The 2006 documentary The Sci-Fi Boys, hosted by famous producer, director, and writer Peter Jackson, is a delightful look at several special effects artists who grew up on Forrest J. Ackerman’s magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland. Inspired by the magazine and many Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror movies, these intrepid lads went out armed with Super 8 cameras and created their own masterpieces. Many clips from these home movies are featured with commentary from their makers.

Collector and publisher Forrest J. Ackerman, known as “Uncle Forry,” explains how he was inspired to create the term “Sci-Fi” by the term “Hi-Fi,” which was short for “high fidelity.” Ackerman is a main feature in this film, in both vintage clips and modern footage.

Ray Harryhausen appears, and footage of Ray Bradbury presenting his 1992 Academy Award is shown, including Tom Hanks’s introduction and Bradbury’s remarks. I think this is the most complete version I have seen of this footage. Bradbury is also interviewed in this production.

I was entertained and enlightened by this film. The only thing I wasn’t thrilled about was an extensive appearance by John Landis. If you didn’t know he was responsible for the deaths of three people, two of them very young children, and got away with it, he came across as knowledgeable and a nice guy.

This is well worth watching. Be sure to stick around to the very end of the credits, where Uncle Forry relates a great anecdote.