am not being sarcastic.)
Gripes with Sharknando et al culture are not to the point. In fact I agree with them. But that is not the point of disagreeing with the choice of P9.
As Joe comments we have been over Plan 9 for some time. And as the person who initially pissed on its memory, I can say with assurance that it was not the fact of age, but that it was a safe choice to present a turd with a reputation rather than something a little more creative. Perhaps newer or perhaps a classic, but not something that was, similar to more than half of the choices, not very interesting or even unfamiliar.
Perhaps I am jaded. If it had been The Mysterians or Nosferatu I would have led the cheers. But it was Plan 9, Ninja Turtles, Honey I should Have Pureed the Kids, a couple of non objectionable, not creative oldies (50 Ft - -, Shrinking Man) a couple of very familiar classics (Island of Lost - -, Forbidden P - -) a couple on excellent stalwarts (Tremors, Jumanji) and three new things.
It takes a lot of creativity to program interesting older stuff. The point being, they didn't. Even following the theme of Big & Little, they were safe to a fault.
And in that context, Plan 9 was not just a turd, but the representative of a lack of creativity.
Still a fun event. But more for the atmosphere than the choices.

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Thar’s only two possibilities: Thar is life out there in the universe which is smarter than we are, or we’re the most intelligent life in the universe. Either way, it’s a mighty sobering thought. - Walt Kelly