Movies for hardcore sci-fi geeks

[TheStatutoryApe]

Are they the band playing at the first community Buddy comes to after rescuing the boy? I seem to remember a band playing there.

I like the music in your link, but the video is terrible. There is film footage in it, but I don't remember anything like that video in the movie.

Yes. They were the band playing in that ruined bar, the ones with the "nice shoes" and all of them are wearing bright big lapeled suits. There are only two short clips of them from the movie in that video but it was the only one I could find quickly.

Over the weekend I saw both versions of Metropolis. It was refreshing to watch just for its differences from modern movies. The original remastered version had more subtitles and made a clearer story, but the Moroder version soundtrack was a great addition to the movie too. My favorite song was "Here She Comes" by Bonnie Tyler, followed by "Destruction" by Loverboy. Overall I think I prefer the remastered version for its effectiveness in telling the story, but watching both of them added to the enjoyment. It's the kind of movie I would watch several times and take a little something different away each time. Some may not be comfortable with the religious references and attitudes, but the main theme of the movie is a humanist message. Great movie!

This is another I need to see. I keep thinking of it but never get to it. I think that there is also an anime reinterpretation of it aswell. I'm not sure if you are interested in anime at all.
Which reminds me, I was going to try to think of good animated sci fi. I'll have to come back and do that later.

 

[DaveC426913]

Buckaroo Banzai!

 

[Huckleberry]

This is another I need to see. I keep thinking of it but never get to it. I think that there is also an anime reinterpretation of it aswell. I'm not sure if you are interested in anime at all.
Which reminds me, I was going to try to think of good animated sci fi. I'll have to come back and do that later.

I like some anime, though not all of it. I haven't really seen enough to explain exactly what kind I prefer and why. I've already mentioned one animated sci-fi 'Iron Giant', which is actually pretty good. I was surprised.

There was also a 'Macross Plus' movie that I enjoyed, though it's been forever since I've seen it. It was about two pilots who are almost polar opposites of each other, but they both love the same woman. I seem to remember something about a computer trying to take over the world too. It's kind of fuzzy, but I remember I enjoyed it at the time. The aerial battles were spectacular in both exaggeration and effect.

 

[Borek]

I did try that, Borek, and was totally lost. I can't read Polish. The 'kontakt' button seemed obvious, but didn't do anything as far as I could tell.

"borek at chembuddy dot com" was intended to be read as an email address

You can always go to and use feedback form there - I did my best to make it look as if it was in English

Edit: note, you will have to leave your email address to be sure I can get back to you. Feedback goes straight to my desk, so nobody will see it but me. If you will enter you email you should get a copy of your feedback; if you will not receive it - something went wrong and I will be able to answer...

 

[Borek]

To post something on the subject - if you will ever have a chance please watch Seksmisja (Sexmission) - Polish SF comedy shot in 1984. Cult movie here, will probably lost part of its charm outside of Poland, but should be still worth seeing.

 

[Huckleberry]

To post something on the subject - if you will ever have a chance please watch Seksmisja (Sexmission) - Polish SF comedy shot in 1984. Cult movie here, will probably lost part of its charm outside of Poland, but should be still worth seeing.

Haha! They have this on netflix. I'll check it out for sure. Sounds funny from the description they give.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

I like some anime, though not all of it. I haven't really seen enough to explain exactly what kind I prefer and why. I've already mentioned one animated sci-fi 'Iron Giant', which is actually pretty good. I was surprised.

There was also a 'Macross Plus' movie that I enjoyed, though it's been forever since I've seen it. It was about two pilots who are almost polar opposites of each other, but they both love the same woman. I seem to remember something about a computer trying to take over the world too. It's kind of fuzzy, but I remember I enjoyed it at the time. The aerial battles were spectacular in both exaggeration and effect.

I enjoyed Iron Giant too. I've not seen any of the Macross and similar movies.

The only major Sci Fi anime movie I can remember watching right now is Akira. Oh, and Ghost in the Shell. Both are very anime in style with extreme action sequences, incredibly soft boiled science, the obligatory questioning of what it means to be human, and a good dose of the surreal. They are good though perhaps an acquired taste.

Right now I have a few sci fi anime queued up. I'll get back to you after I watch them.

 

[DaveC426913]

The only major Sci Fi anime movie I can remember watching right now is Akira. Oh, and Ghost in the Shell. Both are very anime in style with extreme action sequences, incredibly soft boiled science, the obligatory questioning of what it means to be human, and a good dose of the surreal. They are good though perhaps an acquired taste.

Right now I have a few sci fi anime queued up. I'll get back to you after I watch them.

I watched Akira on the reco that it was the quintessential anime. I did not get it. I could not understand the point of the climax or why it went on and on and on.

It was Galaxy Express 999 that drew me into Anime. Oh, and of course Spirited Away, though that isn't really Anime.

 

[Borek]

Spirited Away, though that isn't really Anime.

Nor Sci Fi

 

[Danger]

"borek at chembuddy dot com" was intended to be read as an email address

Oops...
Done. Mail on the way.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Danger, just to add insult to injury, the SciFi channel is now the Syfy channel.

 

[Danger]

Danger, just to add insult to injury, the SciFi channel is now the Syfy channel.

Oh, geez...

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

I watched Akira on the reco that it was the quintessential anime. I did not get it. I could not understand the point of the climax or why it went on and on and on.

It was Galaxy Express 999 that drew me into Anime. Oh, and of course Spirited Away, though that isn't really Anime.

I think Akira is rather heavily laden with symbolism. Alot of the backdrop is apparently a historical allegory which is probably fairly obvious though much of the more subtle aspects are probably lost on those of us who do not know the history very intimately. That battle at the end that stretches on and on is definitely over the top though, I have no idea what that is all about except that the director may have wanted to make it seem particularly epic.

I've not see the two you mention though I have heard of Spirited Away. Recently I have been wanting to watch the animated films I never saw so I should check these out.

 

[Borek]

The fifth element.

 

[Topher925]

Speaking of anime, anyone ever see HellSing?

 

[Proton Soup]

The fifth element.

that is worth seeing just for Leeloo Dallas, but more into the Sci Fantasy category i think, like Dune.

 

[robertm]

Pi - Darren Aronofsky.

Awesome psychological thriller, I highly recommend.

Has a lot of cool cinematography, central theme of the plot is fundamental Number Theory, really cool.

 

[Huckleberry]

To post something on the subject - if you will ever have a chance please watch Seksmisja (Sexmission) - Polish SF comedy shot in 1984. Cult movie here, will probably lost part of its charm outside of Poland, but should be still worth seeing.

I watched Seksmisja tonight and enjoyed it. It doesn't lose any of its charm crossing cultures. Thanks for the reference. I don't think I ever would have found it if you hadn't mentioned it. I'll be sure to recommend it to other SF fans I meet who love foreign cult classics.

Danger, got another one for ya. Ever seen Cleopatra 2525? It's a tv series that went for two years in 2000 and 2001. Some bubblegum chewing ditzy girl has complications during a breast augmentation surgery and is frozen. She is revived 500 years in the future in an underground society. Machines have taken over the surface. She joins a rebel team with 2 other scantily clad fighting women. It's almost power ranger campy and a little tongue in cheek, but focused on a bit more mature audience and it moves right along. Gina Torres (Zoey from Firefly) is the leader of the 3 woman team. Not sure how much you would like it, but figure it might be worth mentioning.

 

[DaveC426913]

Some bubblegum chewing ditzy girl has complications during a breast augmentation surgery and is frozen.

Don't leave us hanging! Did they complete the augmentation before she got frozen??

 

[Borek]

I watched Seksmisja tonight and enjoyed it. It doesn't lose any of its charm crossing cultures. Thanks for the reference. I don't think I ever would have found it if you hadn't mentioned it. I'll be sure to recommend it to other SF fans I meet who love foreign cult classics.

Glad to hear that

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Aha! "Seksmisja" translates as "Sexmission". Now I know why Huck watched. Maybe I will take a look [I see Netflix does have it].

Leave it to Borek to recommend a dirty movie.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Oh, and of course Spirited Away, though that isn't really Anime.

Watched it. It was quite good. Not sure why I would not be anime though.

 

[Integral]

Anybody else watch, Torchwood: Childern of Earth ?

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Anybody else watch, Torchwood: Childern of Earth ?

They made a movie? I watched the series and thought it was pretty cheesy.

 

[Huckleberry]

Don't leave us hanging! Did they complete the augmentation before she got frozen??

Yes, they finished it. When she wakes up she seems pleased with the results. Then she has to escape from the people trying to harvest her organs.

edit - hers a youtube clip of the intro just for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YmnG2pzVgQ

Aha! "Seksmisja" translates as "Sexmission". Now I know why Huck watched. Maybe I will take a look [I see Netflix does have it].

Leave it to Borek to recommend a dirty movie.

It's not a dirty movie. There's quite a bit of sexual humor in it and some nudity, as much as you would expect to see in a European film. It's a long shot from porn. There are two men that volunteer for cryogenic sleep and wake up in a world ruled by women. Most of the movie is about them figuring out what is going on. It's good. I think you'll enjoy it.

Anybody else watch, Torchwood: Childern of Earth ?

Not yet. Netflix releases the series on the 28th of this month. It's already in my queue. You are talking about the series, right?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Anybody else watch, Torchwood: Childern of Earth ?

I keep missing the beginning of it and don't want to start midstory. Is it good?

 

[octelcogopod]

A strange movie which is kind of cool is called "The Nines"

It's a purely story driven tale so not many special effects (but beautiful shots though etc)
I can't really reveal much about the story, but it's one of those mindbend type movies like in the mouth of madness etc.

 

[Integral]

I keep missing the beginning of it and don't want to start midstory. Is it good?

I thought it was. This is a 5 part mini series which played on BBCA this last week. I thought we were seeing the creation of the Face of Bo, but no, it didn't work that way.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Here is an unusual one: Aelita, Queen of Mars

Made in 1921, based on the novel having the same name, by Tolstoy, it is believed to be the first Soviet Sci-Fi film ever made. I haven't watched it all yet but I find the historic aspects to be quite captivating. Available for instant viewing at Netflix.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

A bit from wiki

Aelita (Russian: Аэлита), also known as Aelita: Queen of Mars, is a silent film directed by Soviet filmmaker Yakov Protazanov made on Mezhrabpom-Rus film studio and released in 1924. It was based on Alexei Tolstoy's novel of the same name. Mikhail Zharov and Igor Ilyinsky were cast in leading roles.

Though the main focus of the story is the daily lives of a small group of people during the post-war Soviet Union, the enduring importance of the film comes from its early science fiction elements. It primarily tells of a young man, Los' (Russian: Лось, literary Elk), traveling to Mars in a rocket ship, where he leads a popular uprising against the king, with the support of Queen Aelita who has fallen in love with him after watching him through a telescope.

Probably the first full-length movie about space travel, the most notable part of the film remains its remarkable constructivist Martian sets and costumes designed by Aleksandra Ekster. Their influence can be seen in a number of later films, including the Flash Gordon serials and probably Fritz Lang's Metropolis. While very popular at first, the film later fell out of favor with the Soviet government and was thus very difficult to see until after the Cold War.

Ideological significance...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aelita