Unbiased Reviews by Real People
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Unbiased Reviews by Real People
Movie Buff's Sci Fi FavoritesDec 9, 2005 (Updated Dec 17, 2005) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line I read a lot of science fiction as a boy, and I've seen a whole lot of movies in my life! Here is a list of my ten favorites.
I grew up on movies, but even before that, I read all the science fiction I could get ahold of. So with a well read sci fi background of Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Piers Anthony, Philip K. Dick, Arthur C. Clark and others, what sci fi films stand out as my top ten? It seems that books aren't always translated well to movies so things like Frank Herbert's Dune, or the "adaptation" of Asimov's I, Robot won't be here, but the following movies are. TEN - Silent Running (1972 Directed by Douglas Trumbell, written by Deric Washburn and Michael Cimino) This was a film before its time for certain. Bruce Dern plays the captain of a lone spaceship, the Valley Forge, with only the company of his three robots. (no, I don't know if this was the inspiration for Mystery Science Theater, but in the movie, Dern wasn't forced to watch Ed Wood films). The ship is the last refuge of plantlife and Dern refuses to abandon it hence, the film's title Silent Running. NINE - Abres Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes)1997 Written and directed by Alejandro Amenabar You may know this film better as Vanilla Sky, the Hollywood adaptation of the original Spanish film. Yes, Hollywood does it flashier, but I almost always like the originals best. If you are familiar with Vanilla Sky, this is about a future where those who die have a choice to be frozen in a perfect dream of continued life instead, a life that turns out how they want it to turn out. As you may know from the movie, sometimes things go wrong, and software malfunctions. I saw this movie two years before it was stolen by Hollywood. If you watch Vanilla Sky closely though, Penelope Cruz (who had the same role in BOTH movies) whispers to Tom Cruise, Abres Los Ojos, abres los ojos. a tribute to the original film. It was in Spanish with English subtitles. EIGHT - Total Recall (1990 Directed by Paul Verhoeven based on the short story "We Can Remember it for You Wholesale" by Philip K. Dick) Despite Arnold Schwarzenegger (as Douglas Quaid) and Sharon Stones (as his wife) lack of acting ability, they didn't detract from this special effects and action laden telling of Philip K. Dick's tale of a future where deception is part of a way of life, Mars is colonized, and you can buy memories of vacations that you never went on. SEVEN - 2001: Space Odyssey(1968 directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the book by Arthur C. Clarke) Stanley Kubrick was a genius. Although this film is a little dated by todays standards, it still features astounding cinematography that is still mimicked today. I can't make a top ten science fiction list without this epic groundbreaking science fiction film that predates Star Wars. It includes the most famous transistion scene in sci fi film history. An apeman throws a bone into the air, it flies up, arcs and falls. A spaceship appears in place of the bone arcing and falling exactly the same. One simple beautiful transition from the beginning of mankind to 2001 A.D. Dave, Dave? What are you doing Dave?. SIX - The Road Warrior (1981 written and directed by George Miller) I wasn't sure that this cult favorite qualified as science fiction, but my good friends at the Internet Movie Database say yes, so I put it on my list. I liked this better than its prequel, Mad Max, and better than its sequel, Beyond Thunderdome. Mel Gibson made post apocalyptical hero Mad Max a piece of cinema history. In the post nuclear radiated wastes of outback Australia the most important resource of all is ... gasoline (yeah, I would have thought food, medicine or fertile women, but no, it's gasoline). Who could forget Mad Max's souped up Gran Turino or for that matter Bruce Spence's whirly bird? Well, not me. Max I'm just here for the gasoline or the bad guy: You can Run, but you can't hide! FIVE The Terminator/Terminator 2:Judgment Day (directed by James Cameron 1984/1991) (and Terminator 3 was left off on purpose) Arnold Schwarzenegger finds a role he is purposely suited to, a robot! However, this glum version of a future where machines get the better of mankind was also a terrific science fiction tale that follows its rules of time travel very well. I found that these two stories were able to combine a very compelling science fiction tale with terrific special effects, great action, humor and even good acting. I'll be back and Hasta La Vista Baby have become part of our cultural lingo. Thanks Arnold! FOUR - Alien (1979 Directed by Ridley Scott written by Dan O'Bannon) The first sci fi horror film I remember. Although I enjoyed the following movies, it was the first that really set out in great H.R.Giger designed sets strange scary alien worlds. The settings inside the corporate mining ship Nostradamus was equally well done. Cramped cold, utiliterean design reflected the design philosophy of the ominous "Company" whose bottom line was profit. This was a cold chilling movie that opened new avenues in the genre of science fiction. Sigourney Weaver became a household name as the tough Ripley We'll blow it the f**k out into space. Is that acceptable to you? THREE - Gattaca (1997 Directed and written by Andrew Niccol) Ethan Hawke as Vincent Freeman was brilliant in this moving science fiction epic of a future where it's not what you know or who you know, its all about your D.N.A. If you don't have what it takes in those precious strands when you are borne, your whole life is destined for nowhere. Thanks to a clever deception with the aid of Jude Law as Jerome Morrow, Hawke is able to fulfill his dreams until a murder investigation having nothing to do with him threatens everything. Throw in beautiful Uma Thurman, and you have one of my all time favorite sci fi films. One of my favorite scenes, Vincent swims out with his brother to see who can swim the furthest. Antonio asks is brother how he beat him. Vincent replies Anton, I never saved anything for the swim back. TWO (Tie) - The Matrix (1999 written and directed by the Wachowski brothers) I couldn't decide which of these influential franchises to give the third spot to, so I'm calling it a tie. I really enjoyed this very original futuristic tale and loved the ground breaking special effects. Keanu Reeves, like Arnold in the Terminator, even found a role that he could handle. Whoaaah I know karate TWO (Tie)- Star Wars (1977 written and directed by George Lucas) I can't and won't avoid placing the first Star Wars on my list. Not only is this one of my top ten favorite films, its place in science fiction history absolutely merits it a place on a top ten science fiction list. This movie proved that science fiction wasn't a bastard genre only fit for Saturday morning matinees. It made science fiction a viable genre for the mass movie market. Star Wars opened the doors! It also made one 13 year old boy a die hard life long lover of the cinema. I've been waiting for you Obi Wan. ONE - Blade Runner (1982 Directed by Ridley Scott based on the story "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by Philip K. Dick) One of my all time favorite films, and my favorite science fiction film of all time. Star Wars broke more ground, The Matrix had better special effects, but when it all boils down, the most important part of a movie, any movie, is the script a.k.a. the story! All the special effects in the world won't save a bad script, and Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is one hell of a story that not only explores a harsh future, but also asks all the big questions. When Rutger Hauer, a replicant with a four year life span states I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. All those ... moments will be lost ... in time, like tears ... in rain. Time ... to die. I was genuinely moved, and felt sympathy for him. What is life? Who has the right to decide? Who has the right to take it away? And for the record, the special effects and the acting was all great in Blade Runner too! Please someone find me a DVD with the original theatrical release! I miss the Harrison Ford voiceover that is absent on the Director's cut. Oh, and read the book! Some Runner Ups: Soyaris 1972 (Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, based on the novel by Stanislaw Lem) Yes, you probably saw the updated version Solaris with George Clooney, but it was a great story in either telling. Dark Star 1974 (Directed by John Carpenter and written by Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon) Another sci fi classic before its time, this movie is about the illfated mission of the Dark Star and is a great dark comedy. Worth checking out! 12 Monkeys 1995 (directed by Terry Gilliam and written by Chris Marker) This was a brilliant vision of a future where Bruce Willis (James Cole)was sent back in time to find the cause of a virus that wiped out humanity. Either that or he is crazy, ask fellow inmate Brad Pitt. Time travel rules set by the movie are followed, and the story is compelling and very interesting. My friends fall into the love it or hate it camp, no in between. The Man Who Fell To Earth 1976 (Directed by Nicolas Roeg) A haunting tale of an alien (David Bowie) who travels to Earth in search of salvation for his home planet, but instead falls prey to humans and human vices. This film has stayed with me for a long time. and some deliberately left off the list, even if I enjoyed watching them: Men in Black; Independence Day; I, Robot; Armeggedon; Chronicles of Riddick; War of the Worlds (either one); Mars Attacks; Close Encounters of the Third Kind; E.T. The Extra Terrestrial; West World; Cherry 2000; Plan Nine from Outer Space; Planet of the Apes (either one); any of the Star Trek movies, etc. Not that any of these movies were bad, (well Plan Nine and Armeggedon were bad), just to me, none of them had that certain something to be considered for Top Ten status My Other Top Ten Lists My Top Ten Favorite Movies Top Ten Children's Movies from a big kid Top 10 SACDs/DVD-Audios(actually 18 albums altogether) My Favorite Christmas Movies (mostly comedies) My favorite heavy metal albums from "back in the day" Japanimation Top Ten Top Ten Comedies Top Ten Teen Films Top Ten DVD Box Sets A gift idea for everyone! Top Ten World War II Movies Top Ten War Movies  |
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