I will tell you I have not included any Star Wars or Star Trek films on the basis of duh. Those films are already classics. They are included on everyone's list. I have included films that may be a little obscured, but still great films. It doesn't mean I don't like Alien or Mad Max. Nor do I shun at Empire Strikes Back or Wrath of Khan (which are the best in both franchises, in my opinion). Plus, if I included all six Star Wars and all 9 Star Treks, obviously, my list would have been already completed and there would be no substance. Sometimes, time forgets some of the gems that were around the diamonds. So, while I do have some blockbusters on this list, I want to bring these back to the spotlight. If you ask anyone to name a Science Fiction movie, more than likely you will hear Star Wars or Star Trek.
This list is not in any particular order due to the fact that they are different kinds of science fiction, not all set in a specific parameter. Without further adieu, I present to you my Top 15 Sci-Fi films (that seem to be forgotten about).
1) Total Recall (1990)
I remember being a young lad and freaking out over Ahnuld pulling the tracker from his nose. Also, I remember stopping and rewinding to see the chick with the three knockers. But, as I came of age, I decided to watch it (well, it was more for the three knockers chick) and my mind was blown! I mean jeez! The whole movie was a mind fuck that did not disappoint.
2) Blade Runner (1982)
I know of no other movie that has so many different cuts to it. Seven is the official count, but I am sure there are fan boys out there that have made their own. Also, who could forget the "curse" that came with it. Coca-Cola, Budweiser, and TDK seemed to escape it's wrath. But, this film was lost to me for a good portion of my life. I have seen it video stores, but never really bothered. Until one night I decided, "What the hell?". While the film is a bit slow, the special effects and story did keep me entertained. Also, dwelling in religion to the moral implications of genetic engineering was my foray into reading the philosophy of religion.
3) Soylent Green (1973)
The first time I heard of this movie was when I was watching a classic episode of SNL on Comedy Central one day in my early teens. The premise of the sketch was other products produced by the Soylent Corporation and the joke was they were all made from people. So, I decided to watch it. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though I already knew the surprise ending. Dystopian futures seem to be around a lot in sci-fi and their take on overpopulation and reduced resources, kept me intrigued.
4) Logan's Run (1976)
I heard of this film in passing a few times. I would nod to keep fan boys happy, but in truth I never saw it. But, curiosity finally got the better of me and I rented it. Another story of a dystopian society dealing with the problem of overpopulation. While you do have the main story, there is an underlining message concerning death and an afterlife and the perceptions as such. A must see.
5) Planet of the Apes (1968)
What brought me to this movie was the overran clip of Charlton Heston telling the damn dirty apes to keep their filthy paws off of him. I like the dynamics of a highly "religious" community and the effect science has on them. I remember the scene when Heston makes a paper airplane to show flight is possible and Cornelius crumbles it up. And nothing beats an ending of realization of your former society.
6) Back to the Future (1985)
A classic, I know, but it doesn't seem to be shown on TV anymore. It is in way becoming lost. But what can be said about this movie to make it even more awesome? How about in the Blue-Ray DVD release, there is a short clip from Jaws 19 in 3-D! Plus, for $40K you can buy a DeLorean.
7) The Terminator (1984)
This is another classic, but more is shown to T2 (which is another awesome flick) than this one. This was the launch pad to all other Terminator incarnations. An awesome story of a future where it is man vs. machine, time travel, and a simplified killing process. Who knew he would use a phone book to attempt to find her?
8) Altered States (1980)
Now, this film doesn't have a ton of special effects. But the story is amazing! A pyschologist who ponders if "our other states of consciousness are as real as our waking states". He starts playing with flotation tanks with some help from some hallucinogens, he begins to devolve. He begins to emerge from the tank as a previous form, first as a primitive man and works his way to a primordial goo. He stopped by his wife before he can become a state of conscious. It is an awesome film and I highly recommend it. As a side note, for the music video for "Take on Me" by A-Ha, they referenced the film when the lead singer was banging on the wall to make himself a being instead of a drawing.
9) Stargate (1994)
While some see it as a history sci-fi or action sci-fi, I just call it awesome. An uncovered artifact near the pyramids, brings an egyptologist to translate the hieroglyphics. After correctly inputting the symbols, a wormhole opens to another galaxy. It seems just like Earth (more specifically, Egypt). They meet a band of people that speak an ancient Egyptian dialect and help them with their problem. That problem being enslaved by the "god" Ra. While the main story was amazing, I also enjoyed the underlining message of the perception of God. I mean if we traveled back in time, wouldn't our ancestors perceive us as gods?
10) 12 Monkeys (1995)
Now, this movie has mind fuck written all over it! And only a in way Terry Gilliam can deliver! Bruce Willis travels back in time to stop a deadly virus that will force the human population underground. I don't want to really spoil it because this is definitely one to see without any knowledge other than the basic premise I just wrote. Also, the thinking about memories, reality, and technology that comes after viewing is definitely fun for my fellow thinkers.
11) Event Horizon (1997)
This is the only sci-fi film that I can only watch during the day or with other people if the setting is at night. It freaks the hell out of me, ever has since my first viewing. But that is what made it good. A rescue attempt of a missing/found vessel and the weird shit that happens. Another one that I don't want to give away. Freaky and Fun, definitely a must see.
12) Contact (1997)
This one is an interesting one. It is set in the present, there is no "new" technology, just we are being contacted by an alien species. This is truly a great adaptation of Carl Sagan's novel of the same name. It touches on using mathematics as a language, the politics concerning contact, the moral implications of the religious, and the perception of space travel. Not a whole lot of bells and whistles with this film, but the story is astonishing.
13) E.T. (1982)
I know another classic, but it seems a little lost nowadays. I used to see this film everywhere. But now there is no viewings on any sort of television and it doesn't seem to be referenced the way it used to be. For being a huge movie, it seems to be dying in our collective memory.
14) Tron (1982)
Every software developers worst nightmare come to life. Obviously, it has an ending only Disney can deliver. This was also one of the first movies to use computer generated graphics. Remember the bike scene? Looks cheesy now, but back then that was cutting edge!
15) The Fly (1986)
This is a remake of the 1958 film, but it holds a different plot. A cautionary tale of drunkenness and teleportation. While at first Jeff Goldblum loves his "new" self, he quickly discovers the mistake, and begins to deteriorate. When his fingernails start falling off, I cringe every time.
I remember being a young lad and freaking out over Ahnuld pulling the tracker from his nose. Also, I remember stopping and rewinding to see the chick with the three knockers. But, as I came of age, I decided to watch it (well, it was more for the three knockers chick) and my mind was blown! I mean jeez! The whole movie was a mind fuck that did not disappoint.
2) Blade Runner (1982)
I know of no other movie that has so many different cuts to it. Seven is the official count, but I am sure there are fan boys out there that have made their own. Also, who could forget the "curse" that came with it. Coca-Cola, Budweiser, and TDK seemed to escape it's wrath. But, this film was lost to me for a good portion of my life. I have seen it video stores, but never really bothered. Until one night I decided, "What the hell?". While the film is a bit slow, the special effects and story did keep me entertained. Also, dwelling in religion to the moral implications of genetic engineering was my foray into reading the philosophy of religion.
3) Soylent Green (1973)
The first time I heard of this movie was when I was watching a classic episode of SNL on Comedy Central one day in my early teens. The premise of the sketch was other products produced by the Soylent Corporation and the joke was they were all made from people. So, I decided to watch it. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though I already knew the surprise ending. Dystopian futures seem to be around a lot in sci-fi and their take on overpopulation and reduced resources, kept me intrigued.
4) Logan's Run (1976)
I heard of this film in passing a few times. I would nod to keep fan boys happy, but in truth I never saw it. But, curiosity finally got the better of me and I rented it. Another story of a dystopian society dealing with the problem of overpopulation. While you do have the main story, there is an underlining message concerning death and an afterlife and the perceptions as such. A must see.
5) Planet of the Apes (1968)
What brought me to this movie was the overran clip of Charlton Heston telling the damn dirty apes to keep their filthy paws off of him. I like the dynamics of a highly "religious" community and the effect science has on them. I remember the scene when Heston makes a paper airplane to show flight is possible and Cornelius crumbles it up. And nothing beats an ending of realization of your former society.
6) Back to the Future (1985)
A classic, I know, but it doesn't seem to be shown on TV anymore. It is in way becoming lost. But what can be said about this movie to make it even more awesome? How about in the Blue-Ray DVD release, there is a short clip from Jaws 19 in 3-D! Plus, for $40K you can buy a DeLorean.
7) The Terminator (1984)
This is another classic, but more is shown to T2 (which is another awesome flick) than this one. This was the launch pad to all other Terminator incarnations. An awesome story of a future where it is man vs. machine, time travel, and a simplified killing process. Who knew he would use a phone book to attempt to find her?
8) Altered States (1980)
Now, this film doesn't have a ton of special effects. But the story is amazing! A pyschologist who ponders if "our other states of consciousness are as real as our waking states". He starts playing with flotation tanks with some help from some hallucinogens, he begins to devolve. He begins to emerge from the tank as a previous form, first as a primitive man and works his way to a primordial goo. He stopped by his wife before he can become a state of conscious. It is an awesome film and I highly recommend it. As a side note, for the music video for "Take on Me" by A-Ha, they referenced the film when the lead singer was banging on the wall to make himself a being instead of a drawing.
9) Stargate (1994)
While some see it as a history sci-fi or action sci-fi, I just call it awesome. An uncovered artifact near the pyramids, brings an egyptologist to translate the hieroglyphics. After correctly inputting the symbols, a wormhole opens to another galaxy. It seems just like Earth (more specifically, Egypt). They meet a band of people that speak an ancient Egyptian dialect and help them with their problem. That problem being enslaved by the "god" Ra. While the main story was amazing, I also enjoyed the underlining message of the perception of God. I mean if we traveled back in time, wouldn't our ancestors perceive us as gods?
10) 12 Monkeys (1995)
Now, this movie has mind fuck written all over it! And only a in way Terry Gilliam can deliver! Bruce Willis travels back in time to stop a deadly virus that will force the human population underground. I don't want to really spoil it because this is definitely one to see without any knowledge other than the basic premise I just wrote. Also, the thinking about memories, reality, and technology that comes after viewing is definitely fun for my fellow thinkers.
11) Event Horizon (1997)
This is the only sci-fi film that I can only watch during the day or with other people if the setting is at night. It freaks the hell out of me, ever has since my first viewing. But that is what made it good. A rescue attempt of a missing/found vessel and the weird shit that happens. Another one that I don't want to give away. Freaky and Fun, definitely a must see.
12) Contact (1997)
This one is an interesting one. It is set in the present, there is no "new" technology, just we are being contacted by an alien species. This is truly a great adaptation of Carl Sagan's novel of the same name. It touches on using mathematics as a language, the politics concerning contact, the moral implications of the religious, and the perception of space travel. Not a whole lot of bells and whistles with this film, but the story is astonishing.
13) E.T. (1982)
I know another classic, but it seems a little lost nowadays. I used to see this film everywhere. But now there is no viewings on any sort of television and it doesn't seem to be referenced the way it used to be. For being a huge movie, it seems to be dying in our collective memory.
14) Tron (1982)
Every software developers worst nightmare come to life. Obviously, it has an ending only Disney can deliver. This was also one of the first movies to use computer generated graphics. Remember the bike scene? Looks cheesy now, but back then that was cutting edge!
15) The Fly (1986)
This is a remake of the 1958 film, but it holds a different plot. A cautionary tale of drunkenness and teleportation. While at first Jeff Goldblum loves his "new" self, he quickly discovers the mistake, and begins to deteriorate. When his fingernails start falling off, I cringe every time.
There you have it. I hope you enjoyed the list. I highly recommend everyone of these films. As with every thing else I seem to write, while all these movies have a main story plot, I encourage you to find the "deeper" meaning. It's fun to think about and it brings a whole new level to the movie. To me, it enhances it, making me enjoy it more. Also, I know I used television as an example, but that is where it usually starts. Considering networks churn out mostly mediocre movies, you would think they would throw a classic in the rotation. But, I digress...Feel free to list your own!
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