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PrintTop Ten Sci Fi Movies of All Time
News Type: Opinion — Sun Nov 5, 2006 10:58 PM EST
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First off, props to Praetor605 for starting his fantastic conversation-prompting thread, "Your Favorite Science Fiction Book." This is my attempt to make a contribution, by starting a conversation around science fiction movies. There are a few lists out there counting down the top 25, 50, 100 or whatever greatest science fiction movies of all time, but I'm interested in feedback from other Newsviners in the SciFi group.
Just to get the ball rolling, here are mine, in no particular order:
Blade Runner (1982) directed by Ridley Scott; starring Harrison Ford – this movie was given only 2-1/2 stars by Leonard Maltin, causing me to throw his film guide into my trash can. This is one of the most influential dystopic film-scapes ever created, by an intensely atmospheric director at the height of his powers. The source material is classic (Philip K. Dick), the soundtrack is spot-on appropriate at all times, and the acting is utterly appropriate (and no one gets the crap beat out of them like Harrison Ford). Intellectually challenging, visually stimulating and a perfect time capsule of the era in which it was released.
A Clockwork Orange (1971) directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Malcolm McDowell – I chose this rather than Kubrick's other sci-fi masterpiece mostly because it's (a little) less well-known. Orange is full of incredible international-style-gone-to-seed sets, a virtuoso performance by McDowell as Little Alex, quirky, innovative and perfect dialogue torn right from the pages of Burgess' novel and typical effortless Kubrick direction, full of predatory tracking shots, multiple levels of symbolism and unmatched usage of color and sound to form a palette of moods.
Rollerball (1975) directed by Norman Jewison, starring James Caan. IMHO, this was the most convincing work James Caan ever did (a great actor, who never got the roles he deserved after the Godfather). Jewison allegedly got the idea for the movie after watching a hockey game that got out of hand, and the result was a deeply nuanced and prophetic meditation on sport, multinational corporations, violence as enterainment and the role of the individual arrayed against all these forces. Some rockin' action scenes too…
The Omega Man (1971) directed by Boris Sagal, starring Charlton Heston. First of all, to be spoofed on the Simpsons means you have to be part of the pop-culture pantheon. Hey, this one isn't particularly deep, even if it does deal with a startingly modern theme – the aftermath of a massive die-off of humanity caused by the release of a biological weapon. Rather, it's an opportunity for Charlton Heston to waste mutants in his rock-jawed style. Nevertheless, like all the great 70's dystopia sci fi films, it offsets the (relatively tame by today's standards) gunfire and action with contemplative and oddly affecting scenes of isolation and reflection. The scenes where Chuck's Robert Neville character gets to roar around L.A. in any vehicle he chooses, shopping by pulling whatever groovy threads he chooses off abandoned department store racks are a fantasist's hoot, too.
The Andromeda Strain (1971) directed by Robert Wise, starring Arthur Hill. Chock full of suspense, and a movie about ideas not shooting aliens. This is the only time I've ever been in a film theatre, kept on the edge of my seat by images from an electron microscope. Andromeda Strain was so scary-good that I can almost forgive it for unleashing Michael Crichton on the world as a power in the publishing world – authority which he promptly used to become the John Grisham of the science genre.
Logan's Run (1976) directed by Michael Anderson, starring Michael York. Thirty years later, Logan's Run holds a fond place in a lot of sci-fi fans' hearts. Granted, it was a bit on the light and frothy side, but it was chock full of adventure and the sets were mind-boggling to me at the time. It was as if the entire city were on the site of the '67 Montreal Expo. Robert Jordan made a great creepy antagonist, Jenny Agutter an appealing love interest, and the Carousel was amply cinematic motivation for Logan to get the heck out of Dodge. (I have never quite been able to get over how clunky the robot that oversaw the freezing facilities was, though….)
Forbidden Planet (1956) directed by Fred M. Wilcox, starring Leslie Nielsen. Considered genre pulp at the time, today, everything about this movie screams sci fi classic. From the depth of thought behind the menace (literally, a super-genius' subconscious, taking physical shape and going on a rampage against anything that the genius – however much he might not admit it consciously – considers a threat) faced by Nielsen's crew to the sets, effects and props (a super-powerful robot! The classic flying saucer!), this created many of the sci fi archetypes we honor today, including that of the scientist with the brainy yet beautiful daughter (so often deployed by classic Star Trek scripters).
Brazil (1985) directed by Terry Gilliam, starring Jonathan Pryce. The singular vision of director Terry Gilliam created this dystopic future Britain, in which cutting edge technology co-exists with Blitz-era 'just make do'. Even more applicable today than it was when released, Brazil allows us to play out the scenarios that can result when a society is permanently at war with a faceless, nameless enemy. 1984 crossed with Monty Python makes this both thought-provoking and entertaining….and the director doesn't insult our intelligency by feeding us a honey-coated Hollywood happy ending (or does he???)
Planet of the Apes (1968) directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, starring Charlton Heston. I would put this film on the list if only because of the haunting score by Jerry Goldsmith, but fortunately, there are a dozen other reasons to do so. First among these is the ending, which is arguably the best "gotcha" surprise ending ever put on film (yes, even better than The Sixth Sense). Second, this is the role that Heston was born to play. (Forget Moses). No one plays arrogant better than Chuck, with his great ship's prow of a beak thrust boldly forward throughout the film….which makes it all the more poignant at the movie's end when he has to come to terms with how badly the humans of his era screwed up. Lastly, the reams of commentary laced throughout Planet of the Apes, many of which are really quite bold given the date of the film's release: comments on race, class, religion abound, taking this film far beyond what was still – in its day – considered a simple genre film. Special note: if you value your brain cells, DO NOT consider renting the abominable, godawful and generally vomit-inducing 2001 version of the film. I mean, I like both Mark Wahlberg and Tim Burton, but REALLY!
Things to Come (1936) directed by William Cameron Menzie, starring Raymond Massey. Based on a book by that ole future-predictor himself, H.G. Wells, Things to Come boldly takes on the task of predicting what the future will hold over the next 100 years. Springboarding from the ruins of the Second World War, which was just gathering steam when the movie was released, the society in the movie struggles its way out of anarchy and into a utopian, rationalist (and apparently Frank Lloyd Wright-designed) future that is both similar to – and at the same time absolutely the opposite – of what really happened. Really, a remarkable film, far more prescient than it's equally praised near-contemporary Metropolis, which perhaps suffered from the political views of its creator Fritz Lang.
Dishonorable Omissions
Yeah, so….I said 10, which meant that I had to stop somewhere. There were many more I could have mentioned, some of which are absolutely cataclysmic in terms of their significance. These include the blindingly obvious (such as 2001, which I omitted – even though I'm a huge Kubrick fan – because I'm pretty sure that it'll be on just about everyone's list) and the more vintage choices, such as The Day the Earth Stood Still. Frankly, I just didn't have anything to add about these monumental classics that hasn't already been said….You might, though!
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7.8
{"commentId":364927,"authorDomain":"chandra"}
Well, I'd like to add both Alien and Aliens to the mix. Sigourney Weaver did us women a big service in the lead role of Ripley, and I never get tired of seeing either one, disgusting as they are.
{"commentId":364927,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"chandra"}
- 11 votes
#1 - Sun Nov 5, 2006 11:50 PM EST{"commentId":365151,"authorDomain":"smallworldpodcast"}
Creating a list for my favorite scifi books was easy. My criteria was to choose five science fiction books that I believe are high quality, entertaining and that I've read over and over again. The hard part was limiting myself to five.
Scifi movies, on the other hand, are more difficult to choose from. Consider, the story and the plot has to be engaging and the characters have to be compelling, While it's true that scifi books have to achieve those same things scifi movies generally don't trust their audience to be up to the task of appreciating the story and that because the people who finance scifi movies are looking for the biggest bang for their buck. That means compromising stories so they appeal to the widest selection of people to generate the biggest profit as possible. So picking five top scifi movies, never mind 10, has been a task.
In no particular order...
The Matrix Yes, yes, I know, most of the plot elements seem like they were written by a freshmen philosophy student who wrote a screenplay while doing bong hits but that movie has more ideas packed into it than dozen other scifi movies combined. And who can forget the sense of awe and horror when you realized that everything that Neo knew was just an illusion?
The Matrix combines Descartes mistaken theories of consciousness, Plato's concept of forms and the cave and the obligatory allusion to Christ, the Phillip K Dick that reality is illusion, what is identity if your life is an illusion, AI, the technological singularity, etc. The list goes on and on. Oh, yeah, there's kung fu!
And for once Keanu's wooden acting fits the character he's playing. Neo's is in a constant state of shock and disbelief so you can totally buy Keanu's limited repetoire of writer's block expressions.
Logan's Run This movie turns the concept of the whole Adam and Eve/Garden of Eden myth on it's head. Logan and Jessica live in the Garden of Eden, their domed city. But instead of living forever or close to forever, they voluntarily die at, what, 24? 27? I forget. But aside from that, life is perfect. Sex is safe and free. Drug use is acceptable. Basically, you can indulge yourself in anyway. When Jessica and Logan leave the domed city and into the wildness the real world is painful, as it is in the exit of Eden myth. But it is only upon leaving the city that Jessica and Logan are able to have a mature committed relationship. And instead of a mandatory death sentence they find they have the potential to live long lasting lives. Finally, much like the above Plato cave story, Logan and Jessica lead their people in an exodus from the domed and doomed city to the real world.
Groundhog's Day Is it really a scifi movie? Well, I'm going to call it a scif movie. Contest me if you want.
in Groundhog's Day, the surface story is that Bill Murray is domed, whoops, I meant doomed, to repeat that the same day over and over, and over, and over...and over...again. Lots of laughs ensue. But dig an inch deeper and the movie reveals Buddhist philosophy, Nietzsche's eternal return and a general psychological approach to living in the world.
Phil starts off as a jerk but once he realizes he is living the same day over and over he is quickly stunned. Then he rejects it and is frightened. Then he realizes there are no consequences to his actions and he acts childishly (lots of laughs ensue). But then boredom and depression sets in and soon Phil is committing suicide to get through the day as quickly as possible. And finally Phil comes to accept his situation and even love the town and day he is trapped in, becomes a man, finds love and finally learns to love himself.
All that in a comedy!
2001: A Space Odyssey 2001 was the first movie to operate within the constraints on physics, well, at least until the end. Space travel was sloooooooow. No warp drives for us, thank you. And yet for all that, there was a certain majesty and awe watching the spaceships gently rotating or moving through space.
And then, of course, we have the idea of humans being assisted into evolution, from being made from apes to tool using/making creatures to, what, the star child?
And what about Hal? Did he really go insane or was he really operating in a moral framework that he believed so sincerely in that it was worth sacrificing his crew?
Okay, I'm done. I'll add more to this list if I can think of anything else.
{"commentId":365151,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"smallworldpodcast"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":365201,"authorDomain":"smithco"}
{"commentId":366420,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":364937,"authorDomain":"marilynl"}
Gattaca gets my vote, as a warning about the dangers to society of being able to select genetic traits. How it could create horrible over- and under-classes based on our ability to buy genetic health, so to speak.
On a more humorous note, I loved Star Trek IV, both for the theme regarding whales, and for the setting in San Francisco in the peace and love days. I love visualizing Spock with a headband and robe, roaming the streets of San Francisco.
{"commentId":364937,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"marilynl"}
- 13 votes
#2 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 12:02 AM EST{"commentId":365009,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
Serenity
And you don't have to take my word on it, take Orson Scott Card's [you'll have to scroll down]
Well, guess what.
It's [Serenity] great.
I'm not going to say it's the best science fiction movie, ever.
Oh, wait. Yes I am.
And he does happen to know a thing or two about great science fiction ;-)
Of course the worst science fiction movie ever is Battlefield Earth. Though sorry to say, but 2001 was a pretty terrible movie as well.
{"commentId":365009,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
- 7 votes
#3 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 1:40 AM EST{"commentId":365206,"authorDomain":"smithco"}
{"commentId":365230,"authorDomain":"denniswright"}
It was great on design and the new ground it broke.
It did though fail to communicate the basic premise, leaving most audiences baffled.
The film was based on a short Arthur C Clarke (him again) story called "The Sentinel". The underlying question was how a technologically advanced but lonely race out in space would find some new intelligences to make contact with. Answer - roam the universe and find planets with developing life then give it a helping hand to achieve higher intelligence and its own technology. How to tell when that life is sudfficiently advanced? Easy! Place a marker on the planet's moon. When the local lifeform (us) is technologically advanced enough to reach its moon it will find the marker (the monolith). Digging it out of the ground so the sun shines on it triggers it into emitting a signal pointing at where to go to find the friendly intelligent aliens. The signal points at a hyperspace gate that takes you there.
The idea is simple but ingenious. It does not come across well in the film.
{"commentId":365230,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"denniswright"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":365382,"authorDomain":"smithco"}
{"commentId":366422,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":365114,"authorDomain":"denniswright"}
A few clasics for your list:
Silent Running
Soylent Green
Dark Star
er ... Star Wars?
{"commentId":365114,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"denniswright"}
- 8 votes
#4 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 4:52 AM EST{"commentId":365770,"authorDomain":"insight"}
{"commentId":365807,"authorDomain":"munzilla"}
Empire Strikes Back should be high on the list.
{"commentId":365807,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"munzilla"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":365840,"authorDomain":"eSantiago"}
Star Wars is sci-fantasy... it barely has anything remotely sci-fi in it, it really is more Fantasy than anything. (Wizards, Good an Evil magic, destiny... very scientific)
{"commentId":365840,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"eSantiago"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":366155,"authorDomain":"insight"}
{"commentId":366224,"authorDomain":"munzilla"}
I just mean as far as a well made movie.
{"commentId":366224,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"munzilla"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":366317,"authorDomain":"critical"}
I have to say.. Star Wars is definitely Sci-Fi.. Fiction.. is what those last 2 letters stand for.. You can't say it isn't sci-fi because it isn't based more on actual science. As for fantasy, all of the best Sci-Fi have fantasy elements. The part that makes them enjoyable whether they are dark, funny, or adventurous is that they create fantasy worlds for us to live in for an hour or two.
{"commentId":366317,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"critical"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":366353,"authorDomain":"morwynd"}
I personally don't really consider Star Wars as "science fiction", because it focuses so heavily on The Force, which is really just magic.
{"commentId":366353,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"morwynd"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":366427,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":366525,"authorDomain":"superfive"}
because it focuses so heavily on The Force, which is really just magic
Clarke, I believe, said something along the lines of any sufficiently advance science appears to be magic.
I've first hand witnessed some pretty amazing efficts of Qi (or Chi or Ki depending on your translation). Maybe more well developed it becomes...The Force.
{"commentId":366525,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"superfive"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":366620,"authorDomain":"critical"}
Although mocked and shunned many scientists have based their research on powers of the mind. telekinesis and telepathy are not entirely phantasy although in most cases a science minded person would relate them to scientific improbability. microquake happens to knock over a vase when someone looks at it wanting it to knock over.. who knows.. Anyways I have to say that Star Wars is sci-fi, 100%.. Even if you were to prove an argument about the fantasy aspect of the movie I would argue that the balance of laser pistols, space travel and aliens would force it right back into the view of science fiction vs mystic fantasy.
{"commentId":366620,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"critical"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":367093,"authorDomain":"wookie"}
Silent Running is a great movie - I keep noticing ones like this and Forbidden Planet that I should have included in my own favourites list!
Critical - I'd agree that Star Wars is a SciFi movie, it's an archetypal Space Opera - I can see the arguments around the use of 'The Force', but I think many other films that would be automatically counted as SciFi rely equally on one or two fantastical elements.
However, I can't leave this comment without a response…
telekinesis and telepathy are not entirely phantasy although in most cases a science minded person would relate them to scientific improbability
They most certainly are entirely fantasy whether you are 'science minded' or not, in the same way that orcs and elves are fantasy - technically within the bounds of possibility but without a shred of evidence to support their existence. They're on the same level as the pseudo scientific junk of Uri Gellar, psychic mystics, astrologers and assorted other frauds. 'Improbable' does not by extension mean 'possible' - if you know of a genuine example however, I suggest you contact CSICOP or the James Randi Foundation as there's a Million Dollar Prize up for grabs!
{"commentId":367093,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"wookie"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":367100,"authorDomain":"wookie"}
Also…
Although mocked and shunned many scientists have based their research on powers of the mind.
…is a logical fallacy, or actually two combined; the Appeal to Authority and the Appeal to Pity/Sympathy.
{"commentId":367100,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"wookie"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":10589819,"authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}
Soylent Green
Sol: There was a world, once, you punk.
Det. Thorn: Yes, so you keep telling me.
Sol: I was there. I can prove it.
Det. Thorn: I know, I know. When you were young, people were better.
Sol: Aw, nuts. People were always rotten. But the world 'was' beautiful.
{"commentId":10589819,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":10609040,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":365348,"authorDomain":"divbyzero"}
Those are good selections, Synthesis. I have seen all but 2 of them, so that leaves me something to look forward to. I would also agree with the addition of Gattaca, Soylent Green, 2001, and Serenity. I think my own list would have to be a Top 25, which I should set about compiling again. I had initially done such a list about 10 years ago, but with maturity comes changes.
{"commentId":365348,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"divbyzero"}
#5 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 9:46 AM EST{"commentId":366431,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":365353,"authorDomain":"gmarez"}
Please consider:
Contact - great human story, effects and plot. A fitting tribute to Carl Sagan.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - Just amazing for it's time. I delved deeper into the charachter study than any of thier movies before or since.
Dark City- was the Matrix before the making of it. Better acting to. Set design was a little lacking though.
And don't forget the 2000 Presidential Election. Truth is stranger than fiction.
{"commentId":365353,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"gmarez"}
- 4 votes
#6 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 9:49 AM EST{"commentId":365391,"authorDomain":"smithco"}
{"commentId":366242,"authorDomain":"gmarez"}
Sorry, I meant to write " It delved deeper into character study."
As for Contact, I reccomend reading the book. That's really how it ended.
{"commentId":366242,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"gmarez"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":366623,"authorDomain":"critical"}
Contact was a great movie based on some very strong science for sure. I would agree that it dealt well with the human aspect as a first priority which always has a way of slowing down a movie. I enjoyed this movie enough to watch it more then once. Although it is one of the 4 that I am most likely to put in as background noice now to help me sleep.
{"commentId":366623,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"critical"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":365380,"authorDomain":"TomB1002067"}
2001
{"commentId":365380,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"TomB1002067"}
- 3 votes
#7 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 10:03 AM EST{"commentId":365408,"authorDomain":"johnmccreery"}
Forbidden Planet Those invisible monsters scared the bejeesus out of me when I was a kid. The idea that the monsters were generated by the characters' unconscious Ids (as in Ego, Superego, Id) was also hugely compelling.
{"commentId":365408,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"johnmccreery"}
- 6 votes
#8 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 10:20 AM EST{"commentId":365636,"authorDomain":"miasma"}
you beat me to it.
{"commentId":365636,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"miasma"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":366439,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":365477,"authorDomain":"TomB1002067"}
Minority Report (based on DicK) was really good.
{"commentId":365477,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"TomB1002067"}
- 2 votes
#9 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 10:54 AM EST{"commentId":365495,"authorDomain":"braytek"}
Here's some I would add:
The 5th Element - The film was before its time. Brilliant movie. I know I'm in the minority here, but I don't care.
Dune - C'mon, it's Dune. Lynch's version was a great adaptation of the already popular book(s).
TRON - Yeah, TRON. Hey, I even have the soundtrack.
Serenity - Firefly is without a doubt my favorite space "western" movie. The movie seemed like a 2 hour episode, which is a good thing.
Great list otherwise!
{"commentId":365495,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"braytek"}
- 7 votes
#10 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 11:03 AM EST{"commentId":365510,"authorDomain":"braytek"}
Correction - Firefly is not a movie, but a tv series :)
Newsvine needs comment editing for the lazy proofreaders such as I!!!!!
{"commentId":365510,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"braytek"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":365583,"authorDomain":"eSantiago"}
The 5th Element YES!~!!! Luc Besson's masterpiece is the best meld of sci-fi and action ever! It is serenity... watching serenity I was wondering if Luc was going to sue that SOB Joss Whedon (did anyone else know he is responsible for "TOY STORY").
{"commentId":365583,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"eSantiago"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":365657,"authorDomain":"hemphill"}
I would still love to see the original directors version of dune, sadly I doubt it will ever make it out of the backroom.
{"commentId":365657,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"hemphill"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":365663,"authorDomain":"denniswright"}
Well we don't want to open up a can of sandworms.
{"commentId":365663,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"denniswright"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":366504,"authorDomain":"wookie"}
A friend of mine was once told by Patrick Stewart that he shot quite a bit of material that never made the final cut of Dune and that he was hopeful for a directors cut at some point too, although this was many years ago now. Apparently there is a DVD version available that has a few extra bits, but nothing significant.
Personally I love Dune and would probably rate it as my No. 1 SciFi film of all time, I've certainly seen it far more times than any other. I know purists dismiss it for taking liberties with the book but I couldn't care less to be honest, I think the film is a cracker in it's own right. I can't think of another SciFi film that so successfully conveys a feel of futuristic otherworldlyness without resorting to cliche. Great soundtrack too.
{"commentId":366504,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"wookie"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":366630,"authorDomain":"critical"}
5th Element was a pile of crap. OK, yes.. love half naked models.. NO PROBLEM THERE.. But I think Willis was a bad choice.. I think this movie would have had a better following if it had been an actor who was an unknown or a good actor looking for a complete overhaul in a new genre.. Someone who could shape a character into anything other then a Die Hard Willis type..
I mean look at the best movies.. Has anyone even said MAD MAXX yet? This was so good because it was so raw.. Gibson was an unknown and was easy to shape into a new type of character..
{"commentId":366630,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"critical"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":365548,"authorDomain":"vincentgrayson"}
Primer.
A lot of sci-fi movies over the years have hit on the whole time-travel bit, but a good number of them have either been mostly comedic (say, BttF and Bill & Ted) or not really dealt with the actual time travel much (say, the Time Machine, Terminator, etc).
Primer manages to not only wrap things up *incredibly* well, but gives us an insight into how time travel slowly but surely tears apart two good friends, while also bringing up plenty of issues of the ethics of changing things, exploiting it, etc.
It also gets bonus points for using no special effects whatsoever.
{"commentId":365548,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"vincentgrayson"}
- 4 votes
#11 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 11:24 AM EST{"commentId":366444,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":365713,"authorDomain":"munzilla"}
I think Donnie Darko should get a mention here.
{"commentId":365713,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"munzilla"}
- 3 votes
#12 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 12:43 PM EST{"commentId":365731,"authorDomain":"morwynd"}
My ten favorites:
- Alien - Best sci-fi horror/suspense.
- Aliens - The perfect sci-fi action movie. Countless have tried to copy this movie, 20 years later nobody has even come close.
- Blade Runner - Dystopian cyberpunk pioneer. Hugely influential to the look of later sci-fi.
- Dark City - Brilliant musings about the nature of self, and reality.
- The Matrix - Ditto, with kung fu and robots
- 2001 - Notable for its painstaking realism, and high minded concepts
- Gattaca - Great treatise on eugenics and potential ramifications
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind - A film that dared to imagine benevolent aliens, and the human adventure of first contact
- Minority Report - Spielberg paints an imaginative canvas of future society, and explores ideas such as privacy and free will
- Brazil - Highly prescient movie, this has aged unbelievably well. Eerily parallels contemporary themes such as terrorism, and the centralization of power
Some honorable mentions:
- Wrath of Khan - KHAAAAAN!!!
- 12 Monkeys - Brad Pitt plays a great nut
- Serenity - Whedon on the big screen, nuff said
- Contact - Dissapointing ending... but hey, that's what happened in the book
- Dune - Lynch version.. subtract the stupid "sonic weirding guns" and you have a reasonably faithful adaptation of Herbert's masterpiece. If we could take the weirding way as done in the recent miniseries (ie, hyper-fast martial arts) and stick it in Lynch's, we'd have the perfect Dune movie
- Planet of the Apes (original) - You blew it all up!!!
- Terminator Trilogy (esp. T2) - Because James Cameron rocks
- Pitch Black - Guilty pleasure killer bug movie. Great crash scene at start.
- Starship Troopers - Actually palatable if viewed purely as a satire on war and propaganda. There's also a guilty pleasure killer bug factor here as well.
- Battlefield Earth - Kidding! Just seeing if anyone's paying attention. ;) One of the worst movies ever made.
{"commentId":365731,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"morwynd"}
- 6 votes
#13 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 12:50 PM EST{"commentId":365737,"authorDomain":"morwynd"}
Ah! Primer! I totally forgot about that. Definitely up there. Shows how good low budget can be.
While we're on low-budget independent, I'll throw "Cube" out there as well.
{"commentId":365737,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"morwynd"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":365744,"authorDomain":"munzilla"}
12 Monkeys is a good call. What a great movie.
{"commentId":365744,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"munzilla"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":365763,"authorDomain":"vincentgrayson"}
Yeah, Cube was an awesome surprise, it was far better than I expected from the concept (and the low budget)
{"commentId":365763,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"vincentgrayson"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":366238,"authorDomain":"morwynd"}
Ack! How did I ever forget The Abyss?
(If you can't tell, I am a huge James Cameron fan.)
{"commentId":366238,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"morwynd"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":366453,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":366634,"authorDomain":"critical"}
You forgot the Abyss same as you all forgot Mad Max.. But as for Starship Troopers..
bug killing is great.. co-ed showers is greaterErErrERR!
{"commentId":366634,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"critical"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":365786,"authorDomain":"oftcrash"}
I started to write a list of favorites, but realized that favorites and best, especially in my case, are very different things. I agree with most of the movies mentioned so far, so I just want to add in another one that's often overlooked.
Equilibrium: A great, low budget story of mandatory drugging to keep the peace. Has bits of the Matrix (without all the pleather nonsense) and a lot of 1984.
{"commentId":365786,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"oftcrash"}
- 3 votes
#14 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 1:13 PM EST{"commentId":366455,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":365799,"authorDomain":"mattyshack"}
No one has mentioned Mad Max?
{"commentId":365799,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"mattyshack"}
- 3 votes
#15 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 1:16 PM EST{"commentId":366464,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":365806,"authorDomain":"ForestBrowne"}
How about AI
{"commentId":365806,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"ForestBrowne"}
- 1 vote
#16 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 1:20 PM EST{"commentId":365812,"authorDomain":"munzilla"}
A.I. COULD have been great, but Spielberg blew it in the end. Ha always feels like he needs to wrap things up nicely.
{"commentId":365812,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"munzilla"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":366644,"authorDomain":"critical"}
yeah.. it dragged on and left a bitter taste in my mouth.. Felt angry at the end and not the kind where a movie is supposed to leave you angry.. it was entirely focused on the director..
{"commentId":366644,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"critical"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":365933,"authorDomain":"superfive"}
I'd put in there "Split," a very mind-blowing nonverbal from the late 80s. Amazing use of low budget special effects.
{"commentId":365933,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"superfive"}
- 1 vote
#17 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 2:03 PM EST{"commentId":366467,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":365935,"authorDomain":"kikaiju"}
Surprising only one person (so far) has mentioned Close Encounters of the Third Kind. As a child, seeing that film helped me realize the universe is big and might not be so dull and boring after all. Not a small task.
The Abyss was another commendable look at the same sort of idea. Same with Contact.
Also haven't seen any mentions of War Of the Worlds, but that's OK given that the book is still the best version. I bought the Cruise version on DVD just to laugh at it MST3K style.
Keeping in the Wells theme, the many different film versions of The Time Machine should get some mention. Some versions are better than others but the story deserves credit for making time travel nearly a household concept.
{"commentId":365935,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"kikaiju"}
- 1 vote
#18 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 2:04 PM EST{"commentId":365952,"authorDomain":"wbrianwhite"}
Was it intentional that your most recent movie is from 1985? There haven't been any top 10 contenders for the past 20 years?
{"commentId":365952,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"wbrianwhite"}
- 1 vote
#19 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 2:10 PM EST{"commentId":366479,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":366015,"authorDomain":"noah"}
MST3K - The Movie
It's essentially another episode, but dang is it funny.
{"commentId":366015,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"noah"}
- 3 votes
#20 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 2:43 PM EST{"commentId":366021,"authorDomain":"stevencwatts"}
I'm seeing a lot of good lists from everyone. Thinking of contemporary movies, and trying to make a choice that others might not've thought of, I'd say "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is a good candidate. The science fiction aspect of it drives all of the dramatic tension in the movie, and a good portion of it takes place inside a man's psyche. In that same light, Being John Malkovich.
Do superhero movies count, or would those be a separate list?
{"commentId":366021,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"stevencwatts"}
- 3 votes
#21 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 2:45 PM EST{"commentId":366043,"authorDomain":"vicaxp"}
So many good ones mentioned its hard to think of another. How about...Stargate (not great, but).
{"commentId":366043,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"vicaxp"}
- 2 votes
#22 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 2:55 PM EST{"commentId":366057,"authorDomain":"yasmin"}
Everyone has already mentioned my favorites, but here's my list.
Dune - original and new version
Children of Dune
Blade Runner
Alien/Aliens (Director's Cut) - I just can't go back to watching the original Aliens
Pitch Black/Chronicles of Riddick (Director's Cut) - Loved it. I just wish they had stuck to the original ending.
City of Lost Children
Dark City
5th Element
Serenity - "I am a leaf on the wind..."
{"commentId":366057,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"yasmin"}
- 4 votes
#23 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 2:58 PM EST{"commentId":366060,"authorDomain":"yasmin"}
Yikes, it killed my formatting!
{"commentId":366060,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"yasmin"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":366650,"authorDomain":"critical"}
I'd like to condemn the chronicles.. complete garbage compared to the simplicity of pitch black.. They just pushed to much out there.. I found Vin to be a character that I could care about more in Pitch Black and then all of the sudden it's like I am supposed to buy into him as a super hero type who is predestined for greatness.. sighs..
{"commentId":366650,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"critical"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":366058,"authorDomain":"vicaxp"}
Any takers for Road Warrior?
{"commentId":366058,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"vicaxp"}
- 2 votes
#24 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 2:58 PM EST{"commentId":366524,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":366108,"authorDomain":"jjsonp"}
{"commentId":366113,"authorDomain":"TomB1002067"}
We should collect every movie cited and do a poll.
{"commentId":366113,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"TomB1002067"}
- 2 votes
#26 - Mon Nov 6, 2006 3:37 PM EST{"commentId":366481,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}
{"commentId":367117,"authorDomain":"TomB1002067"}
Could go low-tech and do a list. Aske everyone to pick, say, top three.
{"commentId":367117,"threadId":"52618","contentId":"429399","authorDomain":"TomB1002067"}
- 1 vote
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