|
|
Post by chris on Nov 20, 2005 10:22:15 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Jeff on Nov 20, 2005 11:25:29 GMT -5
Well, I would have to insist on these movies. 1. Dark City One of the best science fiction films ever, period. It gets a bad rap. I remember that I began defending it as I walked out of the theatre, and I guess I haven’t stopped. Roger Ebert lists it among his Great Movies ( rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051106/REVIEWS08/511060302/1004 ) which contains about two or three hundred of the best films of all time. He writes: “I believe more than ever that "Dark City" is one of the great modern films. It preceded "The Matrix" by a year (both films used a few of the same sets in Australia), and on a smaller budget, with special effects that owe as much to imagination as to technology, did what "The Matrix" wanted to do, earlier and with more feeling.” 2. Dune It’s hard to dislike this movie if you really like the book. It is one of the most faithfully weird translations of a book to the screen. Max von Sydow! 3. Galaxy Quest If you confine yourself to films made in the last decade, I think Jenn and I have probably watched this one more and any other. Whenever it makes sense to ask, “Do I?” I always scream it like Sam Rockwell questioning whether or not he has a last name. 4. Flash Gordon I’m sorry but Topol and Max Von Sydow in outer space with a Queen soundtrack? Even if everything goes terribly wrong (and it does) there is still so much to enjoy. 5. The Last Starfighter Well, I might actually be able to drop this one from my list, but after 1977 everyone wanted to be either Luke or Han. Here was a film that excited the imaginations of kids everywhere by suggesting that they could do it…if only they played more video games. The film used computerized graphics which made the outer space scenes look a little like shots from Tron. But there were lots of interesting ideas here. Death Blossom! |
|
|
|
Post by luceph on Nov 20, 2005 12:23:46 GMT -5
I like Jeff's list. Here are some others I would throw on there:
1. Event Horizon: An underrated horror film set on a space ship. I like the set design, the general feeling of claustrophobia and how can you not like a horror movie with Sam Neill in it. The man IS horror.
2. Starship Troopers: I know, I know. Ignore the excellent Robert Heinlein novel for a second and just enjoy what this movie is, a war movie set in space. While it falls apart in the end, I like how there is no real character development. It's a movie about nameless soldiers dying in space against an enemy that can not be stopped. Until love saves the day...just ignore that part.
3. The Iron Giant: I can't even begin to describe how underappreciated this movie is. Beautifully animated, a great story, characters I actually care about and great voice acting, this film has them all. One of the greatest family films of all time, and I will brook no disagreement with that.
4. Ice Pirates: Jeff took my choice of Flash Gordon so I'm throwing this joke film out there. Ummm...it has castration in it.
5. Serenity: A nod to Tyler. I was suprised at how much I liked this movie. But this is a good sci-fi movie that seems very realistic in its scope.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jeff on Nov 20, 2005 13:30:58 GMT -5
Iron Giant. Woot Woot! I watched it yesterday with Emily. Everyone in this house loves the flick. I just wasn't thinking enough about animation.
Here are some films I considered, but left off my list: Total Recall, Close Encounters, Planet of the Apes, Heavy Metal, Lilo and Stitch, Enemy Mine, and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.
|
|
|
|
Post by chris on Nov 20, 2005 16:18:52 GMT -5
I was amazed by how much I liked Starship Troopers when I first saw it in the theater, and I think you hit on part of the reason: lack of character development. Oh, that and co-ed showers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tyler on Nov 20, 2005 19:53:01 GMT -5
For a truly integrated male and female military to work, there must be integrated showers.
No, seriously.
|
|
|
|
Post by chris on Nov 21, 2005 14:02:30 GMT -5
It'd increase enlistment... hell, I'd enlist!
|
|
|
|
Post by Betterout on Nov 21, 2005 14:52:50 GMT -5
Man, I gotta say Aliens (not problem, problems, plural) is my favorite of that franchise, and easily one of the best space movies. How often did we all sit around the Cultural Center watching Aliens before retiring to the table for a game of Robotech? Cameron's a doodoohead, sure, but this movie is a classic. Paxton's got some damn funny lines, too. And, although the Day the Earth Stood Still takes place on earth, it's still a great space movie.
|
|
|
|
Post by Thanin on Nov 21, 2005 16:24:10 GMT -5
I'm very surprised that Aliens II didn't get mentioned until 8 posts in. I'd say it trumps a few of the movies that made it into some of the lists here. It was one of the first in the genre to feature a woman as the bad-ass hero.
And for the ultimate sci-fi joke movie, you gotta go with Yor, the Hunter from the Future... though I guess this was more about space movies. But still.
|
|
|
|
Post by lonniemarie on Nov 21, 2005 21:36:09 GMT -5
The Last Starfighter was like my fave movie when I was a kid...and Aliens kicks butt in so many ways...
However since I'm completely hot for Vin Disel...I have to admit one of my faves is Pitch Black..."Riddick: Once the killing starts, this psycho f**k family of ours is gonna rip itself apart." and the line of Riddick's that goes something like "Don't cry for Jones, don't you dare". Sorry...movie quotes...what can I say...
|
|
|
|
Post by chris on Nov 22, 2005 10:52:03 GMT -5
Pitch Black is a damn fine film. I remember seeing it in the theatre on a whim, and just being carried away with the fear. A textbook example of how darkness and concealment are a director's best tools in telling a scary story.
|
|
