So one of the little gatherings I have orchestrated lately is a soon-to-be monthly support group for SciFi movie buffs.
The idea is that we get together at someone’s home once a month and watch a different movie. The movies should encompass the totality of the genre. Meaning, we need classic SciFi, modern SciFi, epic, etc.
We are starting off the summer with an epic SciFi film, “the Chronicles of Riddick”. I would like to build a list of movies that we can draw from throughout the summer and fall, so I am sending this call out to all you SciFi nuts on the internets. Yes Michael I am looking straight at you.
Leave me a comment with the name of your favorite SciFi movie, regardless of type, and a brief reason why you like it so much. I am also thinking of setting up a site to help people create support group chapters in their area, so your recommendations would end up there as well.
Thanks in advance for the help!
Stroll on over and visit Owen
May 29, 2008
Hmm… Shouldn’t you start with Pitch Black? That feels like starting with Aliens. But then again, I might start with Aliens over Alien. Hmm…
Separately, “Death to the demoness Alegra Geller!” That scifi movie is always a good one if you’re in the mood to feel stoned without taking anything.
Stroll on over and visit Yoram
May 29, 2008
That’s a great idea. I started last year a private come-together every 2 to 3 weeks on tuesdays — watching two movies. Tomorrow/today we start a special: 3-days-star-wars-complete + dinner.
Anyway, two movies coming to my mind (following the Sci-Fi genre):
Stroll on over and visit Morydd
May 29, 2008
Does The Wizard of Oz count as sci-fi? It should the whole paralell universe thing is pretty sweet.
Tron, Blade Runner, and 2001 are great classics. And, of course, there’s Starship Troopers
Stroll on over and visit Khaled
May 30, 2008
Cool idea Chris. ‘Pitch Black’ all the way, not that sorry excuse of a sequel :).
I’d check out ‘Sunshine’ which actually was a very cool little movie (mildly predictable, but visually stunning).
Fifth Element, Blade Runner, Tron, Aliens (1-3, skip the fourth installment), Terminator (1-2, again skip the 3rd).
Stroll on over and visit Atomic Bombshell
May 30, 2008
Oh man… I wish I lived nearby so I could participate in these events. Nice to be able to contribute in some way though. So many choices, let’s see… Some of my favorites are:
Gattaca - Excellent story and beautiful scenery
The Star Wars Saga - A must-have on the list
Artificial Intelligence - Cried like a baby
Fifth Element - Funny and fashion forward
Terminator - The original is still tops
Predator - Can you tell I like Ahnold?
Superman - It’s a biblical allegory
Stroll on over and visit Michael Heilemann
May 30, 2008
Chronicles of Riddick… Well, at least you’ll know that it can only go on way after that. Up!
@Morydd, Wizard of Oz would be a fantasy actually, not a science fiction film.
Generally speaking, I think you could say that Science Fiction films have roots in _ideas,_ whereas fantasy have root in the fantastic. So while a whole batch of films coming out these days could be considered sf, like Iron Man or any James Bond movies (ever), since they make use of technology currently unavailable to us, that isn’t really the crux of sf.
I’ll try and stray away from the obvious ones, but you can’t get around 2001: A Space Odyssey. And if you _do_ watch it, make sure the sound is so loud that you’ll think on more than one occasion: “Should we turn it down just a notch?”. And then don’t.
For a modern ‘true’ science fiction film that’ll make your head spin, go for “Primer”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primer_(film). Don’t read about it too much ahead of time, and then read the hell out of it afterwards.
If you’re up for some archive diving, go for “Forbidden Planet”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_Planet, the base of what would become Star Trek and ‘inspiration’ for Cameron’s “Xenogenesis”:http://binarybonsai.com/archives/2006/09/11/xenogenesis-by-james-cameron/ short. Starring the classic hottie Anne Francis and an unlikely but surprisingly good Leslie Nielsen. This is classic science fiction at its very best. And the soundtrack. Oh dear. Best. Ever.
“The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Earth_Stood_Still_(1951_film) is one of the best sf films in the history of ever. And it actually manages to stand tall even today, carrying with it some grand moral themes from back when sf was about ideas, and not explosions.
I would also recommend the original “War of the Worlds”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Worlds_(1953_film), but then we’re slowly moving into slightly cheesier territory. But it’s worth it for its historical value alone (for the time, crazy good effects) and its slight influence on E.T.(arguably one of the best films of all time). And if that doesn’t convince you, “this poster”:http://flickr.com/photos/heilemann/2536070928/ will, though it oversells it a tad.
And of course, don’t forget “Mars Attacks!”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Attacks!
Though Star Wars is almost too obivious, even if it is Science ‘Fantasy’, you should check or re-check “THX 1138”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/THX_1138, which is quite honestly a masterpiece from a bygone era. Its cold and distanced style only makes its human qualities so much more endeering. I love it. And its worth also checking out the American Zoetrope documentary on the DVD while you’re at it.
Back in the modern era, “Children of Men”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Men along with “AI”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_Intelligence:_A.I. (lalala, I can’t hear you, cuz it’s AWESOME!) and “Minority Report”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minority_Report_(film), is one of the few great sf films to come out in the last decade or more. If you haven’t seen it, it’ll definitely leave a mark.
A few obvious ones:
“Blade Runner: Final Cut”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner if you haven’t seen it yet. Make sure, if at all possible, that you see it in HD.
“The Abyss”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Abyss is fairly obvious, but sometimes forgotten. Other than the raw matter-of-factness of the first Terminator, this is certainly Cameron’s best.
And finally, since it’s also the only Spielberg film out on blu-ray, “Close Encounters”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind is definitely worth a re-visit.
Finally I’d say stuff like “Omega Man”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega_man, “Soylent Green”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_green, “TRON”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tron_%28film%29, “The Last Starfighter”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Starfighter, “Logan’s Run”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan%27s_Run_(1976_film) and When “World Collide”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Worlds_Collide_(film). They’re all flawed in their own way, mostly by dragging their feet here and there, but worthy of watching for completeness sake for sure.
And of course Josh Whedon’s “Firefly”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_(TV_series) and “Serenity”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_(film), in that order.
Finally, if all else fails, “Hobgoblins”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobgoblins_(film) will save the day (and make you ready for “the sequel”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobgoblins_2!) The horror. The horror.
Have fun! :D
Stroll on over and visit Thor
May 30, 2008
I very much agree with Michael on ‘Primer’, it’s a must.
You should also consider ‘The Andromeda Strain’ (1969). It’s pretty subtle and low key, but very dramatic and has some great ideas.
Stroll on over and visit Yoram
May 30, 2008
grr. don’t know why but my first comment (right after owens) was kicked — maybe the two links? like michael i would recommend The Day the Earth Stood Still, wait, one of my other favorites is Hardware by Richard Stanley ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099740/ )
Stroll on over and visit David Pitts
May 30, 2008
I would say that these would be at the top of my list, both as a way to ensure that the “best” get viewed, and also to mix up some of the different sub-genres some:
1) 2001: A space odyssey
2) Empire Strikes Back (the best of the series)
3) Blade Runner (I just saw the director’s cut off of Netflix)
4) The Matrix
5) ET
6) Serenity (I have not seen, but have heard very good things about - have heard it is gritty and a thriller)
7) Planet of the Apes
8) Forbidden Planet
9) Alien
10) Back to the Future
Stroll on over and visit David Peralty
May 30, 2008
Here are a few ideas of movies I liked from the 90’s and the 80’s. Hope it helps your quest in Scifi:
The Rocketeer
Freejack
The Lawnmower Man
Universal Soldier
Demolition Man
Stargate
Screamers
Independence Day
Star Trek: First Contact
The Fifth Element
Gattaca
Men in Black
Dark City
Galaxy Quest
The Matrix
Tron
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Ghostbusters
The Last Starfighter
Terminator
Back to the Future
Aliens
Flight of the Navigator
Short Circuit
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Batteries Not Included
Predator
Spaceballs
Short Circuit 2
Back to the Future Part 2
Stroll on over and visit Nikolaj Rasmussen
May 31, 2008
@David Pitts
Forbidden Planet (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049223/)
Thats an important movie! Classic from 1956
1. Really cool 1956 special effects!
2. It gave birth to Robby The Robot, classic SciFi icon
3. It has a young and sultry upcoming Leslie Nielsen starring.
/cheers!
Stroll on over and visit Erik Sagen
May 31, 2008
So many favorites to list, but here goes (not in any particular order):
E.T.(might be my all-time favorite)
Ghostbusters (Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man)
Bladerunner (he’s a replicant, c’mon)
Star Wars (originals ?
The Fifth Element (maybe for the negotiation methods)
Spaceballs (“Ludicrous speed!)
Flight of the Navigator (the premise was hokey but awesome)
Serenity (Summer!)
Batteries Not Included (the tiny robots)
… and more, but these came to mind.
Stroll on over and visit Rick Cockrum
June 2, 2008
In addition to what’s already been listed, I would add
A Boy and His Dog
Metropolis
Dr. Stranglove
http://www.filmsite.org/sci-fifilms.html has an extensive list of the sf films published in the past century.
Stroll on over and visit mikelietz
June 3, 2008
Hm, the first time I tried commenting I got a whitescreen “action is forbidden” error.
So here’s my more concise list (can’t remember everything I just wrote):
Seconds to Gattaca, Starship Troopers (bad but good), Omega Man (likewise), Dark City, (Firefly and) Serenity and Predator up above.
To those I add these good movies:
RoboCop (another, probably better, Verhoeven)
Alien Nation (alien cops!)
John Carpenter’s Starman
The Terminal Man (not as science-dense as Crichton’s Andromeda Strain, mentioned above)
The Truman Show
The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
and so bad they’re good:
Starcrash
Robot Jox
The Ice Pirates
Star Odyssey
War of the Robots
Stroll on over and visit Christian
June 7, 2008
Southland Tales