My top 10 Sci-Fi movies: A journey through time itself.
Feb 16 '06 (Updated Jun 15 '09)
The Bottom Line My 10 favorite science fiction movies.
This was a much tougher list for me to create than My 10 favorite Anime Movies. The problem is I have some my strongest emotional attachments to Sci-Fi movies, yet I want to give people recommendations for good movies they would want to see. So this is my list based on emotion as much as what I feel are good movies by themselves.
If you are looking for the best Anime Science Fiction then check out these movies. I chose to leave Anime out of this list but you will be able to compare the two lists when I get my top 50 list completely reviewed and html-ized
Akira
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Ghost in the Shell
Ghost in the Shell 2
Appleseed
Appleseed Ex Machina
12) Men in Black
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Writer: Ed Solomon & James Bonney
Music: Danny Elfman
Rating: PG-13
This is certainly the best Sci-Fi/comedy out there. The two lead characters play off themselves beautifully. The movie is first this good because of the actors. Secondly it has great special effects that have aged very well. And third, it is an intriguing story that is always fun to watch.
I wouldn't recommend it for younger kids, but I think it is fine for mature children and teens.
11) The Alien Quadrology or just Alien, Aliens, and Alien Resurrection
I know I cheated by putting them all together. But I really do view these as one long story and they shouldn’t be separated for that reason. Each movie had a different director and different cast (with the exception of Sigourney Weaver). But for a Sci-Fi horror flick, these just can’t be beat and there really is nothing like this out there of this quality. I also didn’t list the third movie because it is not as good as the other three and only worth seeing if you've seen the first two and are going to see the fourth.
I do not recommend this for children at all. But for teens it is fine in my opinion.
10) Star Wars II
Director: George Lucas
Screenplay: George Lucas & Jonathan Hales
Music: John Williams
Rating: PG-13
On an emotional level I feel that IV is better, but from a technical and story standpoint I feel this is better than IV. I really liked this movie and the story it told. This is were you truly get to know Anakin Skywalker and why he fell.
I don't think it is that scary or violent of a movie and I have no problem with my children watching it. Sure some CG creatures do get sabered though.
9) Star Trek VII: First Contact
Director: Jonathan Franks
Writer: Rick Berman, Brannon Braga & Ronald D. Moore
Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Rating: PG-13
I feel this deserves to be on the list because of how well written and entertaining this movie is. There are few things like the Borg that elicit the emotional response that they do. It is just a fun and entertaining movie with some good writing and acting.
It might be a little scary for a sheltered child. But it really isn't that scary. Nothing graphic, no nudity, just good old fashioned SciFi violence.
8) Star Wars IV
Director: George Lucas
Writer: George Lucas and Ben Burtt
Music: John Williams
Rating: PG
This is the movie that started it all. It not only sparked the imagination of several generations of kids. It is here not only for the emotional impact it makes on me but it is also a great movie. It is one of those ground breaking movies that will stand the test of time.
The movie has some violence and people dying from blasters, a cut off arm, other than that nothing really violent. So I am fine with kids watching this movie.
7) The Fifth Element
Director: Luc Besson
Screenplay: Luc Besson & Robery Mark Kamen
Music: Eric Serra
Rating: PG-13
First off this was one of the first movies where I learned why 5.1 surround sound was a good thing. The mixing in my opinion is great. In one scene you hear 5 different things going on at the same time that adds a deep sense of realism to the movie. It feels like you are there. Not only the sound but I love the acting and story. Add a bunch of special effects and action and you have yourself a pretty good science fiction action movie. This is one of those movies I don’t mind watching again if a friend picks it out.
There is nudity and plenty of Sci-Fi style violence.
6) Star Wars V
Director: Irvin Kershner
Writer: George Lucas
Screenplay: Leigh Brackett & Lawrence Kasdan
Music: John Williams
Rating: PG
This is considered by most Star Wars fans to be the best of the Six movies. It takes place between when the rebels destroyed the first Death Star and when the rebels destroy the second Death Star. It is darker and more depressing, very much like the second act of a play. But due to the director it had better writing and better character development than the other movies. Even though it looks dated, it is still fun to watch.
5) Serenity
Director: Joss Whedon
Writer: Joss Whedon.
Music: David Newman (II) .
Rating: PG-13
This is one of the greatest Sci-fi that no one knows about. It is a continuation of the short lived television show called Firefly. What I love about the movie is that it keeps you engaged the entire time. Also the story is original and not predictable. Joss Whedon did a great job with this film.
4) Matrix
Director: The Wachowski Brothers
Writer: The Wachowski Brothers
Music: Don Davis
Rating: R
I knew nothing about this movie when I saw it and I am glad I for that. That way I was able to see the movie through Neo’s eyes and see the Matrix for the first time just like he did. If you are one of 2 people on this planet that knows nothing about this movie then stop reading this, go out and buy it, and watch it. I said stop reading. You will be glad you did.
It is a story of a world where machines have taken control of the human race yet most of us do not realize it yet. Only a few know what the Matrix is. You follow Neo as he discovers what the Matrix is and begins to discover what he can become while in the Matrix. An awesome movie.
3) Terminator II
Director: James Cameron
Writer: James Cameron
Music: Brad Fiedel
Rating: R
Like many movies on this list, this is another story about what life truly is. What does it mean to exist, to live, to be considered an individual? This topic is addressed for 2 hours by 3 different individuals; a military machine called a terminator (who begins to learn what it means to be human), an innocent boy brought up in a lonely world, and a women that is emotionally traumatized who’s only goal in life is to protect her son. Each individual grows in this movie and you really do see the emotional change in each one. An outstanding movie.
2) Star Trek II
Director: Nicholas Meyer
Writer: Harve Bennett & Jack B. Sowards
Screenplay: Jack B. Sowards
Music: James Horner
Rating: PG
This is an emotional choice for me so if you want to give me flack for it in my comments, then feel free. I probably deserve it. : )
According to most fans, Star Trek II was the best movie out of the 10.
This is a continuation of one of the episodes where Khan is able to hijack a federation science vessel and use it to hunt down Kirk. The real key to this movie’s success was due to the director. He decided to take some liberties and it worked. If he didn’t direct this film I seriously doubt that there would have been a third movie after this one. Btw, he also directed the sixth movie, which is one of my top three Star Trek movies.
1) Blade Runner
Director: Ridley Scott
Screenplay: Hampton Fancher & David Peoples
Music: Vangelis
Rating: R
I fell in love with this movie the first time I saw it. It was dark, mysterious, and the world was mesmorizing. On top of the Vangelis did the most incredible vintage synth-music to date. It is a story of a type of police man who’s job is to destroy synthetic humanoids. These synthetic humanoids are so advanced that they appear perfectly human and only sophisticated tests can see if they are truly human or not. A new problem has surfaced and our hero (played by Harrison Ford) must eliminate them.
Other top ten lists
My 10 favorite Anime Movies.
My 10 favorite comedies
My 10 favorite children's movies
My top 50 movies reviewed
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