What is the most beautiful sci-fi movie you have on DVD?

POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Saturday, March 28, 2026 22:16
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CHRISISALL

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 10:19 PM

What movie do you have on dvd that simply blows you away every time you pop it in because the transfer is fantastic, and it captures or surpasses the theatrical experience?
Three come to mind for me:
Superman: The Movie
Raiders Of The Lost Arc
Legend: the Directors cut
All three take my breath away every time! Amazing cinematography brought out by outstanding digital technology!

What are your favourites?

Chrisisall, A.S.C.

FIREFLYWILDCARD1

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 11:50 PM

Don't know if you meant transfers from movie reel to DVD or VHS to DVD, but here are my choices:

(more Fantasy than sci-fi but whatever):
Lord of the Rings Extended Editions

Frequency

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 12:38 AM

'Transfer' refers to the process of taking a movie and making a copy of it to another medium, in this case film (or digitally shot material) to dvd.
LOTR is definitly beautiful, all right. When I think LOTR, I think rich, deep greens.

Colourful Chrisisall

OPUS

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 1:00 AM

I don't think any film matches or surpasses the theater experience, regardless of the quality of the transfer.
For me nothing beats being in a big darkened theater, smell of popcorn, big screen, big sound. From buying my ticket to going to the concession stand, can't even explain it. It's been like that since I was a kid.
Now films that still look good on the small screen..Bladerunner, Fifth Element just off the top of my head. Anything Ridley Scott does always looks incredible.
Two other beautiful films, but not sci-fi, Crouching Tiger and The English Patient.
How about this?
Wide screen or full screen?
Virtually everything I own is letterboxed if I can get it.

Opus

"From the depth of your imagination comes the world in which you live."

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 1:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Opus:
How about this?
Wide screen or full screen?
Virtually everything I own is letterboxed if I can get it.

The theatre experience as a whole cannot be beat. I just meant to target the visual portion (detail, if you will), and Blade Runner needs a new transfer.
I own Fifth Element (superbit), and it is amazing.
And I always pick widescreen except in one instance. I, Robot, a great looking film, but everyone's so small in the widescreen I actually bought the fullscreen! It has a high bit rate, so detail isn't sacrificed.

Tech-geek Chrisisall

OPUS

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 1:34 AM

The two most beautiful films I own are non-sci-fi, although one is fantasy.
Crouching Tiger, colors are staggering throughout, holds up even on the small screen. The fight in the trees towards the end, all that pure, lush green, incredible.
English patient, once again, a lushness that holds up after transfer, mostly muted colors but some scenes are staged liked paintings.
I can't say I've come across anything I'd call a low quality transfer, although with Bladerunner some of the effects work is more visible on the small screen,(matte work and such), but it may just be my own tv settings.

Opus

"Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch' intrate"

REGINAROADIE

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 3:00 AM

Of the sci-fi titles I have (which surprisingly is not many), the one sci-fi DVD that always gets me is CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. You see them making contact and it just takes the breath away. And on a little side note, my fave non-alien scene in the movie is when Roy begins to take apart all that he's put together, he takes off a chunk of the mound he's made, he sees that it looks like Devil's Tower, and inspiration strikes. And what makes it more sublime is that in the background on the tv, "Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century" is playing, and Daffy's lines serve a an internal monologue for Roy. And then seeing him tear up the yard and the neighbors yard and the garden and start throwing stuff into the kitchen window is just so damn funny.

One other title I have is 2001: A Space Odyssey. I was lucky enough to see it in the theatre, and it's so much better seeing it on the big screen. Now I just have LAWRENCE OF ARABIA to gosee on the big screen.

As for non-sci-fi transfers, the recent 4 disc GONE WITH THE WIND dvd is one of the most incredible restorations I've ever seen. A 65 year old movie, and it looks like it was shot yesterday. That's how good it was.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And wow! Hey! What's this thing suddenly coming towards me very fast? Very very fast. So big and flat and round, it needs a big wide sounding name like ... ow ... ound ... round ... ground! That's it! That's a good name - ground! I wonder if it will be friends with me?

SERGEANTX

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 3:08 AM

I only own three sci-fi movies on DVD, but they all happen to be extremely beautiful movies.

2001: A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner, and The Truman Show

Re-reading the original question - ie specifying a movie that looks great on DVD, I'd have to go with Blade Runner - Director's Cut. The cinematography, the music. The 'human' drama.... Blown away is exactly the right term.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 1:46 PM

SergeantX, since Blade Runner is my favourite film, I'm a little harsh on the transfer. It was one of the first ten or so titles to be put on dvd back in the nineties, so while it's okay, the new one coming out (any year, now) will show you what you've been missing.
I saw BR in the theatre at least ten times back in '82, and I've never seen a more beautifully photographed movie, maybe Clockwork Orange or Days of Heaven are equals.

On a non-sci-fi note, Die Hard 2 is one of the best transfer jobs I've ever seen. It looks WAY better than a movie like that ever needed to, makes 1 and 3 seem dark and fuzzy lookin' by comparison (and they're darn good transfers themselves).

How can the same thing happen to the same guy twice Chrisisall

FRAY101

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 1:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:
Originally posted by Opus:
How about this?
Wide screen or full screen?
Virtually everything I own is letterboxed if I can get it.

The theatre experience as a whole cannot be beat. I just meant to target the visual portion (detail, if you will), and Blade Runner needs a new transfer.
I own Fifth Element (superbit), and it is amazing.
And I always pick widescreen except in one instance. I, Robot, a great looking film, but everyone's so small in the widescreen I actually bought the fullscreen! It has a high bit rate, so detail isn't sacrificed.

Tech-geek Chrisisall

Have to agree with your choice of Fifth Element - it's damned shiny! Starship Troopers always impressed me too.

Ooh, and speaking of shiny - was blown away by C3P0's first appearance in Star Wars!

_____________________________________
"Why would I want to leave Serenity?"
"Can't think of a reason."

Over 100 Serenity screencaps now available at www.destinything.com (yep, bought me a proper name!)

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 2:02 PM

On the Star Trek side of things, The Motion Picture comes very close to blowing me away, it's just a little soft-looking. I understand that they did the best that they could with the source material they had, and it certainly is a great looking dvd,however, it still is my favourite(and best lookin') Trek.

Live long and digitize Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 2:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fray101:

Ooh, and speaking of shiny - was blown away by C3P0's first appearance in Star Wars!

I was wonderin' when someone would mention SW.
Yeah, they sure did clean them prints up some, didn't they?
And at the end of SW C3PO and R2D2 are so shiny I have to squint!

We're doomed Chrisisall

BADGERSHAT

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 2:11 PM

Ever since I took a video editing course in college, I can never again purchase a full screen copy of anything.

Depending on the aspect ratio the movie was shot in, you lose up to like 54% of the screen image! Horrifying!!

Basically, it's wide screen or not at all for me.

--Jefé The Hat

***************************
--Don't bother trying to predict, figure out, second guess, criticize, or suggest anything that comes from the mind of Joss Whedon, for you shall usually be wrong, and shall find out the Truth and Purpose in due time.
(This is the Truth of Whedoning)

"I like smackin 'em"--Jayne

EMBERS

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 2:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
What are your favourites?

well, I'm trying to avoid collecting huge numbers of DVDs,
so I only have one sci-fi movie on DVD:
Galaxy Quest
(part of my Alan Rickman collection)
but I defend it, it is funny and amazing well done.
It is both a spoof on and an homage to the sci-fi fans.

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 2:26 PM

...And an extremly good lookin' transfer.

Rickman stole that film Chrisisall

SERGEANTX

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 2:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
SergeantX, since Blade Runner is my favourite film, I'm a little harsh on the transfer. It was one of the first ten or so titles to be put on dvd back in the nineties, so while it's okay, the new one coming out (any year, now) will show you what you've been missing....

Can't wait to see it! I suppose part of the problem is that I watch all my DVD's on my aging 17" computer monitor anyway. Perhaps that disqualifies me from this particular thread.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 2:47 PM

No, no, I'm just sayin' that young'uns in their thirties and earlier didn't get the chance to see Blade Runner in the theatre, so the dvd is the best look at the film y'all ever got!
Just wait 'till you get your hands on a proper dvd, is all.

Salivatin' Chrisisall

FNORDCHAN

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 3:48 PM

I've got a fair number of lovely films on DVD, SF and otherwise, but if I had to single out just one it would be Criterion's inevitably superlative release of Tarkovsky's Solaris (1972). It looks simply phenomenal and is glorious to behold, albeit a bit slow. But, that's the appeal, really, and no matter how you feel about the rest of the film the brief zero gravity scene is astonishing.

"I do have a cause, though. It's obscenity. I'm for it." - Tom Lehrer

MYSWORD

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 4:09 PM

The Fifth Element, very shiny

Later Days

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 4:20 PM

How do you compare the original Solaris to the Clooney version? I never saw the original, but I own the new one, and I think it's really good. (looks great, too)

Poe Ruskie Chrisisall

PLACIDITY

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 5:29 PM

I think mine are as follows:

1. Matrix (original, first, best)
2. LOTR (all three tied)
3. Star Wars: ESB
4. Star Wars: New Hope
5. Star Wars: ROTJ
6. Star Wars: Clone Wars
7. Star Wars: Phantom Menace

fox
firefly playa-haters

SICKDUDE

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 5:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
How do you compare the original Solaris to the Clooney version?

I liked the Clooney remake more, but I thought both of them were bad interpretations of the book. I absolutley love the book, and both seem to miss the point. Namely, the mocking of the sci-fi formula; we go to space, and find ourselves. In Solaris, they find a freakin sentient ocean, and spend a hundred years trying to even get it to notice them. When it finally does, they don't have a clue why it sent the "clones".

Love the book!

"Don't say 'ka' until you've tried it." Daniel Jackson

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 6:19 PM

So?
Why'd it 'send in the clones'?
hey...that's a line from Judge Dread....

I AM the law Chrisisall

GINNTONIC

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 7:02 PM

Here's a random one that I like:

Minority Report.

Maybe not beautiful, but great transfer.

for you, my reputation is fact.

CHANNAIN

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 7:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
What movie do you have on dvd that simply blows you away every time you pop it in because the transfer is fantastic, and it captures or surpasses the theatrical experience?
Three come to mind for me:
Superman: The Movie
Raiders Of The Lost Arc
Legend: the Directors cut
All three take my breath away every time! Amazing cinematography brought out by outstanding digital technology!

What are your favourites?

Chrisisall, A.S.C.

Anna and the King - the costuming is so rich, the exteriors so grand, I can't stand it.
Hero - I mean who knew that a Chinese martial arts movie could also be an art house film?
Buckaroo Banzai - Although that probably has more to do with the fact that my VHS version had gotten a wee bit raggedy.
Pirates of the Caribbean - Just add popcorn.

The Sony Trinitron TV doesn't hurt either.

I draw...therefore I am. http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922
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http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/

RHYMEPHILE

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 7:40 PM

When I first read the title of the thread I originally thought it meant actual *scenes* within a movie that were beautiful or blew me away. How about things you've seen on screen that were absolutely amazing? Since I don't have an opinion as to transfers, I'll stick with my original thoughts.

I've chosen from more recent films, because as a kid everything wows you

My amazing/beautiful scenes:

1. Seeing Terminator 2 in the theatre, and watching the T-1000 reform himself after getting freeze-dried and blasted by Arnold/T-100. A jaw-dropping bit of computer work that still holds up today. And I cheered at that moment because I thought the movie was over, and was ready to be disappointed that the T-1000 was defeated so easily!

2. The siege on Helm's Deep in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Both on the big screen and on the television, the scene where thousands of goblins and uruk-hai attack the castle is still one of the greatest battle scenes ever. Second to that is the Pellenor Fields battle of Return of the King, and third to that is the very first battle in Braveheart, especially the cavalry charge.

3. Seeing Gollum jump on Frodo and wrestle with him in The Two Towers. I couldn't believe how seemless that effect was, and my mind boggled at the complexity of the CG thoughout the film. I wish George Lucas would have looked at that when he made that horrible-looking Jabba the Hutt in Phantom Menace.

4. As for beautiful scenes, I think the scene where the heroes of Joss's film Titan A.E. (well, screenplay, anyway) go through the jellyfish-like creatures is wonderful. The colors in that scene and the way it was rendered made it serene and gorgeous to look at.

5. And for really recent, in Revenge of the Sith

Select to view spoiler:

I think the lightsaber battle between Obi-Wan and General Grievous was cool as hell.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I've seen life on this planet, Scully, and that's precisely why I'm looking elsewhere."

-- Fox Mulder, The X-Files

WEICHI

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 8:20 PM

The most "beautiful" film ever, in my opinion, has to be "Lawrence of Arabia"

If we limit to Sci Fi, and I have to own the DVD, I guess I am stuck with "Brazil" (Criterieon Collection, of course)

I suspect "2001" and "Silent Running" would be good choices as well, but I do not own them.

"You see how I'm not hittin him, I think I've grown"

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 8:44 PM

Passage to India, Days of Heaven, and Hero are other non-sci-fi beautiful films.

Picture perfect Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 8:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Channain:

Pirates of the Caribbean - Just add popcorn.

Yeah, but is it the movie, or Mr. Depp that you find beautiful?

21 jump Chrisisall

OPUS

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 9:24 PM

The beauty of Bladerunner, (old enough to have seen it in the theater myself) is due in equal parts to Syd Mead's design work and Douglas Trumball's, ( I think ), effects.
The model work, pre-cgi holds up 20+ years later, and the man had a way with working with light.

Opus

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 9:41 PM

Definitly, and don't forget the DP, Jordan Cronenweth (although he probably got a big assist from Scott).

With the details Chrisisall

FNORDCHAN

Thursday, May 19, 2005 2:07 PM

I'm afraid I can't compare the original Solaris to either the Clooney remake or the novel (which I've had lingering in the back of my epic to-read pile for years and years). I can say that it's relatively fast paced for Tarkovsky, which is to say that it's pretty slow by anyone else's standards. However, this is practically the film's selling point, as the characters have plenty of time to react to Solaris and each other without rushing about hitting plot point, all unfolding within Tarkovsky's gorgeous direction.

If you're a fan of the remake, go give the original a rental and let us know what you think. Meanwhile, I'll look into checking out Clooney's version of the flick; I've been curious about it for a while, but just haven't gotten around to it.

FnordChan

"I do have a cause, though. It's obscenity. I'm for it." - Tom Lehrer

PIZMOBEACH

Thursday, May 19, 2005 5:28 PM

Not trying to preach to the choir... but I was amazed at how great the Firefly DVDs look compared to film/superbit/criterion (on a Sony 60" Wega XBR - if you wanna talk specs). Sharpness, detail and color fidelity - excellant - and the 16:9 shooting ratio is also appreciated. I've seen a lot of $big movie transfers that don't look that good.

Scifi movie music 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.net

SEVEREN

Thursday, May 19, 2005 5:40 PM

The Matrix is great visually, and I have to agree with LOTR, Fifth Element, and Blade Runner. Also, Stargate was and is one of the best DVDs I've owned. It was also one of the first.

http://www.constitutionparty.com

TALLGRRL

Thursday, May 19, 2005 5:57 PM

Sci-Fi: Blade Runner
Fantasy: Lord of the Rings Trilogy

"Take me, sir. Take me hard." -- Zoe

TALLGRRL

Thursday, May 19, 2005 5:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Tallgrrl:
Sci-Fi: Blade Runner; followed closely by the Matrix Trilogy (no matter what you think, they're beautifully made).
Fantasy: Lord of the Rings Trilogy

"Take me, sir. Take me hard." -- Zoe

Sorry about the double post.
Haven't eaten breakfast and I'm a little whimsical in the brain pan.

DANFAN

Thursday, May 19, 2005 6:16 PM

Several movies have been mentioned in this thread that I would have to agree with. But one hasn't been mentioned that just screams for recognition:

The Day the Earth Stood Still
(the new 2004 release)

The restoration of the black and white is breathtaking... digitally enhanced and sharpened, stark contrast where appropriate, delicate shading where necessary. This movie was theatrically released 4 years before I was born, so I can't speak to its theatrical appearance. But I doubt if it ever looked as good in a theater in the 50's as it does on this DVD. Hence, I would say that this movie epitomizes what this thread is about.

Not to mention that it is a nuanced, character-driven story that builds tension with ideas, clever cinematography, and tight dialog rather than gunshots and explosions. And the story line is as appropriate today as it was over a half century ago. By almost any criterion, I'd say "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is one of my favorite movies of all time, in any genre.

HASUFEL

Thursday, May 19, 2005 6:18 PM

The best DVDs by far are LOTR-EE (I consider the 12 disk set as a single entity). But the most beautiful sci-fi motion picture remains 2001: A Space Odyssey. The problem is that all its beauty and detail can never be fully appreciated on a small screen. I had the priveledge of seeing it in its original release on a huge Cinerama screen, and you can be sure I did so many times. It was like floating in space.

TALLGRRL

Thursday, May 19, 2005 6:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hasufel:
The best DVDs by far are LOTR-EE (I consider the 12 disk set as a single entity). But the most beautiful sci-fi motion picture remains 2001: A Space Odyssey. The problem is that all its beauty and detail can never be fully appreciated on a small screen. I had the priveledge of seeing it in its original release on a huge Cinerama screen, and you can be sure I did so many times. It was like floating in space.

Did, by chance, you see it at the Cinerama Dome in L.A.?

"Take me, sir. Take me hard." -- Zoe

YT

Thursday, May 19, 2005 7:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Tallgrrl:
Quote:
Originally posted by Hasufel:
But the most beautiful sci-fi motion picture remains 2001: A Space Odyssey. The problem is that all its beauty and detail can never be fully appreciated on a small screen. I had the priveledge of seeing it in its original release on a huge Cinerama screen, and you can be sure I did so many times. It was like floating in space.

Did, by chance, you see it at the Cinerama Dome in L.A.?

According to its manager, the Cinerama Dome never had a cinerama screen. What it does have is a deeply dished screen. There are scenes in 2001 in which, from the middle of the front row (about as far from the center of the screen as fifth row in a typical cinema), Discovery subtends an arc of about 150 degrees.

It's like floating in space.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Stevie Ray Vaughan, "Cold Shot", from "Essential"

YT

Thursday, May 19, 2005 8:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
What movie do you have on dvd that simply blows you away every time you pop it in because the transfer is fantastic, and it captures or surpasses the theatrical experience?

Absolutely none. And I own a lot of DVDs (including 5th Element - Superbit).

Like Hasufel, I think 2001 is the most beautiful SF film. But I have no interest in it (nor Lawrence of Arabia) on DVD -- it loses too much. I do have Quest for Fire on DVD because, unlike the other two, it doesn't come back to the big screen every couple of years. It's beautiful but, at the cinema, it was breathtaking.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Stones, "Love In Vain", from "Let It Bleed"

HASUFEL

Thursday, May 19, 2005 9:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Tallgrrl:
Did, by chance, you see it at the Cinerama Dome in L.A.?

No, I'm an Arizonan. I saw it at the Kachina Cinerama in Scottsdale, AZ, which of course was torn down years ago.

DREAMREAVER

Thursday, May 19, 2005 10:45 PM

Dark City, Titan AE, The Life Aquatic, Minority Report

TALLGRRL

Friday, May 20, 2005 3:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DreamReaver:
Dark City, Titan AE, The Life Aquatic, Minority Report

Yeah, Minority Report is really beautifully filmed. I'm not a Cruise fan, but he really surprised me in this one.

"Take me, sir. Take me hard." -- Zoe

FRECKLE

Friday, May 20, 2005 5:40 PM

Farscape Peacekeeper Wars

DIETCOKE

Friday, May 20, 2005 6:33 PM

Only own one DVD and that's....you guessed it, Firefly! And the only other one I will ever own is Serenity. Well maybe Serenity II and III if there are sequels.

CHRISISALL

Friday, May 20, 2005 7:50 PM

Titan AE is cool! I own it, too.
And for all my moaning on another thread, I got Terminator 2 Extreme edition, and I have to say, it's the most amazing transfer I have ever seen, better than Fifth Element Superbit, and that's sayin' a LOT!

Hasta la vista, baby Chrisisall

ZOIC

Saturday, May 21, 2005 12:18 PM

In terms of picture quality it is hard to go past Super-Bit.

PENGUINRTR

Saturday, May 21, 2005 1:54 PM

Gattaca

CLJOHNSTON108

Sunday, May 22, 2005 12:55 PM

From a purely visual standpoint...

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

Screencaps
http://movies.galaraf.net/FinalFantasy/ffantasy.htm

A Positive Review!
http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/2001/FinalFantasy.html

For me, the mechanical design work alone is worth the price of the DVD!!

My other faves (cinematography-wise):

The Abyss: Special Edition

Bicentennial Man

Chronicles of Riddick

Contact

Equilibrium

Red Planet

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

The Thirteenth Floor

THX 1138

As for non-Sci-Fi, Steve McQueen's Le Mans (1971) impresses me even MORE than it did when I saw it in theatres at the tender age of 8!
The cinematography is literally spellbinding!!

Rushmore is just an all-around beautiful film!

ROBINHOOD

Sunday, May 22, 2005 1:50 PM

I'd like to mention a little known film from 1983, it's so little known in fact, it still isn't on DVD as yet. It's called The Keep, directed by Michael Mann.
Set during the second world war, a small squad of nazis are sent to a tiny mountain village to guard a strange 500 year old castle in the Transylvanian Alps. The caretaker guards the Keep, as did his father and his grandfather and his father before him for generations.
On night watch some german soldiers there discover the gold and nickel crosses embedded in the sides of the Keep and on removing them, release a thing of evil.
Most people either love or hate this film. The photography and effects are often breathtaking, as is the soundtrack by Tangerine Dream. Easily their best soundtrack by 'far'. The whole film tends to have a very dream-like feel to it.
I only have it on taped VHS, there are some cheap 2nd hand originals on Amazon however.

Yep..........................that went well!

CHRISISALL

Sunday, May 22, 2005 3:29 PM

Ah, Le Mans, best racing movie ever. Real life Speed Racer.

Go Steve Racer Chrisisall

YT

Monday, May 23, 2005 9:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by robinhood:
I'd like to mention a little known film from 1983, it's so little known in fact, it still isn't on DVD as yet. It's called The Keep, directed by Michael Mann.

Was Scott Glenn the star? First movie he did after the Right Stuff?

Yup, checked it on IMDB. I remember liking him in it. I didn't know Jurgen Prochnow, Gabriel Byrne, nor Ian McKellen then, and don't remember what I thought of their performances.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Gov't Mule, "Lola Leave Your Light On", from "Deja Voodoo"

YT

Monday, May 23, 2005 9:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Le Mans, best racing movie ever.

Until year afore last. Check out Faster.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Phish, "Scents & Subtle Sounds", from "Undermind"

KINGPAUSE

Monday, May 23, 2005 7:05 PM

Oops, I posted in the wrong thread. Is there a way to delete posts on this thing?

SICKDUDE

Monday, May 23, 2005 10:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by robinhood:
The photography and effects are often breathtaking, as is the soundtrack by Tangerine Dream. Easily their best soundtrack by 'far'.

Really? 'Cause I always liked the soundtrack to Firestarter. Would you say this one's better?

"Don't say 'ka' until you've tried it." Daniel Jackson

ROBINHOOD

Monday, May 23, 2005 11:42 PM

Quote:
Really? 'Cause I always liked the soundtrack to Firestarter. Would you say this one's better?

I haven't seen Firestarter for a very long time, so I couldn't really say, maybe you're right though. I should really have said their best soundtrack that I've heard by 'far'. 'The Keep' soundtrack is just that. It's both powerful and unsettling. It includes a version of the Walking in the Air from the children's film The Snowman.

In responce to YT, Ian Macellan was relatively well known in the UK at the time as I remember. Going back a long time. He received an award some years earlier for portraying a mentally disabled man. I thought his performance in the keep was very good. He was cured of his illness but also deceived by the evil force. Byrne played the vicious Nazi commander in a slightly camp manner, and Jürgen Prochnow was good as the sympathetic german officer.

Yep..........................that went well!

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 9:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sickdude:
I always liked the soundtrack to Firestarter.

Legend and Firestarter are my 2 favourite TD sountracks!
Aside: Remember in X-2 when Pyro goes postal on the cops? I was sittin' there goin' to myself " Charlie would vaporize that little punk!".Ha ha ha

Too hot Chrisisall

SPACECOWGIRL

Monday, June 20, 2005 2:11 PM

Titan A.E. --Bought it cuz of Joss Whedon's involvement and was blown away by the gorgeous animation.

CHRISISALL

Monday, June 20, 2005 3:14 PM

Yeah, I own it. Titan:AE does rock! And one cannot miss the similarities to Firefly. Joss obviously had FF in mind for some time.
If you like animation, have you seen Fire And Ice? It's due out any month now on dvd.

Bakshifan Chrisisall

DA

Monday, June 20, 2005 4:45 PM

For me?

I-Robot
All Indiana Jones
Underworld (but it's very hard to make Kate B look ugly especially with fireblue eyes and latex.)

-----------------------------------------
This is another sign of your tragic space dementia - all paranoid and crotchety. Breaks the heart.

BLINKER

Monday, June 20, 2005 5:12 PM

Ask me again next year.

_________
Sliders: Gate Haven - http://slidersweb.net/blinker

SPQR

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 7:26 AM

My fav Sci-FI Movies DVDs'
Battlestar Galactica (about a 3 hour mini series)
Star Trek: First Contact
2001
StarWars 4,5&6 (have the others, but there Not beautiful)
The Matrix 1-3(not the best, but some good fight seens to watch)
GalaxyQuest (one of the few films ever made that will put a smile on my face)

but I have close to 300 dvd's to pick from (mostly sci-fi tv shows), but it all ends up that only a few I watch over & over .....(moives I am talking about, only for this, my tv shows are an other thing).

CAITLYN

Friday, June 24, 2005 4:48 AM

Definitely "Solaris", the remake with George Clooney. It's visually stunning. While it isn't as true to the details of the book as the original film I think it is truer to the spirit of Lem's work. It really gets you thinking about the nature of life, death, what it means to be human, and what it means to love.

"Oh, sweetie, don't feel bad. He makes everybody cry. He's like a monster."

CAITLYN

Friday, June 24, 2005 4:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by robinhood:
I'd like to mention a little known film from 1983, it's so little known in fact, it still isn't on DVD as yet. It's called The Keep, directed by Michael Mann.

[snip]

The photography and effects are often breathtaking, as is the soundtrack by Tangerine Dream. Easily their best soundtrack by 'far'.

I can't agree. I'd put the soundtrack of Wavelength easily ahead of it. The movie was cheesy but the music was outstanding. Other TD soundtracks I'd list ahead of it would be Das Madchem auf der Treppes and Sorcerer.

"The girl really knows her ships."

CLJOHNSTON108

Wednesday, November 15, 2006 3:15 PM

Sorry for the necro-post, but I picked this up not too long ago...

http://www.amazon.com/Final-Countdown-2-Disc-Limited-Special/dp/B00019
GHQ6/sr=8-2/qid=1163603966/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/102-1007820-8433768?ie=UTF8&s=dvd
http://www.blue-underground.com/movie.php?movie_id=50

I never got to see it in the theaters, only on cable, so this was my first time seeing it widescreen.

Oh. My. GAWD!

It's now the pride & joy of my DVD collection!

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

Wednesday, November 15, 2006 3:27 PM

Vanilla Sky-
gorgeously photographed, great looking people, pretty good performances, mind-stretching to watch

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, November 15, 2006 9:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108:
Sorry for the necro-post, but I picked this up not too long ago...

Oh. My. GAWD!

It's now the pride & joy of my DVD collection!

Is it really that good? I have no memory of it, I know I MUST have rented it when it came out....

Always on the lookout Chrisisall

DAYVE

Wednesday, November 15, 2006 9:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SergeantX:
....I'd have to go with Blade Runner - Director's Cut.

I’m a little late to this thread, but gotta say that Blade Runner is my favorite sci-fi film - although I actually like the original - with the narration….gumshoes in the future, my kind of movie.

Another film that I really like is Natural City – an odd Korean sci-fi that is mostly cgi… it’s pretty dark, but very stunning. Since I didn’t see it in a theater, I can only base my opinion from the dvd – it is really worth checking out.

CLJOHNSTON108

Thursday, November 16, 2006 2:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Is it really that good? I have no memory of it, I know I MUST have rented it when it came out....

Always on the lookout Chrisisall

Well, certainly not in the same class as Blade Runner, but if you're like me, and you love Naval Aviation...

Kirk Douglas' son, Peter, produced it, and he managed to get FULL cooperation from the U.S. Navy.

They show you just about EVERY square inch of the U.S.S. Nimitz, and ALL facets of flight operations!

http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/finalcountdown.php
http://www.hometheaterinfo.com/final_countdown.htm
http://home.hiwaay.net/~tfharris/pulpculture/columns/040401.shtml
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=9839
http://filmfreakcentral.net/dvdreviews/finalcountdown.htm

What I really love about seeing this movie in Widescreen, with a scratch-free, color-corrected image (Blue Underground brought in the original DP to supervise!), is that now the in-cockpit shots, especially that first landing and the re-fueling scene, look more like those great photos by Charles J. "Heater" Heatley III in his book, "The Cutting Edge"...
http://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Edge-J-Heatley-III/dp/9999056032/sr=1-2/
qid=1158145729/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-6400769-5768659?ie=UTF8&s=books

http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/grumman/f-14_tomcat/f-14a/page_01.ht
m

(Just wish I knew how to take screencaps from my DVD!

)

Also, the interviews with the pilots of the Jolly Rogers was almost worth the price of the DVD!

PIRATECAT

Thursday, November 16, 2006 3:15 PM

Its shiny, Bladerunner. I have got a new one called Natural City. A Korean film made to be a modern BR but the special effects are good. Cyber Wars is good on special effects but then I am king of the B movies.

He luvs to stand at the door and say BOO!

CHRISISALL

Thursday, November 16, 2006 3:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dayve:

I’m a little late to this thread, but gotta say that Blade Runner is my favorite sci-fi film - although I actually like the original - with the narration….gumshoes in the future, my kind of movie.

*Quivers with antici.....pation*
The narrated version will be in the Blade Runner: Final Cut edition in 2007.
My life will be almost complete then.

Little people Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Thursday, November 16, 2006 3:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108:

Well, certainly not in the same class as Blade Runner, but if you're like me, and you love Naval Aviation...

Now I have to ask for that AND Airwolf season two for X-Mass!
Thanks, Cljohnston.

Supersonic Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Thursday, November 16, 2006 3:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dayve:

Another film that I really like is Natural City – an odd Korean sci-fi that is mostly cgi… it’s pretty dark, but very stunning. Since I didn’t see it in a theater, I can only base my opinion from the dvd – it is really worth checking out.

Two votes for it...I looked it up, sounds cool. I will keep my sensors activated for it, if I can't rent it, I'll get it.
Thanks for the reccomendation, my peeps.

Dystopian Chrisisall

REGINAROADIE

Thursday, November 16, 2006 3:32 PM

Just as an update, after crunch time for me at school, I'm going to get the 2 disc editions of both SUPERMAN RETURNS and FORBIDDEN PLANET. The former is probably the most gorgeous digital film I've seen so far, and the latter I can't wait to see the restoration done to that.

**************************************************
"We have five million Cybermen. How many are you?"
"Four"
You would destroy the Cybermen with four Daleks?"
"We would destroy the Cybermen with ONE Dalek. You are superior in only one respect."
"What is that?"
"You are better at dying."

Trash talk between a Cyberman and a Dalek. It doesn't get any better than that.

MSG

Thursday, November 16, 2006 3:35 PM

Duh...Serenity:)

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."- Albright

CHRISISALL

Thursday, November 16, 2006 3:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by msg:
Duh...Serenity:)

Well, Serenity is my FAVOURITE film of all time, but honestly, it can't compare visually with Blade Runner or Superman.
Is it just me, or is the transfer kinda grainy? I thought Firefly was an outstanding presentation; Serenity was not so shiny in that regard...
Maybe Joss was goin' for the documentary feel, huh?

Resolution fixated Chrisisall

DAYVE

Thursday, November 16, 2006 10:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by reginaroadie:
FORBIDDEN PLANET........ and the latter I can't wait to see the restoration done to that.

Speaking of Forbidden Planet, can you tell me the link between that movie and Serenity?....

(well here it is anyway)

Select to view spoiler:

Two wrecked ships are shown with the registration numbers C57D, a reference to Forbidden Planet (1956). Jayne points out the first one as they explore. The second is the rescue ship, the source of the beacon. Writer/Director Joss Whedon says in the DVD commentary that the name of the world, Miranda, was taken from William Shakespeare's The Tempest, where it is the name of a character who says, "Brave new world that has such people in it." Forbidden Planet was loosely based on The Tempest.

...or am i the last one to know this stuff?...(again)

THESOMNAMBULIST

Thursday, November 16, 2006 10:38 PM

TRON - simply beautiful to look at.

www.cirqus.com

LWAVES

Monday, November 20, 2006 11:16 PM

Not necessarily sci-fi but:

I would say Hero is more beautiful than Crouching Tiger.

Blade Runner is a cert. Same as the Indy movies.
Jurassic Park always looks good.
T2 as well.

Any Pixar film looks great, and add Wallace and Gromit to that too.

LOTR of course.

All films have to be seen widescreen. I can't stand it when people stretch a 2.35:1 (or thereabouts) image on a widescreen tv just so they don't get the black bars at the bottom. Urgh!!!
The only non-wide stuff I currently own is if it's physically not available in wide.

BABYWITHTHEPOWER

Tuesday, November 21, 2006 6:09 AM

Most people haven't seen either of these, but I'd have to go with:

Appleseed (2004) It was so much better than it's 1988 counterpart, in both visuals and story. It rocked in the theater but is great in high def in my home on my big screen.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005). Stunning visuals, compelling story, fantastic character developement. And there's something about watching it in English in my home as opposed to subtitled in the theater.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be in my bunk.
http://www.myspace.com/babywiththepower
http://members17.clubphoto.com/michael809717/guest-1.phtml

TRAVELER

Wednesday, November 22, 2006 3:00 AM

Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan

When Khan surprizes the Enterprize and blasts the ship with phasers and then good old Admiral Kirk pulls a card out of his deck of tricks and blasts him back. It still looks good on the small screen. But it has been so long since I saw it on the big screen that it is impossible to compare anymore. But this movie always reminds me of the James T. of the original show. They shuold have stopped making any others after this one. So you see I biased.

Traveler

NAUGHTYMAN

Thursday, November 23, 2006 3:13 AM

Blade Runner & The Cell are my picks today.

"Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'!"

DAYVE

Saturday, April 21, 2007 3:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
What movie do you have on dvd that simply blows you away....

I had to dig up this old thread to tell you about this movie....

based on the works of French artist Enki Bilal, some of which appeared in the Heavy Metal magazines of the 80's and early 90's....

the thread i started here:
http://www.fireflyfan.net/thread.asp?b=8&t=28265
was pretty much ignored - i don't know if this is something people are unfamiliar with or they just didn't like in the first place, but it is a beautiful film - if you are a fan of bleak, dystopian views of our future world -

Chis - it may be the kind of movie you would like - If you have already seen it, i would really like your opinion of the film.... (and that goes for anyone else who has seen it)

JWHEDONADDICT

Saturday, April 21, 2007 3:34 PM

You're kidding right?

And for #2, that would be I ROBOT. Not really because of Alan Tudyk (although that's definitely a plus), but because of a certain lovely shower scene of BUFFY/ANGEL fan, Will Smith.

Yes, I'm being shallow. No, I don't care.

"Our fate has to be our own, or we're nothing."--Angel
"In Joss We Trust."

DAYVE

Saturday, April 21, 2007 3:42 PM

kidding...? about this movie?

i really liked it - but i have had opinions from both sides - some people say it is too hard to understand and the story goes nowhere - i disagree, but i still have questions about it myself, which, i suppose is one reason i have been hung up on it lately...

CLJOHNSTON108

Saturday, April 21, 2007 3:52 PM

Well, the DVD I'm waiting for is...

Anybody see this? I've only seen the trailer, but I predict this is gonna be near the top in my "Most Beautiful DVD" category!
http://www.renaissance-movie.com/

ALLIETHORN7

Saturday, April 21, 2007 4:08 PM

I really don't OWN many Sci-fi flics ('Sides SW and Serenity).
But, as actual movies go, I have to say Kingdom of Heaven and Gladiator. That Director, Whatshisface, must have somethin' goin' to make such great movies.

Having fun yet?

-Danny

A Ghost is all that's Left,
Of everything we Swore we Never would Forget,
Tried to bleed the Sickness,
But we drained our Hearts instead,
We are... We are the DEAD!!!!!!!!!!
THRICE RULES!!!!!!!!!

DAYVE

Saturday, April 21, 2007 4:11 PM

Renaissance looks very interesting - i will put it my list as well...

what is it with foreign science fiction that, IMO, makes it so much better than american films?

every one i watch has more depth than just about any film made here - it seems that all (ok, most) american made sci-fi films are all about the action aspect - blowing stuff up - car chases - gratuious violence and (usually) happy endings - popcorn movies -

guess i just like movies that you can be more involed in -

JWHEDONADDICT

Saturday, April 21, 2007 4:12 PM

Dayve: Sorry, that was directed toward the original post. I was joking because I, and I realize I'm coming of as a brownnoser here but, I really do consider SERENITY to be the most beautiful--in every way that counts--to me.

"Our fate has to be our own, or we're nothing."--Angel
"In Joss We Trust."

DAYVE

Saturday, April 21, 2007 4:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jwhedonaddict:
I really do consider SERENITY to be the most beautiful--in every way that counts--

Sure, i agree (or i wouldn't be here), but there are so many different to aspects to science fiction, and right now i'm just trying to understand this weird story..... Immortel (La Foire aux immortels)

JWHEDONADDICT

Saturday, April 21, 2007 4:29 PM

I don't think I've ever heard of it. Then again, I'm not really into sci-fi...or westerns, or musicals (damn it, Joss!), in general.

"Our fate has to be our own, or we're nothing."--Angel
"In Joss We Trust."

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Saturday, April 21, 2007 4:46 PM

“Most beautiful?”

I don’t really know what that means. As usual Chris’s threads are just vague enough to make me think about it.

I wouldn’t consider Raiders to fall into that category though, because that was far more story driven then cinematography. Serenity is the same way, but it had a lot of cinematography in it.

Lord of the Rings would certainly be one of my choices.

Any of the Star Wars films. The Star Wars films are almost the polar opposite of Raiders. The Star Wars films all had simplistic stories but very vivid special effects and costume; at least they were supposed to. They sort of got carried away with the last three and made them more complicated then was needed. The last three had a lot of distracting elements, but they were still pretty. That’s one thing Star Wars has always had going for it; was the glamour and the flash. I don’t think any movie could ever out do Star Wars on this in the lightsabre battles alone.

Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.

Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.

-- Cicero

DAYVE

Saturday, April 21, 2007 5:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
“Most beautiful?”

I don’t really know what that means. As usual Chris’s threads are just vague enough to make me think about it.

i just pulled up this thread to ask about (or introduce) the movie Immortel, but i think Chris's original idea for this thread was the "transfer to dvd" quality of a film.

btw... any word on the release of the remastered Bladerunner..?

REGINAROADIE

Saturday, April 21, 2007 5:18 PM

Well, one's out on DVD now, but I'm waiting for it to be cheaper to get, and the other one isn't out yet, but there were actually two recent gorgeous sci-fi movies out at the end of last year that I'm itching to get.

CHILDREN OF MEN and THE FOUNTAIN. The former just blew me away in that it was a truly neorealist sci-fi film. That while it was set in the future, it completely felt contemporary, and the action sequences that were all in one take was some of the most exciting cinema verite style action sequences I've ever seen. I'm surprised Jerry Bruckheimer or Joel Silver hasn't snapped up Alfonso Cuaron to do their next action movies just off the strength of those moments alone.

And THE FOUNTAIN is just perfect. The whole film has this golden glow throughout the movie that just makes the whole thing so peaceful and hypnotizing. You're completely submerged into this visuals, particularily at the very end when he finally reaches the star.

That I can't wait for it to finally come onto DVD.

**************************************************
"Have you ever fired two guns whilst jumping through the air?"
"No."
"Have you ever fired ONE gun whilst jumping through the air?"

ZEROKIRYU

Saturday, April 21, 2007 6:54 PM

It's not really sci-fi but I just watched Curse of the Golden Flower and it was amazing, the colors and the attention to detail were just awesome.

Ghost in the shell(Movie and series)are really well done.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

L, do you know gods of death love apples?

JOSSISAGOD

Saturday, April 21, 2007 8:39 PM

Barring Serenity, I'm gonna have to go with Star Wars: The Empire strikes Back.

Fe'nos Tol
JOSSIS(Most Definitely)AGOD

Self appointed Forsaken! Been on the list for a while now!
98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.
"Look at me, I'm STUPID!" The Doctor.

PIRATECAT

Saturday, April 21, 2007 10:30 PM

Which transferred to dvd from the theater pretty good. I would go with Serenity of course but went to the disk hmmmm I'll go with
Natural City
Thirteenth Floor
Cyber Wars

"Battle of Serenity, Mal. Besides Zoe here, how many-" "I'm talkin at you! How many men in your platoon came out of their alive".

BORNTOFLY

Saturday, April 21, 2007 11:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108:
Well, the DVD I'm waiting for is...

Anybody see this? I've only seen the trailer, but I predict this is gonna be near the top in my "Most Beautiful DVD" category!
http://www.renaissance-movie.com/

Oh! I own Renaissance! It's bloody fantastic too. A few twists and turns thrown into the plotline here and there to keep the viewer on their toes is all well and good, but the look of the film is just incredible. Very noir-ish sorta style (except...you know, animated).

Just an incredible loooking film. Definitely near the top of my 'Most Beautiful' list.

I'm watching it through standard RCA connections, I can only dream of how it looks through somethng better.

---
Forsaken initiate.

FASTMOVER

Sunday, April 22, 2007 6:27 AM

Lord of the Rings Extended Editions for me, even though not really sci-fi. I also really enjoyed the effects in Chronicles of Riddick. The opening scenes of Revenge of the Sith were really cool too, although the movie as a whole did not sway me. Return of the Jedi is nice as well.

[IMG][/IMG]

I am evil, I am sly, and if you get eaten no one will cry.

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