Great Sci-Fi Movies

ZOS23xy · 02-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by midlifebear

Mars Needs Women! (best camp sci fi from the 50's)

The Body Snatchers (The original from 1955. Made the weirdness of the 50's and the nasty taste of McCarthyism even more unpalatable.)

The Blob (The original from the 50's. Steve McQueen Saves the little town -- what a heart throb. Plus the blob was pretty frightening for a 1950's angst fest.)

I might add, I saw all of these films in the little movie theatre in my agrarian home town in Ewetaw when they were first released.

Well, MARS NEEDS WOMEN is from the 60's as Tommy Kirk was a tad young to be playing an adult then. I though this was a stiff, plodding movie.

THE BODY SNATCHERS wasn't about the McCarthyism (or the Red Scare, but those elements are obvious comparisons), since Jack Finney always said he wrote the novel to scare people.

I think I like THE BLOB's remake, since it was funny and better paced. In the original there's long bits of nothing happening.

Might add the hokey SF Film KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE uses THE BODY SNATCHERS and THE BLOB as templates, though the film has some weird charm of its own.

ManlyBanisters · 02-21-2008

Most of my favourites have been mentioned here already and quite honestly there are very few sci-fi movies I won't watch and very few I do watch that I don't enjoy on some level.

I've scrolled through the thread though and I can't believe no has mentioned John Carpenter's Dark Star - it's fucking brilliant!! Did I miss the mention - or have none of you seen it? Or am I alone in loving it, maybe? I mean it is very low tech (alien equals painted beachball with feet stuck on

) but the conversations with the bomb are some of the funniest moments in sci-fi movie history, if you ask me. And the end is bloody great too.

"Don't give me any of that intelligent life crap, just give me something I can blow up"

Dark Star (1974) - Seriously - check it out.

EDIT: But then I love Mars Attacks too - so that might just be me (Ack! Ack-ack-ack-ack-aaaaack!)

Guy-jin · 02-21-2008

Alien is now and probably forever my favorite science fiction film.
Recently, Pitch Black was an excellent sci-fi film, I thought.

It's unfortunate it spawned the abomination that was "Chronicles of Riddick", but that doesn't take away from the original. It really felt like it was hearkening back to Alien to me, though certainly not quite as good a film.

jason_els · 02-21-2008

My Faves:

Blade Runner

Forbidden Planet

Un Voyage Dans La Lune

The Thing

When Worlds Collide

Rocket Ship X-M

(these are discounting Star Wars and Star Trek)

midlifebear · 02-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZOS23xy

Well, MARS NEEDS WOMEN is from the 60's as Tommy Kirk was a tad young to be playing an adult then. I though this was a stiff, plodding movie. You are correct, sir! It was 1966 or 67. But given the the choice between Plan 9 From Outer Space (as much as I am amused by Ed Wood) the stupidity of Mars Needs Women has always made me giggle. Tommy Kirk? Yea Gods! There's a name that's gone from memory.

THE BODY SNATCHERS wasn't about the McCarthyism (or the Red Scare, but those elements are obvious comparisons), since Jack Finney always said he wrote the novel to scare people. Jack Finney may have not intended any metaphorical comparison with McCarthyism, but Don Siegel, who directed the film, can be seen in the Filmakers on Film series produced by USC noting that he intended there to be obvious comparisons because although he was too young (or dumb) to be black listed, he felt he had the opportunity to push the envelope in support of those whose careers had been destroyed. Kevin McCarthy, the actor in the film, was considered a friend and supporter of the "better dead than red" Hollywood crowd.

I think I like THE BLOB's remake, since it was funny and better paced. In the original there's long bits of nothing happening. The remake of the Blob doesn't have the same dumbness as the original (nor does it have Steve McQueen). It's the zeitgeist of the 1950's teens facing the fact they could have be absorbed into a hokey red jelly substance while sucking face in the balcony of the theatre in which they are watching the film that I love. With the advent of Freddy Kruger, teens EXPECT to be sliced and diced and are disappointed when they don't get their money's worth of blood and guts. I prefer the more simple version. Besides, it caused my mother to quit making J-ELLO and trying to pass it off as dessert.

Might add the hokey SF Film KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE uses THE BODY SNATCHERS and THE BLOB as templates, though the film has some weird charm of its own. The Killer Klowns from Outer Space is truly a fine homage to the earlier Snatcher and Blob films. I never have or will trust a Klown (clown). And now we all know what cotton candy is actually used for. Again, I will have trouble sleeping. A pox on you for reminding me of that film. (Well, not a real pox. Just wake up tomorrow with polka dots on your face made with red crayon and I'll be happy.)

On a funner note, I think the art direction and feel of Blade Runner is incredible. Probably one of the most beautiful films ever made. But again, the movie treads superficially upon the actual novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. The worst think Ridley Scott did was change the location of the earth city from San Francisco to Los Angeles. There is so much going on in the novel that an accurate film adaptation would probably require making it into a series as the Sci Fi Channel eventually did with Dune. Not as campy as the original film, no Mr. Sting standing naked and grinning, but much closer to the original plodding intent of the author.

I'm just biding my time waiting for this fascination with vampires to fade so more intelligent, challenging sci fi films can be churned out. After all, look at how much mileage they got out of Gattica (sp?) with just good acting, excellent art direction, and the snob appeal of casting Gore Vidal. Plus, the Marin County Civic Center has never looked so good on film.

Great Sci-Fi Movies

Originally Posted by midlifebear Mars Needs Women! (best camp sci fi from the 50's) The Body Snatchers (The original from 1955. Made the weirdness of the 50's and the nasty taste of McCarthyism even more