Greatest SciFi films
June 26th, 2007
Last post we had a very light look at the top 15 greatest films of all time as presented by the AFI and a while back Electronic Cerebrectomy (who was not in my blogroll for some reason even though I visit there once a day - sorry SF!) did a piece on Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 25 best scifi movies and television shows in the past 25 years.
Well I thought we might bring the movie lists back to the people… well the blogging people… well the blogging people who read this blog… well the blogging people who read this blog and can be arsed to leave a comment (this could go on for another couple of layers but we may run out of space).
I am opening up the nominations for the QYDJ greatest scifi movies that you enjoy list!
How is this any different from any other list of greatest films, well I’m glad you asked because this list is not the best made or most moving films, these are the films you just enjoy. If the acting is bad but the fx are great then the film can be nominated, if the fx are bad and the acting is good once again it can be in the list, if the plot is flimsy and full of holes but you still love it then it can go on the list.
Leave a comment here to nominate your favorite scifi film - I do however want an explanation, I don’t care if it is one scene in the whole movie that makes it work for you - say Spaceballs when the alien pops out of his chest and does a dance number - that makes Spaceballs for me. But you have to give a reason. We’ll collate the nominations and present a master list of either the top 5 (if no one bothers!) top 25 (if we get enough) top 100 (that’d be cool).
Please please please let other people know on your blogs to come over and nominate their scifi films! Make sure you stamp your scifi authority on the list!
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Terminator 2. It’s not Senator Schwarznegger. It’s not the evil shape-shifting blonde. It’s not the twerpy kid. It’s ALL of it. I particularly like the Linda Hamilton’s metamorphosis into an arse-kicking supermom. Very cool.
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Thanks for kicking things off Veda! T2 is an excellent addition to the list and I think you’re right Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor is just great and is a big part of the enjoyment of the film. I really enjoyed her scenes in the mental hospital especially when she comes face to face with the Terminator and he says “come with me if you want to live”.
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Oops I forgot to put mine up on the list! Serenity. And there are a lot of reasons why - the Serenity crash sequence and of course the death of Wash. But the best sequence that makes me love the film is the end where Mal and River are sitting in the cockpit and he tells her that love keeps Serenity in the air.
I love that sequence.
So that’s at least two for our top five! Don’t let this be a pathetic list!!! Leave your nomination.
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I don’t know why I love Independence Day as much as I do, especially considering that I can’t figure out why, when a simple alien pilot was able to control the President’s mind, the alien commander couldn’t do the same to David and Steve when they flew in to upload the virus to the alien computer system.
I’m guessing it has something to do with Adam Baldwin, because I’m pretty sure it’s nothing to do with Bill Pullman or Jeff Goldblum.
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The final scene in RoboCop. “Nice shooting son, what’s your name?” “Murphy.” I love that movie.
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golfwidow - you’re not a browncoat by any chance are you? I’m the same as you with ID4 - you can drive whole convoys of trucks through the holes in the plot but I like it anyway! Tracey really hates the speech scene in this film and I think she lets it ruin the mayhem and destruction for herself. For some reason I always seem to be pleasantly pleased with the transitions between the days - they have captured the sense of the morning after quite well in those quiet moments. I don’t know if that makes sense or not.
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Robocop gets an easy pass into this list and had no one suggested it I would have gone all dictator’ish and forced it in anyway. I always enjoyed the sequence when Robo’s being shot up by the swat guys in the carpark and he falls between the levels - it’s the little things that stay in my mind for some reason. Actually the soundtrack to this film is worth the price of the DVD - any of Basil’s work is a bonus! A lot of people really hate the sequels yet i really don’t mind Robocop 2 especially the sequence where he busts the drug lab - Peter Weller shows in his presence why he will always be the original and best Robocop.
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The Matrix should definitely go on the list for the concept, the awsome fight scenes between Neo and Agent Smith and the scene where Cypher say the Neo “I know what you’re thinking. ‘Why didn’t I take the blue pill?’”.
I’m only nominating the first film though, I didn’t like the other two nearly as much.
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I think Tron deserves a place on this list. This was my favourite film for ages when I was in primary school because of the computer-game world it was set in. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Tron was the 1st movie use this genre.
I couldn’t tell you then who starred in it and what the plot was (some good vs Evil thing), but I was captivated by the costumes, sets , props and one-on-one games these computer-people had to play against each other. My favourite scene was the bike-racing scene where the fully-enclosed motorbikes materialised around the players. I spent many an afternoon running around the back yard holding a cut-off broom handle like handlebars.
I haven’t watched it in year, but I’m going to hunt for it tonight.
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I have two:
Back to the future.. Pure unadulterated class. Intellegent(ish) plot, great characters, very funny, and an emotional punch.
and
Muppets from space. Because it’s the muppets goddamn it, and every best five list should have a muppet film in it. It is an overlooked muppets film, but in my opinion second only to the original muppet movie
If I’m forced to choose then i pick Muppets from space, because I’m stubborn like that
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[...] Greatest scifi films. Lee over at Quit your day job is compiling a list of the most enjoyable scifi films and is asking for submissions. Head on over and nominate Space Truckers Published by Dan June 28th, 2007 in Mini blog. [...]
Ok, it’s starting to look like a list of my favourite films, full stop.
T2 - ah, brilliant. There’s a guy at my work who walks like the T1000 and it makes me hear the theme music whenever I see him
Serenity - I think this would have been my first choice but you beat me to it.
ID4 - who cares about plot holes, it’s just fun and makes me smile. I know what tracey means about the speech though.
The Matrix - one of Dan and my first dates. There was nothing like it before it came out. Which is how the sequels could never be as good as we’d seen the first one. The car chase in the second one is still quite impressive though.
Tron - one of my childhood memories is of watching Tron and being totally absorbed in it.
Muppets from space - a cool movie and an even cooler soundtrack, which we played at our wedding party.
I love all the films already mentioned (although not seen Robocop - oops) and so I’ll go for The Fifth Element. I love it all - Bruce (even with the dye job), the visuals, the costumes, Chris Tucker, the … well you get the picture.
Looking forward to seeing what other gems make it on your list (Flight of the Navigator or The Explorers anyone? Wait, Spacecamp!! Oh no….)
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Wanderer - The Matrix is awesome and a great suggestion. Granted that pretty much every concept in the film was lifted from elsewhere, the film is still a fantastic iconic film that’s brilliant to watch. I even extend my enjoyment to Reloaded that I actually don’t mind one little bit.
Oh yeah Tron has to be in the list!!! What a great fun old school movie! Back when computers were scary! I hope you managed to find it and revisit this cool film!
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It doesn’t get much better than Back to the Future. What a great film if only for the planet Vulcan reference! I’m a big fan of the entire trilogy - I want automatic lace up nikes!!!
I think my wife, myself and you and your wife are the only people in the world who love Muppets from Space! Pepe cracks me up everytime for his Kenny Rogers impression and then the appearance of the kids from Dawson’s Creek!
So I won’t make you choose they both get thrown into the list!!!
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MRS DAN!!!! So happy to have you over and hear your thoughts!!! Fifth Element is just fantastic fun - from Luke Perry in the start to Bruce’s very cool “negotiator” scenes. Your other suggestions are going on the list too - heck I’m going to shoot for the 100!!! Explorers!!!! Oh wow yes. Flight of the navigator! I sooo remember seeing that as a kid and enjoying it - though I don’t know if it holds up over time.
I never saw Spacecamp so I can’t comment (I guess that’s for the rest of you!) - I’m going to have to watch it one day.
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I’m gonna go against the grain here. There is so much good sci-fi that I love and the 16 year old me is gonna pummel me for not saying “Wrath of Khan”, but, because no one is gonna vote for it and I think it’s great, I’m going with Primer. It’s not the best film ever and it’s only on the top of my list because I have seen it a lot lately, but it’s a movie that needs a little love. There aren’t that many good movies about time travel, let alone great ones. (The greatest time travel book of all time is The Man who Folded himself by David Gerrold)
Primer is so genuine, small and voyeuristic. The fact that it was shot on super 16 for 7K and accomplishes more than the biggest hollywood blockbuster with it’s teeny budget and underplayed dialogue is a big plus for me.
It’s just a very smart movie and the kind of flick that makes you want to watch it again immediately. Just abstract enough and hard enough to follow to make Philip Dick proud and it is wholly original.
There ya go, Shane Carruth’s Primer.
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I’m not sure how well Space Camp would hold up after 20 years. I just remember being about 10 when I saw it and wanting to play at astronauts for a couple of weeks like the characters did (without the being launched into space by a well-meaning robot).
If you’re going for 100, I’ve thought of another one - Gattaca. I know some people who didn’t like it, but it’s a film that’s stuck in my head. I think of it when I pick a loose hair off my jacket or hear about new genetic tests being developed.
Sorry, I’ll stop now. Can you tell who’s the sci-fi geek in the Hughes household?
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Allen - I must admit with risk to decreasing my geek cache that I haven’t seen Primer. Something that I will rectify as soon as possible because I like good time travel stories and movies that achieve a lot on a small budget (except Blair Witch - I really don’t care for that film - I wonder what that’s about!).
So thank you for your contribution (and twenty gold stars for mentioning Mr Dick who is awesome but that’s a different post altogether that I WILL write one of these days!) and just so we avoid any conflict between you and your 16 yo you I’m putting KHHHHHHAAAAANNNNNNN in too because it should be there if only for KHHHHHHAAAAANNNNNNN!!!
I’m so excited because whilst compiling this list I’m discovering which classic films that I’ve missed for one reason or the other!
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I get another vote. Okay. I love The Last Starfighter. Shut up. I still play video games hoping they’re secret military recruitment tests.
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I couldnt think of anything off the top of my head, as I have had a 2 year old screaming Mommy! Mommy! all day long. She is in bed now and my brain finally has some peace and I am not quite sure how to handle that…….BUT, when I got to the end of the comments here and saw golfwidow claim The Last Starfighter, I said YES! Talk about a classic. Thanks for taking me WAY back golfwidow!
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Kerry - I’m pretty happy to include Gattaca for exactly the reason you mention - it’s a film that really sticks in my mind and I generally think it was well made - although for me the cast hurt the film - they are probably perfect but I have a dislike for two of them but in all honesty they don’t really bug me as much as I thought the more I actually consider it.
Every house requires a resident geek - I fulfil that role in my household!
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I think there is a line up around the corner for people who consider the Last Starfighter a must for this list! I was preparing a post to add extra entries and this was at the top of the list so kudos you sci fi geek you!
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Lucky! I’m surprised you didn’t put Stargate in! And even though you didn’t I am adding it in all because of the one line “say hello to King Tut asshole!”
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First off this is such a great idea! Lee you are brilliant as usual!!! I have a couple of reccomendations:
First off I love the 1980 Flash Gordon with Sam J. Jones and the over the top Queen score. The score is fantastic and I think this might end up being the closest thing we get to the original comic strip…even if this one is alot cheesier than the comic strip. Plus it has Brian “awesome” Blessid as Vulcan…nuff’ said.
I also need to suggest Barbarella the most perfect exploitative science fiction ever made! A scantaly clad sexy niave Jane Fonda in the lead, a smiple, blind John Phillip Law as an angel in a nappy and a dark, eye patch clad, evil vixen played by Anita Pallenberg. I adore every inch of this movie from it’s carnivorous dolls to it’s swinging score. Perfect movie I tell you, perfect!
And of course Time Bandits! Such great acting from David Rappaport and David Warner and of course the art direction is weird and wonderful! “nipples for men?” Classic line.
And finally then I’ll quit taking over this list…Time After Time with Malcom McDowell as H.G. Wells and David Warner as Jack the Ripper. It’s another of my all time favorite films; funny and suspenseful with some teriffic acting from a cast that also includes Mary Steenbergen.
I will stop now.
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Ok Bec - Flash Ahhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaa saviour of the universe! Brilliant addition as I always knew you would contribute. In addition to your other great choices (Barbarella is just plain genius and always will be no matter what they do with a remake!).
Once again I’m dipping into the ‘I still haven’t seen it but I will’ well with Time After Time but I ALWAYS hear good things about it. So onto the list they all go! Going to update the site tonight and show the master list so far.
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I’m with you, Lee, I loves me some Serenity. I sometimes listen to the soundtrack and do the “Love” speech when my kids are around to drive them crazy; I also often ask them what the first rule of flying is.
But I’ve also always been partial to Starman with Karen Allen and Jeff Bridges. Sure, we all love explosions and bad-assery, but how many Sci-Fi aliens have such goofy grins and talk with their mouths full?
Finally, may I just say, in my best JFK/Rev. Jackson voice: We will not go gentle into that night. We will not go down without a fight. We will not mix tequila with our Sprite. Like Ben Franklin, we shall fly a kite … (despite this, it is a fun film).
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I’ve attempted to watch Starman several times without success. In several showings I think I’ve pretty much seen the whole film but I’ve never pieced it all together and watched it in one sitting. So now that’s on my list!
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I have nearly drowned a countless number of times watching The Abyss,
and dont forget the the forbidden planet
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Ahhhhh KC - The Abyss! Great choice. I must admit when The Abyss first came out I claimed to not like it. But for some reason I’ve seen it several times now and have grown to appreciate it, mind you I still don’t own it on DVD which I might even go and rectify today.
As for Forbidden Planet, classic, classic, classic. It also prompts me to add a couple of other classics to the list!
This Island Earth and The Day The Earth Stood still. The mutants in Island Earth are so iconic and cool and of course “Klaatu barada nikto”.
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Holy cow, this is an awesome list. Here’s my addition: Dark City.
I love this thing. Mystery, a weird, off-putting Kiefer Sutherland, telepathy, telekenesis, aliens, nice, dark scoring, amazing concept, intelligent… love it.
I’ll throw Thirteenth Floor in there too. I kind of think of it “The Matrix: Lite Edition” sometimes, but it’s another one that boils down to a murder mystery with a sci-fi twist, and it’s a great twist. No tour-de-force, but I’ve rented it more than once.
OH! And “They Live!” — what a horrible movie, but it sucks so much it’s funny. You have to wear special sunglasses to see the aliens… lol… oh, man, I can’t keep myself from watching it…
For a little twist on the “best films” idea, check out the Most Quotable Geek Films if you’ve got a minute.
Jeff’s last blog post..Replace Adobe Captivate for free?
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Jeff - awesome additions especially Dark City which I’ve been meaning to pick up on DVD for a while now.
Haven’t seen Thirteenth Floor myself, or maybe I have late one night - it’s a little hazy.
Doesn’t get much better than They Live. All great, all going on the list.
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Nice list!
I’d like to make a few additions. Firstly, Equilibrium, possibly the best straight-to-dvd sci-fi ever made. I like it for many reasons. Two are; the libertarian themes, and the “gun kata”. How are you going to defeat your enemies? With advanced statistics of course. It also includes fight scenes with samurai swords, which are always welcome, especially when a combatant’s face slides off after getting the chop.
Secondly I’d like to nominate Brazil. It’s a feast for the eyes (too many amazing scenes to list) and food for thought.
The third and fourth nominations are Logan’s Run and Planet of the Apes (1968). I first watched these films at around age twelve and both had a profound effect on me. Without going into detail, important themes such as the importance of questioning authority, the nature of prejudice and bias, and the use of technology by greater society were important for this then twelve year old to be exposed to, and they were neatly wrapped up in these highly entertaining films.
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