The Ohio Sci-Fi and Horror Marathons

For me, the "magic" of the marathons has has always been a sense of discovery. Countless times over the years of attending these things have I enjoyed the heck out of a movie I had never heard of, or that didn't interest me in the first place (Specific examples: Cowboy Bebop, Equilibrium). Other times I have rediscovered forgotten classics that I haven't seen in a long time, or learned to appreciate a film I didn't like the first time around (Repo Man, Buckaroo Banzai). And I've been able to experience these things the way they should be: in a theater with an audience.

So when I read a post here and there from a marathoid who apparently watches all the films they can in the lineup after they are announced, that just seems strange to me. Please don't take that personally, it is your own prerogative to enjoy the marathon in whatever way you choose. My point is that I would not get the same enjoyment out of the event if I did this. Amongst the films I have seen before in this year's lineup, the one I viewed most recently is The Day the Earth Stood Still, and that was at SF19. That's one of the things that excites me about this year.

I was just curious as to how many of you out there enjoy watching the films beforehand. Or does anyone else have other curious marathon-centric viewing habits?

Also, what specific films have you discovered or rediscovered at a marathon?

And by the way, if anyone decides to watch the movies ahead of time so you can "practice" wacky callouts to amuse your friends and make yourself feel special, please don't.

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Aliens? Us?
Is this one of your Earth "jokes?"

I avoid watching the film before the marathon. That would spoil the experience. I often buy and watch the DVD after the marathon. eg: Robot Stories, (and from the Horror thons: From Dusk till Dawn, Black Sheep, Fido)

Discovered: The Apple, Chopping Mall, Night of the Comet, Robot Stories

Rediscovered: 12 Monkeys

I’m going to second the previous post. I feel like if I watch the movies before the marathon, I’m dulling the experience of sitting through them all back-to-back with you wonderful people. However, I usually have such a good time at the ‘thon, that I purchase the movies that are not already in my collection and watch them all again after the ‘thon to try and hold on to that fun as long as I can.

Discovered: Forbidden Planet, Day the Earth Stood Still (at SF1), This Island Earth, Light Years, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Fido

Rediscovered: Chopping Mall, Flash Gordon

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Remember ... no matter where you go, there you are.

I also try to avoid movies in the lineup (or that I think might drop in as last minute filler), though I will try to warm up with some previous marathon films. For example my son and I watched Earth Vs. The Spider on Saturday.

Discovered: Inframan, Equilibrium, Frequency, Cowboy Bebop, Fido, The Atomic Cafe, The Apple, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, and Cemetery Man.
Rediscovered: Metropolis, 2001, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Abyss (Director's Cut). I'm not sure if the latter is a discovered or rediscovered, since it was such a better film with the additional footage. As for the first three I had seen them but I saw them on small screens and when I was younger and did not appreciate them for what they were at that time.

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The wages of sin are royalties.

Ahh Yes The Apple. Well the first time I saw Gravity and Spaceboy.

I agree with everything Jack said. I try to avoid any SF unless it's played at a recent marathon. Once the lineup is announced I tend to watch the movies I really hoped we'd get but didn't. Saturday I watched a Running Man and Predator double feature in honor of the governors I guess. Either of those would be a blast at a marathon (maybe bookends).

Discovered at a marathon: Forbidden Planet, The Apple, Code 46, Equilibrium, Body Snatchers, Death Race 2000, THX-1138, Happy Accidents

Rediscovered: The Abyss Director's Cut, Mad Max, The Matrix, Flash Gordon, A Clockwork Orange

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"I came here to chew bubble gum and kick a**. I'm all out of bubble gum."