Lets see if I agree.
25. V, the mini-series. Wow pretty cheesy start. I remember watching the first few episodes, but then it kinda petered out towards the end.
24. Galaxy Quest. I liked this movie, but I wouldn't exactly put it in the sci-fi genre. I'd put it more in the comedy category.
23. Doctor Who (the series) Am I the only one who just doesn't get this show?
22. Quantum Leap. I guess it was, technically, sci-fi. I think of it more as a situational drama. I admit, I watched pretty much all the episodes.
21. Futurama. Awesome show. Met its end prematurely. Smartly written. Still watch the reruns when I can find them.
20. Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003-2005) Really? Did they just feel the need to throw something Star Wars on the list?
19. Starship Troopers. Not a bad choice. This movie shows that there is a fine line between good
sci-fi and cheese.
18. Heroes. I've been enthralled with this series from the first episode. Must be the whole cheerleader thing. Original concept - lets see if it picks up the pace in season 3.
17. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This is Sci-Fi? I'll have to double-check imdb.
16. Total Recall. This is more like it. A no-doubt Sci-Fi classic.
15. Firefly/Serenity. Another series that was cancelled too soon I think. The movie was spectacular.
14. Children of Men. This was a decent flick. I wasn't as impressed as I'd hoped I would be.
13. Terminator/Terminator 2. Terminator is, of course, one of the all-time best sci-fi movies. Why is it way down here at 13?
12. Back to the Future. Pretty good movie. Good enough to spawn a couple sequels at least.
11. Lost. Good show, but its a bit out of genre I think. You know how I can tell if its true sci-fi? If my wife likes it - its not sci-fi. And my wife loves Lost, ergo...
10. The Thing (1982) Awesome movie. Amount my top movies of any genre. Love the premise.
9. Alien. Now we're talking. Hard-core sci-fi. Still love watching this movie.
8. Star Trek: the Next Generation. Meh. Its sci-fi all right. It just isn't good sci-fi is all.
7. E.T. Something for the kiddies, I get it. Some of these movies lightly sprinkle the science fiction in so that the masses will enjoy them. A typical Speilberg tactic. And then top it off with some sickly sweet syrup to make everyone go awwww.
6. Brazil. I've tried to like this movie on several occasions. I'm just not getting it though.
5. Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan. Well, if they had to put a Star Trek movie on the list, I'm glad they chose this one.
4. The X-Files (1993-2002) This is another one of those - my wife liked it, so it must not be sci-fi. Although some of the episodes were true sci-fi.
3. Blade Runner. Yay - another one of my all-time favorites. What truly made Harrison Ford my favorite (at least until his midlife crisis hit.)
2. Battlestar Galactica (2003) Number 2? Really? I like the premise, but the writing and acting turns me off.
1. The Matrix. Ok - very good movie. I watched it many times. As long as you don't lump in the sequels with this movie.
***
So, of course, I will fix this list.
I would not have put any series that airs on the Sci-Fi channel network anywhere near the list (Battlestar, Stargate, Babylon, etc.) They're just too formulaic for me. I don't think I'd put any Star Trek series on the list either. There are some movies that would be outside my top 25 - some that I liked when they first came out, but have not stood the test of time, and now I just think they're cheese - Tron, Independence Day, Armageddon, and the Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai. I wouldn't put any of the new Star Wars movies on the list. Unfairly or not, they just pale in comparison to the original trilogy.
I'm limiting my list to the top 20. My list is based more on if I were stranded on a desserted island with only some sort of solar-powered TV which 20 movies would I bring along that I could watch time after time without getting sick and tired of. Here it is.
20. X-Men
19. Jurassic Park
18. Men In Black
17. Galaxy Quest
16. the Abyss
15. Contact
14. the Fifth Element
13. I, Robot
12. Minority Report
11. Total Recall
10. Escape from New York (1981 I know - but I didn't see it until 1982 - honest)
9. The Matrix
7 & 8. Alien & Aliens
6. Serenity
5. Pitch Black
4. the Fly
3. Akira
2. The Thing
1. Blade Runner
Friday, August 22, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The Day the Earth Stood Still, 1951
Plot Synopsis:
One morning, in Jul 1951, people around the world are astonished by the appearance of an unidentified, fast-moving object circling the globe. The object, a large, metallic saucer, lands on the Mall in Washington, D.C., where a crowd quickly gathers. Soldiers surround the saucer, and tension grows until a helmeted man emerges, telling the crowd that he has come in peace. A nervous soldier shoots the man when he brandishes a small object, and people run in terror as an enormous robot lumbers out of the saucer. The robot, Gort, emits a mysterious ray that melts the soldiers' weapons until the wounded alien, Klaatu, orders him to desist and informs the soldiers that the object was a gift for their president. Klaatu is then rushed to Walter Reed Hospital, where presidential secretary Harley learns that he has traveled over 250,000,000 miles in five months. Klaatu reveals that he must talk to all of Earth's leaders, but Harley explains that due to the unstable political climate, not all of the leaders will consent to meet with one another. Klaatu insists that his mission is too important to be derailed by petty squabbles, and warns Harley that the future of the planet is at stake. The next day, doctors find that Klaatu has recovered from his wound, after which Harley returns with news that although the president has invited the world's leaders to meet, many have refused unless they can host the gathering. Bemused by their childish jealousies, Klaatu decides to learn more about the species he is visiting, and escapes from the hospital. Radio and television broadcasts announce Klaatu's escape, but no pictures of him are available. Using the name Carpenter, Klaatu obtains a room in the boardinghouse of Mrs. Crockett, which is also inhabited by Mr. and Mrs. George Barley, Mr. Krull and an attractive widow, Helen Benson, and her young son Bobby. The next day, Helen and her beau, Tom Stevens, go on a picnic, and Klaatu babysits Bobby, who takes him on a tour of the city. Klaatu is impressed with the Lincoln Memorial, and when he asks Bobby who the greatest man alive is, the boy replies that famed scientist Jacob Barnhardt is the one Klaatu seeks. After taking Bobby to visit the saucer, Klaatu goes with him to Barnhardt's house, where he easily solves a math problem begun by the absent Barnhardt. That night, Helen watches as a government agent picks up Klaatu at the boardinghouse. Klaatu is taken to see Barnhardt, who is thrilled to learn that he is the alien. Klaatu explains that because Earth's people are reaching a technological level at which they could be a danger to other planets, he has been sent to warn them of the consequences of their violence. Barnhardt speculates that no one will take his message seriously unless he can prove his superior capabilities, so Klaatu promises to arrange a demonstration in two days. The next evening, Tom belittles Klaatu's involvement with Helen and Bobby, although Bobby states that Klaatu is his best friend. After Helen and Tom leave, Bobby follows Klaatu as he goes to the saucer, where he signals to Gort and obtains entrance to the vessel. Inside, Klaatu arranges his demonstration, while Bobby runs home. When Helen and Tom return, Bobby tells them of his adventure, but they dismiss it as a bad dream. Tom grows worried though, when he snoops in Klaatu's room and finds one of the diamonds that Klaatu trades for currency. The following day, Klaatu gets Helen from her office, and when they enter the building's elevator, the power suddenly dies, and Klaatu reveals his identity to Helen. As he discusses his mission with her, people around the world are confused by the loss of all electricity, except to critical locations such as hospitals. Barnhardt is gleeful about the nonviolent demonstration, which he believes will ensure full attendance for his meeting that night of scientists and social leaders. Half an hour later, when the power is restored, Helen is convinced of Klaatu's sincerity, and is determined to help him. She is concerned about Tom, however, as he has taken the diamond to a jeweler for appraisal. Helen rushes to Tom's office, where she is dismayed to learn that he is more interested in the fame and fortune that will result from betraying Klaatu than in the reason for his visit. While Tom alerts the Pentagon, Helen storms out and whisks Klaatu away from the boardinghouse just before the military arrives. During their ride to Barnhardt's meeting, Klaatu tells Helen that if anything happens to him, she is to find Gort immediately and tell him "Klaatu Barada Nikto" to prevent him from destroying the Earth. Before they can reach the ship, however, Helen and Klaatu are stopped by soldiers, and Klaatu is fatally shot. Helen escapes and goes to Gort, who responds to her repetition of Klaatu's orders by carrying her inside the saucer, then stealing Klaatu's body and returning it to the ship. There, Gort revives Klaatu, although Klaatu tells Helen that his re-animation will last for an uncertain duration. Klaatu then appears before Barnhardt's colleagues and warns them that because the universe grows smaller every day, threats of aggression cannot be tolerated. Klaatu assures them that they will not lose any freedoms, but that they will be under the watchful eye of a robot such as Gort, who was invented by an organization of planets determined to stamp out violence. Each planet is guarded by a robot that impartially acts against aggression, and the inhabitants live in peace, Klaatu states, with their energies turned toward higher goals. Klaatu informs the crowd, "Your choice is simple: join us and live in peace, or pursue your present course and face obliteration." With a final smile for Helen, Klaatu then leaves with Gort.
One morning, in Jul 1951, people around the world are astonished by the appearance of an unidentified, fast-moving object circling the globe. The object, a large, metallic saucer, lands on the Mall in Washington, D.C., where a crowd quickly gathers. Soldiers surround the saucer, and tension grows until a helmeted man emerges, telling the crowd that he has come in peace. A nervous soldier shoots the man when he brandishes a small object, and people run in terror as an enormous robot lumbers out of the saucer. The robot, Gort, emits a mysterious ray that melts the soldiers' weapons until the wounded alien, Klaatu, orders him to desist and informs the soldiers that the object was a gift for their president. Klaatu is then rushed to Walter Reed Hospital, where presidential secretary Harley learns that he has traveled over 250,000,000 miles in five months. Klaatu reveals that he must talk to all of Earth's leaders, but Harley explains that due to the unstable political climate, not all of the leaders will consent to meet with one another. Klaatu insists that his mission is too important to be derailed by petty squabbles, and warns Harley that the future of the planet is at stake. The next day, doctors find that Klaatu has recovered from his wound, after which Harley returns with news that although the president has invited the world's leaders to meet, many have refused unless they can host the gathering. Bemused by their childish jealousies, Klaatu decides to learn more about the species he is visiting, and escapes from the hospital. Radio and television broadcasts announce Klaatu's escape, but no pictures of him are available. Using the name Carpenter, Klaatu obtains a room in the boardinghouse of Mrs. Crockett, which is also inhabited by Mr. and Mrs. George Barley, Mr. Krull and an attractive widow, Helen Benson, and her young son Bobby. The next day, Helen and her beau, Tom Stevens, go on a picnic, and Klaatu babysits Bobby, who takes him on a tour of the city. Klaatu is impressed with the Lincoln Memorial, and when he asks Bobby who the greatest man alive is, the boy replies that famed scientist Jacob Barnhardt is the one Klaatu seeks. After taking Bobby to visit the saucer, Klaatu goes with him to Barnhardt's house, where he easily solves a math problem begun by the absent Barnhardt. That night, Helen watches as a government agent picks up Klaatu at the boardinghouse. Klaatu is taken to see Barnhardt, who is thrilled to learn that he is the alien. Klaatu explains that because Earth's people are reaching a technological level at which they could be a danger to other planets, he has been sent to warn them of the consequences of their violence. Barnhardt speculates that no one will take his message seriously unless he can prove his superior capabilities, so Klaatu promises to arrange a demonstration in two days. The next evening, Tom belittles Klaatu's involvement with Helen and Bobby, although Bobby states that Klaatu is his best friend. After Helen and Tom leave, Bobby follows Klaatu as he goes to the saucer, where he signals to Gort and obtains entrance to the vessel. Inside, Klaatu arranges his demonstration, while Bobby runs home. When Helen and Tom return, Bobby tells them of his adventure, but they dismiss it as a bad dream. Tom grows worried though, when he snoops in Klaatu's room and finds one of the diamonds that Klaatu trades for currency. The following day, Klaatu gets Helen from her office, and when they enter the building's elevator, the power suddenly dies, and Klaatu reveals his identity to Helen. As he discusses his mission with her, people around the world are confused by the loss of all electricity, except to critical locations such as hospitals. Barnhardt is gleeful about the nonviolent demonstration, which he believes will ensure full attendance for his meeting that night of scientists and social leaders. Half an hour later, when the power is restored, Helen is convinced of Klaatu's sincerity, and is determined to help him. She is concerned about Tom, however, as he has taken the diamond to a jeweler for appraisal. Helen rushes to Tom's office, where she is dismayed to learn that he is more interested in the fame and fortune that will result from betraying Klaatu than in the reason for his visit. While Tom alerts the Pentagon, Helen storms out and whisks Klaatu away from the boardinghouse just before the military arrives. During their ride to Barnhardt's meeting, Klaatu tells Helen that if anything happens to him, she is to find Gort immediately and tell him "Klaatu Barada Nikto" to prevent him from destroying the Earth. Before they can reach the ship, however, Helen and Klaatu are stopped by soldiers, and Klaatu is fatally shot. Helen escapes and goes to Gort, who responds to her repetition of Klaatu's orders by carrying her inside the saucer, then stealing Klaatu's body and returning it to the ship. There, Gort revives Klaatu, although Klaatu tells Helen that his re-animation will last for an uncertain duration. Klaatu then appears before Barnhardt's colleagues and warns them that because the universe grows smaller every day, threats of aggression cannot be tolerated. Klaatu assures them that they will not lose any freedoms, but that they will be under the watchful eye of a robot such as Gort, who was invented by an organization of planets determined to stamp out violence. Each planet is guarded by a robot that impartially acts against aggression, and the inhabitants live in peace, Klaatu states, with their energies turned toward higher goals. Klaatu informs the crowd, "Your choice is simple: join us and live in peace, or pursue your present course and face obliteration." With a final smile for Helen, Klaatu then leaves with Gort.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
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