Top Ten SF Films

[ilthaniel]

The producers, is the first thing that I can think of. After all, how often don't you hear that the producer asks for a rewrite because he thinks it wil make the movie more successfull...
Although, it might just as easily have been one (or more) of the actors. I'm thinking mostly of what Sean Connery wanted to have changed in his character Alan Quartermain. I'd love to read the comics someday so I can see how the story is supposed to go...
Then again, the director can also have a strong influence on the script....

Hmm.. I see what you mean, Steve...

[manephelien]

The Abyss, but only the Director's Cut is my absolutely favorite sci-fi movie of all time. The theater cut's naff ending almost ruined it for me, but I'm so glad they got the director's cut.

Other favorites in no particular order:
The Fifth Element
T2
Aliens (infinitely superior to Alien, IMO)
Abre los Ojos
2001
Dr. Strangelove
Star Trek: First Contact
Blade Runner



I haven't seen many of the classics such as Solaris, so I can't comment on them.

I love Star Wars, but I don't see it as sci-fi. It's space opera. Very good entertainment, especially the OT, but still not sci-fi.

Does King Kong count? If it does, I like both the original and PJ's version. It's quite amazing to see how many shots in the new version are straight from the original, even if the effects have been updated.

Event Horizon is just about the worst movie, of any genre, that I've ever seen. Just goes to show how much tastes differ and that you can't really argue about preferences.

[iansales]

If The Fifth Element is sf, then I don't see why Star Wars can't be. Besides, space opera is generally considered a sub-genre of science fiction - as, in fact, is science fantasy.

Not sure I'd call Dr Strangelove sf , though...

[Quokka]

Been meaning to post here for a bit, not in any order:

Forbidden Planet - Even as a SFF fan its impressive that I could watch this 50 years after it was made and really enjoy it.

Aliens - Alien was great but this has to be one of the best sequels ever, rather than repeat the original story with slight changes they completely changed the basis from a hidden monster thriller to an all out bug hunt army buddy movie and it just worked brilliantly.... and who here didn't want one of those forklifts?

The City of Lost Children - Sci fi? Fantasy? Don't know but its a beautiful movie

When Worlds Collide - Maybe not a top 10 movie but a personal favourite, one of the first Saturday midday movies I remember watching on tv as a kid and I still love movies with scientists discovering/causing the end of the world .

Dark City - Loved it

Gattaca - A sci fi that works without aliens, guns or violence.

Mad Max - The aussie outback works so well as a post apocalyptic wasteland

The Matrix - Forget the sequels and the hype and this was actually a very good movie (like Star Trek just don't make it a way of life).


Night of the Living Dead - Is it Sci-Fi? Maybe technically (Radiation from a satellite does start it all) ... either way its such a brilliant movie I thought I'd add it anyway.

Metropolis - Gets alot of respect and deserves every bit of it.


and some of the ones that were in then out

The Andomedra Strain
Star Trek 2:Wrath of Khan (First contact was good but this is still the best Star Trek movie IMO)
Final Fantasy: Advent Children (2 out of 3; great for FF7 fans to see more of the characters, the CGI is just so impressive but didnt quite hook me with the story)
Predator

[roddglenn]

Hmmm for me it would be...in no particular order...

Alien & Aliens
Close Encounters
Matrix
Dune
War of the Worlds (Spielberg and George Pal)
Terminator
Independence Day
2010 (not 2001)
The Abyss

[Ragnar]

In no particular...

Blade Runner
The Day the Earth Caught Fire
The Matrix
First Contact
Planet of the Apes (1968)
12 Monkeys
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Silent Running
The Andromeda Strain

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by iansales

I don't think it would be that difficult.

Btw, while the film of Starship Troopers didn't actually win the Hugo in 1998, it was short-listed.

So what many horrible movies have been short listed but there are a reason they didnt win


Sure you can like the movie over the book but you cant compare the importantce the book has had to a movie not many remember.


This just an example what the book has meant to alot of people:


While powered armor is Starship Troopers' most famous legacy, its influence extends deep into contemporary warfare. Almost half a century after its publication, Starship Troopers is on the reading lists of the United States Army,[30] the United States Marine Corps,[31][32][33] and the United States Navy.[34] It is the only science fiction novel on the reading list at four of the five United States military academies. When Heinlein wrote Starship Troopers the United States military was a largely conscripted force, with conscripts serving two year hitches. Today the U.S. military has incorporated many ideas similar to Heinlein's concept of an all-volunteer, high-tech strike force. In addition, references to the book keep appearing in military culture. In 2002 a Marine general described the future of Marine Corps clothing and equipment as needing to emulate the Mobile Infantry.[35]

[iansales]

They probably say the same about David Drake's novels. It comes as no surprise that the military reads militaristic novels. However, Starship Troopers' "importance" has never really spread beyond the US.

And you can hardly say the film is one "not many remember". It grossed $121m worldwide. And has no doubt grossed millions on sell-through.

[Connavar]

Im not saying it doesnt have fans that liked it but most of the people have seen the movie remember it only as bug killing feast. Im talking about the mainstream that didnt care about the satire but only wanted some space action. Heck that was the reason i saw the movie when it came out.

121 mil is good but at the cost of that type of hollywood movie it would be a flopp if it didnt make that kind of money.


About Starship Troopers' novel's "importance" its hard knowing if the importance spread outside US. How do you check that out.

Fans wise im sure its important all around the world. There are prolly millions like me that remember it as RAH better works. It made me RAH fan cause of its ideas that still make people react whether they like the book or not.

[manephelien]

Originally Posted by iansales

If The Fifth Element is sf, then I don't see why Star Wars can't be. Besides, space opera is generally considered a sub-genre of science fiction - as, in fact, is science fantasy.

Not sure I'd call Dr Strangelove sf , though...

Okay, in that case I'll include SW4 among my favorite movies ever.

Starship Troopers was interesting and certainly thought-provoking, even if I'd hate to live in the society it describes. The problem with the military is that it teaches you to obey legitimate orders rather than think for yourself and question the government. That may be very comfortable for those in power, but hardly for the rest of us. Universal suffrage may have its faults (the biggest one being that it requires a well-educated and motivated populace to function properly), but it still has more advantages than the alternatives.

[iansales]

Originally Posted by Connavar of Rigante

Im not saying it doesnt have fans that liked it but most of the people have seen the movie remember it only as bug killing feast. Im talking about the mainstream that didnt care about the satire but only wanted some space action. Heck that was the reason i saw the movie when it came out.

And that was why it was so good - because it wasn't a bug killing feast :-)

Originally Posted by Connavar of Rigante

121 mil is good but at the cost of that type of hollywood movie it would be a flopp if it didnt make that kind of money.

True enough. It cost $105m, so it didn't make that much money. It did well on sell-through, though.

Originally Posted by Connavar of Rigante

About Starship Troopers' novel's "importance" its hard knowing if the importance spread outside US. How do you check that out.

Fans wise im sure its important all around the world. There are prolly millions like me that remember it as RAH better works. It made me RAH fan cause of its ideas that still make people react whether they like the book or not.

Twenty years ago, I might have agreed. Now, I don't think it's held in quite the same regard. I personally don't know anyone who sings its praises (in real life, I mean), and I have a lot of friends in UK sf fandom.

[The Upright Man]

so im guessing no one liked Stargate and the somewhat film mission 1 - the children of the gods?

[roddglenn]

Actually yes Stargate was very good - the multitude of spin off series didn't do much for me, but the original film was very good.

I've also thought of one more to add to my list - Children of Men. The book was pants, but the film was absolutely awesome. Eternal Sunshine and 12 Monkeys were both very good too, but I don't think they'd make my top 10.

[Triceratops]

Star Wars
Close Encounters
The Thing
Alien
Logans Run
The Omega Man
Silent Running
A.I.
Blade Runner

And what the hell, the Road Warrior.

Tri

[tarifa]

The 5th element

Starwars (the original 3 IMO)

Bladerunner

Alien and Aliens

2001

Close encounters

Gattica

A. I. (but would have been really interested to see how it would have differed f kubrick hadn't died)

E.T. (loved it then, love it now!)

Matrix