The Greatest Science Fiction Movies Ever Made

Post by **Loredoctor** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 9:34 am

The Time Machine

Post by **Baradakas** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 10:10 am

yeah thats a good one Urvile!

-B

Post by **Sheol** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 7:26 pm

in my own opinion all the star trek movies and the shows (except enterprise) are really great along with star wars, i also like star gate, event horizon, the cube series, spawn, and space balls

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 10:48 pm

Both Cube movies were cool!

Post by **Dromond** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 12:36 am

Ur-Vile wrote:The Time Machine

Which one Ur?
I really liked the '60 version. The recent one? Eh, decent.

Post by **Loredoctor** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 1:34 am

The 60s version is the undisputed classic. The remake is so bad it ruined my day. Glad to know Dromond and Baradakas like it.

Post by **matrixman** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 5:00 am

Post by **Baradakas** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 7:35 am

Nope, no snickering. Star Trek the Motion Picture ruled. But Wrath of Khan is still my fav. Star Trek movie.

-B

Post by **Loredoctor** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 8:54 am

KHAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post by **dANdeLION** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 12:21 pm

[quote="Matrixman"]"Greatest" Sci-Fi? My knowledge of sci-fi cinema isn't deep enough to tackle that question, so I'll just say these are the best I've seen:

7. Dune (1984) -- brilliant adaptation of supposedly "unfilmable" novel.

Brilliant? In 20 years, I have never heard so much as one compliment about that sorry film, and now I hear "Brilliant"! Did you read the book? Maybe that's why I don't like the movie.

Post by **aTOMiC** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 12:42 pm

Matrixman wrote:"Greatest" Sci-Fi? My knowledge of sci-fi cinema isn't deep enough to tackle that question, so I'll just say these are the best I've seen:

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey -- most profound sci-fi movie I've seen, period.
2. Star Wars: A New Hope -- most exhilarating 2 hours on film.
3. The Empire Strikes Back -- the coolest the SW universe has ever been.
4. Blade Runner -- the most copied look of any sci-fi movie?
5. The Matrix -- most jaw-dropping filmic experience since Star Wars.
6. Star Trek: The Motion Picture -- yes, it's that good. (I can hear the snickering...)
7. Dune (1984) -- brilliant adaptation of supposedly "unfilmable" novel.
8. AI: Artificial Intelligence -- most misunderstood film of recent times?
9. Alien -- face huggers, chest-ripping, acid blood...crazy stuff. I like it!
10. Contact -- compelling, intelligent religion vs. science story.

1. 2001. A very profound film. Not the most profound that I've seen though. To each his own.

2. Star Wars. Oh yeah.
3. Empire. Oh yeah.
4. Blade Runner. Oh yeah.
5. Matrix. Oh yeah.
6. ST I - Hmmm. Great film if it weren't Star Trek. The feel departed from the full flavor of Trek. (I think Khan is Trek Perfection.)
7. Dune - Very cool film. A little gross for my tastes but cool.
8. AI: Definitely misundertood which leaves me wondering why it was made in the first place.
9. Alien - Just about the perfect sci fi film.
10. Contact - A particularly excellent film.
IMHO.

Post by **matrixman** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:05 am

Post by **Nav** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 2:18 pm

I liked 2001, but I've never really understood the last half an hour. I think that Dave can see everything in the universe whilst he lives his life cycle over and over, but I'm far from sure.

GATTACA is probably my favourite. Not really that sc-fi, but as a geneticist myself I find it very interesting. Plus Jude Law gives a career best performance.

Post by **aTOMiC** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:43 pm

Matrixman wrote:Thanks for your appraisal, Tom C! Um...this isn't a contest, is it?

Actually, I always agonize over Star Trek I and II when it comes to silly lists like these. Guess I see Star Trek I as a great sci-fi movie first and a Star Trek movie second. Wrath Of Khan is the best in its way, too. Ack! I should just call it a tie.

Yes! It is a contest. You win the I stand up for what I believe award. (No cash prize.

)

My wife is a long time dedicated star trek fan and she absolutlely hates ST 1. She says she'd much rather watch ST 5 than have to sit through the Enterprise passing over V'ger even one more time. Oh well.

Post by **matrixman** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:34 pm

Post by **Roland of Gilead** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 7:21 pm

Here's my list . . . but keep in mind, that although my favorite reading genres are fantasy and science fiction, my favorite movies tend to be historical epics and Westerns.

But favorite science fiction:

Star Trek IV, the perfect combination of story and humor, the only Trek which managed to give even the bit roles something interesting to do, and the only Trek which created suspense and excitement without killing anyone.

Star Trek II, Montalban the perfect villain, best use of the ships and tying in to the original series.

Star Trek First Contact - great story for Picard and Data, the best characters from Next Generation.

Return of the Jedi - I'm in the minority as thinking this is the best Star Wars film, because I love the entire Jabba the Hutt section, the speeder chase in the forest, and the fight between Darth and Luke and Darth's subsequent redemption.

The Matrix - agree with some of the earlier posters. The sequels try too hard and it shows.

Starship Troopers - under-rated, IMHO.

Alien - best horror sf ever.

Aliens - a brilliant twist on the original, emphasizing action over horror and managing to pull it off.

Terminator and Terminator II - the perfect role for the man who can't act, but sure looks good doing it. His robotic mannerisms were tailor-made for an android. The time travel makes no sense, but the stories are so good, who cares?

Galaxy Quest - a brilliant combination of satire and adventure, can be watched for Trek bashing or for simple enjoyment. Extremely smart script.

Jurassic Park - Crichton's best novel, and the best adaptation of any of his works to film. II and III suffer from the worst traits of sequel-itus.

Andromeda Strain - dated, but still exciting and thoughtful.

Deep Rising and Deep Blue Sea - a tie for best "Oh, Lord, look what super-monsters we stumbled on and how are we going to escape without every member of our cast getting knocked off?" genre.

I'm sure I'm forgetting a classic, but I've rambled enough.

Post by **aTOMiC** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 7:35 pm

Roland, I assume you mean that Star Trek VI didn't kill off anyone we'd actually care about. Chancellor Gorkon, Colonel West, Marta the changeling and the two assasin's deaths were hard to overlook. Just kidding of course. ST VI is directed by Nicolas Meyer therefore it is one of the best to be sure. Jedi would be among the best films I'd ever had the pleasure to watch if it didn't spend 1/4 of its time insulting me. I'd love to edit the film of most of the Ewok scenes particularly the ones where fully armored storm troopers have their hands up in surrender to pointed wooden sticks.

The rest of your selections are terrific. I agree with you about almost everything.

Post by **Roland of Gilead** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 7:42 pm

Tom, I was talking about IV, the Voyage Home, not VI. No characters, good or evil, are killed in it, but despite that, there is genuine suspense as the crew tries to bring the whales back to communicate with the alien probe.

I know I'm in the minority on Return of the Jedi, and I totally concur with the majority opinion that the Ewoks were nothing but a transparent marketing ploy . . . but I manage to ignore those bad parts, anyway. Also, my daughter was the proper age when Return was released in the early eighties, and we had to get her a couple of those Ewoks.

Post by **aTOMiC** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 7:47 pm

Roland, Thats what I get for not paying attention. I withdraw my comments concerning ST 4. Um.....Spock was mean to the punk on the bus! He gave him a nasty pinch he did! My all time favorite Shattner scene comes from Voyage. I've made mention of the pizza box many times.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 7:53 pm

The overuse of colorful metaphor was indeed humorous, as was Scotty talking to the computer.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

The Greatest Science Fiction Movies Ever Made