This is a re-post of a story I had up on the old version of this site. I have updated some elements with more content, but I wanted to make sure to re-post it because it is still highly relevant, and gives good insight into me.
So, I have been slowly working together a list of must watch science fiction movies for Mark, a sci-fi newbie.
I wanted to find movies that were not older than me, so nothing pre-1982. Another stipulation was that they had to be more than just sci-fi for sci-fi. I wanted to find movies that had elements of horror, comedy, action, or drama.
I also wanted to give him a good balance of movies, not just all space based science fiction, or movies with aliens in it.
So here is my quick list. Please feel free to add to it via the comments. I would love to see a list of the ultimate science fiction movies from the last twenty or so years. None of this 1960’s, 1970’s stuff we normally see in top ten, twenty, thirty science fiction movie lists.
ACTION
The Matrix - This movie blew me away. It is one of those movies that are both the meat and potatoes, with thought provoking scenes and plot elements, as well as dessert, with crazy off the wall action. If you are smart, you’ll avoid the sequels as well as the rest of the content that just ruins the experience.
Terminator 2 and 3 - It wasn’t until long after seeing the second movie in the franchise that I saw the first, and I think the second movie did much better. This movie deals with time travel, robots, and assassination. Both movies are leading up to a major event where robotic life decides humanity is bad, and these movies are trying to stop that event from occurring. They are both classic in that for many, these were the movies that made Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career. I am looking forward to seeing what they do with the fourth installment of the series, and hope it is better than the television series currently doing its first run.
Independence Day - Classic movie scenario: aliens come to earth, and they aren’t friendly. How does humanity deal with this problem? The first half of the movie is amazing, then it spirals downward after that. I choose to ignore the bad, and focus on the good, so this movie makes it in my list.
Equilibrium - Feelings are illegal, but one of the best police officers change sides and begins to connect with those that feel. This movie was amazing, much like the Matrix, but brings you on a very different emotional ride. Reminds me a lot of George Orwell’s 1984.
COMEDY
Galaxy Quest - What if you took every bit of silliness in science fiction, and made it into a movie starring Tim Allen? You get Galaxy Quest, a very funny movie that will make you laugh if you are a science fiction fan, but might be lost on you otherwise.
Men in Black - Another movie with Will Smith in the list, but this time, they do it right as highly classified secret agents in charge of policing alien activity on earth. Very funny, and very well done.
CEREBRAL
Gattaca - If you have ever thought about the difference between the rich and the poor in the world, Gattaca will get you thinking about that even more as they dive into the subject of the have’s and have-not’s in genetic purity. This is one of my favourite movies, and one that should be on every must watch list.
Dark City - A very dark movie about what makes us human. Is it our memories, or a deeper sense of self that can’t be changed? I have watched this movie dozens of times, and while it isn’t one of the best I have ever seen, it has a certain quality to it. You will either love it or hate it.
OLDER COMEDY
Back to the Future 1, 2 and 3 - One of the most fun movies I have ever watched, Back to the Future really opened up my imagination and got me excited about the idea of time travel. They go back in time, then to the future and then way back in the past. Each movie is a great story, and good fun.
SUPER HERO
X-Men 2 and 3 - The first X-Men movie wasn’t all that great. It set you up to understand that universe, but you could skip it and get right into the good stuff with the second and third X-Men movies. If you want super heroes, there hasn’t been anything better in the last decade.
DRAMA
Frank Herbert’s Dune - While many people might like the original Dune movie, I think Frank Herbert’s Dune is much more fun to watch, and since its more recent, the special effects are much better. The story includes action, drama, politics, assassination, and the underdog winning.
Children of Dune - Basically a second mini-series that connects with the first one from Frank Herbert. They bring in some great new actors, and the plot, action, and special effects are still great.
RECENT TREK (worth watching)
Star Trek: First Contact - I pretty much refuse to believe that any other Star Trek movie has been made in the last two decades.
HORROR
Aliens - So there is some scary stuff happening with human killing aliens, face grabbing aliens, and aliens popping out of people’s stomachs. You kill one, and their blood is acid. I swear a kid made these creatures and kept on saying to his father, the writer, “and it does this too!”.
Cube and Cube 2 - Some movies are just strange, this movie is the ultimate story of survivor. Put in a cube with a myriad of traps, the people inside must figure things out to escape. Strange, wild and interesting. If you want a bit of gore and horror with some science fiction overtones, check out these two movies.
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