Greatest sci-fi movies of the decades- but only one per...

POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Saturday, December 3, 2005 08:30
VIEWED: 17435
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CHRISISALL

Monday, November 28, 2005 3:58 AM (P)

Pick a decade and give us your nomination for the greatest sci-fi movie of that decade, then for each decade after to the present. And no fighting, okay? These are opinions and nominations, not 'The Greatest' set in stone, or anything.

This is gonna be a HARD one, Browncoats, we here are famous for our lists, can y'all keep it to one per decade?
I dare ya!

Here's mine:

50's- War Of The Worlds
60's- Planet Of The Apes
70's- Star Trek The Motion Picture (well, the new version, anyway)
80's- Blade Runner
90's- Terminator 2: Judgement Day
00's- Serenity

What's yours?

Chrisisall, with a difficult one- maybe

STAKETHELURK

Monday, November 28, 2005 4:08 AM (P)

50s: "The Day the Earth Stood Still"
60s: "2001: A Space Odyssey"
70s: "Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope"
80s: "E.T.: The Extraterrestrial"
90s: "Contact"
00s: "Serenity"

ORPHEUS

Monday, November 28, 2005 4:19 AM (P)

I'm really loving these threads. Keep em coming!

50's - The Day the Earth Stood Still
60's - Planet of the Apes
70's - Star Wars
80's - The Empire Strikes Back
90's - Dark City
00's - Serenity

"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

REAVERHUNTER

Monday, November 28, 2005 4:25 AM (P)

Great question.

50s- War of the Worlds (still better than that garbage just done earlier this year)

60s- Planet of the Apes and also better than the redone broken version a few years ago.

70s- Lots to choose from here with Star Wars and all but I am going to be odd and choose SUPERMAN I liked Reeve and what they did for the Man of Steel.

80s- I liked ALIEN and wish they would have left the thing alone with this one cause they all got ridicuous after this one. Although Empire Strikes Back loses by a hair.

90s- It is hard but I am going to have to go with T2 but there were some good ones in that decade

2000+ - Well I liked Serenity but I may have to go with A.I. it was just awesome and.....I'm sorry I cant even say that with a straight face. Serenity has been the best of the decade so far.

EMBERS

Monday, November 28, 2005 4:45 AM (P)

Great question....

1950s - The Day the Earth Stood Still
1960s - 2001: A Space Odyssey
1970s - Star Wars: episode IV A New Hope
1980s - Blade Runner
1990s - 12 Monkeys
2000s - Serenity

Of course there have been others that I found really interesting, and worth watching many times....
films like

1950s - On The Beach
1960s - Dr. Strangelove
1970s - Westworld
1980s - Brazil
1990s - Total Recall...
but I can't think of anything in the last five years to compare to Serenity!

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse,
and have you joined the Browncoats yet?
http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/?fuseaction=tools.invlink
&u=embers&linkID=36

RIVER6213

Monday, November 28, 2005 4:58 AM (P)

1950s - My Mean Mother
1960s - Return of MY Mean Mother
1970s - Attack of My Mean Mother
1980s - Revenge of My Mean Mother
1990s - My Mean Mother Strikes Back
2000s - Serenity and Firefly

quit making faces...

REGINAROADIE

Monday, November 28, 2005 5:41 AM (P)

50's-THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
60'S-2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
70'S-ALIEN
80'S-BACK TO THE FUTURE
90'S-LAST NIGHT
00'S-A.I (seriously)

There are so many others that I could mention for each decade, but you only asked for one per. And a lot of them were mentioned already, so I just threw in some new ones.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"YES!!!I'm a man posessed by many demons....Polite demons that would open the door for a lady carrying too many parcels...BUT DEMONS NONETHELESS!!!! Yes. I have walked along the path of evil many times, it's a twisting, curving path that..actually leads to a charming plot garden, BUT BEYOND THAT EVIL!!!"

M4TT

Monday, November 28, 2005 1:09 PM (P)

50's: Forbidden Planet
60's: 2001
70's: Alien
80's: Blade Runner
90's: The Matrix
00's: Silly question, Serenity

CHRISISALL

Monday, November 28, 2005 2:43 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by RiveR6213:
1950s - My Mean Mother
1960s - Return of MY Mean Mother
1970s - Attack of My Mean Mother
1980s - Revenge of My Mean Mother
1990s - My Mean Mother Strikes Back
2000s - Serenity and Firefly

You liked Serenity better than Conquest of the Planet of My Mean Mother??!!??

Chrisisall

20THCENTFOXHATER

Monday, November 28, 2005 2:49 PM (P)

50's: War of the Worlds
60's: 2001: A Space Odyssey
70's: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
80's: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
90's: The Matrix
2000's: Serenity

"I aim to misbehave."

CHRISISALL

Monday, November 28, 2005 5:11 PM (P)

Here's my alternative list nominating somewhat lesser known masterpieces:

50's- Incredible Shrinking Man (matte lines and all...)
60's- The Power (a George Pal gem)
70's- Silent Running (very small flick)
80's- Firestarter (a most amazing finale)
90's- The Abyss (heard of it?)
00's- Serenity (yes, Greatest AND Greatest lesser known)

Chrisisall, double-dipping

THESOMNAMBULIST

Monday, November 28, 2005 5:57 PM (P)

Dang Chrisisall you come up with the greatest questions, yet so often they tear my loyalties....
....Boy this is a tough one!! Ok

50's - Creature From the Black Lagoon in 3D (If you've not seen it in 3d give it a go it's brilliant)

60's - Village of the Damned

70's - Close Encouters of the Third Kind

80's TRON (Simply genius and unlike any film EVER made!!!!)

90's Matrix (This was the late 90's right?)

00's SERENITY

Can I put one down for the 40's ? :Flash Gordon conquers the Universe (Peril from the planet Mongo) I just love these so much fun.

Fun as always Chrisisall.

The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

ECGORDON

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 12:48 AM (P)

Aren't we forgetting some other decades?

1900s - A Trip to the Moon
1910s - Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
1920s - Metropolis
1930s - Things to Come
1940s - Dr. Cyclops
1950s - Forbidden Planet
1960s - 2001: A Space Odyssey
1970s - A Clockwork Orange
1980s - Blade Runner
1990s - Contact
2000s - Pluto Nash

Wait a minute, I think I just went a bit insane. Scratch that last one and put in Serenity.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

DANFAN

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 2:14 AM (P)

This is hugely difficult! Herewith, my main list:

50's- The Day the Earth Stood Still
60's- 2001: A Space Odyssey
70's- Star Wars: A New Hope
80's- Terminator
90's- Dark City
00's- Serenity

And here is my alternates list:

50's- Forbidden Planet, War of the Worlds, The Thing
60's- The Satan Bug, The Time Machine
70's- The Andromeda Strain, Alien
80's- The Empire Strikes Back, The Abyss, Aliens, Blade Runner
90's- Highlander, The Maxx, The Matrix
00's- 28 Days Later, Hellboy

A few comments... this is like deciding between apples and oranges. I like each of these movies for different reasons. Some inspire deep thought and reflection on complex topics (The Day the Earth Stood Still, 2001). Some are special effects masterpieces (Forbidden Planet, War of the Worlds). Some are relatively shallow, but tightly-told stories with such momentum that they just keep you in the movie (The Thing, Terminator). Some offer engrossing characterization (Serenity, The Maxx). Hence, I couldn't just pick one alternate in each decade.

And "The Maxx" is something of a ringer... it was an animated story presented as 11 minute installments for MTV's Liquid Television. It was intriguing, but incomprehensible to me until I purchased it properly stitched together on a video tape as a feature length animated film... it is actually far superior in that form.

SEVENPERCENT

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 3:21 AM (P)

Wow. This is a tough one, because some of these decades produced some amazing stuff. I have a ton of ties, but I'll give my list and make some commentary.

50's - Day The Earth Stood Still - Not necessarily for what it was, but what it became. It went on to become one of the most recognizably homaged sci-fi movies ever. Klaatu barata nicto!

60's - 2001, A Space Oddysey - Easiest decade to pick from, in my opinion.

70's - Alien - This became the standard by which I judged all other sci-fi. The acting and special effects were above and beyond anything seen so far (yes, even SW and ST:TMP).

80's - The Terminator - This was by far my hardest decade to pick from. You had Aliens, Highlander, Blade Runner, SW:ESBack, SW:WoKhan - A veritable smorgasboard of sci-fi. Terminator had a tight (if a bit predictable) story, great visuals, and some of the most highly quoted dialogue of a film to this day, so I had to go with it. Blade Runner was based off a better book; Highlander, while still a favorite, needed better editing; and the rest were (although awesome) sequels.

90's - Dark City - I would like to make the Matrix my first choice, but I can't. They have similar plots (to a point, I'll explain in a sec), but City came out first and had a much better actor in the lead role. If the Wachowski's didn't say they cribbed half the Matrix from City, they're lying their asses off. For those that haven't seen it, Dark City is a story about a man (Rufus Sewell) who wakes up and is wanted for murder, who knows he didn't commit it. He comes to find out that there is a secret race of beings called the Strangers that keep people mentally sleeping in order to conduct experiments. Each night they change reality so that the people interact with one another in different ways, but something fails with Sewell's character. It is a brilliant movie, probably my #2 or 3 all time pick. Oh, on another note, can't forget The Mummy in the 90's (it was 1998/9, wasn't it?); say what you want, that was a fun movie to watch.

2000's - So far, I have to say Serenity, but have to admit that it isn't due to the quality (don't flame me; Serenity was awesome and I saw it 4 times). There hasn't really been much else to the 00's yet. I'm not sure I count the superhero movies as sci-fi (so no S-2), and I don't count animation (so no Incredibles). I don't consider LOTR or HPotter sci-fi, nor will I consider Narnia (not only do I consider them fantasy, a trap Highlander nearly falls into, but they are also adaptations from books, which hampers their originality factor). I liked War of the Worlds, but wouldn't rate it as a number one because of the weak ending; the new SW movies I thought all pretty much sucked ass (even SW3:ROTS). I'm hoping something wows me here real soon and (given that I am a fan of Chung's animation- Aeon Flux, Animatrix, Reign the Conqueror) I'm doubting that Aeon Flux will do it.

7%'s 2c

------------------------------------------
He looked bigger when I couldn't see him.

Anyone wanting to continue a discussion off board is welcome to email me - check bio for details.

DANFAN

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 3:42 AM (P)

7%...

I went back and forth between SW and Alien for the 70's. I agree with you that Alien is the tighter story with better acting. But what swung SW for me was that it's story was grander in scope... and more ambitious visually. There was enough depth in SW to base an entire series of movies on it. And Lucas should be shot for squandering the richness of that universe in the last three movies.

But I can't hold Lucas' loss of vision in recent years (decades) against the presence of vision he displayed in the original film.

Still, a tough call for me.

LAX01

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 3:44 AM (P)

I haven't see Aeon Flux yet

SEVENPERCENT

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 4:05 AM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by danfan:
And Lucas should be shot for squandering the richness of that universe in the last three movies.

Line him up and blindfold him, and I'll hand you the rifle when I'm done. I'm in total agreement with you on that. But that wasn't what he did that lost me; when he went back and "edited" the originals (Han shot first, btw) is when he pissed me off.

And I just remembered, thinking of "reverse engineering" movies- I forgot E.T. for the 80's! Damn Spielberg for pulling a Lucas with that one (went back and changed guns into walkie-talkies).

I also didn't realize that you had City for your 90's flick also. Man, that's a great film.

------------------------------------------
He looked bigger when I couldn't see him.

Anyone wanting to continue a discussion off board is welcome to email me - check bio for details.

SEVENPERCENT

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 4:34 AM (P)

Thankfully, someone just let me know about a movie from the 00's that I had forgotten about, one that completely blew my mind when I saw it. The Spielberg flick A.I., with Jude Law and Haley Joel Osment (sp?). That was an incredible movie with some brilliant societal criticism. How I forgot that one, I'll never know. Call that one my 00's pick (tied with Serenity, of course ).

------------------------------------------
He looked bigger when I couldn't see him.

Anyone wanting to continue a discussion off board is welcome to email me - check bio for details.

ORPHEUS

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 4:58 AM (P)

Glad to see someone else willing to defend A.I. I just don't see it as being half as atrocious as people are making it out to be. Sure, the end takes it time (and yeah, it's a bit too long), but a bad ending doesn't always a bad movie make. I can still enjoy acts one and two for what they are.

And while we're talking about Spielberg 00's films, what about Minority Report? Fantastic film.
__________________________________
"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

SEVENPERCENT

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 5:12 AM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Orpheus:

And while we're talking about Spielberg 00's films, what about Minority Report?

Based off a better book; so it didn't get my vote. I thought they should have had a better cast for the quality of that one, as well. Cruise just didn't cut it for me in that role. Soured me on the movie as a whole.

I will defend A.I. though. I think people will come around; it's a Kubrick film, which means it might take people another decade to really appreciate it (as is typical of his work).

------------------------------------------
He looked bigger when I couldn't see him.

Anyone wanting to continue a discussion off board is welcome to email me - check bio for details.

REAVERHUNTER

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 5:17 AM (P)

Alright sorry about the A.I. comments. I just really disliked that movie and didnt know anyone actually liked it.

ReaverHunter

TORTIMER

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 5:45 AM (P)

Here is my list:

50's- Incredible Shrinking Man
60's- Planet Of The Apes
70's- Star Wars
80's- The Empire Strikes Back
90's- The Matrix
00's- Serenity

TIENSHAODUH

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 9:42 AM (P)

My faves are really difficult to list:
50's: Forbidden Planet, incredible. The original Star Trek.
60's: 2001, naturally.
70's: Star Wars ruled that decade, no one can deny that!
80's: Back to to the Future, one of my favourite films of all time (wasn't meant to be a joke but i will let it stand)
90's: There were quite a few good ones here, Matrix, Stargate, a few Trek films...but I will go with Matrix. Revolutionary but the only thing I can say is shame about the sequels.
00's: Let's see, Serenity was quite and I am willing to leave it at that.

TS

=================================================
"God has a plan for you, Gaius. He has a plan for everything and everyone." Number Six '33'
=================================================
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Carl Sagan
=================================================

GIXXER

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 10:53 AM (P)

Don't know about decades, and not really that into Science Fiction (a lie), but I'll always like:

Terminator
Aliens
Predator
Old Star Wars

and for older films:

The Forbidden Planet
Kiss Me Deadly

Maybe the last one was a stretch, but it qualifies because it's completely hardcore, and just like a film of a Graphic Novel (except this is 1955.)

(From imdb) "...The Kefauver Commission, a federal unit dedicated to investigating corrupting influences in the 1950s, singled this [film] out as 1955's number one menace to American youth..."

You can't buy publicity like that...

G

Christina Bailey: Get me to that bus stop and forget you ever saw me. If we don't make it to the bus stop...

Mike Hammer: We will.

Christina Bailey: If we don't, remember me.

EMBERS

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 1:23 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Orpheus:
Glad to see someone else willing to defend A.I. I just don't see it as being half as atrocious as people are making it out to be. Sure, the end takes it time (and yeah, it's a bit too long), but a bad ending doesn't always a bad movie make. I can still enjoy acts one and two for what they are.

I think that this comes under the heading of 'damning with faint praise'
but I liked some parts of A.I. too....

but I was terribly disappointed w/Minority Report (regretting seeing it in the theater, kept looking at my watch)
and Chrisisall: I totally remember the Abyss, and I thought it was dreadful! Bad story, and bad acting, I can't imagine voluntarily watching it a second time.
Each to his own, huh?

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse,
and have you joined the Browncoats yet?
http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/?fuseaction=tools.invlink
&u=embers&linkID=36

ORPHEUS

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 1:35 PM (P)

I guess. I praise Minority Report, and immediately two people slam it down.

"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

ORPHEUS

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 1:35 PM (P)

Sorry. Keyboard sticks. So then. Back to those lists.

"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

HAFTHAND

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 2:01 PM (P)

Hmm I enjoyed Minority Report. They don't make too many decent big budget sci-fi films so I guess I am under the mentality that I will take what I can get. That in mind I also enjoyed I, Robot and A.I. I am not saying they would top any list, but I enjoyed them.

Also, Abyss is one of my all time favs...fear not, there are those of us who have heard of it! Ed Harris carried that movie.

Okay, my top 10:

50's: Day the Earth Stood Still....no contest

60's: 2001: A Space Odyssey....Again no contest

70's: hmmm I want to say Star Wars for what it did for the genre and for movie making in general but am tempted by Alien as well...who didn't jump when it shot out of the stomache!?!?!?

80's: tough tough... a tie between Bladerunner and Empire Strikes back

90's: Let's see I loved Cube..it was such a mind trip, and of course Matrix was a breakaway hit and did wonders for technology...also loved 12 Monkeys!

00's: Well I loved Serenity, obviously, and I must admit there has been a lack of credible sci-fi flicks this decade. Though they are making one of Ray Bradbury's stories into a movie..A SOund of Thunder..with some very credible actors so here is hoping!

OOHHH Pitch Black. That was a briliiantly scripted and brilliantly acted film..which is odd when your movie is a sci-fi flick AND contains Vin Diesel. I enjoyed Chronicles, but it didn't compare to Pitch Black.

Okay, My two cents.

Love, Ally
'Comfort me with apples for I am sick of love' -Solomon

HAFTHAND

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 2:06 PM (P)

Okay I may have to take it back..just did some research and A Sound of Thunder is already out...and though I hope it is good..it doesn't look promising..certainly not going to beat out Serentiy on my list.

Love, Ally
'Comfort me with apples for I am sick of love' -Solomon

THESOMNAMBULIST

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 2:41 PM (P)

Hey Orpheus.

I liked Minority Report, I was just so impressed that Cruise was playing a 'less' than decent individual, I like characters with failings.

I think it's one of those that'll grow on people over time.... Look at Bladerunner I don't remember a single person liking that at the time, now everyone I know loves it!!! Funnily enough I've come to realise, whenever I ask friends what like about it, they always mention Rutger Hauer....? For me if I see one more drop of rain against a wall I'll personally go over to Ridley Scott and beat the living daylights outa him - it's severly indulgent in places but strangely delivers a sobering message... For me Bladerunner works because of Ford' reluctance in the character.

Sorry went on some.....

The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

TIENSHAODUH

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 3:59 PM (P)

I really enjoyed Minority Report, it was a little different from the book but it still had that strong PKD feel.
Bladerunner is an all time classic, Ridley Scott does an amazing job. So do the actors, Ford is incredible in it. I also remember Edward James Olmos being in it (am I right?).
I, Robot was OK but i was expecting something better. Although i do believe it must be difficult making an Asimov movie.
Pitch Black when i first saw it was a breath of fresh air in SF. It was scary, had good characters and incredible SFX. Wonderful.
Chronicles was alright but did make as much of an impact.

TS

=================================================
"God has a plan for you, Gaius. He has a plan for everything and everyone." Number Six '33'
=================================================
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Carl Sagan
=================================================

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 4:33 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by embers:

I think that this comes under the heading of 'damning with faint praise'
but I liked some parts of A.I. too....

but I was terribly disappointed w/Minority Report (regretting seeing it in the theater, kept looking at my watch)
and Chrisisall: I totally remember the Abyss, and I thought it was dreadful! Bad story, and bad acting, I can't imagine voluntarily watching it a second time.
Each to his own, huh?

I liked AI, not enought to own, but I suspect I'll pick it up someday, it had a very 'Kubrick' feel to it.
I agree with ya on Minority Report, totally weak and hollywood ending (sorry Somnambulist!)
And I disagree on Abyss, I felt it to be one of the most 'human' sci-fi's in a long time- very much like Close Encounters (and maybe that's the problem for some, a little TOO much like CE?)

Oh well, whatever floats your Firefly-class, eh?

P.S., Highlander would have made my list(s) if the final swordfight had more pizazz to it.

Chrisisall, who likes nice aliens

EMBERS

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 4:47 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:

And I disagree on Abyss, I felt it to be one of the most 'human' sci-fi's in a long time- very much like Close Encounters (and maybe that's the problem for some, a little TOO much like CE?)

actually that part wasn't even memorable to me...
what sticks in my brain is the soap opera angst of Ed Harris relationship w/Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, which culminated in that whole creepy having her die and bringing her back to life (don't try this at home kids) thing...

I think that this is the thing about a lot of films, we are drawn to or we back away from different things that speak to us (or not) in different ways....
Firefly/Serenity had so many fully realized and completely different characters that we could all approach it from a different angle, and then come together loving all our BDHs
like Mal said 'you all came here for different reasons'....

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse,
and have you joined the Browncoats yet?
http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/?fuseaction=tools.invlink
&u=embers&linkID=36

THESOMNAMBULIST

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 5:15 PM (P)

Originally posted by chrisisall:

Quote:
I liked AI, not enought to own, but I suspect I'll pick it up someday, it had a very 'Kubrick' feel to it.
I agree with ya on Minority Report, totally weak and hollywood ending (sorry Somnambulist!)

Chrisisall, who likes nice aliens

WHAT!!!! YOU DISAGREE!!!....

Ok fair 'nuff. For some reason I always forgive Spielberg for Hollywood endings - maybe because I feel he invented 'em.

Granted you could see he was going to use Max's ability as an actor for the final denoument - but it's what I was expecting I suppose so this didn't bother me...

A.I. though i struggled with and in fact it ended just where I thought it should begin, I was interested at that point. But I've never understood this 'Robot wanting to be a human thing' once, just once, I'd like to see a story about a boy who wants to be a robot!!!

Oh and I'm afraid I agree totally with Embers as regards Abyss... The marital troubs was irritating to the overall feel of the piece....

*Ducks and takes cover*

The
Somambulist

www.cirqus.com

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 5:17 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by embers:

what sticks in my brain is the soap opera angst of Ed Harris relationship w/Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, which culminated in that whole creepy having her die and bringing her back to life (don't try this at home kids) thing...

lol, that's the single thing I liked best about the flick, I totally bought into their relationship!

....LOVE U WIFE....

I'm such a sap, though. I cried when Lois died in Superman, and completly didn't mind him turning back Earth time to bring her back. (Hey! Same thing in Mummy Returns! I cried when Evie died, too! Okay, it's just a pattern with me, then.)

Chrisisall, romantic idiot...

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 5:23 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
*Ducks and takes cover*

No need, pal. We're all friends here.
And who am I to judge? I still think Ballistic: Ecks Vs. Sever is a hugely entertaining movie, hows that for a 'minority report'?

Chrisisall, lookin' foward to MI3

HAFTHAND

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 5:47 PM (P)

Ha I completely agree with you. It was the humaness of their relationship that sold that movie. Ed Harris at his finest..well that and Apollo 13...but I digress. It is true movies will either attract you or not and Abyss is just one movie I take from my childhood and will force my own children to watch. Good lessons in that film! lol

Love, Ally
'Comfort me with apples for I am sick of love' -Solomon

STORYMARK

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 6:03 PM (P)

Quote:
... just once, I'd like to see a story about a boy who wants to be a robot!!!

There was an episode of Star Trek TNG about a traumatized young boy who wanted to be an android, like Data, so that he wouldn't have to feel emotion.

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle."

EMBERS

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 7:13 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
There was an episode of Star Trek TNG about a traumatized young boy who wanted to be an android, like Data, so that he wouldn't have to feel emotion.

oh I loved that one...
of course I loved ALL the Data centric episodes

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse,
and have you joined the Browncoats yet?
http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/?fuseaction=tools.invlink
&u=embers&linkID=36

THESOMNAMBULIST

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 7:33 PM (P)

Originally posted by chrisisall:

Quote:
No need, pal. We're all friends here.
And who am I to judge? I still think Ballistic: Ecks Vs. Sever is a hugely entertaining movie, hows that for a 'minority report'?

Chrisisall, lookin' foward to MI3[

Mission Imp 3 eh....

ahhhh Thandie Newton..... I was so busy gazing at her I forgot what the hell was going on in MI2.....

www.cirqus.com

THESOMNAMBULIST

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 7:36 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:
... just once, I'd like to see a story about a boy who wants to be a robot!!!

There was an episode of Star Trek TNG about a traumatized young boy who wanted to be an android, like Data, so that he wouldn't have to feel emotion.

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle."

hmmm now that sounds more like it..... Interesting cheers Storymark.

Not being a big Star trek fan I watched only a few Next Gen.... Cool will look out for it :)

Cheers
The Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

PATSRULE

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 7:41 PM (P)

70's: Star Wars

80's: Empire Strikes Back

90's: T2

2000's: The Island

CALHOUN

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 7:53 PM (P)

I'll have to do a little research to find out when movies were made to properly colate my list..

I agree with all who disliked Minority Report, mostly cause I cant stand Tom Cruise...

I'm a little surprised Dune hasnt made anyones list.. I loved all the books and the movie.

And what about "The sound of music"!! Nah.. i'm just messin with ya on that one :)

TIENSHAODUH

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 8:17 PM (P)

The Dune miniseries was *amazing*, the film not so good. If we were to start making a list of the best SF series, that would rank very highly in my list.
Also BSG 2003, one word *wow*, Sci-Fi know how to make 'em.

TS

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"God has a plan for you, Gaius. He has a plan for everything and everyone." Number Six '33'
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"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Carl Sagan
=================================================

TIENSHAODUH

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 8:19 PM (P)

Does anybody know if the Island is worth watching?

TS

=================================================
"God has a plan for you, Gaius. He has a plan for everything and everyone." Number Six '33'
=================================================
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Carl Sagan
=================================================

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 11:54 PM (P)

The following is a list of decade favorites of the Sci-Fi/hybrid film genre. I’ve read through everyone’s selection and they all appear to be excellent choices and offer a pretty fair representation of the science fiction genre. Following each entry is commentary detailing the reasons why I chose this film or my general impressions of the decade. As a long time Sci-Fi fan I can be tiresomely pedantic, so if you want to skip the commentary just follow the underlined entries.

1950s Forbidden Planet (1956, MGM).

Although many people might look to War of the Worlds or The Day the Earth Stood Still or the Body Snatchers, all great films with lasting appeal, none of them had the influences on later films that Forbidden Planet did. Much of the methodology and cinematography of later films, including Star Trek was pioneered by this film. It was one of the first to be shot in color, and it used large elaborate sound stages.

1960s 2001 (1968, MGM).

The 1960s poses a problem, because there are actually two science fiction films in the 60s that I would consider landmark, both of them from 1968. Planet of the Apes (1968, 20th Century Fox) is a strong contender for greatest sci-fi film of the 60s, but ultimately, 2001 is better because it offers a more creative and optimistic story.

1970s Star Wars (1977, 20th Century Fox).

Star Wars was not the beginning of the space opera, but definitely a refinement into an unexpected world wide box office hit, but the real clout of Star Wars was the depth of the story. Despite its rather one-dimensional plot, the mood and back story are so elaborate and intriguing that they draw the audience into the story as it unfolds; creating an alien universe that is as complex and believable as it is fantastic. There is a mystique about the Jedi, something ominous about the powerful empire that has emerged from the crumbling Republic, and yet a swashbuckling world of smugglers and bandits. Star Wars created science fiction intrigue by relying on the human mind to connect the dots in much the way that Hitchcock used dark screens and silent moments. This back story would lead to a whole set of widely anticipated films that would never live up to the grandeur of the first three, in spite of immensely superior cinematography, budget, and acting, largely due, some believe, to the absence of depth.

As surprising as it may seem, this was not an easy choice. Although Star Wars is one of the greatest sci-fi films and probably the greatest hybrid sci-fi, it has some strong competition in the 1970s. Logan’s Run, Close Encounters, Alien, and the cult classics Soylent Green and Clockwork Orange along several others are all steeped in praise by sci-fi fans and critics alike, and make the 70s extremely rich in classic Science fiction. As a second runner up, Close Encounters is easily the strongest contender though.

1980s E.T. (1982, Universal).

E.T. was a complete reversal on many alien stories. It depicted an extraterrestrial sentient life form that was neither humanoid nor malevolent or particularly intelligible. The theme of this film is often lost in its “feel good” story, but it says something about the smallness of the human condition. In most other alien encounter films, one side or the other often occupies the moral high ground, yet in E.T. we see an example of an advanced yet passive intelligent life-form so fragile that it is threatened by the simple intrusive nature of human interest. It is the simply story of the complexities involved in first contact. This is a theme that Spielberg also incorporated into Close Encounters.

The 1980s had many good science fiction films, more then the 70s I think, but while the number of films increased, the number of really great films did not, which actually makes the 80s seem somewhat dry. A few stand out though, The Empire Strikes Back is, of course, a classic that proved that not even the space opera is immune to sci fi noir which took off during the 80s, and follows E.T. very closely fo

SEVENPERCENT

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 1:21 AM (P)

I think, after reading everyone's lists, that we are all pretty much in agreement that the best decades for consistent, quality sci-fi were the 70's and 80's. If you look at everyone's reasonings, those are the hardest decades for any of us to choose from.
Lets look at the lists:
70's -
Alien, Star Wars, ST:TMP, Logan's Run, Close Encounters, Clockwork Orange (didn't get my nod because the book was better, but what do you expect from a lit person???), Soylent Green, The Black Hole (kiddie flick-ish, but still excellent), etc., etc.

80's -
Aliens, SW:ESB, ST:TWoK, Blade Runner, Highlander, Terminator, E.T., WarGames, etc. etc.

Each of those movies is out there on someone's favorite list (thought not necessarily in this thread) with good reason. The 90's had a few bright spots, but I agree with Finn, it was more trash than quality for the decade as a whole, and much easier to pick a favorite from.

Lets hope Serenity is a good sign of what else is to come in the 00's.

Finn also mentioned Eternal Sunshine; I wasn't sure I considered it sci-fi (or Being John Malkovitch, another similar choice), but I did once hear Charlie Kaufmann called the greatest sci-fi person of this decade so far. I might have to rethink my 00's (but still not bending on Minority Report ).

------------------------------------------
He looked bigger when I couldn't see him.

Anyone wanting to continue a discussion off board is welcome to email me - check bio for details.

PATSRULE

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 1:23 AM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Tienshaoduh:
Does anybody know if the Island is worth watching?

TS

=================================================
"God has a plan for you, Gaius. He has a plan for everything and everyone." Number Six '33'
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"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Carl Sagan
=================================================

A couple of posts up, I listed it as my favorite of the this decade, so I liked it.

LIMINALOSITY

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 2:30 AM (P)

Chris, always with the hard choices, and this one saying one to a customer. Ok, I'll play. This is one of my favorite games!

There have been some very good and unusual picks, and I like the idea of a runner-up list later when a certain amount of dust has settled.

50's Forbidden Planet
60's 2001
70's Star Wars: A New Hope
80's Blaaaderunner
90's 12 Monkeys
00's Serenity

and cuz it's just the way I am, straight on to the extremely silly (which is probably no surprise to anyone by now).

Favorite Arnie SF:
50's The Collected Home Movies
60's Conan the Barbarian, because I think this one was already in a movie timewarp
70's Hercules in NY
80's The Terminator
90's Total Recall
00's Govenor of CA

I'll be aaak with my runners up, but I want to add here that I really appreciated ECGordon's addition of earlier decades, particularly Metropolis, one of my all time favorites.

Shiny Trees! Yavanna made Shiny Trees!

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 3:47 AM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
A few other competitors that I think are promising would be Frequency, A.I., Minority Report, Final Fantasy, I,Robot, Terminator 3, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and The Island.

Sorry Finn. An excellent post that offers the usual in-depth insight, but this list of movies pales beside Serenity. The only one that even comes close (and pretty close it is) is A.I..(although, I haven't seen The Island yet....)

Jurassic Park, interesting choice.

Chrisisall, aka Mr. DNA

CAIUS

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 5:33 AM (P)

Good topic -- Tough Choices. I'm going to go with best as being that which endures, whether it be for the acting cinemetography or story, it has to be something I'd still watch today.

1950's: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

Runner up, War of the Worlds (1953)

1960's: 2001, a Space Odyssey (1968)

Runner up, The Time Machine (1960), which would have been a top contender for the 50's had it been a year earlier.

1970's: Alien (1979)

Runner up. Logan's Run (1976). Star Wars: A New Hope, which many have mentioned, just does not hold up as well.

1980's: Blade Runner (1982)

Runner's up: Terminator, Aliens, Highlander, Wrath of Khan (still the best ST film) and Enemy Mine (1985), which no one has mentioned yet. Clearly the 80's was the decade of the classic SF film.

1990's: I'm going to go with Finn Mac and say Jurrasic Park, with The Matrix as a runner up. There was a LOT of bad SF in the 90's

2000's So far Serenity is the best SF Film I've seen from this decade.

-Caius

TIENSHAODUH

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 10:38 AM (P)

Why limit our lists to the 50's?
Y'all should know that there landmark and *good* SF movies prior to 1950 such Fritz Lang's Metropolis from 1927.
Y'all know without this there would have been no Bladerunner, Matrix or Dark City.
And to think, C-3PO may never have existed.
And in 1933 there was King Kong, the ultimate classic, but does that count as SF?

Just a thought.

TS

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"God has a plan for you, Gaius. He has a plan for everything and everyone." Number Six '33'
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"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Carl Sagan
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FINN MAC CUMHAL

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 2:10 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:
Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
A few other competitors that I think are promising would be Frequency, A.I., Minority Report, Final Fantasy, I,Robot, Terminator 3, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and The Island.
Sorry Finn. An excellent post that offers the usual in-depth insight, but this list of movies pales beside Serenity. The only one that even comes close (and pretty close it is) is A.I..(although, I haven't seen The Island yet....)

Jurassic Park, interesting choice.

Chrisisall, aka Mr. DNA

Don’t be sorry. I don’t necessarily disagree with you. I’m just a little cautious about assigning a favorite so soon. I like to analyze the intel first, as it were. However, if I had to pick one film that was closest to Serenity, it probably wouldn’t be A.I.. That’s just me.

TIENSHAODUH:
The problem with going back before 1950 is that there really isn’t much to choose from, and only the most anal-retentive of sci-fi fans even remember back that far. Even though there are a few landmark movies prior to the 50s, science fiction really began in the 1950s, that’s why it is referred to as the “Golden Age of Science Fiction.”

I don't think anyone is limiting anything to the 50s though. If you would like to detail movies before the 50s I’m sure there would be a lot of interest, because, as I said, its not popular knowledge, even though I think most people would be surprised how many movies they actually know about.

Before the 1930s there really weren’t a lot of movies at all, and certainly not a lot of science fiction. Metropolis has been mentioned, and I’m not terribly familiar with it. I’ve never watched it. It was a foreign film of a futuristic dystopic society with a heavy gothic mood. There’s of course A Trip to the Moon, which is considered the first science fiction movie ever made, and “science” should be very loosely interpreted in this case. Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea is an adaptation of a Jules Vern story.

All of these movies have their historical value and, in one way or another, have made considerable impact on the genre, but my choice for best movie prior to the 1930s is The Lost World (1925), which was an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, whom you may know form the Sherlock Holmes stories. This was the first movie that used stop motion special effects. I’ve heard many give King Kong that distinction, but it was not. The Lost World created the dinosaur sci-fi genre, which led to King Kong, etc, etc, Jurassic Park (even several tv shows.) So it had tremendous effect on the genre and not that difficult to watch either.

In the 1930s, science fiction started to pick up and actually many of the movies during the 1930s have actually become very popular and remain in popular vernacular to this day. This was the depression era and people wanted escapism. So you’ve got Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide, Frankenstein, King Kong, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein and Flash Gordon. If you aren’t familiar with all of these, you’ve been living in the hills somewhere. I would have to agree with most people, that King Kong was the best movie from that decade.

The 1940s was a dry period of science fiction. Most people where concentrating on winning the war, and I can’t think of any sci-fi movie that really stands out. Imagine that kind of resilience today? It really makes you wonder if we’ve misplaced some of our priorities, but I digress.

-------------
Qui desiderat pacem praeparet bellum.

TIENSHAODUH

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 3:25 PM (P)

Thanks for the insight Finn.

TS

=================================================
"God has a plan for you, Gaius. He has a plan for everything and everyone." Number Six '33'
=================================================
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Carl Sagan
=================================================

THESOMNAMBULIST

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 3:36 PM (P)

There was the Rocketman serials during the 40's

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/r/rocketmn.htm

http://dialbforblog.com/archives/122/

I used to love watching this show when they aired it during the school summer holidays.

The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

ORPHEUS

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 3:51 PM (P)

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned THX-1138 or Star Trek IV yet. Call me crazy, but I thought Voyage Home was worlds better than Wrath of Khan.
_____________________

"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

TIENSHAODUH

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 4:44 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Orpheus:
I'm surprised nobody's mentioned THX-1138 or Star Trek IV yet. Call me crazy, but I thought Voyage Home was worlds better than Wrath of Khan.
_____________________

"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

To be quite honest I thought that THX-1138 was not that great a film. It was interesting and all but its not a film i would want to see over and over again.
Also Star Trek IV was perhaps the worst of the TOS Trek movies, it was boring and about whales. WTF?!!
What was the point of the whale probe. I did not like that film, it was more of a parody than anything else.

TS

=================================================
"God has a plan for you, Gaius. He has a plan for everything and everyone." Number Six '33'
=================================================
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Carl Sagan
=================================================

ORPHEUS

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 5:29 PM (P)

Quote:
Also Star Trek IV was perhaps the worst of the TOS Trek movies

I'll give you THX. I thought it was alright, but I know some people who think it's a complete work of genius. Just bringing it up.

Far as Star Trek IV goes, I've never been a Star Trek fan anyway, so the films I have seen have been objective viewings. Wrath of Khan was a good film and all, but story-wise, it didn't do anything for me. It was just one long space battle. And given how the effects have dated, it's turned into one long, dull space battle.

But Voyage Home actually tried to tell a story that wasn't about big space battles and aliens. I appreciated it for trying to be a parable on the environment. In tone, it's the closest to Firefly that any of the Star Trek films ever got.

But as far as absolute worst goes, Final Frontier was pretty awful.
__________________

"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

CAIUS

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 6:23 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Orpheus:
I'm surprised nobody's mentioned THX-1138 or Star Trek IV yet. Call me crazy, but I thought Voyage Home was worlds better than Wrath of Khan.
_____________________

"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

Ok, you are crazy. ST IV had serious continuity issues.

-Caius

ORPHEUS

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 6:24 PM (P)

Ok. Like I said, I'm not a Star Trek fan. So continuity really isn't my problem.

"Were there monkeys? Some terrifying space monkeys maybe got loose?"

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 6:29 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Orpheus:
Call me crazy, but I thought Voyage Home was worlds better than Wrath of Khan.
_

You're crazy.

Star Trek TMP, and ST VI were both better than Voyage Home.
IMnot-soHO.

Chrisisall, master of tne Vulcan Death-Grip

REGINAROADIE

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 6:42 PM (P)

I think when it came to Final Frontier, I thought it had a great idea and premise to it, but because of numerous problems that stretched from pre to post production, Shatner never was able to attain what he set out to do.

As for the Start Trek films, My fave was always THE MOTION PICTURE and THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. MOTION PICTURE, because it was the first bit of classic STAR TREK I actually watched, and it served as a good primer for my introduction to the franchise. And while 2 onward were just Star Wars knock-offs (albeit very good ones), THE MOTION PICTURE had more in common with the likes of 2001. The same themes that were in 2001 was also in TMP, which made the movie much richer and grander. It's interesting to note that TMP was the only TREK film that had any creative input by Roddenberry himself. Afterwards, it was Harve Bennet who was the creative force behind the film. UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY was the one sequel that was the closest to being great sci-fi, since it was a political thriller that served as an allegory for the fall of Communist Russia and the end of the Cold War.

THE ISLAND I found to be an intersting contradiction. Michael Bay is one of those critically reviled filmmakers, and for good reason. The only good flick of his is THE ROCK, which I actually own. THE ISLAND I thought was his first real good movie since THE ROCK, and yet it tanked and I think seriously damaged his career. So while I'm glad that the talentless hack might be out of work, I kinda sucks that the movie that ruined him was his first good flick in a long time.

Oddly enough, one of his previous flicks, ARMAGEDDON, ties into my choice for one of the best sci-fi flick of the 90's, LAST NIGHT. For those of you who havn't heard of this film, LAST NIGHT is sort of a Canadian anithesis of ARMAGEDDON, directed by Don McKellar, a guy I actually met this year. It has him, Sarah Polley, a pre-SIDEWAYS/GREY'S ANATOMY Sandra Oh, Callum Keith Rennie and a cool cameo by David Cronenberg.

It takes place from 6PM to Midnight of the last day of human existence. At midnight, the world is going to end, and there's not a single thing anyone can do about it. And the movie follows these different people through Toronto as they live out the last few hours of their lives. Don plays Patrick, this loner who wants to spend his last night alone, but is kept being interrupted by different people. Like he has to go to this Xmas dinner put on by his family and he ends up helping this one woman, played by Oh, who's trying to get across town to her husband to fulfill a double suicide pact. Cronenberg is the president of a gas company who coldcalls all the people in the roster, telling them that "The gas will remain on until the very end." And Keith Rennie is a friend of Patrick's whose determined to fulfill as many sexual fantasies as possible.

If this sounds like something you wouldn't want to see, I insist you watch it, because it's funny in an acerbic kind of way, it's a highly unconventional take on the "end of the world" movie, and it's very touching.

This one idiot at DVDVerdict.com complains that the film has a defeatist POV, that people wouldn't give up that easily in the face of obliteration and that this movie is bull. Well, I think ARMAGEDDON is bull and that LAST NIGHT is infinitly better. I read this thing explaining why LAST NIGHT is better than ARMAGEDDON for one simple reason.

ARMAGEDDON is about the denial of death. The extinction of the human race is inevitable. It may not be this millennia or the next one, or the next. But it will happen eventually. And ARMAGEDDON is this massive unhealthy denial of death. By saying "All we have to do to insure the survival of the human race is to send up Willis, Affleck, Buscemi and a bunch of other guys," the Americans are fostering this denial of death and spreading the lie that we can go on forever. But LAST NIGHT, on the other hand, says that "We will one day all perish." And that by confronting your mortality and the things in your life that you're afraid of o

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 6:51 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by reginaroadie:

As for the Start Trek films, My fave was always THE MOTION PICTURE and THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. THE MOTION PICTURE had more in common with the likes of 2001. UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY was the one sequel that was the closest to being great sci-fi, since it was a political thriller that served as an allegory for the fall of Communist Russia and the end of the Cold War.

We're on the same page, they're my two faves, and in that order, for those reasons.

I will check out both The Island, and Last Night.

Chrisisall, a carbon unit

DAISYCUTTER

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 11:28 PM (P)

50's-QUATERMASS (Underated) http://members.aol.com/cinemabritain/quatermass.html. The 2nd or 3rd episodes where better
60'S-2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
70'S-ALIEN
80'S-BACK TO THE FUTURE
90'S-CONTACT
00's-SERENTIY (Better acting than the Garbage from Star Wars universe)

Anyone who mentions Shakespeare will get a .50 in their ass

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 11:51 PM (P)

I liked Star Trek IV. I thought it was very well done. It is true that it was somewhat of a parody, but after many successful years of movie and TV runs, Star Trek earned it.

I like the Final Frontier also, but it had a lot of problems. Though, the biggest problem was not Shatner’s fault. Industrial Light and Magic which had done the special effects for Star Trek II, III, and IV was not available for Star Trek V, and as such the special effects were seriously lacking, which made the movie look almost amateurish.

Armageddon was somewhat of a parody also. I wouldn’t rate it as among the better sci fi movies, but there are worse. I preferred Deep Impact as a story of meteor catastrophism though. It was little more realistic and intelligent.

-------------
Qui desiderat pacem praeparet bellum.

CHRISISALL

Thursday, December 1, 2005 5:31 PM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
I liked Star Trek IV. I thought it was very well done. It is true that it was somewhat of a parody, but after many successful years of movie and TV runs, Star Trek earned it.

Okay, agreed. It was their 'comedic' movie, akin to A Piece Of The Action.

Have you seen the 'fixed up' version of The Motion Picture? I really think Robert Wise took a very good movie and turned it into one of the best sci-fi movies of all time with some tightening and minor FX additions. I'd put it up there with (albeit, not above) Blade Runner, Day The Earth Stood Still (Huh. Same director...), Forbidden Planet, and, of course, Serenity.

"What does God want with a starship?"
...sounds like he did a little too much LDS in the sixties.

Live long and prosper Chrisisall

THESOMNAMBULIST

Thursday, December 1, 2005 5:35 PM (P)

Hmmm talking of Robert Wise, Chris have you seen The Andromeda Strain a very cerebral and tightly wound film. Edgey stuff indeed. 70's I think?

Worth a look for purveyors of intelligent Sci-fi...

The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

CHRISISALL

Thursday, December 1, 2005 5:40 PM (P)

Some might think it a slow-paced film, but it goes by in a flash for me, it's definitly GREAT sci-fi, and a detective story of sorts as well.

Chrisisall, seeing a red light flashing..uh-oh!
*sitting, staring at his computer screen*

TIENSHAODUH

Thursday, December 1, 2005 8:08 PM (P)

This may sound quite random, but still on the subject of SF. Does Doctor Who have a big following in the States? Just wondering.

TS

=================================================
"God has a plan for you, Gaius. He has a plan for everything and everyone." Number Six '33'
=================================================
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Carl Sagan
=================================================
"Another dimension, new galaxy. Intergalactic, planetary." Beastie Boys

HAIDON

Thursday, December 1, 2005 8:20 PM (P)

70's- Star Wars Ep IV: A New Hope
80's- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
90's- The Fifth Element
00's- Serenity

There are some serious Dr. Who fans about in the states, but it's not a widespread, nor highly visible community. I personally can't sit through a single episode. Red Dwarf, on the other hand, I could watch all day long.

---------------------------------------------

All beware the gosling juggler!

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Friday, December 2, 2005 3:50 AM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Have you seen the 'fixed up' version of The Motion Picture? I really think Robert Wise took a very good movie and turned it into one of the best sci-fi movies of all time with some tightening and minor FX additions. I'd put it up there with (albeit, not above) Blade Runner, Day The Earth Stood Still (Huh. Same director...), Forbidden Planet, and, of course, Serenity.

I haven’t seen it; I didn’t really know there was anything to be fixed up.

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
Hmmm talking of Robert Wise, Chris have you seen The Andromeda Strain a very cerebral and tightly wound film. Edgey stuff indeed. 70's I think?

Worth a look for purveyors of intelligent Sci-fi...

Classic Science fiction from the 70s and a movie based on a Michael Crichton book. Some day people will look back at Crichton and speak of him with the same stature of Asimov and Clarke. He is one of the genius’ of science fiction.

Quote:
Originally posted by Tienshaoduh:
This may sound quite random, but still on the subject of SF. Does Doctor Who have a big following in the States? Just wondering.

No. You’d be hard-pressed to find it on TV anywhere. I think during the 70s it may have developed a little bit of popularity, but it was probably short lived. I remember it being on TV, either before or after the Land of the Lost, but I never watched it, and I didn’t know anyone who did.

-------------
Qui desiderat pacem praeparet bellum.

CHRISISALL

Friday, December 2, 2005 3:58 AM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
I haven’t seen it; I didn’t really know there was anything to be fixed up.[Re; Star Trek the Motion Picture]
Some day people will look back at Crichton and speak of him with the same stature of Asimov and Clarke. He is one of the genius’ of science fiction.

I agree with you about Crichton. Did you see Westworld (I figger ya must have...)? Quite an achievement for a first film.

And dude, you must see Wise's fine tuning of STTMP! Don't rent it- BUY it! It's really better now. Wise was a genius. A lot of little tiny adjustments go a long way.

Chrisisall, attainer of Kohlenar
(but still can't spell it)

CAIUS

Friday, December 2, 2005 4:09 AM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Tienshaoduh:
This may sound quite random, but still on the subject of SF. Does Doctor Who have a big following in the States? Just wondering.

TS

Dr Who has a small but loyal following. It has always run on PBS, in rather lousy time slots. PBS is a government and private donation funded network that interupts shows periodically to beg for money. When I lived in norther California the Sacramento area Dr Who fan club always did the pledge breaks on the local PBS channel.

We have not seen any of the new episodes broadcast yet.

-Caius

REGINAROADIE

Friday, December 2, 2005 4:18 AM (P)

Which DR. WHO's are we talking about?

I've only seen one episode of the Tom Baker DR. WHO's (Pyramids of Mars) and saw that despite it being low budget and cheesy as hell, it did have a few things in it that gave it its distinction.

But the brand new DR. WHO with Chris Eccleson in it I think is the best new sci-fi show since FIREFLY. Great sense of humor, really fast pace and wit, and has some true pathos and scariness to it.

At first, I didn't think the Daleks were a really scary alien being. But after seeing them in the new series, I'm inclined to think they're the most kick ass evil alien species in sci-fi. I actually get in heated debates with my ex over whether or not a Predator can kick a Dalek's ass.

I can't wait for the Xmas special on Boxing day on CBC (score one for the Canucks. You Yanks have to wait for the show to be on dvd before you can watch some new WHO without having to download it while we got it first run the same time as the Brits), and for the new season to start up.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"YES!!!I'm a man posessed by many demons....Polite demons that would open the door for a lady carrying too many parcels...BUT DEMONS NONETHELESS!!!! Yes. I have walked along the path of evil many times, it's a twisting, curving path that..actually leads to a charming plot garden, BUT BEYOND THAT EVIL!!!"

CHRONICTHEHEDGEHOG

Friday, December 2, 2005 5:17 AM (P)

50s - Can't think of one right now
60s - 2001: A Space Oddysey
70s - Star Wars
80s - Aliens
90s - Terminator 2
00s - Tough to choose between Serenity and Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Saturday, December 3, 2005 3:02 AM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
I agree with you about Crichton. Did you see Westworld (I figger ya must have...)? Quite an achievement for a first film.

And dude, you must see Wise's fine tuning of STTMP! Don't rent it- BUY it! It's really better now. Wise was a genius. A lot of little tiny adjustments go a long way.

Westworld was the movie that made me love Yul Brynner. Some girl at work, an intern I think, asked me why I shaved my head. I told her I was hoping to someday become a gun-slinging robot. She just looked at me with a blank expression. But interns do that a lot anyway, so I’m not sure if she understood the allusion or not.

I was planning on buy I, Robot this month, maybe I’ll get the new Star Trek instead. I guess it depends on what they’ve got on the shelf.

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Qui desiderat pacem praeparet bellum.

LIMINALOSITY

Saturday, December 3, 2005 8:30 AM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by Haidon:

I absconded with your juggler, mister. Sent it to Haken, passed it around some, gave you the cred. Thanks a bunch!
*edit to add* will blog with other emoti-cuties, and instructions for luddites like me*

round 2, runners up!

50's The Incredible Shrinking Man was one of my first mindbending experiences.
60's Dr Strangelove, ok, maybe only a veiled SF reference at the time, but it gets weirder every year.
70's Alien
80's Brazil
90's The Fifth Element
00's 28 Days Later

Shiny Trees! Yavanna made Shiny Trees!