Movies for hardcore sci-fi geeks

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The discussion highlights several notable independent science fiction films, with a particular focus on "Primer," a low-budget film that explores complex themes of time travel and causality. Despite its intricate plot, which some find confusing, it has garnered a cult following and critical acclaim, including the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Other films mentioned include "Metropolis," "Solaris," "Brazil," "The Man from Earth," and "A Scanner Darkly," with varying opinions on their narrative depth and adaptation quality. The conversation also touches on the merits of character-driven storytelling, as seen in "Firefly," and critiques the reliance on special effects in modern cinema, advocating for narratives that prioritize strong writing and conceptual originality. The participants express a preference for science fiction that adheres to realistic scientific principles, contrasting it with fantasy elements that can detract from the genre's integrity. Overall, the thread emphasizes the value of thoughtful storytelling in science fiction, regardless of budget or mainstream success.
  • #351
ThomasT said:
Just watched The Man From Earth. What a cool movie! But not the sort of hard scifi that us hard scifi geeks like the best. Nevertheless, a great script delivered wonderfully. I was engaged from start to finish.

Glad to hear it! I love that movie!

To me, the definitive hard sci-movie is the one that motivated this thread - Primer. Do you agree? If you haven't seen it, consider it a life priority. :biggrin:

IMO, hard sci-fi remains true to science to the greatest extent possible based on the premise. Whether the setting is technical or not is irrelevant. In The Man from Earth, Jerome Bixby endeavored to tell the story in a way that honors logic and science. Clearly the premise was sci-fi, so for me it definitely qualifies as hard sci-fi.

He [Bixby] wrote that story on his death bed but didn't live long enough to finish it. His son completed the novel. If you Google Bixby, you will probably find other work of his that you recognize and liked.
 
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  • #352
ThomasT said:
Splice

The DVD was already on its way from Netflix. :biggrin:

I failed to mention that I'm CGI'd out. I specifically look for great movies with minimal special effects. However, there are exceptions. For example, I thought Sunshine was absolutely stunning.
 
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  • #353
Ivan Seeking said:
IMO, hard sci-fi remains true to science to the greatest extent possible based on the premise

tell the story in a way that honors logic and science

That rules Splice out. I couldn't stand it.
 
  • #354
Ivan Seeking said:
Glad to hear it! I love that movie!

To me, the definitive hard sci-movie is the one that motivated this thread - Primer. Do you agree? If you haven't seen it, consider it a life priority. :biggrin:
Ok, I've been holding off on this one because it's not big budget cgi. But since I really like The Man From Earth I'll see it.

Ivan Seeking said:
IMO, hard sci-fi remains true to science to the greatest extent possible based on the premise. Whether the setting is technical or not is irrelevant.
Well, for me the technical cgi stuff is what I find most entertaining. I don't really care about plots or drama or stories or dialogue. I want to be dazzled by really well done, realistic, cgi stuff. On the other hand, I watched The Man From Earth and really liked it. Wonderful dialogue and acting. Really well done. But I wouldn't call it scifi in the sense that I normally think of scifi. Ok, there's the premise. So, I guess that, strictly speaking, it's scifi. Anyway, you get where I'm coming from, or at, or whatever.


Ivan Seeking said:
In The Man from Earth, Jerome Bixby endeavored to tell the story in a way that honors logic and science. Clearly the premise was sci-fi, so for me it definitely qualifies as hard sci-fi.
Hard scifi entails, imo, the inclusion of scifi hardware. The Man from Earth is, imo, soft scifi. Not my favorite -- however, as I've said, wrt this particular movie, well, I really liked it. Hey, I liked Moon and Solaris a lot also, which I would consider essentially soft scifi.

But I want Mech Warriors destroying stuff. Vast Earth infrastructures and futuristic weapons defending against alien invaders. Or Earth invading another planet. No story, no plot (individuals and personalities are irrelevant in such a context) just two hours of mindless cgi destruction -- with detailed depictions of both the alien and the Earth defenses, weapons, living conditions, strategies and tactics, etc.

Ivan Seeking said:
He [Bixby] wrote that story on his death bed but didn't live long enough to finish it. His son completed the novel. If you Google Bixby, you will probably find other work of his that you recognize and liked.
Thanks, I'll check it out.
 
  • #355
Borek said:
That rules Splice out. I couldn't stand it.
Why?
 
  • #356
ThomasT said:
Why?

No logic and no science, plus a combination of all possible cliches. After about 30 minutes script becomes so predictable watching it doesn't make sense.
 
  • #357
Borek said:
No logic and no science, plus a combination of all possible cliches. After about 30 minutes script becomes so predictable watching it doesn't make sense.
The problem is that you're too knowledgeable. For somebody like me, ignorant about biological research, it was possible to make the required 'suspension of disbelief'. Still, I didn't really like it all that much. It was a bit unsettling. But being a diehard scifi fan I welcome any and all contributions to the genre. But the cgi was very good I thought. And that alone usually overshadows any other shortcomings as far as I'm concerned.
 
  • #358
ThomasT said:
Ok, I've been holding off on this one because it's not big budget cgi. But since I really like The Man From Earth I'll see it.

Not big budget is right! The budget was $7000.

Note that the entire movie drags. The first twenty minutes or so are almost intolerable, but from there, good luck keeping up with the plot! :biggrin:

Well, for me the technical cgi stuff is what I find most entertaining. I don't really care about plots or drama or stories or dialogue. I want to be dazzled by really well done, realistic, cgi stuff.

Ah, you mean hardware sci-fi. :biggrin: I can appreciate your perspective. There was a time when I loved special effects for their own sake; beginning with the opening scene of Star Wars, in 1977, which completely blew us all out of our seats! Now, I look for stories with a smart or particularly interesting premise, inspired writing, good acting, good science and logic, and perhaps above all, new and creative ideas.
 
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  • #359
Primer is a tangled puzzle through and through. Repeated watchings don't necessarily help, either.
 
  • #360
turbo-1 said:
Primer is a tangled puzzle through and through. Repeated watchings don't necessarily help, either.

After multiple viewings, I figured everything out, more or less, except the guy dying in the driveway. I finally gave up and went to a Primer website for the answer on that one.
 
  • #361
ThomasT said:
Hey, I liked Moon and Solaris a lot also, which I would consider essentially soft scifi.

I thought Moon was good, and Solaris is one of my favorites.
 
  • #364
Has anyone watched Life on Mars?

There was a British series

The worlds of science fiction and police drama collide in this gritty British series that stars John Simm as Sam Tyler, a 21st-century Manchester detective who wakes up in 1973 after a hit-and-run car accident knocks him unconscious. While Tyler contends with unethical colleagues and the corrupt culture of 1970s police work, he struggles to determine if he's insane, in a coma -- or if he's truly traveled back in time.
Netflix


and an American series.

In present-day New York City, cop Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara) is struck by a car and transported to 1973. But is Sam really lost in time, or is it an illusion resulting from his accident? As Sam tries to figure it all out, he attempts to continue his job with the N.Y.P.D. and discovers that police work has come a long way in 35 years. Michael Imperioli and Harvey Keitel co-star in this American version of the hit British show from David E. Kelley.
Netflix

It only ran for one season in the US but I was thinking about getting the British version. The first three [US] episodes have been intriguing but so far too subtle for me to get a sense of the direction of the series. Not sure if this is just another case of strange Lost-like clues that go nowhere, or if this is a case of truly creative writing. So far, it seems to be one or the other.
 
  • #365
Ivan Seeking said:
Has anyone watched Life on Mars?

Yes. British and American. My wife couldn't get enough of them. So I saw them vicariously. They were good.
 
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  • #366
Cool. So far it has been intriguing.
 
  • #367
I noticed another version of The Lathe of Heaven, with James Caan, made in 2002.
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2190803225/

Also, there is a website dedicated to the new restoration of Fritz Lang's, Metropolis - with 25minutes of previously lost footage. The DVD is due for release November 16th.
http://www.kino.com/metropolis/

[PLAIN]http://www.kino.com/metropolis/gallery/gallery/34.jpg
 
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  • #368
I thought the following list compiled at IMDB would be of interest-

http://www.imdb.com/list/TweyHamu78M/"

While the first 10 are apparent, there are a few surprises in the rest of the list.
 
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  • #369
stevebd1 said:
I thought the following list compiled at IMDB would be of interest-

http://www.imdb.com/list/TweyHamu78M/"

While the first 10 are apparent, there are a few surprises in the rest of the list.

Thanks for that link. Some of those movies look awesome.
 
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  • #370
stevebd1 said:
I thought the following list compiled at IMDB would be of interest-

http://www.imdb.com/list/TweyHamu78M/"

While the first 10 are apparent, there are a few surprises in the rest of the list.

Wow. A lot of surprises.

At some point the remakes will be in production while the originals are still in theatres...
 
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  • #371
Am I the only one who thinks that Comic Book movies should not be grouped as Sci Fi?
 
  • #372
My List:

Sunshine
Equilibrium
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (the BBC series)
Galaxy Quest (I still laugh at that one)
Doctor Who episodes: Blink, The Stolen Earth, The End of Time...oh heck, just about all the new stuff
Silent Running
 
  • #373
daveb said:
My List:

Sunshine
Equilibrium
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (the BBC series)
Galaxy Quest (I still laugh at that one)
Doctor Who episodes: Blink, The Stolen Earth, The End of Time...oh heck, just about all the new stuff
Silent Running

Great list! Not sure if I have seen Equilibrium though. I'll have to check on that one.

Be sure to check out Primer, and The Man from Earth.
 
  • #374
I've seen The Man from Earth - amazing!
 
  • #375
QuarkCharmer said:
Am I the only one who thinks that Comic Book movies should not be grouped as Sci Fi?
That is so nerd. :biggrin:

You probably get the same looks I get when I declare that Star Wars isn't Sci-Fi, it's Space Fantasy.
 
  • #376
Try Cronocrimenes (Time Crimes), fun sci-fi flick
 
  • #377
DaveC426913 said:
That is so nerd. :biggrin:

You probably get the same looks I get when I declare that Star Wars isn't Sci-Fi, it's Space Fantasy.

Well lol, I'm not a big comic book, or comic book movie fan, but I like Space Fantasy then. I think there is some sort of line between Sci-fi that has roots in reality and that which does not. I can sort of see one day maybe sailing the galaxy and whatnot, but getting super powers from a spider bite? Come on now!:smile:
 
  • #378
Ivan Seeking said:
Great list! Not sure if I have seen Equilibrium though. I'll have to check on that one.

Be sure to check out Primer, and The Man from Earth.

Equilibrium, got to add it to your list!
 
  • #379
drankin said:
Equilibrium, got to add it to your list!

Already in the queue. :biggrin:
 
  • #380
theneedtoknow said:
Try Cronocrimenes (Time Crimes), fun sci-fi flick

Yes, a Spanish film, I liked it. A bit on the kinky side but fun.

There is a great Mexican Sci-Fi film called Sleep Dealer, that you might enjoy.
 
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  • #381
If you liked Galaxy Quest and you love the truly horrible 1950s vintage, classic sci-fi horror films, like The Blob [which makes an appearance here], and esp It Came from Outer Space, then you will likely appreciate this tongue-in-cheek satire that plays to a range of 50s classics, Alien Trespass. Pick your favorite cliche and you'll find it here. Alien Trespass is done so badly, so well, that it works!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0TDh6WdeV4
 
  • #382
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet, and though it isn't hard-core sci-fi, "Ink" is perhaps the most creatively imagintive and stunning movie seen in a long time.
 
  • #383
daveb said:
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet, and though it isn't hard-core sci-fi, "Ink" is perhaps the most creatively imagintive and stunning movie seen in a long time.

Thanks. I keep passing that one at Netflix but will give it a look. They predict almost four of a five star rating for me.

Freaky Faron was interesting. Not great but its quirkiness kept my attention.

Last night I tried to watch Destination Mars.
 
  • #384
stevebd1 said:
I thought the following list compiled at IMDB would be of interest-

http://www.imdb.com/list/TweyHamu78M/"

While the first 10 are apparent, there are a few surprises in the rest of the list.

Nice to see Neuromancer on that list, I think it is a fantastic book, let's hope it doesn't get screwed up in film form.
 
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  • #385
Ivan Seeking said:
I noticed another version of The Lathe of Heaven, with James Caan, made in 2002.
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2190803225/

What a heartbreaker. What they did was done well done but they killed the story by leaving most of it out! It was far better than the PBS production in a technical sense, but PBS made a much more interesting movie.
 
  • #386
The Invasion - 2007

I hadn't heard of this and thought at first it was a cheesy B [budget] movie, but all in all it wasn't bad. I'm not generally fond of invader-virus movies and the like as they are usually terribly done. At least this was a serious, well-funded effort. Not great but watchable.

But I can watch Nicole Kidman all day no matter how good or bad the movie may be :biggrin: If I hadn't seen her in this I never would have taken a look.
 
  • #387
From the Scientific American links today

Learn to Forgive Yourself in a Parallel Universe

Let me be clear: Another Earth, opening July 22, is not a science-fiction film, despite its premise of the discovery of a planet just like our own.

...The speculative fiction in this film, which at this year's Sundance Film Festival won the Alfred P. Sloan Prize for the best film focusing on themes of science and technology and the Special Jury Prize for Dramatic Feature, might seem like something inspired by the multiverse theory. In fact, the movie was screened during the World Science Festival in June, where Columbia University physicist Brian Greene led a discussion about it one evening. But Cahill and Marling—both majored in economics at Georgetown University, and Marling was an analyst at Goldman Sachs—had not even heard of Greene's bestseller on the multiverse theory, The Hidden Reality (Knopf, 2011), until after the movie was done.

Cahill actually came up with the concept after listening to audio books of Pulp Physics by astrophysicist Richard Berendzen, who now directs NASA’s Space Grant Consortium. Berendzen makes an appearance as the expert interviewed on local news to explain the "broken mirror theory" that decouples the inhabitants of both Earths and sets them on different destinies...
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=learn-to-forgive-yourself-in-a-para-2011-07-21
 
  • #388
I just recently watched a movie called "Source Code". It's was fairly good if predictable. It's probably best to watch it cold (no explaining what it is about) but if you need a little something to get you interested I will give a brief explanation and anyone who does not want it should stop reading...
The movie is about an air force pilot being used in an experimental program utilizing technology to witness past events in order to investigate terrorist attacks.
 
  • #389
2081 is quite a good film. 'tis only 26 minuets long, based on one of Kurt Vonnegut's short stories.

You can even watch it on youtube...

Part 1:


Part 2:


It's a good sci-fi story, but it's the music in this film that really gets me.

Edit: hmm, embedding the vids didn't seem to work so I've just given you the links. Enjoy!
 
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  • #390
Thetom said:
2081 is quite a good film. 'tis only 26 minuets long, based on one of Kurt Vonnegut's short stories.

You can even watch it on youtube...

Part 1:


Part 2:


It's a good sci-fi story, but it's the music in this film that really gets me.

Edit: hmm, embedding the vids didn't seem to work so I've just given you the links. Enjoy!


Thanks, I enjoyed that.

We've been watching Kyle XY. Not great sci-fi by any means - more along the lines of the TV series, Roswell - but unique enough to capture our interest for a time.

I also spotted an interesting but short, six-show series hosted by Stephen Hawking, called "Masters of Science Fiction". Not sure about all of the authors yet but allegedly the stories are based on classic works. A couple of episodes were quite good.

Funny the notion of "hosted by Stephen Hawking". He's not really the person speaking, and I doubt he even programmed or wrote the dialogue himself. If that is true, what about it is Stephen Hawking? :biggrin:
 
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  • #391
Another series that I watched recently was Eli Stone. It only lasted two seasons but I gave it four out of five stars, at Netflix. What a strange show - sort of a cross between Quantum Leap and LA Law!

A cutthroat lawyer finds himself on a mission from God. While religion plays a central role to the story, the show doesn't get preachy by any means. It pulls from all or nearly all major religions as a basis for a secret message each episode that only his pseudo-Chinese acupuncturist can help to decode. This is all done mostly tongue-in-cheek.

One very strange facet of the show is the use of spontaneous, choreographed scenes in which the supporting characters break out in song and dance [much in the style of old movies from the 50s, when musicals were all the rage], in order to convey a message significant to Eli's current mission. These are all hallucinations portending information about future events.

At the least, this was a very strange and annoying plot devise. It all but killed the show for me and was bad enough that Tsu didn’t watch anything beyond the first episode or two. It reeeeally doesn't work. But the rest of the story is fairly well written and often quite entertaining.

In this surreal, comedic fantasy series, Jonny Lee Miller is Eli Stone, a cutthroat lawyer who experiences a change of heart after he begins experiencing bizarre hallucinations. Perplexed, Stone seeks advice from a colorful variety of experts to help him determine what's real and what's in his head. Yet when he starts ditching his clients to go to bat for the underprivileged, Stone's friends and confidants really begin to question his sanity.
- Netflix -
 
  • #392
I've seen Kyle XY and found it quite charming. Had a sort of wholesome feel to it. I've only seen the first series though.

And I just watched the first story from Masters of Science Fiction. It was surprisingly good. I see your point about Hawkins. He does say something at the start and end, but it's more like a sound bite than a hosting.
lol, maybe they just meant 'enjoyed by Steven Hawkins'. I recently found out that Hawkins wrote Sci-fi a few years back too. Not sure if that's true yet. Will look into it more.

And Eli Stone sounds quite interesting. I do tend to hate musicals but with the right score it can work for me.

I can't wait for some of the films from that IMDB link either. Neuromancer! Foundation! They should be amazing :D
 
  • #393
A couple of good, low budget ones are Harrison Bergeron and Thomas in Love
 
  • #394
Thetom said:
I've seen Kyle XY and found it quite charming. Had a sort of wholesome feel to it. I've only seen the first series though.

Yes, it is charming. That's a good word for it. And like the series Roswell, it is as much about young love as it is sci-fi.

The actor who plays Kyle, Matt Dallas, has the most soulful eyes of any actor that I've seen recently. His acting skills don't jump off the page for me otherwise, but his ability to convey emotions with his eyes is really quite amazing. I would bet this drove their casting choice for the role.

Also, the characters are all quite interesting. The parts of mom, sister, dad, and brother, are all very well done.
 
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  • #395
Has anybody seen Donnie Darko (2001)? I thought it was pretty good.
 
  • #396
ManiFresh said:
Has anybody seen Donnie Darko (2001)? I thought it was pretty good.

Seen it several times. It's got a following. Wife loves it. I think it's creepy.
 
  • #397
DaveC426913 said:
Seen it several times. It's got a following. Wife loves it. I think it's creepy.

Creepy, or darko? We both enjoyed it. I gave it extra brownie points for its high strangeness.

ManiFresh, if you liked Donny Darko, you would probably enjoy Freaky Faron as well.
 
  • #398
Ivan Seeking said:
What a heartbreaker. What they did was done well done but they killed the story by leaving most of it out! It was far better than the PBS production in a technical sense, but PBS made a much more interesting movie.

I agree. The original PBS version is still the best selling video they ever made 30 years later despite the rubber suits and other primitive special effects. It closely follows the original story which is a tribute to LeGuin's understanding of Taoism. She later went on to publish her own interpretation of the Tao Te Ching.

The same is true for Solaris. The original followed the book closely, while the remake deviated significantly to make it more palatable to western audiences. I can just imagine someone doing a remake of "Contact" and turning it into a religious film just sell it to a foreign audience.
 
  • #399
ManiFresh said:
Has anybody seen Donnie Darko (2001)? I thought it was pretty good.
It's pretty existential, in a good way.
 
  • #400
wuliheron said:
The same is true for Solaris. The original followed the book closely, while the remake deviated significantly to make it more palatable to western audiences.

I've been meaning to watch the original Russian version but hadn't gotten to it yet. I loved the remake.
 

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