Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies: Part 3

Part 3 of the Top 25 Science Fiction Movies list continues with several more entries in the list! If you missed Part 1, click here, and here for Part 2.

17: Planet of the Apes

One of my favorite sci-fi films since childhood, Planet of the Apes tells the iconic story of man like apes being the rulers of a mysterious new world. For the era, the ape makeup effects are revolutionary, and if not for the film, many later sci-fi, horror, and other FX films would never have come into existence. Even today, the makeup holds up incredibly well, and it is so much better than the mediocre Tim Burton remake.

In regard to the movie itself, Planet of the Apes is an interesting adventure. Despite being several decades old, there is nothing really like it. Not even the recent Apes films have been able to top the original. 

16: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

Steven Spielberg's E.T is among the best family films ever made. For me, a truly great "family film" is one that adults can enjoy just as much as kids and E.T. definitely succeeds. In fact, my first viewing of the film was not until I was 17 or 18. Spielberg is a masterclass director. He can make the most mundane things interesting to watch, and E.T. is a perfect example of his skill.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial is also one of the few films that stars a child where the kid does not detract from the film. Henry Thomas's performance off of the lovable E.T. special effect is excellent for his age. My only issue is that the movie does not do all that much in grand scheme of things, but that's fine for what it is.

15: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

One of my favorite time-travel stories, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, is based on a 1967 novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui. It tells the story of a girl, who can travel-through-time by jumping from a certain height. However, she eventually discovers that time-travel cannot fix everything as problems arise. 

What separates this film from other time-travel stories is that it does not follow the usual "dangers of time-travel." The main character actually uses the time-travel as you would expect a teenager would use it, and yet she is not an annoying teenager like almost every teenage character in recent memory. The mix of comedy and drama is effective, and in the end, the film is a must-see, especially for fans of Studio Ghibli and time-travel.  

14: Alien

Ridley Scott's classic is the principal of science fiction horror! Despite knowing who would ultimately survive, the film manages to create a strong sense of tension. What surprised me the most is how unnerving the alien "Facehuggers" and "Chestbursters" are to witness. My skin crawls just thinking about them. The first scene with the Chestburster remains one of the few times where body horror works to forward the story without seeming over-the-top or unnecessary.

Alien's special effects are yet another highlight as it is some of the best from classic sci-fi. The creature design for the Xenomorph is superb, as it too is one of the best creatures in film history. Lastly, the film set the foundation for one of the best heroines in film, Ellen Ripley.

What do you think of the list so far! Are many of these your favorites? Please let me know in the comments, and if you missed it, please check out my review of Interstellar by clicking here.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies: Part 2

Part 2 of the Top 25 Science Fiction Movies list continues with several more entries in the list! If you missed Part 1, click here.

21: Pacific Rim

Japanese mecha anime brought to life, Pacific Rim is the definition of a fun popcorn flick! Sure, it might be a ripoff of Evangelion and the plot contains some holes, but that’s not the point. The robots, referred to as Jaegers, have a real sense of height to their movements, and not just CGI objects created to sell merchandise *coughTransformerscough*. 

Love it or hate it, Pacific Rim knows exactly what it is, a ridiculously fun action packed summer popcorn flick. It takes a genre that has been relegated to corny Japanese films and anime, and gives it the big-budget Hollywood treatment. In many ways, it is a first of its kind, for western media at least, and let’s hope that the sequel will be even better! 

20: The Thing (1982)

After repeated requests from fellow reviewer, Matthew Birkhofer, to watch and review John Carpenter's The Thing, I finally watched, and I was not disappointed. In the same vein of Ridley Scott's Alien, The Thing is a sci-fi horror thriller that you put you on the edge-of-your-seat at points. The film is also a remake of The Thing from Another World (1951), which makes The Thing one of the best remakes of all-time.

John Carpenter's direction might lack the sustained tension of other horror thrillers of the era, but when it tries to shock the viewer with gruesome violence and a few jump scares, it definitely succeeds. What appealed to me most are the practical effects used to portray The Thing. Sometimes it might look a little corny by today's standards, but as a fan of the art, the FX crew did excellent work on the film. A full review of the film will come eventually.

19: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

"KHAAAAN!" Of the many Star Trek films, The Wrath of Khan is, unquestionably, the iconic one in the franchise, and according to many, it is the best. For me, First Contact and the 2009 Star Trek might be the most fun for me, but The Wrath of Khan will always be the most memorable. It captures the core aspects of what makes Star Trek, Star Trek, whereas the 2009 film, as fun as it is, is closer to a Star Wars rip-off.

As for the film itself, the pacing a little slower than necessary, but it makes up for it with an engaging battle between Kirk and Khan. The battle contains many allusions to Moby Dick, which is referred in the film. An interesting fact is that Kirk and Khan never meet face-to-face, which mirrors a battle between two submarine captains. The most iconic and memorable part for me is in the climax, and if you have not seen film, I will not spoiler. I reference the scene when I am in front of a glass door with my brother, so you should know what I am talking if you have seen it. 

18: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

The film that launched the famed Studio Ghibli, and Hayao Miyazaki's second feature film, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind remains one of the best works by the Oscar winning director. Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where humanity survives on the remaining habitable land. However, unlike most post-apocalyptic films, Nausicaä takes a more optimistic approach as it conveys themes of environmentalism without being terribly overt.

At times the animation shows its age, but it is certainly on par with the Disney films of the era, except much more mature, yet still appropriate for most older children. It is the type of film that truly appeals to audiences of all ages.

Have you seen the movies in this part of the list? What do you think of the list so far? Please comment below, and check back tomorrow for my review of Interstellar!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies: Part 1

Science fiction is a genre where the possibilities are virtually limitless. You can create worlds set far in the future about what life could be like or adventures through space and time. Sci-Fi has had an incredible influence on me personally. Thanks to films like Star Wars, Terminator, and others, the genre has partially inspired me to pursue a career in IT and computers. Along with comic book and fantasy, science fiction is one of my favorite genres of any media.

One my goals in creating this list is to broaden your scope of sci-fi films with ones that fall into various subcategories of sci-fi like horror, drama, thriller, and even a few animated films, as well as films from various eras and countries. Of course, I have not seen every acclaimed sci-fi film, and there are many films to include on the honorable mentions part after the list concludes. My only qualification is that the film not be based on a comic book, which means movies like Ghost in the Shell, Snowpiercer, and Guardians of the Galaxy will make it on the Top 25 Comic Book films list. Now, without further ado, let's get started. 

25: Metropolis

Fritz Lang's Metropolis is the first feature-length science fiction to ever grace the silverscreen. Almost 100 years later, Metropolis' scope and scale can dazzle today's audiences. The film's influences can still be seen today other sci-fi films such as Blade Runner, Terminator, and even The Hunger Games. The plot is full of metaphors and commentary, which many modern day films continue to convey. Despite its age, Metropolis holds up surprisingly well today. Sure, other films later might have executed the concepts and ideas better, but the first car ever built is not the best one and the original should never be forgotten.

24: Ex Machina

The most recent entry on the list, Ex Machina is an intriguing watch. If you are the type of person that knows what "The Turing Test" refers to, then Ex Machina is probably the film for you. The Turing Test is a test designed to determine whether "a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human." For an IT guy like myself, who enjoys the discussion about the possibility of artificial intelligence, Ex Machina is a superbly cerebral piece of entertainment. The addition of an witty script and realistic leads made the film all the more worthy of a spot on the list. With that said, the film is far from flawless and being so new, I am hesitant to rank the film any higher on the list as of now. Also, a massive warning because there is mature content in the film that even detracted from my experience due to how unnecessary it was. If you liked Ex Machina, I highly recommend Time of Eve, a film that covers similar topics from a different angle and in a more PG-13 manner.

23: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Unlike many of the other entries on this list, it has been quite a few years since I have seen Close Encounters of the Third Kind. While I do remember enjoying the film as a young teen, thinking back on it now, Steven Spielberg's sci-fi classic is the type of film that left a lasting impression to me to the point where John William's score and many of the iconic scenes are easily memorable. Upon a second viewing, Close Encounters could easily rank higher or lower on the list, but for some reason, I have a feeling that the film deserves a place on the list. Regardless, every sci-fi and Spielberg fans owe it to themselves to check the film out.

Fun fact: In 1977 George Lucas and Steven Spielberg were talking on set of Close Encounters of the Third Kind when an argument broke out between the two about whose movie would be more successful. Lucas argued that Close Encounters would make more money, while Spielberg said that Star Wars would be more successful. So a bet was made; Lucas bet 2.5% of his stake in Star Wars on Close Encounters while Spielberg bet 2.5% of his stake in Close Encounters on Star Wars. Close Encounters made an impressive $303 million, but Star Wars raked in $775 million worldwide. This friendly bet has proved quiet profitable for Spielberg earning him approximately $40 million. 

22: Redline

Yes, Redline is an anime. Before completely disregarding it, hear me out. The few anime sci-fi films that you will see on this list are ones that I believe can appeal to many science fiction fans, and ones that are considered not too "weird" by the standards of my readership. With that out of the way, let's talk about Redline.

Taking more than 7 years to animate and over 100,000 hand-made drawings, Redline is an insane ride through the galaxy. Essentially, the story follows tough racer, JP, in the galaxy's biggest death race through many different planets, insane environments, and no rules. The story is incredibly simple, but you watch it for the visuals, action, and pure awesomeness. Of the anime included on the list, Redline is the one that might be the hardest to get into due to the art style, but then again, the art is not particularly "anime" in style. You can actually watch the film on Manga Entertainment's YouTube channel for free (click here). However, the film is rated R for a reason, and you have to be 18 or older to watch it on YouTube. On a side note, the dub is a little corny at times, but good for the most part.

What do you think of my so far? What are some of your favorites? Do you plan to try any of the ones on the list? Please comment below and let me know, and check back next week for the continuation of the list!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.