You're right, Cliffer. Cronenberg ought not to be overlooked. I have to admit that I've not seen eXistenZ in its entirety, but I'd like to remedy that.

Videodrome, however, is a great, overlooked film in the genre that I'd simply not thought about in a while. Thanks for the reminder.

Once upon a time I would have suggested Ken Russell's Altered States as I really liked the film when it came out in 1980. A few years ago, though, I watched it again and read Paddy Chayefsky's original novel. I still think it's a good film, but understand why Chayefsky removed his name from the credits. There was a far better film in that novel, which is kind of par for the course for Russell.

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I get back from a 9-day vacation and find folks dissing Contact. What is this world coming to?

I agree with all of the charges leveled against the film by Nelson and LinnTate. The characters are definitely divided into "good guys" and "bad guys" too cleanly, and the film does become more about faith and politics and less about science. But it is, to me, the best "first contact" story on film: the science is mostly unimpeachable (there are some small flubs and artistic-license-taking moments, but they don't detract from the effort taken to make the film realistic), and the faith/politics discussions are representative of what I feel really would happen in the event of a message arriving from the stars. This is a film that asks--and answers-- the "what if?" question without flinching.

The somewhat shallow characterization is the more serious flaw in the film. But that is, in a way, indicative of the depth the film strives for; amid the big ideas and the cosmic-ness of the whole thing, this is a character-driven piece, and that's something very rare in SF films, where character takes a back seat to spectacle. Personally, I don't see Ellie as too "saintly." Instead, she's a decent, rather typical person who tries to balance her emotions with her intellect. She's edgy, easily-frustrated, and a bit self-centered; Sagan was clearly trying to create a scientist-character who was normal, as opposed to the dreadful mad-scientist type or super-nerd that are passed off as "typical" scientists in almost any Hollywood SF film (John Lithgow's character in The Manhattan Project is the only other exception that comes immediately to mind).

I agree that many of the other characters are too good or too bad-- but again, I'm willing to give the film a little bit of slack on that count. To me, this is a great SF film, one that's unafraid to deal with the either the science or the philosophical ramifications of its title, even if at times it does so in a somewhat rushed or simplistic manner.

See, Albireo, that's what happens when you go on vacation. We squabble amongst ourselves, then pick on a poor, defenseless movie like Contact. I hope you've leared a valuable lesson.

I think we're pretty much in agreement regarding Contact. I'm tickled, though, that you reminded me of The Manhattan Project. That was a refreshingly smart and original addition to the genre. I can see why it sank without a trace.

jakal40's thread elsewhere regarding the dearth of quality science fiction films versus special effect extravaganzas brought to mind one of my all-time favorite films in the genre that slipped my mind when I made my initial posting, PBS's 1980 made-for-TV The Lathe of Heaven (not to be confused with The Sci-Fi Channel's awful remake a couple of years ago ). It was an ambitious project, as Ursula K. LeGuin's novel is a challenging work in and of itself, but I think the film was equal to the task. It was unavailable for many, many years despite several grassroots campaigns to bring it out on VHS or DVD, but fortunately that has been remedied. It's well worth the investment of time and money, in my opinion.

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Dark City was choice; Rufus Sewell was great, as was Keifer Sutherland. The atmosphere of the whole movie was like a dream state.

Aliens is the best sci-fi action movie of all time, period.

Equilibrium is the best sci-fi channel movie of all time

Alright Buck...finally someone with some sci-fi sense when it comes to Equilibrium. I just watched it again last night (I bought it) and loved it even more. Will it ever be a "classic"? no way. But that doesn't change the fact that it still kicks major butt.

(now we just need to get Jakal to realize this)

I loved Equilibrium, I thought it was very well acted and very entertaining as well as visually impressive. But I thought it wasn't very original and had a lot of Matrix, Fahrenheit and 1984 in it.

quote:

Originally posted by Edward Nygma:
I loved Equilibrium, I thought it was very well acted and very entertaining as well as visually impressive. But I thought it wasn't very original and had a lot of Matrix, Fahrenheit and 1984 in it.

Oddly enough, I'm positive the movies you cite, conveying the idea that Equilibrium was not original, are not original pieces either.

For example, watch The Matrix… then watch Ghost in the Shell. The Wachoski Brothers admit to Ghost in the Shell influencing their movie, but now I know they completely ripped it off. Not only are the stories very similar and critical plot concepts, but even the action sequences are eerily similar… and in some cases, identical. Not a word of a lie.

My pick is Equilibrium. ;-)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Echolocating,

Science Fiction is a particular favorite movie genre of mine since I was small and in the 1960s. The following are my top 25 science fiction movies of all time:

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). A sci fi classic that set a new standard of technical brilliance and special effects that has yet to be surpassed. Directed by Stanley Kubrick.

2. Alien (1979). The original theatrical release. Set a new landmark for serious science fiction in the best directed movies of the 1979 along with a strong female role starring Signourney Weaver.

3. Blade Runner (1982). The original theatrical release. Another sci fi classic by Ridley Scott starring Harrison Ford...with rich layered, complicated and thought provoking narrative and film noir plot.

4. Brazil (1985). A strange sci fi retro movie.

5. THX-1138 (1971). A sci fi classic of a strangely control society of the future.

6. Forbidden Planet (1956). One of the best sci-fi movies of the 1950s.

7. Twelve Monkeys (1996). A wrenching, sci-fi movie about time travel.

8. Wavelength (1983). A little known sci fi movie of great compelling, intimate reach.

9. Clockwork Orange (1971). A sci fi classic by Stanley Kubrick about a future society. X-rated when it first came out. Graphic violence in sharp Kubrick style.

10. The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951). The classic sci fi movie of the 1950s.

11. Brainstorm (1983). Partly known as Natalie Wood's last movie (she died tragically during late production) and also as one of the most fascinating examination into virtual reality sci fi movie classic even at this early date. An amazing cinematic experience with a public audience flair (mass movie appeal) and decent storyline about life after death.

12. The Thing (1982 remake by John Carpenter). One of the most scariest movie for me.

13. La Planete sauvage (1973). A predecessor to Spirited Away (2001), an animated fantasy of surrealistic proportions.

14. Planet of the Apes (1968). One of the greatest twists in sci fi history bringing a new a respectability to the genre.

15. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).

16. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979). A great tribute to the television series, with a strong hard-core sci fi plot that however wasn't mainstream enough.

17. Dune. Film adaptation of Frank Herbert's sci fi classic novel directed by David Lynch.

18. Slaughter-House Five (1972). Adaptation of the novel that captures a time-moving individual between the past, present, future, and no time. A rather impressive piece of work, considering its development back in the 70s. Contains a somewhat un-appealing main character (a nerdish man's fantasy) along with a some great underplayed roles [Reviewed 4/3/05].

19. Fahrenheit 451 (1966). Movie adaptation of Ray Bradbury's short story.

20. The Andromeda Strain (1971). A hard-edged, serious sci-fi movie about the possible contamination of earth from outside.

21. Stranded (2002). A straight forward, no fancy frills sci fi movie about a wayward journey to Mars. A solid script, performance.

22. Metropolis (1927).

23. Cube Zero (2004). The prequel of the Cube series that provides a compelling Brazil-like feature film that offers a fascinating look at a dysfunctional faceless controller and the powerless individuals who must survive in a mechanical cube of horror with observers who are also observed.

24. Idaho Transfer (1973) viewed 3/6/05. A little known time travel pic directed by Peter Fonda. Contains a Blair Witch Project (1999) feel, low-budget but decent script with a surprise ending.

25. Galaxy Quest (1999). A funny sci-fi comedy that combines the best of the both genres in a mistaken identity, Star Trek spin-off plot.

Aliens was my favorite sci-fi movie. It was created so long ago, yet it is so good. What is Aliens? Like 1988?

I excluded Aliens (1986) from my ten best list that some critics have judged even better than the original Alien (1979). It's difficult to compare to two because they are really two different subgenre formats. Alien was a sci-fi/horror movie while Aliens was a sci-fi/action/thriller. Aliens had more fire power, more military punch, bigger and more powerful while as usual with original movies, Alien was more intimate, more personality-character driven along with more frightening intensity as opposed to Aliens action intensity - one thing happening after another and just building on top of another. With Alien it was the fear of the unknown, of every creepy corner, a sci-fi movie for the everyman.

quote:

Originally posted by tabuno:
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). A sci fi classic that set a new standard of technical brilliance and special effects that has yet to be surpassed. Directed by Stanley Kubrick.

2. Alien (1979). The original theatrical release. Set a new landmark for serious science fiction in the best directed movies of the 1979 along with a strong female role starring Signourney Weaver.

3. Blade Runner (1982). The original theatrical release. Another sci fi classic by Ridley Scott starring Harrison Ford...with rich layered, complicated and thought provoking narrative and film noir plot.

I agree with these, and I think the original Alien should have been featured somewhere on the list. I also think that War of the Worlds (the original) should be here too.

The problem with listing best sci-fi movies, is sometimes it comes down to personal values and interests. For me "The War of the Worlds" (1953), focused on bigger more impersonal conflicts whereas Forbidden Planet (1956) and even The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) had strong personal emotional component dealing with individual conflict or tension. More to this point, other possible sci fi movies that were worth considering This Island Earth (1955), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), even The Time Machine (1960) would qualify.

I thought Earth VS The Flying Saucers was pretty good, I saw it recently: definitely the film Ed Wood would have loved to make.

Mine would be the recent Star Wars trilogy; The Phantom Menace (I), The Attack of the Clones (II), The Revenge of the Sith (III), but they're not my fave trilogy of all time

I agree with just about all the contributions made by others. In my opinion, "2001: A Space Oddysey" is the best. But I also wanted to include a few of my favorites...

"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" - I'm talking about the original, although the Donald Sutherland and Leonard Nimoy(!) version is good too.
"Westworld"
"The Time Machine" - Again, the original with Rod Taylor and Yvette Mimieux.
"Tron" - This introduced everyone to the dangers of video games!
"Barbarella" - I can't believe this didn't make anyone's list!
"The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai" - This is a personal favorite.

PRG

quote:

Posted 11 October 2005 09:44 AM
I agree with just about all the contributions made by others. In my opinion, "2001: A Space Oddysey" is the best. But I also wanted to include a few of my favorites...

"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" - I'm talking about the original, although the Donald Sutherland and Leonard Nimoy(!) version is good too.
"Westworld"
"The Time Machine" - Again, the original with Rod Taylor and Yvette Mimieux.
"Tron" - This introduced everyone to the dangers of video games!
"Barbarella" - I can't believe this didn't make anyone's list!
"The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai" - This is a personal favorite.

"Tron" and "Barbarbella" are actually quite appropriate, overlooked sci fi movies and both did provide in their time bold and creative innovations that good sci fi material is based on. Tron (1982) and Electric Dreams (1984) provided electronic computer speculative movies Tron being the more advanced (for its time) edgy serious look into the direct connection between humans and computers while Electric Dreams was a romantic comedy regarding the more typical computer becoming a sentient entity. "Barbarbella" (1968) was a fantastic sci fi spoof with sexy Jane Fonda that has become a cult classic. "The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai" (1984), however, did not reach its sci fi potential and fell short of the hard-core sci fi expectations of the eighth dimension that really wasn't given adequate coverage. This western sci fi retro movie had all the trappings, weirdness about it, but lacked the hard substance of the 2001: A Space Odyssey vision or look of the sci fi outcome of the movie - it was more adventure and action than sci fi. All the other movies described at true sci fi classics, though I have antipathy towards Westerns so that Westworld (1973) while a recognized sci fi classic wasn't my kind of movie. Other more solid sci fi movies released around this time were: Fantastic Planet (1983), an animated sci fi movie from France; A Clockwork Orange (1971); and The Rocky Horror Show (1975).

Barbarella is a childish film, and that's not meant as a compliment. Buckaroo Banzai is discussed here and the second post afterward. But I'm pretty sure that nobody's mentioned A Boy and His Dog, based on Harlan Ellison's classic SF story, written and directed by L.Q. Jones, and starring Don Johnson and Jason Robards, Jr. That is a sci-fi cult classic, detailing a post-apocalyptic world, which is both hilarious and disturbing.

I wouldn't consider "Barbarella" a childish film, but rather just a product of its time. It came out in 1968, a year after the "Summer of Love." You are right on with "A Boy and His Dog." Both funny, and pretty brutal. A cult classic for sure.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PRG,

quote:

Originally posted by PRG:
I wouldn't consider "Barbarella" a childish film, but rather just a product of its time. It came out in 1968, a year after the "Summer of Love." You are right on with "A Boy and His Dog." Both funny, and pretty brutal. A cult classic for sure.

Two more I thought of, and these are by no means anywhere near the top, but they are two that are near and dear from my childhood.

"The Last Starfighter" and "My Science Project." I must have watched these two a thousand times on HBO growing up.

I have to go with 2001: A Space Odyssey. The thought of parallel dimensions of reality, and what visiting them might be like was fascinating when this movie was made. Prior to 1968 most sci-fi movies about space were made from a "closed universe" worldview. The idea of creating a film that explored the reality of an "open universe", with parallel dimensions of reality that blew our three dimensional world out of the water was novel and spellbinding. This was not an easy movie to understand. It entertained us with that rare element called "wonder."