10 best sci-fi/horror movies

[Lord 342]

Blade Runner (Criterion Collection LaserDisc edition, NOT the Director's Cut. Sorry Per!)

I haven't seen that. As far as I can tell from Imdb, it restores some violence that wasn't in the theatrical release in the US and some European countries including Sweden. If it retains the tacked-on happy ending and the voiceovers, I can't respect anyone who likes it, though.

I don't like the "non-ending" of the director's cut because while the theatrical ending was rather sappy compared to the rest of the movie, I would like to see what the real ending was supposed to be. Ridley Scot himself has expressed that he doesn't like the way the director's cut turned out; that he wanted to do more with it. (I have even heard that the Director's Cut was made just to sell a "Director's Cut") Until a "real" director's cut is made that actualy ads something more than it cuts, I'll go by The Criterion Collection.

Oh, and am I the only person who didn't like The Day The Earth Stood Still?

It's watchable, but not great. Also it's got something of a crypto-fascist "humanity sucks" message, which is probably why European intellectuals love it.

That's what I picked up as well. Glad I'm not the only one.

The Matrix would've been on my list but I've never seen a series so promising at the outset go downhill so fucking fast. First movie was easily a 9.0. Second was watchable at best. Third was a waste of celluloid.

 

[Tannhauser]

Well, the borders of Science Fiction have always been hazy. I think the doomsday machine does push it in a certain direction. I include it as science fiction.

Spielberg’s work is usually too... overt with its sentimentality. Especially with his science fiction. He also has the very bad habit of choosing great works and making pale film imitations of them.

I also have to agree with Per on the Director's Cut version of Blade Runner. Of course, Blade Runner wasn't the first movie that studios defaced because of moronic test audiences. A 'non-ending' (as you put it) is still better than a foolish, ill-fitting one.

By the way, Ashmo, Jarno's appreciation of The Matrix is the lesser of his sins. Did you read it? He is actually a fan of Uwe Boll's Alone in the Dark.

Alec, Heston hasn't been the president of the NRA for years now. He stepped down because of Alzheimer's.

Now, an older movie I always wanted to see was Things to Come with H. G. Wells heavy influence.

 

[alec]

Alec, Heston hasn't been the president of the NRA for years now. He stepped down because of Alzheimer's.

 

[Flop]

John Carpenter's The Thing is all the horror/sci-fi I'll ever need (okay, maybe not, but it's the best there is).

And as to the Blade Runner discussion; I believe it's true that Ridley wasn't satisfied with the directors cut, and as far as I know he's already cut a new version, but can't get it released because of copyright issues. Although I don't think there are that many changes in the new version as compared to the existing directors cut. More info can be found here

 

[Lazarus Plus]

I don't want to get into a big list, but my favorite movie of all time is Highlander.

Close behind that is Robocop. This is no comment on how GOOD they are. This is just how much I liked them.

 

[The Man From Utopia]

I'm really surprised no one has brought the original Dawn Of The Dead from '78. That movie defined how all zombie movies should be made, it's a definitely a sci-fi classic.

 

[[PCE]el_Prez]

I'm really surprised no one has brought the original Dawn Of The Dead from '78. That movie defined how all zombie movies should be made, it's a definitely a sci-fi classic.

I put it on mine. It's under horror, but it should probably be under sci-fi.

 

[John Uskglass]

In no particular order

The Wicker Man
Blade Runner
A Clockwork Orange
Dog Soldiers
Dawn of the Dead
Audition
Ghost in the Shell
Others, lots of others.

I like Dark City a lot, but it's almost genre-less outside of Distopian retrofuture. Not really Sci-Fi.

 

[The Man From Utopia]

Ah yes, I see. I must of missed it, El Prez.

Ghost In The Shell was an awesome movie, although I remember having to watch it a couple of times to really understand what was going on. I've seen a lot of the episodes of Stand Alone Complex and they're pretty enjoyable too, although they lack some of the film's maturity.

The first 8/10ths of Akira was pretty awesome science fiction too but I don't know what to say about that fucking wierd ending. The movie just fell apart.

 

[Per]

I don't like the "non-ending" of the director's cut because while the theatrical ending was rather sappy compared to the rest of the movie, I would like to see what the real ending was supposed to be. Ridley Scot himself has expressed that he doesn't like the way the director's cut turned out; that he wanted to do more with it.

I don't know what you mean by "the real ending". As I see it, the DC ending is awesome and complete. There is factually nothing unreal about it. And it doesn't contain leftover helicopter footage from the shooting of The Shining. That RS wasn't perfectly happy with the DC doesn't tell us much about what he would have changed, but I don't see any reason to think there'd have been any substantial changes to the plot, let alone shooting or editing together a whole new ending, which seems unrealistic even if that's what he wanted to do. Note that the DC doesn't make arbitrary changes to the theatrical release, it's just closer to the movie's original state. RS might have done the changes slightly differently given time and resources, but it's obvious he wouldn't undo them. The DC is thus strictly "realer" than the original release; it makes no sense that they share a comparable amount of "unrealness" just because there will be or might have been an "even realer" version.

Ghost In The Shell was an awesome movie, although I remember having to watch it a couple of times to really understand what was going on.

Really? I was disappointed at how shallow I found it, given how everyone says it's smart and philosophical. If anything was difficult to follow it was just because the movie was inconsistent with its own metaphysics. Certainly stylish at times, though.

 

[Tannhauser]

Did I mention that I love Per's taste?

Ghost in the Shell is most notable for its animation. However, story wise, it is the product of picking out unrelated storyline pieces from the original manga and connecting them. However, the product doesn't flow very well. In addition, like Per mentions, it is philosophically shallow.

Now Stand Alone Complex I enjoy quite well. I'm amazed how much time they devote to conversation in the series (and I think that is a great thing as well). I think it handles the topics covered by the setting (mainly the melding of man and machine) intelligently. I recommend the series much more than the movie.

Besides the 'American Empire' never fails to bring a smile.

 

[John Uskglass]

I have to say that I think GitS 2 is among the most beautiful movies ever.

 

[Volkov]

About the only horror movies I like are Session 9 and Seven. Can't think of many sci-fi movies either, apart from Star Wars, Starship Troopers, and Robocop.

If we were talking action movies, I could probably make ten, but I don't think I watch alot of horror and sci-fi.

The first 8/10ths of Akira was pretty awesome science fiction too but I don't know what to say about that fucking wierd ending. The movie just fell apart.

There's a FAQ on the intar-web somewhere that explains all that crazy wank at the end. The movie of Akira was only 1/3 of the manga it's remaking. The middle third. Probably one of the most disappointing movies I've ever seen by the way.

 

[Lord 342]

I don't like the "non-ending" of the director's cut because while the theatrical ending was rather sappy compared to the rest of the movie, I would like to see what the real ending was supposed to be. Ridley Scot himself has expressed that he doesn't like the way the director's cut turned out; that he wanted to do more with it.

I don't know what you mean by "the real ending". As I see it, the DC ending is awesome and complete. There is factually nothing unreal about it. And it doesn't contain leftover helicopter footage from the shooting of The Shining. That RS wasn't perfectly happy with the DC doesn't tell us much about what he would have changed, but I don't see any reason to think there'd have been any substantial changes to the plot, let alone shooting or editing together a whole new ending, which seems unrealistic even if that's what he wanted to do. Note that the DC doesn't make arbitrary changes to the theatrical release, it's just closer to the movie's original state. RS might have done the changes slightly differently given time and resources, but it's obvious he wouldn't undo them. The DC is thus strictly "realer" than the original release; it makes no sense that they share a comparable amount of "unrealness" just because there will be or might have been an "even realer" version.

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. There's no arguing taste, Per. I just prefer the conclusionary nature of the upbeat ending to the elevator doors slamming and that's that. I can envision a much better ending, but hindsight is always 20/20.

I do agree about Ghost in the Shell, however. So many people think it's deep and philosophical because it's a little bit philosophical at the end and that's probably about as much philosophy as they've ever seen. Nothing deep or terribly thought-provoking IMHO. Good enough action anime, though. A feast for the eyes, but certainly little more than Dirty Pair* with a little less humor and little more dialog.

*classic, not Flash. Definitely not Flash.

 

[Jarno Mikkola]

Bamn, I don't know what I am talking talking about, I ment resident evil, not Alone in the dark.

The end at the ring 2 was a losers, it didn't have the kind of, happiness in the shadow of all evil, a peaseful seen whit a brite light, but the shadows reveal the true nature of the posessed mother.

 

[Murdoch]

My ten best sci-fi:
1. DOOM
2. Wing Commander
3. Starship Troopers 2
4. Queen of the Damned
5. Star Wars Episode 1
6. Tomb Raider 2
7. Armageddon
8. Battlefield Earth
9. Lost in Space
10. Mission the Mars.

Oh, Space Camp too, anyone remember it? I loved it!

 

[welsh]

Murdoch- you should be shot.

I actually think Starship Troopers is generally misunderstood. It's just a propaganda film.

Dark City- excellent pick and definitely sci-fi.

Robocop also a great one.

 

[Murdoch]

No no, Starship Troopers 2 is the real gem. Plenty of metaphysical conversations and a thoroughly complex, involving backstory. Great stuff!

 

[alec]

No no, Starship Troopers 2 is the real gem. Plenty of metaphysical conversations and a thoroughly complex, involving backstory. Great stuff!

I seriously hope you're joking.

Starship Troopers is an awesome movie. Starship Troopers 2 is, however, a piece of shit. I remember renting the movie one day. I was slightly sick and felt like lying in the couch doing nothing more than drinking lager and watching a good movie. How disappointed I was once Starship Troopers 2 began. Jesus. The setting of the movie is barely bigger than my living room. That's more than one hour and a half of shooting and shouting and bad acting in a space not much bigger than your average classroom. I watched it till the end because the lager was kicking in at a certain moment, but all in all it's one of the worst flicks I ever saw.

Another huge disappointment was The Chronicles of Riddick. While Pitch Black is quite a gem, The Chronicles of Riddick made me feel like a jew in Lederhosen on a train destined for Treblinka. Guess what? I hate feeling like a jew in Lederhosen on a train destined for Treblinka.

 

[Murdoch]

Dude, Starship Troopers 2 pwns! I totally own this film too!

That same sense of being in one room, because they had the budget of a black Big Easy Katrina survivor, is the best part of the flick! It aptly captures the claustrophobic, gritty, they're-right-behind-you feeling you get when camped out outside on a dry desolate, expansive and hostile planet!

And don't get me started on the lack of bug scenes! Seeing the bugs dismembering people in bloody sequences is so overrated and only appeals to sci-fi fans of the lowest common denominator. And the lack of sex? Pish, that only makes the film one-dimensional and detracts from the broader narrative, stymying it in cheap thrills and removing any sense of timelessness. These are traps that Starship Troopers 2, a truly monumental work of historic proportions, would never fall into.

Really, I'm ashamed of you guys not picking this epic work. Are you sure your not all Malkavian dopplegangers?