Ok, so I have a new DVD player, but the only DVD I have right now that's mine is Serenity. I'm planning on trying to get the LoTR DVDs, and possibly the Matrix DVDs (I liked those movies, ok! ) but my knowledge of science fiction and fantasy movies has way too many holes in it. So what are some of the great SF movies that are must-haves on DVD? I've heard Blade Runner is good, and I'm a huge Philip Dick fan. Is the movie faithful to PKD at all and is it worth getting on DVD? Name all of the DVDs that are classic SF movies that you loved, chances are I haven't seen it. Thanks for any help.
Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
Gattaca Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
12 Monkeys
Star Wars: Original Trilogy Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
Dark City.
I second 12 Monkeys.
Starship Troopers.
More to come as I think of them.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
You should probably rent/borrow everything first to be sure that you like it. That said, here are some of my favorites.
I really liked Gattaca. I don't think it did all that well, theatrically, but then most sf doesn't.
Charlie Kaufman's films are great: Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. Adaptation isn't really sf, but it's still good. Er, how old are you? I'm almost certain that all of these are rated R, so you might have to wait a bit for them.
Cube is a great character study, although the acting and the effects are often laughable. Be sure to get the original; I understand that the later movies are atrocious.
I think I enjoyed Solaris, but I don't really remember it. I think it was really late at night when I watched it and I slept through part of it.
Oh! Don't forget Mystery Science Theater 3000! Those are all either scifi or fantasy, I believe.
These are all that I can think of at the moment, I'm sure there'll be more.
Blade Runner is good, but dated, and not all that faithful to the story it is based on, Do Androinds Dream of Electric Sheep?. Still, it is a full length movie based on a short story. so it was good for it's time.
Gattica was good. OSC loved This one,IIRC. Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
quote:Charlie Kaufman's films are great: Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind.
Oi, how did I forget THOSE? I suppose they're science fiction, after all.
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Forget movies, go buy Invader ZIM.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
Super Mario Brothers
Transformers: The Movie
Power Rangers: The Movie
Godzilla 2000
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
quote:Originally posted by ElJay: Forget movies, go buy Invader ZIM.
You could get that too.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
I third 12 Monkeys, that was a good one.
A Clockwork Orange is a good, although very nasty, movie. I can't stand to watch it anymore, but that's mostly because it's too good at getting inside the main character's head. *shudder*
--Mel
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
Signs
Posted by GaalDornick (Member # 8880) on :
Wow, thanks everyone. I'll be going on amazon soon and read about all of those movies and see which ones sound like something I'd like. I've seen Eternal Sunshine and I liked it alot. I'll see if I could get that one, it really was a great movie. And all of the other movies that were by Charlie Kaufman (the writer or director?) are all as good as Sunshine?
I just looked at Gattaca and that sounds really cool. I'll probably rent or buy that one.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
I loved Being John Malkovich. It's a really twisted movie, and it has both John Malkovich and John Cusack in it! But then, I really like both of them so I'm biased.
Adaptation was weird. I liked it, but for me it definitely ranks after the other two. This may have also been influenced by the fact that I don't really like Nick Cage or, um, the woman who played the author (too lazy to google right now). EDIT Meryl Streep!
Oh, and Kaufman is the writer.
--Mel
Posted by GaalDornick (Member # 8880) on :
12 Monkeys, Soylent Green, and Dark City all sound really cool. Can I get a second opinion on Solaris? It sounds good, but Crowswife said she slept through some of it, so I just want to make sure it's good .
Also, Kwea Do Androids Dream was a novel, not a short story.
edit: Gattaca is sort of pronounced the same way as Galactica, right?
Posted by GaalDornick (Member # 8880) on :
Heh, Invador Zim. I've seen that cartoon a couple of times. Is it still televised?
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
I don't think so, but you can buy the DVDs (or do what I do and "borrow" them from your friends).
Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
Back to the Future Trilogy I, Robot Terminator Powder Close Encounters of the Third Kind The 6th Day. Maybe it's the 7th Day Alien (s) Star Trek: Wrath of Khan and First Contact. If you're feeling risky, through in Next Generations War of the Worlds (Tom Cruise or Original, but I prefer Tom Cruise) Men in Black Equilibrium is a must.
Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
Actually, Invader Zim is televised, but on Nicktoons (if you have cable, digital cable services). The DVD's are priceless. Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
I'll second Gattaca, Equilibrium, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I'll second Star Trek: First Contact. Woo!
Um... I'll add X-Men and probably X2. They're fun. Oh, and if you're into TV series, get the new Battlestar Galactica. Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I, Robot is very good too. So, I'm seconding it.
The original Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy DVD is good, the one from the 80's.
Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
Highly recommend BSG if you are doing TV series.
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
I enjoyed the new Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but then, I've never seen the original.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
The original is more true to the radio series. Its very good. The special effects are hoakey. But its more fun that way.
Posted by Anti-Chris (Member # 4452) on :
Road Warrior and/or Water World Tron Napoleon Dynamite. Seriously, guys, face reality: Napoleon was a government experiment gone horribly wrong. Chasing Amy Naussica: Valley of the Wind (Anime)
Posted by bmeaker (Member # 4443) on :
There are two Solaris movies, one from 1972 and one from 2002. I've seen both of them and thought they were ok, you might want to rent them or something to see if you like them.
I would also add The Fifth Element, I liked it pretty good. And personally I like The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, but not everybody likes it.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
(I was referring to the 2002 version of Solaris. I haven't seen the earlier one.)
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
Another great one was Equilibrium with Christian Bale (Batman Begins), Dominic Purcell (Prison Break), and Sean Bean (LotR). Angus Macfadyen (Robert the Bruce in Braveheart) is an excellent bad guy, and Emily Watson has a small but poignent role.
Plus, you get gun-fu. What more could you want in a Sci-Fi flick?
In my cabinet, I have Stargate (aliens on another planet), Evolution (funny aliens on Earth), and Swordfish. Ok, Swordfish isn't exactly sci-fi, and it is a bit dirty in places. But the storyline is kickin, and Hugh Jackman is amazing. I'm not into seeing Halle Berry's boobs, but that can be a plus for some folks. Whatever works for you.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
quote:The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension,
Classic.
The Fifth Element was a pretty bad movie, but somehow just...works. I second that recommendation, and third Equilibrium.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
I'm sure I'm missing some...
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Spaceballs! And Tron! Total Recall wasn't too horrible considering it was an Aahhhnuld movie.
Posted by Hamson (Member # 7808) on :
Independence Day Minority Report
Those are the only ones that I can think of right now that I don't think have been listed. There are a ton listed already that are fantastic movies.
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
quote:Originally posted by SteveRogers: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
I'll second this. The sequel was pretty good too.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
quote:Originally posted by SteveRogers: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
I had a kid cite this movie in a paper I graded last semester. I had to give him bonus credit and a smiley face for it.
I'll also second Minority Report, because I should have seen it on my own shelf.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
It isn't necessarily Sci-fi, but Tommy is good. Its based on The Who's rock opera of the same name.
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
FIREFLY
Ni!
Posted by ReikoDemosthenes (Member # 6218) on :
Run Lola Run is a must.
Posted by Princess Leah (Member # 6026) on :
Don't really have anything that hasn't been mentioned, but my conscience will not let two things rest unchallenged.
1. Tommy is HORRIBLE. Listen to the Rock Opera by The Who. Now THAT is excellence in cassette tape form (yes, I still have tapes. Quiet ). It even comes on CD now! I fell in love with Tommy (album, not character), and then I saw the movie and nearly cried. Oh sure, there were moments (like Jack Nicholsen as the doctor), but overall? Crappy, 70's, badly adapted, and the only song that was not infinately worse than The Who doing it was Tina Turner's Acid Queen. Okay. Sorry for the rant. But I feel very strongly about this and once I have the Hollywood rep, my first move is going to be a remake that doesn't suck.
2. Gattaca was truly excellent until the end, at which point I wanted to kill (for fear of name confusion I use the actor's) Ethan Hawke. Who does that to a friend? Evil, evil, and the movie just passes it off like, "oh, it's okay, just fine, it's a beautiful thing and there's resolution and yadda yadda". Can't say more. It's a spoiler thing.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
A great big second here on Galaxy Quest.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I rented Galaxy Quest way back when. It was pretty good. Consider this a third.
Posted by Zamphyr (Member # 6213) on :
starLisa has the list.
I'd also add They Live.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
starLisa's list is pretty good. I was going to throw votes in for The Abyss, Independence Day (I know, I love that movie!), and the Back to the Future trilogy. Great fun.
Galaxy Quest is a must though. No doubt about it.
Posted by SC Carver (Member # 8173) on :
quote:Originally posted by erosomniac:
quote:Charlie Kaufman's films are great: Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind.
Oi, how did I forget THOSE? I suppose they're science fiction, after all.
I didn't see Eternal Sunshine, but now that I know it’s by the same guy that did the other two I will avoid it like the plague. Adaptation was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I hate pointless “arty” movies who seem to enjoy being weird just to be different.
I agree with most of the other suggestions.
I finally saw Serenity the other day. Granted I never saw the TV show, but I don't see what all the hype was about. It wasn't bad, but not that particularly great either.
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
Here's IMDb's top SciFi list, and here's the fantasy list (there's some overlap). Some of my favorites that I don't think have been mentioned are Iron Giant, Brazil, and Manchurian Candidate (1962). Solaris (2001) is not for everyone, but I enjoyed it.
Posted by TrapperKeeper (Member # 7680) on :
Spielbergs "Taken" mini-series was VERY good
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
I adore The 4400. Both the miniseries and the series. I have to check and see when that starts up again. Oh, also, 5ive Days to Midnight.
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
Has anyone said Star Wars yet? That is the ultimate sci fi triology. I would vote for that.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
As many seasons of B5 as you can handle. (Babylon 5)
2001
Iron Giant
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
quote:Originally posted by SC Carver: I didn't see Eternal Sunshine, but now that I know it’s by the same guy that did the other two I will avoid it like the plague. Adaptation was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I hate pointless “arty” movies who seem to enjoy being weird just to be different.
Eh, tastes differ. Personally, I found quite a bit of meaning in Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine. Adaptation is the odd one of the bunch, but I still appreciated the treatment of trying to write something that doesn't inspire you.
--Mel
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
OMG. I can't believe I didn't mention B5.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Not that anyone actually cares, but more 'cuse it's fun to do...
Love: Gattica, Eqilibrium, Serenity, Blade Runner, Fifth Element, Powder, Matrix, Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country, Star Trek IV The Voyage Home, Galaxy Quest, Terminator, Terminator 2, Star Wars Ep 4-6, Animatrix, The Abyess, Men In Black, Iron Giant, MST3K, Demolition Man, Back to the Future 1 & 3, The Last Starfighter, Jurasic Park, Enemy Mine, The Day the Earth Stood Still,
Like: Adaptation, 2001 Space Oddesy, 12 Monkeys, 13th Floor, Paycheck, Star Wars Ep 2 & 3 , Matrix Revolutions, Matrix Reloaded, Strange Days, Terminator 3, Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek Gennerations, Preditor, Preditor 2, Prediter Vs Alien, Alien, Aliens, Titen AE, Tron, Stargate, ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Back to the Future 2, No Escape, Imposter, The Island, Earth Girls are Easy, Independance Day, Star Man, Cocoon, Alien Nation,
Okay: Signs, Being John Malcovich, The Day After Tomarrow, Star Wars Ep 1, Men In Black 2, Star Trek III The Search For Spock, Star Tek V The Final Frontier, Star Trek First Contact, Star Trek Nemesis, Aliens 3, Alien: Reserectioin, Pitch Black, The Chronicles of Riddick, War of the Worlds, Clockwork Orange,
Dislike: Dark City, Star Trek The Movie
Hate With A Burning Passion Like Fire: Starship Troopers, Contact, The Core,
Okay, I'm spent.
Posted by Raventhief (Member # 9002) on :
Farscape, 2nd and 3rd season especially.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
Seasons One and Two of Ren & Stimpy for the "Space Madness," episode.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: Not that anyone actually cares, but more 'cuse it's fun to do...
Love: Gattica, Eqilibrium, Serenity, Blade Runner, Fifth Element, Powder, Matrix, Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country,
You didn't like "Star Trek V: Kirk Meets God"?
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: Star Trek IV The Voyage Home, Galaxy Quest, Terminator, Terminator 2, Star Wars Ep 4-6, Animatrix, The Abyess, Men In Black, Iron Giant, MST3K, Demolition Man,
Argh. Another one I should have included. Demolition Man rocks.
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: Back to the Future 1 & 3, The Last Starfighter, Jurasic Park, Enemy Mine, The Day the Earth Stood Still,
Like: Adaptation, 2001 Space Oddesy, 12 Monkeys, 13th Floor, Paycheck, Star Wars Ep 2 & 3 , Matrix Revolutions, Matrix Reloaded, Strange Days, Terminator 3, Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek Gennerations, Preditor, Preditor 2, Prediter Vs Alien, Alien, Aliens, Titen AE, Tron, Stargate, ET,
Ew. I was chafing at the saccharinity during ET, and when the bicycle took off, I almost left the theater. I love sappy movies, but even I have my limits.
Stargate... I had a little crush on James Spader after I saw that. Unusual for me.
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: Okay: Signs, Being John Malcovich, The Day After Tomarrow, Star Wars Ep 1, Men In Black 2,
<blink> MiB II? Um.
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: Star Trek III The Search For Spock, Star Tek V The Final Frontier,
Ah, there we go. You must be a die-hard Trekkie to have liked that one.
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: Star Trek First Contact, Star Trek Nemesis,
Um... last remark, repeated and quadrupled. It's the only Trek anything that I couldn't even finish watching. Though with rumors about Star Trek 11 having Kirk and Archer and Picard in it, they may be thinking of trying to dig even lower.
quote:Originally posted by Stone_Wolf_: Hate With A Burning Passion Like Fire: Starship Troopers, Contact, The Core,
Can't argue there. I liked the book Contact, though.
Posted by Lime (Member # 1707) on :
SC: Adaptation is absolutely hideous, but Eternal Sunshine is great. It did something that the other movies didn't do: made me care about the characters. Instead of doing goofy things and pointing at them saying, "Check this out! Isn't this goofy and artistic?" it starts with an understated SF premise and lets the characters power the story to its conclusion.
At the least, it's worth a rental.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Okay, okay, you don't have to twist my arm, MiBII sucked...
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
Contact was good! *growls meanacingly*
I'd add The Postman and Waterworld, rent them though. They're fun, but not good necesarily. The Postman is better than Waterworld, if you ask me.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
Well, anything with Jodie Foster in it is good, if only for Jodie Foster. If I could meet one celebrity/star, it'd be a toss-up between Jodie Foster and Helen Slater.
Posted by Avatar300 (Member # 5108) on :
Is Jurassic Park considered science fiction?
Posted by TrapperKeeper (Member # 7680) on :
quote: Um... last remark, repeated and quadrupled. It's the only Trek anything that I couldn't even finish watching. Though with rumors about Star Trek 11 having Kirk and Archer and Picard in it, they may be thinking of trying to dig even lower.
Just throw in the borg and time travel and it will be the recipe for the best Star Trek Ever!
/endsarcasm
Posted by TrapperKeeper (Member # 7680) on :
Waterworld???
That movie would be on my 10 worst movies ever list.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
<sigh> I included Andromeda Strain, so I suppose I can't just say that nothing by Michael Crichton or Robin Cook can ever really count as science fiction, can I. So yeah, Jurassic Park, Timeline, The Terminal Man, and Prey, if they ever make it. I suppose they count.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by TrapperKeeper:
quote: Um... last remark, repeated and quadrupled. It's the only Trek anything that I couldn't even finish watching. Though with rumors about Star Trek 11 having Kirk and Archer and Picard in it, they may be thinking of trying to dig even lower.
Just throw in the borg and time travel and it will be the recipe for the best Star Trek Ever!
/endsarcasm
I'm picturing Kirk walking down a corridor, doing all the Denny Crane shtick. Picard could be Paul Lewison, and Archer could be Brad Chase. We could get Janeway to be Shirley Schmidt. Sisko... I'm not sure. But Q could be Alan Shore.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
) but my knowledge of science fiction and fantasy movies has way too many holes in it. So what are some of the great SF movies that are must-haves on DVD? I've heard Blade Runner is good, and I'm a huge Philip Dick fan. Is the movie faithful to PKD at all and is it worth getting on DVD? Name all of the DVDs that are classic SF movies that you loved, chances are I haven't seen it. Thanks for any help.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
). It even comes on CD now! I fell in love with Tommy (album, not character), and then I saw the movie and nearly cried. Oh sure, there were moments (like Jack Nicholsen as the doctor), but overall? Crappy, 70's, badly adapted, and the only song that was not infinately worse than The Who doing it was Tina Turner's Acid Queen. Okay. Sorry for the rant. But I feel very strongly about this and once I have the Hollywood rep, my first move is going to be a remake that doesn't suck.