Best Sci-Fi Movies

[BigBallinStalin]

What made the book more interesting was the struggle the humans put up with such limited technology, but when the movie throws down forcefields, for me it loses the zeal.

[AAFitz]

2001: A Space Odyssey is the absolute most boring, slow-moving, painful movie I've ever had the misfortune of watching. It's a movie built around one (very good, but very over-hyped) line. That's it. It's a movie of one line. Should never have been produced.

I absolutely fucking agree. Watching that piece of crap was the biggest waste of time in my entire life.

I voted for Matrix and the old star wars.

Ps. I'm a bit surprised Avatar wasn't in the vote. I at least liked it better than the new star wars movies, which were very meh IMO.

What you have both missed, is that when it came out, nothing like it had ever been seen. It was completely original, and had special effects that simply made space look real, perhaps for the first time ever.

Starwars has many scenes similar too. As the imperial Starship is slowly moving over the camera, it is so drawn out as to be laughable, and it is practically copying scenes from 2001. The scene where Han is using his "maneuvers" to escape it later on, by...as family guy says...is listing lazily to the right, is similarly laughable, and kids on seeing those effects, feel the same about them as you do about 2001, because they simply are used to 20 years of enhanced technology.

I do agree 2001 should just have a revamped condensed version, but the idea of it is so mind boggling, and so intriguing, that it simply cant be discounted so easily. You just have to accept that it takes a little longer to deliver the story, but mostly because it was new technology, and they were showing it off.

I Voted Starwars too though, because despite its technological and actorial challenges, it was simply an engaging story that is timeless.

But kids watching it today after seeing films like the matrix, pretty much feel the same way about it as you do 2001. Its all relative.

[jonesthecurl]

I never got to see the extended version of 2001, which came out I think in 2001, and included stuff that had previously been cut. Anyone see it?

btw in regard to the "001 special effects, remember that it was before CGI.

The miost amazinf effects for their time were in Destination Moon. Unfortunately they forgot to hire people who could act.

[AAFitz]

I know there's a limit on how many you ccan list in a poll, but I would like to give an honorable mention to:
Starship Troopers
Mars Attack
The Day the Earth Stood Still (original version)
The Truman Show
Dark Star
and, even though I don't like any of 'em, I'da thought Planet of the Apes would make the poll.

First Planet of the Apes, or the entire series?

Well, I don't like any of 'em, but many people are very fond of the Charlton Heston version. I have at least a half-hour rant ready at hand any time about why the plot is shit. (makeup great, some great acting, but the plot is seriously crap).

All time travel plots are crap.

Terminator two is the worst, though hidden in a great movie. They use the chip from the first terminator to make skynet. Its ludicrous. If they needed that chip, then there wouldnt be skynet in the first place, and no terminator to go back in time to give the chip to get it created, or at least not exactly the same one that would have meant the terminators as they were. Term 3 trys to address this with a most ridiculous "fate" plot, but is not successful.

The term 2 movie was so damn good though, that it was an easy thing to overlook.

[jonesthecurl]

I still quite like Back to the Future for time travel. You're right though, it's very hard to deal with, plot-wise. And I speak as a long-time Dr Who fan...

[Woodruff]

2001: A Space Odyssey is the absolute most boring, slow-moving, painful movie I've ever had the misfortune of watching. It's a movie built around one (very good, but very over-hyped) line. That's it. It's a movie of one line. Should never have been produced.

I absolutely fucking agree. Watching that piece of crap was the biggest waste of time in my entire life.

What you have both missed, is that when it came out, nothing like it had ever been seen. It was completely original, and had special effects that simply made space look real, perhaps for the first time ever.

No, I recognize the great cinematography. I'm speaking solely of the STORY ITSELF. Like someone else mentioned, the book is undoubtedly far better, because THINGS MIGHT ACTUALLY BE EXPLAINED in the book. Perhaps this is one of those "if you haven't read the book, don't bother" movies.

I do agree 2001 should just have a revamped condensed version, but the idea of it is so mind boggling, and so intriguing, that it simply cant be discounted so easily. You just have to accept that it takes a little longer to deliver the story, but mostly because it was new technology, and they were showing it off.

A little longer? 2001 made Star Trek: The Motionless Picture look like a veritable cacophany of action.

[Pedronicus]

No Predator?

I've thought about Predator - But I don't think it's a science fiction film. It's an action film with a monster.

[natty dread]

I always liked terminator 1.

[Phatscotty]

Blade Runner in 3rd huh? Fine, I will try to watch it again. I assume I should seek out...what do you call it, the ultimate cut?

[jonesthecurl]

Did anyone see the Starship Troopers sequels?
ST2 was barely watchable, but I recently got ST3 and finally watched the whole thing about two nights ago. It's good. different to the first one, but I enjoyed a whole lot.

[MeDeFe]

All time travel plots are crap.

Terminator two is the worst, though hidden in a great movie. They use the chip from the first terminator to make skynet. Its ludicrous. If they needed that chip, then there wouldnt be skynet in the first place, and no terminator to go back in time to give the chip to get it created, or at least not exactly the same one that would have meant the terminators as they were. Term 3 trys to address this with a most ridiculous "fate" plot, but is not successful.

The term 2 movie was so damn good though, that it was an easy thing to overlook.

Didn't that intellectual research guy in T2 say that they couldn't get the leftovers from the first movie to work, but that it inspired them? I don't recall them using it to build anything.

[Phatscotty]

All time travel plots are crap.

Terminator two is the worst, though hidden in a great movie. They use the chip from the first terminator to make skynet. Its ludicrous. If they needed that chip, then there wouldnt be skynet in the first place, and no terminator to go back in time to give the chip to get it created, or at least not exactly the same one that would have meant the terminators as they were. Term 3 trys to address this with a most ridiculous "fate" plot, but is not successful.

The term 2 movie was so damn good though, that it was an easy thing to overlook.

Didn't that intellectual research guy in T2 say that they couldn't get the leftovers from the first movie to work, but that it inspired them? I don't recall them using it to build anything.

perhaps it was inevitable that human would create AI at some point, and also inevitable that AI would try to exterminate humans. I know that is reaching but what the hell. I thought T3 sucked the most

[Phatscotty]

Did anyone see the Starship Troopers sequels?
ST2 was barely watchable, but I recently got ST3 and finally watched the whole thing about two nights ago. It's good. different to the first one, but I enjoyed a whole lot.

ST1 kicked ass and had something special about it.

dune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAmjkr4RISU

[army of nobunaga]

Pandorum was pretty darn good... recently watched it.


pitch black might be my all time favorite though.

[Woodruff]

dune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAmjkr4RISU

Why is Dune on this poll even? How can Dune even be on ANY "best" list of movies? In any of it's iterations?

[Phatscotty]

dune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAmjkr4RISU

Why is Dune on this poll even? How can Dune even be on ANY "best" list of movies? In any of it's iterations?

it's my dark horse. I know there were problems with the original release, but have you seen the new special edition? puts a lot more together. it also stands out as unique and often times surpasses in many ways compared to the rest of the choices (adult content/gore/homosexuality).

at least it is tied with Star Trek! I think you are just jealous it has 4 votes and therefore forces a tie with MR spock for dead last!

[muy_thaiguy]

Mystery Science Theater 3000.

[Symmetry]

Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Yes

[Phatscotty]

anyone feel free to create a secondary genre sci-fi poll. This is only the classics.

[Uncle Waldo]

My thoughts:

1. Planet Of The Apes
2. Star Wars (New Hope)
3. Alien
4. E.T. The Extra Testical (That's what I always heard it referred to as growing up)
5. Terminator
6. Star Trek 2
7. Logan's Run
8. The Empire Strikes Back
9. The Fly (1986)
10. Close Encounters

It's a nice feeling have this list finished and complete. It was alot easier and alot less daunting then that other list which still has a long ways to go. As far as this list goes, it's pretty much finished and complete. I don't anticipate any more changes unless a new great scy-fy film is made. I sure hope I get my check soon. Alot of things need to be reconciled. Long ways to go. I'm ready to move the f*ck on.

[army of nobunaga]

1. 5th element
2. star trek (all of them =D nerd alert!)
3) pitch black
4) running man (just for the dialog)
5) pandorum
6) 12 monkeys
7) gattica
mad max
9) the fly
10) ghost in the machine


edit damn, I have to mix dune in the top 5 somewhere.

[Woodruff]

dune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAmjkr4RISU

Why is Dune on this poll even? How can Dune even be on ANY "best" list of movies? In any of it's iterations?

it's my dark horse. I know there were problems with the original release, but have you seen the new special edition? puts a lot more together. it also stands out as unique and often times surpasses in many ways compared to the rest of the choices (adult content/gore/homosexuality).

at least it is tied with Star Trek! I think you are just jealous it has 4 votes and therefore forces a tie with MR spock for dead last!

I do find it irksome that it is tied with Star Trek, no doubt...but not because of Mr Spock, but rather because of Dune's utter...gads, my eyes are bleeding just thinking about it.

I mean...there were a couple of the Star Trek movies that were utter crap (#1 springs immediately to mind), but this is just insulting.

[Yoda Skywalker]

1. 5th element
2. star trek (all of them =D nerd alert!)
3) pitch black
4) running man (just for the dialog)
5) pandorum
6) 12 monkeys
7) gattica
mad max
9) the fly
10) ghost in the machine


edit damn, I have to mix dune in the top 5 somewhere.

Yeah, 12 Monkeys and The Fly were both great films. I don't know if you could necesarily count the Mad Max films as sci-fi. They're post apocolyptic but there's no science fiction in the mix. In 12 Monkeys they've mastered (sort of) time travel.

[Nobunaga]

... Speaking of post-apocolyptic, anybody recall that film with Rutger Hauer, a desolate landscape wherein the most popular form of entertainment is a gladatorial style sport called "Dog Skull"?

... I liked that movie.

...

[Skittles!]

7) gattica

About time someone posted this. About fucking time.

Soylent Green of course is another - the idea behind it is slightly terrifying.
Original Star Wars of course.
Some Star Trek movies as well, like Voyager.
Any remake of Philip Dick's books are normally well done, such as Minority Report and Total Recall. I haven't seen Blade Runner yet.

Uhm. Notable mention to Starship Troopers just for the lulz, cause there's some funny, outrageous scenes in it.