Classic sci fi movies

Post by **Graham Kennedy** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:17 am

Let's come up with the list of "must have" classic science fiction movies. And just for giggles, let's have you explain why your pick is such a classic.

I don't object to modern movies being involved if you really want to, but we all know that such a collection would have the Star Wars and Matrix movies, so do we really need to bother listing them? I'd like to hear about the older, groundbreaking movies!

I am going for Forbidden Planet. One of the first movies that showed interstellar travel as a "workmanlike" affair, done by somebody other than egghead scientist types. It was a huge influence on the likes of Star Trek; check out the banter between the senior officers, the "monster" that turns out to be anything but a cliche. There's even a babe for the captain to fall for!

Add in great dialogue, a plot that is interesting and thought provoking, and you even get to see Leslie Nielsen not cracking jokes! What more could anybody ask?

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:39 am

I'll second Forbidden Planet, one of the greats that's still watchable today. And I'll nominate a movie from the 60's whose name I can't remember. I belive it's based of an Issac Asimov book where they recover a secret agent and then shrink a submarine with a crew inside to send in his brain to remove a clot.

*Edit: It's called Fantastic Voyage.

Varthikes · Post by **Varthikes** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:54 am

Mmm... Classic sci-fi...

I think I would say Tron. I like the portrayal of the world within computers.

Post by **Captain Seafort** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 10:33 am

I'd disagree with the Matrix movies. The first was a great commentary on paranoia, and an interesting concept, but the sequels, once the novelty of the basic premise had worn off, were distinctly average.

Per the OP - Silent Running. A good underlying concept of the agricultural ship, and it introduced the "cute little robot" stock character.

celeritas · Post by **celeritas** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:54 pm

i must go with 2001: a space odyssey with its incredibly huge story, its rare to see a movie with such depth. for those who didn't get the movie, go check out: http://www.kubrick2001.com/.

is bladerunner considered classic sci-fi? in fact, i'm not sure if 2001 or bladerunner would be considered "classic", being not from the era of forbidden planet, but both have clearly made quite an impact in film and sci-fi.

Bryan Moore · Post by **Bryan Moore** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:21 pm

Bladerunner was going to be my choice. It has to be one of the best sci-fi movies ever made. But if we go by that as classic, Star Wars gets shoved up there too.

celeritas · Post by **celeritas** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:27 pm

yes, unfortunately i don't know very many pre-70's sci-fi movies. in fact, both bladerunner and tron was released before my time.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:36 pm

Logan's Run is a great 70's classic. Wikipedia has a basic outline of it.

Varthikes · Post by **Varthikes** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 9:36 pm

celeritas wrote:yes, unfortunately i don't know very many pre-70's sci-fi movies. in fact, both bladerunner and tron was released before my time.

Before mine, too.

Post by **Mikey** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 9:56 pm

Don't make me out to be TOO old, guys - Blade Runner was early 80's. BTW - read the novel - Philip K. Dick's [/i]Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

What about The Day The Earth Stood Still

celeritas · Post by **celeritas** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 10:08 pm

Mikey wrote:Don't make me out to be TOO old, guys - Blade Runner was early 80's.

yup. that makes it a quarter century old and a year older than me =p

i read parts of electric sheep but i never finished it. kind of want to check out the minority report short story...no time though; med school is the monster that consumes my life.

Bryan Moore · Post by **Bryan Moore** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 1:23 am

Mikey wrote:Don't make me out to be TOO old, guys - Blade Runner was early 80's. BTW - read the novel - Philip K. Dick's [/i]Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

What about The Day The Earth Stood Still

Klatuu, Nikto, Barada!

celeritas · Post by **celeritas** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:27 am

hey congrats lieutenant moore on that promotion there!

so, speaking of philip dick, has anybody seen the a scanner, darkly movie with keanu reeves? i heard from my friends that it was rather boring.

Post by **Mikey** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 3:17 am

Thank you and congrats, Lt. Moore! I was starting to feel like I would have to post responses from a retirement home!

I've seen bits of A Scanner, Darkly on cable, and it looks like it's all sizzle, no steak.

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:22 am

Congrats on the promotion Bryan.

And I'm going to second Bladerunner. Great film.