Favorite sci-fi-movie of all time?

[bif]

I love sci-fi, but so much of it is so bad. What are your faves?

[Left Is Write]

1. Star Wars. Don't ask me which episode. I get torn over which one...

of the original three.

[dubeskin]

16. I think that goes without saying

But ALL of them are wonderful. Well, Episode 1 was pretty bad, but 2 got better and 3 was the best of the newer trilogy. But still, you can't leave out the last three.

[Lady Freedom]

Without 1 the other two would make no sense.

Ans I like the pod races!:evilgrin:

[Lady Freedom]

17. And I do love #4.

I also think #3 is awesome

[trogdor]

31. Yep. Ep. 1 sucked donkey balls.

I heard they could have gotten Haley Joel Osment to play Anakin Skywalker, but they passed on him (he got to play in The Sixth Sense with Brucie (R - Can't Act) instead). That would have rocked. What would have rocked even more would be if Mr. Lucas would have held off on Ep. 2 and 3 until, um, about now, and had the new and improved bad-boy HJO play Anakin/Vader in those films as well. Uh, that and not having Anakin/Vader marry his ex-babysitter.

Oh well. Can't have people appearing in blockbuster films who can actually act. Like Harrison Ford. Wouldn't be prudent.

[Efilroft Sul]

42. Episodes 1 through 3 were nearly soulless.

Anakin's mother had a divine birth?

Midichlorians?! So much for the mysticism of being a Jedi.

I for one would never have started the epic with a nine-year-old Anakin. The dialogue for Jake Lloyd was stilted (as it was with all Ep 1 through 3 characters) and he acted more wooden than Pinocchio. Plus I think starting the epic with a nine-year-old Anakin made Episode 3 a rush job; i.e., Lucas had to release ten gallons of pee into a five-gallon hat. Sure, it's his franchise. But he screwed it up and dumbed it down for the Matrix Generation. With that said, I wish Lucas would have handled the prequels like this:

Episode One would have had a teenage Anakin discovering a Sith threat with his mentor Obi-Wan (no need for a Qui-Gon, folks) and saving Amidala. I would have kept it very simple, but the Phantom Menace would have been more real and more dark.

Episode Two would have been better catching the Clone Wars in media res with the Republic going under while a love triangle sprang up between Amidala, Obi-Wan, and Anakin. This movie would have showcased Anakin being a great fighter pilot, with a pilot's hotshot ego and temper that eventually is a turnoff to Amidala, who eventually finds comfort with Obi-Wan. At the end of the movie, Palpatine declares himself emperor, Amidala's pregnant and nobody knows which Jedi is the father of the twins.

Episode Three would have revealed the father of the twins (I would have made it Obi-Wan, which could open up a whole can of worms around the Vader "Luke, I am your father" quote), thus giving Anakin a reason to go to the Dark Side. The entire story would have centered around the elimination of the Jedi and the escape of whatever good guys were left. I would not have eliminated Amidala, either... You need something interesting to center Episodes 7 through 9 around, after all!

Okay, so much for my fan fiction. As for favorite sci-fi movies, I choose 2010.

[Beausoir]

2. Excellent topic! The Thing, Close Encounters, Alien.

I don't watch any of the new sci-fi because there is so much good old stuff that I haven't seen yet.

As I mentioned in another thread, my 10 year old son and I are exploring the world of sci-fi together.

[ironflange]

3. I've always liked Silent Running

Is this the only time Bruce Dern doesn't play some sort of whacko?

[bif]

6. I love that movie

Along with THX1148 and Gattica!

[bif]

4. I just saw "The Quiet Earth"

I thought that was worth watching. Last man on earth theme. Good flick.

[mainegreen]

23. That one has a really interesting premise.

From time to time I still think about that movie.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. Alien, John Carpenter's The Thing, The Day the Earth Stood Still,

Star Trek II and IV, Star Wars Episode IV, the original King Kong, the original The Thing, Soylent Green, 2001, Brazil... and a bunch of other ones.

[edbermac]

7. 2001

Just what do you think you are doing Dave?

[Klapaucius]

8. Hmmmm....

Absolute favorite? I'd say Contact. Very very cool movie. Other movies I like are 'Aliens', 'Blade Runner', 'Quiet Earth' ( been a long time since I've seen that one).

Also depends on what kind of sci-fi... Contact is the best of the thoughtful type, I think. Aliens and Blade Runner, some of the best of the action oriented ones. There's books I've read that I would *love* to see turned into movies, if done properly. I'd like to see John Steakley's "Armor" done correctly, or Haldeman's "Forever War". On the humorous side, I'd love it if they could do "Phule's Company", cheesy, but funny as hell. Same with Harry Harrison's "Stainless Steel Rat" series, although that's unlikely, because he got burned when they turned "Make Room, Make Room" into "Soylent Green". I'd love to see some of Clarke's stuff done right, as well, such as "Fountains of Paradise", Zelazny's "Amber" books ( although, that's more fantasy), or his "Doorways in the Sand" or "Lord of Light". Wen Spencer's "Ukiah" books would be great, if they were done correctly. I'd also love to see Niven's "Ringworld" books brought to life, but there are certain aspects of the culture of the Ringworld that would have to be abandoned in any adaptation to the big screen, but "Long ARM of Gil Hamilton" would be a great sci-fi detective flick.

So, in addition to any movies that you'd like.. Is there a book you've read that you think would make a good movie? I'd like to get suggestions for other books to read, as I'm looking for other authors to read as well.

K.

[pokerfan]

13. I'm surprised that none of Niven's novels have been filmed

The Tales of Known Space would make a fantastic ongoing film series and based on plausible (or at least consistent) science.

There have been many rumors over the years of a Ringworld film, but I have no idea where it stands now. Probably see a Halo film before Ringworld.

How about the Integral Trees? I am convinced after seeing Gollum in the LOTR films that the humans adapted to living there could be done well.

Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress could be outstanding.

[Mz Pip]

35. Didn't Larry Niven

write "The Mote in God's Eye"? with Jerry Pournelle? I remember that as being one of my all time favorite Sci-Fi novels. I should read it again along with Ringworld.

I loved Childhood's End. Always thought that would make a good movie.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[pokerfan]

41. Yeah, I read Mote around 1980

Always thought that the Moties were us in the future, the way they kept blowing themselves up and having to rebuild their civilization.

Childhood's End would be good, too. Kinda sad in the end.

How about Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars (1992), Green Mars (1993) and Blue Mars (1996). In the right hands, that could make a dandy film trilogy. Plus with the all the probes we have on or orbiting Mars, it's time for someone to make a decent Mars film instead of crap like the two most recent ones.

[Kutjara]

9. Bladerunner.

The Director's Cut version, with the sappy voiceover and "happy ending" of the theatrical release removed.

A really dark and believable vision of the future, with precious little sentimentality.

[GreenTea]

10. Dark City

[Xipe Totec]

18. Yea, I like that one too

I think it is underrated.

[Heidi]

11. THX 1138. (nt)

[pokerfan]

12. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

close seconds:

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Alien (1979)
Blade Runner (1982)

[REP]

14. Brazil, Dr Strangelove, Carpenter's The Thing, 2001

[jgraz]

15. Twelve Monkeys, Blade Runner, Matrix, Alien/s, Close Encounters, Brazil, 2001

Empire Strikes Back is in there somewhere, as is Contact.

ETA: If anyone considers Dr. Strangelove or Network to be SciFi, then they top my list.

[Patiod]

39. A lot of our friends were in "12 Monkeys"

One is lying between Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis during a scene in the mental institution (a former prison where SO worked as a tour guide for 2 years) Don't know if I would like it as much if it didn't all look so familiar!

[Crazy Dave]

19. I'm being totally serious....

...so for what it's worth...

Mel Brook's "Spaceballs"

[Vidar]

25. I'n a minority in this issue: Dune.

[Crazy Dave]

38. That was recently on satellite and I missed it

I've been wanting to see it for about twenty years or so. Since it's been out that is.

[baldguy]

20. Children of Men

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206634/

[ceile]

30. How was it?

I read the book many years ago and just loved it.

[MrSandman]

21. Forbidden Planet...

It has been some years since I have seen it, but I try to catch both it and The Day the Earth Stood Still when they are on.

[YankeyMCC]

24. Seconded nt

[jobycom]

32. Great film. Stands the test of time better than most sci-fi. nt

[Mz Pip]

36. Loved that movie.

Really good special effects for a film done in 1952. Day the Earth Stood Still also holds up well.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[bif]

22. I forgot "Robinson Caruso on Mars"

Dumb title but good movie.

[Broken_Hero]

26. I have to go with

Star Trek, from all the tv series, to the movies....

[mondo joe]

27. Alien series; the Matrix (but not the sequels).

[tigereye]

28. Blade Runner

The Matrix
Forbidden Planet

[ceile]

29. "Alien" I think

Although there are so many that I'll watch over and over again. Such as:
"The Fifth Element"
"The Day the Earth Stood Still"

[jobycom]

33. Gotta go with Bladerunner. nt

[Mendocino]

34. Planet Of The Apes, the original,

Escape From POTA was ok, the rest not so good.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the newer one with Donald Sutherland.

War of the Worlds, not the Tom Cruise version.

[redqueen]

37. Blade Runner & 2001

Those are my favorite movies of all time, too. :)

[kwassa]

40. the original "War of the Worlds"

[judaspriestess]

43. I don't know why but I really love Dune

n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

44. It's got a good cheese factor.

Guitar riffs while riding sand worms is totally rad.

Too bad the dialogue stunk.

And what was with everybody whipering what they were thinking?! (that makes me so mad!)







Mmmmmmmmmmmm, Shai-hulud!

[bikebloke]

45. Serenity

For Firefly fans.

[Minnesota_Lib]

46. Bladerunner and The Thing from Another World (1951 original)

[Redstone]

47. Blade Runner. Of course.

Redstone

[Common Sense Party]

48. Outland, with Sean Connery.

It's technically a Western, in outer space.