Happy birthday, Michael Fassbender!

Michael Fassbender, born April 2, 1977 in Heidelberg, Germany, has portrayed X-Men super-villain Magneto in four movies: X-Men: First Class; X-Men: Days of Future Past; X-Men: Apocalypse; and X-Men: Dark Phoenix. He has also appeared in the Alien franchise for which he received a Saturn nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Fassbender has been nominated for two Academy Awards for his performances in Steve Jobs and 12 Years a Slave. He has won 79 awards with a total of 161 nominations.

Michael Fassbender as Magneto

"Alien" wins 3 Saturn Awards 1980

Ridley Scott's iconic monster movie, Alien, was nominated for seven Saturn Awards, and took home three trophies at the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror's seventh annual ceremony, July 26, 1980.

Alien won Best Science Fiction Film, Best Director for Ridley Scott, and Best Supporting Actress for Veronica Cartwright.

It was also nominated for Best Actress for Sigourney Weaver (shoulda won), Best Writing for Dan O'Bannon, Best Makeup, and Best Special Effects.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture was nominated for 10 Saturns, but took home only one award for Best Special Effects.

Disney's The Black Hole was nominated for Best Science Fiction Film, Best Writing, Best Music, and Best Special Effects. 

The Muppet Movie won Best Fantasy Film and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century won Best Costumes.

Benny Hill and Alien actress Helen Horton born 1923

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the shrewish wife with the shrill, cackly voice on the Benny Hill Show was also the flat voice of Mother, the computer in Alien. Helen Horton, born November 21, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois, appeared in the Poirot episode One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, Superman III, and Miss Marple's At Bertram's Hotel.

Helen passed away in September 2007 in Vero Beach, Florida.

Happy birthday, Winona Ryder!

I remember first seeing Winona Ryder (born October 29, 1971 in Winona, Minnesota) in Heathers and reading all the rave reviews about her acting, especially after her performance in Mermaids, which I did not see.  

I guess I became a bigger fan when I saw her in Alien: Resurrection and then in the Star Trek reboot as Spock's mother, Amanda Grayson.  But what cemented it for me was her performance in Stranger Things.  I think she did an amazing job and is underappreciated for her work.  

She has been nominated for two Academy Awards and has been nominated for Golden Globes for her performance in Stranger Things.  For Alien: Resurrection she got a nomination for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress and a nomination as Worst Supporting Actress from the Stinker Bad Movies Award.

"Alien" wins Academy Award for Best Visual Effects 1980

Alien, one of the best movies of all time, won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 52nd annual ceremony, April 14, 1980.  Awards were given to H. R. Giger, Carlo Rambaldi, Brian Johnson, Nick Allder and Dennis Ayling.  Alien was also nominated for Best Art Direction.  Yes, that's Farrah Fawett posing with the winners.

For Best Visual Effects, it beat 1941 (an all-time favorite of mine), The Black Hole and Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Bolaji Badejo, "Alien" actor, born 1953

Bolaji Badejo, born August 23, 1953 in Lagos, Nigeria, starred in only one movie, Alien, when he played the terrifying xenomorph.  At least he made that one role count!  Although he had no experience as an actor, his 6'10" body made him ideal for the part.

He passed away in December 1992 from sickle cell anemia.

"Alien" released 1979

Ridley Scott's horror classic Alien was released into theatres June 22, 1979.  Its legacy is one of the most successful science fiction/horror franchises in history.  It starred Tom Skerritt (favorite), Sigourney Weaver (big favorite), and Veronica Cartwright (favorite). 

It won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.  It was nominated for Best Art Direction - Set Direction. Its soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith was nominated for a Grammy and a Golden Globe.

Alien won Saturn Awards for Best Science Fiction Film, Best Direction for Ridley Scott and Best Supporting Actress for Veronica Cartwright.  Sigourney Weaver was nominated for Best Actress.

In 2002, it was selected by the Library of Cngress for preservation in the National Film Registry.  The American Film Institute named it as the 7th best science fiction film.

"Alien" wins Academy Award 1980

Ridley Scott's horror classic Alien won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 52nd Academy Awards April 14, 1980.  It was up against more of my favorite movies, 1941, Star Trek - The Motion Picture, and The Black Hole.

Alien was also nominated for Best Art Direction.

1941 was nominated for three Oscars including Best Cinematography and Best Sound.

The Black Hole was also nominated for Best Sound.

Star Trek - The Motion Picture was also nominated for Best Original Score and Best Art Direction.

Unfortunately, Alien's Best Visual Effects Oscar was the only one for this group.

My favorite movies 1979

My favorite movies from 1979, another year with some great films, too many to choose just one so I picked several favorites and one guilty pleasure.

Alien starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt and Veronica Cartwright.  It was the first horror movie that I sat through and enjoyed.  It created a monster (no pun intended) as now I enjoy horror films.



Star Trek: The Motion Picture starring everybody from the original series.  We had waited so long for a movie version of our favorite television show and finally got this.  Not bad but it wasn't good.  I often suspect they got someone who didn't like Star Trek to write the script.



1941 starring everybody.  I love this movie even though it's generally considered to be not funny.  And it's the only non-science fiction movie on this list!  Wow!



Walt Disney's The Black Hole starring Maximillian Schell, Yvette Mimieux, Tony Perkins and Ernest Borgnine.  I think Disney tried to capitalize on the whole Star Wars trend, and this was the result.  However, I like the non-Roddenberry, non-Lucas approach to space travel/exploration.



Guilty pleasure: Meteor starring Sean Connery and Natalie Wood.  I know it was a huge star-studded flop but I'm a sucker for disaster movies.  Now it's campy fun!

Happy birthday, Sigourney Weaver!

Sigourney Weaver, one of the most beautiful and talented actresses ever, celebrates her birthday today, October 8.  She is one of the few actresses to receive an Oscar nomination for her performance in a horror movie (Aliens, 1986), one of my favorites of all time.

My other favorites: Alien, Ghostbusters, Galaxy Quest, Wall-E, Dave, Heartbreakers and Snow White: A Tale of Terror.