Movies for hardcore sci-fi geeks

Ivan Seeking

That is at the top of my list of favorite Who episodes. They only exist when not observed...

Huckleberry

Yes, yes it is!

I wish I had heard about it while it was actually on the air. It's like whoever was in charge of PR for this one was asleep at the console. They must not have had much hope for a sci-fi western from the beginning because this great work went totally under my radar. I've usually at least heard of sci-fi movies or television shows that are noteworthy. I didn't even realize it existed until the movie 'Serenity' came out in the theaters. I thought that was pretty good, and I was completely blown away by the tv series, especially disc 3 of the boxed set.

Huckleberry

Hey Ivan, have you seen the 3rd season of Torchwood yet (Children of Earth)? If not it is being released on netflix at the end of this month. There is some crossover between Torchwood and Doctor Who series (as well as the anagram) so I figure you might want to check it out if you haven't yet.

fleem

Yep, torchwood was an offshoot of Dr Who--via Captain Jack. I didn't like Torchwood much, myself. i think Jack was a little hard to take at times. Trivia: Who was the Face of Boe??

Huckleberry

I enjoyed Torchwood, but Jack's sexuality was a bit "all up in your face" in a somewhat unpleasant way. I tolerate it because it is a good show nonetheless, but that aspect was not anything I care to see so regularly, particularly in the second season. Funny thing though, I don't think I would have minded so much if he wasn't such a playboy. Just personal preference I reckon, or prejudice if that suits... whomever.

I don't think most people will get the reference to Face of Boe unless they watch both series. I'd rather not say too much about that anyway. I enjoyed that episode and wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone else, but you made your trivia question too easy by context.

Ivan Seeking

Last night I watched 2010, which I hadn't seen in a very long time. In light of the news of late and AC Clarke's reputation for science and social prophesy, it was interesting to note that in 2010, the US and Russia [The Soviet] come to the brink of war over... Honduras.

Borek

First Alien.

Ivan Seeking

I haven't followed the Torchwood series but plan to get caught up eventually.

bucher

I enjoyed the Norby books as a kid. They were never made into movies but I think that they deserve an honorable mention.

Huckleberry

Great movie, no doubt. I've always been partial to the sequel, 'Aliens'.

I was sorely disappointed with the latest releases of the Alien versus Predator movies. I enjoy almost all sci-fi, and I wasn't expecting anything great from those films, and still I found them unbearably bad.

I'm ready for a turn to a more Hitchcock style cinema. I'm very tired of special effects driven stories. It's gotten to the point now that when I hear the word 'blockbuster' I immediately associate it with 'garbage'. The sci-fi genre has suffered much because of creative special effects and unimaginative plots lately.

Huckleberry

Another one of my favorites is John Carpenter's 'The Thing'. If you enjoyed 'Alien' then I would highly recommend this movie.

Borek

That's why I like Alien. You have no idea what is going on, but you know you have to run away. It doesn't happen on the screen - it happens in your head.

Ivan Seeking

While I appreciate good special effects as much as the next guy, I have to agree. As I think Primer and The Man from Earth conclusively demonstrate, the best science fiction needs no special effects.

FireSky86

Interesting. I have never seen 2010. Good to watch?

FireSky86

Agreed. Have you tried looking at any of Terrence Malick's films? They're beautiful. He almost got his PhD in Philosophy but instead went into film. He was Rhodes Scholar and was about to finish his thesis on Martin Heidegger. He is, in my opinion, one of the last great directors living today.

Huckleberry

The effects in the Alien movie were pretty good, but it didn't rely on them for effect. Modern movies have a tendency to put the wagon in front of the horse in that regard. I like effects as much as the next guy, or super cool sci-fi geek girl, but I agree that fear and other responses happen in one's head. When a movie gets this right then effects can be a great addition to it. I'm at a point now where movies like Primer and The Man from Earth gain appeal just because they understand that.

I'm not familiar with Malick's films. I read a little about him and found he directed 'The Thin Red Line' which was a good movie. Some of his other popular works are 'Badlands' and 'Days of Heaven'. He sounds like he could be the type of director who's work I might enjoy, so I'll be sure to check those out. Not really sci-fi as far as I can tell, but thanks nonetheless. A good movie speaks for itself beyond its genre.

A post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie that I enjoyed was 'A Boy and His Dog' starring a young Don Johnson of all people. It's about a young man's journey through a dangerous wasteland as he searches for a mythical utopia that his talking dog told him of. Through his travels he seeks out women and food with the help of his dog. It's a bit raunchy at time, which never bothered me in the least, but might turn some people off from it.

'Six-String Samurai' is another post-apocalyptic movie with more of a comedic approach. Elvis has died and a mysterious Buddy Holly like figure has to reach Las Vegas to become the new King of Rock'n'Roll to return peace to the wasteland. He rescues a mute boy along the way that tags along behind him and becomes something of a motivation for the katana wielding musician. A Slash like villian (from Guns & Roses) pursues him.

'Screamers', based on a short story by Phip K. Dick, is a good movie. There is a rare element on a distant planet and the miners have been in a protracted war against their corporate employers. The planet has become an irradiated desert seeded with viscious, saw-bladed killing machines called Screamers. After years of being holed up in their base and several months without any conflict the miners recieve a message asking them to negotiate a peace treaty. Throughout the movie they discover the truth of what has been happening as they fight to survive against the Screamers.

Danger

I've never actually managed to see that, but the original Harlan Ellison story that it was based upon, entitled 'Blood Was a Rover' was awesome. I hope that it pops up in the video shop sometime.