Your top 5 sci-fi movies (and why)

[The Soloist]

Mostly. "Hornblower in space", sure.

It's got a few other things going for it. Montalban is excellent and totally challenges Shatner for scenery-chewing, giving us a distinctive and memorable villain for the ages. The ceti eels are horrifying (scarred me as a kid) and fun. The climax "submarine" battle between the two ships is wonderfully dramatic and the resolution a very sci-fi tactical one, and the finale with Kirk and Spock and the engine room is a classic tearjerker and sendoff for a beloved character. It's melodrama, but exceptional melodrama.

These elements only work if you enjoy seeing TV actor level acting on the big screen. The disparity has become more unwatchable, for me, with the passage of time.

 

[agrayday]

That was a bizarre movie. Funny you bring it up I posted the Public Image track hete just the other day.

ha! that was the only reason i watched that movie (PIL), it reminded me of Saturn III and A Boy and his dog movies.

 

[Cadence]

Some listed above I have never seen and I need to. With those gaps in my film watching noted, I am solid on my top 3 from those I have seen:

1. Blade Runner. I always wonder if the voice over cut helps a lot of people the first time, but after that I'd go for another cut. The visuals and world building are magnificent, and the pacing and plot fit it well. I love this movie.

2. Star Wars (A New Hope). I wish Rogue I had been made after Andor to more seamlessly fit with between the two. I like Empire more, but this one feels more important. If you stop with IV it also means you don't need to go on past V to VI in order to get an ending. Is it more of a western in space? Those were the defining toys of a generation, right?

3. Alien. Could probably be talked into Aliens. I need to rewatch them both and introduce my son to them. If non-goofy extraterrestrials are an important thing, then this has them.

And then it gets harder (to pick, not Sci-Fi-ness)

4. Fifth Element
and
5. Men in Black

Could go in either order or maybe one or both could probably be replaced by something else if you make me go rewatch a bunch of stuff. Both are ones I really enjoy actually watching. I think I judge sci-fi trying to take itself seriously a lot harder than I do the stuff trying to be fun when it comes to plot and faux-science.

Other possibilities...

Iron Man - ignoring the rest of the MCU, this is solidly sci-fi, right? I really like it. But if I get a super-hero list I will put it there and it saves me deciding if I want to make it 4 or 5 above and then deciding which of the current 4 or 5 to bump down.

Predator - I'm still disappointed our hero didn't blow up in the end. But, at first blush, it is the highest of the Schwarzenegger ones for me and if he had blown up too it might make my top 5.

And not...

2001 - Saw it recently for the first time (as noted in the Kubrick thread) and there is 45 minutes of a great sci-fi movie in there. Which is an hour and a half short of nailing it as the total package for being an all time great

Black Hole - Saw it when it came out as a pre-teen and apparently blotted out the end. Had fond memories of it and so saw it for the second time a couple years ago again. I now have memories of having fond memories of it.

 

[Deset Gled]

2. Star Wars (A New Hope). ... I like Empire more, but this.one feels more important.

I find it interesting how many people (myself included) all seem to say Empire Strikes Back is their favorite, but agree that Star Wars is a "best'. It's very parallel to the fact that Wrath of Khan has made multiple appearances here is a "Top 5" sci-fi, but Voyage Home tends to be more consistently ranked as the fan favorite.

It's like we all have an understanding that our personal "favorite" may be important for our personal history, nostalgia, and entertainment, but is not the same a objectively good craftsmanship and artistry. Which makes a lot of sense. Until you remember we're on a D&D message board and think of all the edition war threads.

 

[Epic Meepo]

It's popped up several times now; when people mention this film I immediately go to the one long take w/ main cast through the building.

I was lucky enough to have seen Children of Men without knowing anything about it. To this day, I still remember getting to that scene and asking, a short way into it, "Wait, have they not cut away to a different camera yet?"

 

[The Soloist]

Empire Strikes Back is better but it could not exist without the first one. I still rank ESB my number one SW movie. The reveal was shocking at the time. The Hoth ground assault, the inclusion of Lando, the beautiful cloud city, Luke's Training and crushing ending step away from the 'Sunday matinee Flash Gordon' influences into real drama.

 

[CSMcFarland]

TRON
Buckaroo Banzai
Forbidden Planet
Andromeda Strain

And oh ... let's say ... Ice Pirates. No, just kidding. Alien Nation.

I'm not even sure these really need much explanation. Often overlooked good sci-fi.

 

[Autumnal]

Buckaroo Banzai would easily make a favorites list for me. It’s a latter-day pulp classic with an awesome soundtrack.

Taken on its own, Iron Man is definitely an sf adventure.

 

[dragoner]

I'm super torn over this one. The original theatrical version is the one I first fell in love with, but Ford did hate those voiceovers and phone them in, and the flatness of his performance on them is a thing. I think the Director's Cut (without the voiceovers and with the dream) edges out the original, for me.

The firestorm that errupted when Scott said Deckard was a replicant was humorous. Though even w/o Gaff leaving the origami unicorn on the landing, it was fairly well presaged.

 

[Ryujin]

TRON
Buckaroo Banzai
Forbidden Planet
Andromeda Strain

And oh ... let's say ... Ice Pirates. No, just kidding. Alien Nation.

I'm not even sure these really need much explanation. Often overlooked good sci-fi.

I have the special anniversary edition, with 'archival scenes.' Break it out at least once a year.