In lieu of a new story this week, I want to talk about movies. I love science fiction movies. Ever since I was a kid and watched every episode of Star Trek with my Mom, I have been fascinated with the new places and new ideas that science fiction stories present. Naturally, I loved the latest Star Trek film. I hope they’ll make more.
When I watched The Matrix for the first time, I was in awe of the concept of humans as batteries, and impressed by the special effects which allowed me to see what that might be like.
My current favorite is probably Avatar, since it combines my love of indigenous people with a cool new planet and lots of great sci-fi technology.
A few oldies but goodies for me include The Fifth Element, Twelve Monkeys, E.T., and I Robot (not that old…). While some of my favorite non-blockbusters are Chronicles of Riddick (sequel to Pitch Black, which was pretty cool too) and Aeon Flux.
I’m also a sucker for superhero movies. I’m not sure if they’re technically science fiction, but I love X-Men, Captain America, and Avengers.
A few recent movies that I thought were based on really great ideas are In Time, I Am Number 4, and Inception.
How about you? What are you favorite Science Fiction Movies?
It’s hard to pin down. I usually love the 1st in a series because it’s a new world, new concepts, not that they’re always the best one of the series; ie, Star Wars, Harry Potter (fantasy). I, Robot was good, but nothing like the book. I loved that book. The one with Robin Williams as a robot who became almost human…can’t remember the name. Anyway, I do enjoy good sci-fi and fantasy movies.
I completely agree with you on preferring the first movie (or book) in a series. I love the new idea that leaves me daydreaming for weeks. Sometimes the next storyline is as good or better, but the idea is no longer fresh. I think the movie with Robin Williams was Bicentennial Man. I had forgotten about that one, but I did enjoy that movie as well.
Like Donna, I’m finding it hard to decide on just one, so I’ll do what literary critics always do in situations like these – waffle on it and claim I need a list of ten. Here goes, in no particular order of importance:
1. Blade Runner. It’s just timeless, and the imagery complements the plot to the point where one becomes the other. Every time I watch it, I discover something I hadn’t noticed before.
2. 2010: the Year We Make Contact. It’s odd that I should like this movie as much as like 2001, but there’s something about it that just resonates with me. I love the architecture of the ship, and the return of David Bowman, and the whole brink-of-war scenario.
3. 2001: a Space Odyssey. The prologue alone is a whole short movie in and of itself, and the rest is… transcendental.
4. The Thirteenth Floor. In my opinion, the concept underpinning the movie – which I won’t reveal for the sake of those who haven’t seen it – makes The Matrix feel almost trivial (almost). I think it’s one of the most underrated SF movies of the last twenty years or so.
5. A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. Spielberg’s metafictional work on SF as fable and fairy-tale is phenomenal, I think, and I love the ending.
6. The Terminator. One of the great SF stories in visual form.
7. Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The director’s cut makes an already excellent movie into something great.
8. The Matrix. The visionary power of the cinematography has endured despite all the advance in special effects. What a story, and what a miserable way to ruin it with two aimless sequels.
9. Serenity. It’s Joss Whedon, OK?
10. Deep Impact. As understated as it is, the movie has weathered much better than, say, Armageddon, and the astronauts’ sacrifice at the end remains very, very moving. Also, do you remember that tsunami?
There. I waffled, and I’m proud of it, dammit!
Way to waffle Simone! (notice my list was pretty long as well:) Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I also loved Serenity and Deep Impact. I hadn’t heard of The Thirteenth Floor, but I’m going to have to rent that one! Ooh, and what about K-Pax? You’ve gotta love Kevin Spacey!
I went ahead and bought 13th floor on Blu-ray. Awesome ! The reviews for the movie were horrible, and I think it is because people weren’t paying attention to the story ! I thought it was very well done. Thank you for making me aware of it !
Definitely Matrix for me…..love the eastern philosophies throughout and the fight scenes can not be beat.
I agree on the fight scenes. Nothing like a woman kicking butt in slow motion right? :)
That is like picking a favorite song ! No way Jose’ ! I too will need a list, in no particular order…
The 1st Matrix movie. Great concept with ground-breaking visuals, and yes the sequels were terrible.
The original Planet of the Apes with Charleton Heston. Unsettling reversal, then more shocking at the end.
Blade Runner…. the scene when Rutger Hauer dies rips my heart out every time. The ambiance of this movie is amazing.
Silent Running – A poignant little film from the early 70′s with Bruce Dern on an atrium-type space ship tending the last vegetation from earth. I think the idea for R2D2 may have come from this one.
Alien….. The new movie Prometheus was also a very nicely done prequel to this. The visual artwork of Giger is unsettling but you can’t help looking at it. The story is brutal.
Back to the Future… Big fun with time travel. The Chuck Berry thing is hilarious.
12 Monkeys… Great acting in a very quirky mirky story.
The new Star Trek movie really nailed the personalities of the original Enterprise crew, and they are working on another movie. I think it is better than any of the other Star Trek movies !
The 1st Terminator… My firstborn watched that movie soooooooooo many times, he can recite the entire script word for word !
Predator… The first one was intense. The sequels weren’t bad, then they did the Alien vs Predator thing and it went down the toilet.
Avatar was visually stunning, but the story was only Pocahontas re-done with overly tall smurf colored creatures.
I think a bunch of the TV Sci-Fi had better story lines than the movies. (Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Outer Limits), but that is another post !
I think that Super Hero movies are more Fantasy than Sci-Fi, but the lines are blurry…
Some other faves that are Fantasy but border on Sci-Fi…
Harry Potter – each and every movie great in it’s own right, wonderful storytelling and a visual feast. Best series ever.
Indiana Jones – ?
The 1st Mummy ?
Time Bandits – the kid in me watches this once a year
What Dreams may Come – Love Conquers all (even in the darkest places)
Jack – touching
I think I am now asking the question “What is the difference between Science Fiction and Fantasy” ?
Thanks for the starter question Nicole, have great week !
Whew, that is quite a list! Thanks for sharing all of those Scott. I forgot about Planet of the Apes, I loved those (the originals). The new one is worth watching but didn’t have the same impact for me.
As far as the difference between science fiction and fantasy, I think people have been trying to answer that for long time. Which is why they’ve now come up with the term “speculative fiction” which can encompass both for those people or projects which no one can neatly categorize. In general I think science fiction has to have some basis in reality or possibility. It can include beings from other planets, unheard of technology, even elements that seem like magic but have a scientific explanation. Fantasy usually incorporates non-scientific magic, other realms (like fairy), or humans in other worlds that have similarities to Earth but aren’t Earth- and the people didn’t get there by spaceship or wormhole. When I looked up the definition it said that science fiction is – Fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes. Fantasy is everything else magical, supernatural, and other-wordly that you can imagine and you don’t have to justify it with science.
There are so many really awesome Sci-fi movies that it’s difficult to choose–plus, as we become more advanced with special effects (Avator) some older beloved films begin to lose their luster.
As a really young child, Tobor the Great, Jason and the Argonauts, and Mystery Island made a huge impression on my young mind. These were films from my parent’s heyday but they were played on a beloved Sunday afternoon show called Family Classics from the late 1960′s-1970′s. I would watch these shows and just hunger for more. And they were soooo hokey! Lol. Star Wars was the first truly amazing set of movies that were realistically mesmerizing. Though they now pale against today’s sophisticated computer driven films, the memory of the wonder is still unmatched. The bar has been raised so high, I expect to be transported and am disappointed if I am not. :)
Fun post!
I agree D.D., about having high expectations now. I can remember two instances in the last few years where I was struck with the extreme difference in special effects and those “computer driven films”. One is Fahrenheit 451- amazing book, incredible film for its time, but when I watch it now I have to laugh at the shots of the miniature sets. Another is Tron. I mistakenly ordered the first Tron instead of Tron legacy, and as we started watching the original I just kept thinking “did they make this retro on purpose?”. It was such an interesting story but, compared to what we have now, kind of hokey. I finally read the sleeve and got it sorted out. I did like the original, but it’s such a contrast from the new version.
Thanks for you input!
Avatar, hands down! Others I enjoy are I, Robot, The Matrix, The Fifth Element, Looper was pretty good (tho it’s slightly crossover with fantasy), MIB (that counts, right? lol), Super 8 and so many others! I haven’t yet seen Cloud Atlas but I think it would fall into this category as well. Great question, Nicole!
Men in Black definitely counts! :) I’ve never heard of Looper, I’ll have to look that up, and I really want to see Cloud Atlas. Did you see John Carter? I can’t decide if I want to watch it after all the negative reviews.
Yes! You want to watch John Carter. I loved it–we laughed so hard.