Don't have A favorite but MANY, in no particular order:
[...]
The ones I've momentarily overlooked.
Great list! Some classics in there that should be seen by fans of the genre if they haven't.
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Best Star Wars/Sci Fi Movie?
- Thread starter AdaminOz
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Great list! Some classics in there that should be seen by fans of the genre if they haven't.
Both The Matrix - referenced by @C DM and @D.T. and Logan's Run - which was cited by @velocityg4 - have been mentioned with approval.
Empire Strikes Back is my favourite movie of the Star Wars franchise.
A New Hope (the original cut where Han shot first, Jabba isn't seen, and the pre-battle of Yavin exchanges make sense) is a v close second. I find the current version of A New Hope very irritating.
Revenge of the Sith is probably my third favourite in the Star Wars saga.
For Star Trek, First Contact tops my list, although I did enjoy the Klingon 'Shakespeare' quotes in Undiscovered Country. I have also enjoyed the reboot movies.
I think that's a contrast between what can be achieved in a movie format versus in a TV show format. The movie format requires a story told in 90 minutes to two hours. It also has to be accessible to those who have not seen the TV show.
I agree with you, completely in all these points, but I also think many Star Trek fans underrate the movies. I think that's because the writing, directing and acting (Frakes aside) in the TV shows was so strong. Patrick Stewart in particular, gave (TNG) an integrity and authenticity that really lifted it above other shows. This was a franchise with a depth of material, and high production values that knew it had to maintain standards or face a fan backlash. It consistently met and exceeded those expectations in my view.
I found that after seeing several of the movies I came out of the cinema having enjoyed the movie, but missing the extra 'x' factor one expects of a movie. I thought the movie was great, but not much greater than some of the double-episodes story lines. There was an element of anticlimax. But with the perspective time provides, I've concluded that this is because the show (esp TNG, series IV onwards) was so well written and portrayed.
TV shows can and do utilise great writing in a more effective way than a movie can, as they have more time to play with. The 2003 to 2009 remake of Battlestar Galactica is a case in point. It has far more depth than a movie could cope with, but that doesn't diminish the quality of the movies that were made.
Other great Sci-Fi movies:
The Matrix was brilliant (the sequels were not)
Like others here, I also loved Blade Runner. But I prefer the original version with the Chandler-esque voice over. But then I also like Chandler's writing (although the opening line isn't great, no movie should begin "Sushi. That's what my ex-wife used to call me.")
Alien was also a strong movie.
I also hold Back to the Future (all of them) in very high regard
Wall-E. With almost no dialogue, it tells a story brilliantly.
A New Hope (the original cut where Han shot first, Jabba isn't seen, and the pre-battle of Yavin exchanges make sense) is a v close second. I find the current version of A New Hope very irritating.
Revenge of the Sith is probably my third favourite in the Star Wars saga.
For Star Trek, First Contact tops my list, although I did enjoy the Klingon 'Shakespeare' quotes in Undiscovered Country. I have also enjoyed the reboot movies.
I think that's a contrast between what can be achieved in a movie format versus in a TV show format. The movie format requires a story told in 90 minutes to two hours. It also has to be accessible to those who have not seen the TV show.
I agree with you, completely in all these points, but I also think many Star Trek fans underrate the movies. I think that's because the writing, directing and acting (Frakes aside) in the TV shows was so strong. Patrick Stewart in particular, gave (TNG) an integrity and authenticity that really lifted it above other shows. This was a franchise with a depth of material, and high production values that knew it had to maintain standards or face a fan backlash. It consistently met and exceeded those expectations in my view.
I found that after seeing several of the movies I came out of the cinema having enjoyed the movie, but missing the extra 'x' factor one expects of a movie. I thought the movie was great, but not much greater than some of the double-episodes story lines. There was an element of anticlimax. But with the perspective time provides, I've concluded that this is because the show (esp TNG, series IV onwards) was so well written and portrayed.
TV shows can and do utilise great writing in a more effective way than a movie can, as they have more time to play with. The 2003 to 2009 remake of Battlestar Galactica is a case in point. It has far more depth than a movie could cope with, but that doesn't diminish the quality of the movies that were made.
Other great Sci-Fi movies:
The Matrix was brilliant (the sequels were not)
Like others here, I also loved Blade Runner. But I prefer the original version with the Chandler-esque voice over. But then I also like Chandler's writing (although the opening line isn't great, no movie should begin "Sushi. That's what my ex-wife used to call me.")
Alien was also a strong movie.
I also hold Back to the Future (all of them) in very high regard
Wall-E. With almost no dialogue, it tells a story brilliantly.
Excellent post, @Obi Wan Kenobi, and thanks for making the time to compose it and post it.
You used the word 'anti-climax' about the movies, and that is exactly what I have felt about them.
I even enjoyed the first movie of the reboot, but none of these are something I would ever wish to return to watch again, there is no story told that is sufficiently good, or intelligent, or compelling, to wish to want to return for a further viewing.
Whereas, the very best episodes of STNG will repay endless further viewing.
And yes, agreed, - it was excellent - at its best, outstanding , for the reasons you have suggested and more - the writing, excellent ensemble cast, the superb - if initially improbable (and initially opposed by Roddenberry, if memory serves - he wanted someone more like William Shatner, a kind of second Captain Kirk, the kind of character that Jonathan Frakes's Commander Riker had originally been envisaged as) - decision to cast a middle aged, balding, British Shakespearean actor - the superb Patrick Stewart - as a starship captain - and Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard gave the show a character study of depth, integrity, intelligence and authenticity which all served to lift STNG well above the standards more usually set for such a show, and set almost impossible standards for the shows that followed it.
You used the word 'anti-climax' about the movies, and that is exactly what I have felt about them.
I even enjoyed the first movie of the reboot, but none of these are something I would ever wish to return to watch again, there is no story told that is sufficiently good, or intelligent, or compelling, to wish to want to return for a further viewing.
Whereas, the very best episodes of STNG will repay endless further viewing.
And yes, agreed, - it was excellent - at its best, outstanding , for the reasons you have suggested and more - the writing, excellent ensemble cast, the superb - if initially improbable (and initially opposed by Roddenberry, if memory serves - he wanted someone more like William Shatner, a kind of second Captain Kirk, the kind of character that Jonathan Frakes's Commander Riker had originally been envisaged as) - decision to cast a middle aged, balding, British Shakespearean actor - the superb Patrick Stewart - as a starship captain - and Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard gave the show a character study of depth, integrity, intelligence and authenticity which all served to lift STNG well above the standards more usually set for such a show, and set almost impossible standards for the shows that followed it.
My favorite genre, by far--too many to list. But, if I had to pick favorites, mine would be:
Star Wars: ESB. I am quite looking forward to Rogue One however...seems to be a distinct departure from past SW films.
Star Trek: First Contact. Like many, I love the Wrath of Khan but something about FC just draws me in.
The rest--these are the ones that if I stumble across them on TV, I'll always stop to watch:
Serenity - might be my all-time favorite. Both this film and the series (Firefly) it followed were terrific.
Aliens - Love the entire series (excluding the v. Predator garbage) but this Cameron directed sequel is still my favorite.
Pitch Black - Again, love the 'Riddick' series but the first is my favorite
The Matrix - I'll watch 'em all but the first is exceptional.
The Abyss (Directors Cut) - This version far surpasses the original theatrical cut.
Honorable mentions: Stargate, I,Robot, The Fifth Element and Guardians of the Galaxy (the last two pure popcorn far)
Of recent offerings, I really enjoyed Interstellar and ExMachina. Looking forward to Arrival this month as well.
Star Wars: ESB. I am quite looking forward to Rogue One however...seems to be a distinct departure from past SW films.
Star Trek: First Contact. Like many, I love the Wrath of Khan but something about FC just draws me in.
The rest--these are the ones that if I stumble across them on TV, I'll always stop to watch:
Serenity - might be my all-time favorite. Both this film and the series (Firefly) it followed were terrific.
Aliens - Love the entire series (excluding the v. Predator garbage) but this Cameron directed sequel is still my favorite.
Pitch Black - Again, love the 'Riddick' series but the first is my favorite
The Matrix - I'll watch 'em all but the first is exceptional.
The Abyss (Directors Cut) - This version far surpasses the original theatrical cut.
Honorable mentions: Stargate, I,Robot, The Fifth Element and Guardians of the Galaxy (the last two pure popcorn far
)Of recent offerings, I really enjoyed Interstellar and ExMachina. Looking forward to Arrival this month as well.
My favorite ST right there. So many great things about that movie.
- The music is fantastic throughout the whole movie and mates perfectly with each scene
- The parallels with the cold war
- Shakespeare quotes
- The final battle scene
- The political intrigue/detente/threat of all out war
- So many incredible lines
- So many homages to history and popular culture...seriously there's probably at least one on average every five minutes if you know what to look for
I loved TNG but only really got into it beginning when season 6 aired on TV (I was still learning English before then, but I did learn with TOS).
I really got into Star Trek however during season two of Deep Space Nine. In my opinion, character development in that series was better than TNG.
Maybe TNG was all too perfect and neat, it was harder to relate to. With DS9, all the characters were multi-layered and had many shades of gray.
Actually, I think that STNG was a very optimistic show, and that was reflected in that 'neat and perfect' world; in the real world, the Berlin Wall had come down, and the Soviet Union disintegrated during those years - it must have seemed as though anything was possible.
I confess that I did watch the first series of DS9, and found it unutterably tedious; then, I was away - and, as I don't own a TV - I never managed to return to the series.
Young cousins and others did assure me that it improved immeasurably, - and that it becomes excellent - - which I don't doubt - but, unfortunately, I hadn't seen any evidence of that during the period I watched it.
Ars Technica just published a list of 42 must-sees and 9, um, deplorables:
http://arstechnica.com/the-multiver...on-bucket-list-42-movies-every-geek-must-see/
http://arstechnica.com/the-multiver...on-bucket-list-42-movies-every-geek-must-see/
TNG and DS9 are pretty much at the top of ST for me--sometimes it feels that one edges out the other in various ways, but it kind of goes back and forth, so it's a bit hard to really say which one is really the "best" one out of the two.
We've watched 36 of the 42, and 4 of the 9 deplorables I'm a strange one that is thoroughly entertained by Battlefield Earth
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Interesting list. I seem to remember Brazil being stupid, but it's not clear in my recollection. Maybe I should look that one up. Children of Men, the movie was throughly unrewarding, one of those miserable future movies where we make you suffer too!
Dune was a great book, but I was disappointed in the film. Mad Max Fury Road- YES!
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Yeah, that was an interesting list at Ars. I need to see Zardoz again, it has been a ridiculously long time and I am craving schlock right now. No illegal substances required, thank you very much.
I love both series, for sure.
Another thing I really liked about DS9 was the fact that even the villains had a lot of character development
Zardoz? How dare they ...
I'm in for 39/42 and ... 9/9 hahahaha ... love me some Brain Damage (though Henenlotter's best film was made 6 years earlier, Basket Case, "Hey man, what's in the basket?")
You should *definitely* watch it again, it's pretty brilliant.
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Bonus comment: a good friend of mine went as Zed (the Sean Connery character) for Halloween (couple of years ago I think).
I'm in for 39/42 and ... 9/9 hahahaha ... love me some Brain Damage (though Henenlotter's best film was made 6 years earlier, Basket Case, "Hey man, what's in the basket?")
You should *definitely* watch it again, it's pretty brilliant.
[doublepost=1478279279][/doublepost]
Bonus comment: a good friend of mine went as Zed (the Sean Connery character) for Halloween (couple of years ago I think).
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I can't remember which was which, but two of my favorite sci-fi TV episodes were from the newer Twilight Zone and Outer Limits series. One was presented chronologically backwards and your perception of the story changed dramatically as new information was added. The second was a Christmas episode where a group of astronauts find a burnt out world where the sun went nova. There was a civilization there that seemed to know they were going to parish. The punchline - the star would have been most visible on Earth at Bethlehem about 0 AD... I'll have to see if I can find the episode names.
Sometimes with television, they can take chances and do something for the art of it. If this episode doesn't work, they just don't do it again! Big budget movie studios just don't (can't) take those kind of chances. And sometimes if a show has been around long enough, they'll try it anyway (The Simpsons) because they've already done everything else!
I've said it again and again, my challenge with TV, Movies, and even music - show me something I've never seen before.
Interesting - I'm 22/42 and 1/8. Though I have to admit, a number of those films are on my list to see.
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Matrix is in my list, an amazing film.
Riddick sucked, Pitch Black thumbs up!
Cowboys vs Aliens? OMG, stinker lol.
Total Recall while not at the top of my list is good enough to own.
Love most of the movies listed here. Favourites? Buckaroo Banzai. And I could watch Equilibrium any time. Same for Firefly/Serenity.
It's this Arthur C. Clarke story:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star_(Clarke_short_story)
When it comes to stars and god(s), I like this story, too:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nine_Billion_Names_of_God