Best Science Fiction Films Of All Time?

Which are your favorite SciFi films and why? There doesn't need to be a number limit, although if you go much above ten, I think people's eyes will glaze over.

Star Wars - the original three, that is. There wasn't an overabundance of plot-twisting, characters were consistent, the action scenes were well-done, and the special effects were good. Star Wars was really amazing, special-effects-wise, when it came out, but Lucas didn't make the films dependent upon the special effects. The film was actually about the story, and it wasted no time meandering around on useless points. The second trilogy sent it all to hell, in my opinion. The bad acting (which did, yes, crop up sometimes in the original three) was further hurt by a completely impossible script and over-the-top scenes and costumes. Don't get me wrong, I love scenes and costumes. I liked watching the films. But ... there was nothing there. Other than the Yoda fight scene.

Serenity - yeah, yeah. I'm obsessed. It's not the best movie for anything, we could pick it to shreds. But we don't. Because the movie doesn't take itself overly seriously. It's not meant to be a showcase of Deep Drama and Extreme Emotion, it wasn't meant to give us an Oscar-worthy acting performance, the costumes weren't made to grab attention. But it was a really good movie. The world was well done, the acting was consistently good, the jokes were funny, and best of all, it didn't rely on its status as SciFi. It wasn't about being a SciFi movie, it was about the story.

Those are the two I'll put up for now. And yes, I've seen 2001: A Space Odyssey, and no, I didn't like it. I thought it was a complete . It was too long, too dramatic, and the special effects were clearly done by someone on acid.

Blade Runner (Director's cut only; I mean, come on, quintessential sci-fi movie. One of the few sci-fi films I've seen that does push sci-fi themes and concepts and in an enjoyably viewable way.)

The Matrix (Only the first one, and really, it's more cool than it was awesome.)

Serenity (The fangirl in me has to put it up, because for sci-fi thematic treatment, it's kinda soft.)

Dune (Come on, it's David Lynch... and Sting!)

Terminator 2 (Does this actually count as a sci-fi movie?)

Aliens (...mostly)

2001: A Space Odyssey was okay... if you discount the on-acid special effects which I disliked, it is a genuine sci-fi movie.

I need to see the original 1972 Solaris. I suspect that one would be high on my list.

Does the 2003 Battlestar Galactica miniseries count as a movie?

Why is it that my favorite sci-fi viewing is usually in an episodic format?

Ack, I've been wrangled...
hmm...
Go find the movie "Primer" and watch it. it's nifty.

We had to see that for class this year ... I honestly wouldn't recommend it. It wasn't much like the story. Very Deep and Meaningful, with an interminable car ride scene in the middle. Which the director expected would weed out the insincere, I believe.

It was ... well, maybe it's a classic. Who am I to say?

Has anyone seen Gattica? I've heard it's good.

Alas, I've been wrangled once again. but yes...

This is far from the best, but has anyone else seen Vanilla Sky? it's weird.

Oooh oooh, I forgot one, but was reminded because it replayed on TNT last night: The Fifth Element.

So awesome.

"Leeloo Dallas Multipass! Mul-ti-pass. MUL-TI-"
"Yes, she knows it's a multipass!"

Best ever. Also the velvet catsuit things for the talk show host. You can tell who shares your sense of humor by showing them that movie - if they "don't get it," it's time for the two of you to stop spending so much time together

Tron.

And I think that's all that needs to be said.

Best Sci-Fi films....

Modern (in the past 10 years)-

Serenity - George Lucas needed to go fall on his sword after he saw how the genre was SUPPOSED to be handled.

A.I. - Steven Spielberg gets arty. I liked it. I wasn't expecting to, but I did.

Fifth Element - just 'cause

Johnny Mnemonic - DAMN good cyberpunk!



Classic (Over 10 years old)-

Star Wars: A New Hope - Back when George Lucas had a clue. And Han Shot First!!!

Blade Runner - the first real cyberpunk film.

Alien - Sci-Fi horror. And it was icky!

Clockwork Orange

Dune - All but the last ten minutes. What a cop-out!

Buckaroo Banzai - Wherever you go, there you are!!!

Tron - (AND THEY'RE MAKING THE SEQUEL!!!!!)

Mad Max (and the sequels)


Uber-Classic (older than me!)

The Day the Earth Stood Still - Klaatu barada nikto!

Forbidden Planet - Shakespeare in SPACE!!!!!

Day of the Triffids

Plan 9 from Outer Space - because it's SOOO bad it's great!

I think that's it for me.

You guys have already covered most of my favorites... the ones I geek out over most, though, are the Dystopian Future Thrillers.

Metropolis-- Early German Expressionist silent film. The cityscape that spawned a thousand Blade Runners.

1984-- Based on the Orwell classic, starring John Hurt, and actually filmed in 1984. More than anything else it reminded me of the Matrix, had it been done with all 1940s technology (rotary phone dials instead of keypads, that sort of thing).

Brazil-- Terry Gilliam's parody of 1984. Not only is it one of my favorite sci-fi movies, it's probably my favorite movie, period.

V for Vendetta-- Wachowskis + Hugo Weaving for the win once again. Plus: swishy costumes!

Children Of Men-- Took V for Vendetta's grim political backstory and made it even more plausible, which in my eyes makes this movie absolutely terrifying.

I agree entirely, and his commentary on the DVD is bloody marvellous. A lot of this is meant to represent that in modern America and how much he hates the Love Conquers All version (and I admit, I'm still too scared to even watch that one).

And while we're on the subject of Terry Gilliam: 12 Monkeys.

I can't believe I didn't say Logan's Run last time.

And I don't know if it's realy sci-fi per se, but Cube and its sequel and AAAA I need to see the third one even if it's crap.

Star Wars—the original three are the quintessential science-fiction story (although I think a case could be made for calling them fantasy instead, because they are yards closer to that), and I could probably be persuaded to add Revenge of the Sith (it was a considerable improvement over the other two new ones)

Alien—this, in addition to Star Wars, popularized the "gritty" future (Lucas calls it a used or ancient future), doesn't look dated at all even now (with the exception of Ian Holm's decapitated head for a fraction of a scene), still wildly atmospheric, scary, EFFECTIVE

Matrix—I have to echo others here, and say only the first one. The second two were a result of a common writers mistake of not beginning with the end in mind. Or at least not well enough in mind.

Serenity—No, not outstanding. But solid. And that in itself is outstanding, honestly. I get a little teary just thinking about the cancelled series. So effing rare.

Blade Runner—Best treatment of AI, hands down. That makes 2 Ridley Scott movies on my list.


Honorable Mention: Brazil (still with the same weaknesses of every Terry Gilliam movie thus far, alas), V for Vendetta (pleasantly surprised by this dark tale that was willing to bear the pain of the right ending), Fifth Element (trippy, hyperactive, exploratory, daring, ultimately a little too clichéd in spite of all that), Terminator (some people might consider this sacriledge, but I think it was the Terminator himself who kept this movie from being better), Mad Max ("Time to feed the snakes." 'nuff said)