To cast your vote for the Top Ten Science Fiction Films, we ask that you submit your own Top Ten list. You must provide the Title of the film, as well as the Director. Do NOT provide the main actor here, unless he or she was also the director of the film. If you don't know the director of a film you want to vote for, please look it up on Amazon. If the film is a remake (or an original of a more famous remake) you may want to provide the year in which it was released, but this is optional. You may vote for any film that you consider to be science fiction. Our definition of "science fiction" is not strict. Cross-genre and other types of liminal fiction are welcome. If you have any questions, please ask them in our Online Help forum.
We ask that you rank your Top Ten Films in a 1-10 list, 1 being the best, 10 being the tenth best. The results will be calculated using your ranking to weight the votes. Films placed at the #1 spot will be given 10 points, #2 given 9 points... #10 given one point. Keep this in mind as you are composing your list.
If you do not want to rank your ten, that's fine. We also accept unranked lists of ten (or less). If you chose to submit an unranked list, each item on the list will be credited with 5 points. Submitting an unranked list of more than 10 will result in the final choice listed being ignored in the counting. If you are submitting an unranked list, please DO NOT number it. Remove the numbers for the email or online form. A note to our editors saying "this list is in no particular order" is welcome, but there is a chance it might be overlooked in the numbers crunching of compiling the final list. Removing all numbering from your unranked list assures that all items will be given equal weight.
You may also submit a partial list. If you simply can't come up with a worthy ten, feel free to submit one, two, three... or nine. But remember, you don't have to put all of them at the head of the list. If you can't think of a full ten, but want to vote for some of your favorites, make sure to assign them appropriate rankings. Leave the middle numbers blank if you have to. If you want to vote for a film, but don't think it's quite top 5 quality, put it in a lower rank and don't fill in the rest. We want this list to be an accurate representation of your sentiments.
Finally, I will ask, that as you are posting your lists, feel free to comment on the films listed as you mention them. Your quotations may be included in the feature article once the list is compiled. If your commentary is quoted, it will be credited to your given username. Commentary is not required for submitting a list. Nor is commentary on every character listed. If you just want to comment on your #1, or just on a random few, that's okay. Any commentary is welcome.
If you run your own webpage, and you think your members would be interested in participating in this and future lists, we would be happy to invite them over, and give your online community credit for helping out. Please see our Top Ten Associates page for more details.
Voting will remain open until August 25, 2006.
You may submit only one list, and there are two options for submission:
1) You may submit using our email form. Use this option if, for whatever reason, you do not want to post your list publicly on the ARWZ Community Forums. However, please be advised that your list submission using the email form will be FINAL. You may not edit your list once it is submitted by email. If you want to be able to edit your list, please use option 2...
2) You may submit by posting on our ARWZ Community Forums. With this option, you are free to edit your list at any time up until the close of voting.
If you have any questions on how voting works, please ask in our Online Help forum. If you please, you may copy/paste this format for composing your list:
1. FILM:
by DIRECTOR:
COMMENTS:
2. FILM:
by DIRECTOR:
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3. FILM:
by DIRECTOR:
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4. FILM:
by DIRECTOR:
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5. FILM:
by DIRECTOR:
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6. FILM:
by DIRECTOR:
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7. FILM:
by DIRECTOR:
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8. FILM:
by DIRECTOR:
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9. FILM:
by DIRECTOR:
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10. FILM:
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If you're ready to post your list, then click on the link below:
Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 34 Location: Portland, Oregon
Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 10:13 pm
I'm certain my list would not pan out very well in the larger totals, as most would probably not be very "mass media" in nature. So many people who like SF movies got into them because of the Star Wars, Star Trek, and Matrix series, that I don't see how those wouldn't dominate (along with Alien(s), et al.) Still I'll give it a shot.
1. The Man Who Fell to Earth (Nicolas Roeg)- David Bowie as a very convincing alien who learns alcoholism and cynicism from Earth and thereby fails to care enough to save his homeworld from dehydration.
2. Planet of the Apes (Franklin J. Schaffner)- (Original!!!) Charlton Heston was so damn good, I can almost forgive him for his later days.
3. Liquid Sky (Slava Tsukerman) - Sex, drugs, and new wave rock 'n roll in a stylistically perfect surreal SF flick.
4. 1984 (Michael Radford) - So damn convincing it made me feel quite ill.
5. Metropolis (Fritz Lang) - Fritz Lang created with this movie the vision of the future that most of us are still seeing. Watch it, and then look at the sets of Bladerunner...
6. Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrik) - Scarily much of this dystopian future has come to pass, but that only makes it seem more prescient and it's warning about humanity more important. The mix of old and new, Russian and American culture, and the incredible soundtrack make me watch it again and again despite flinching at the violence every time.
7. Star Wars (George Lucas) - Analog only please! The digitizing of these movies, and this one in particular is one of the greatest travesties Lucas has ever unleashed. Yes, an even greater travesty than The Phantom Menace, at least that just began awful and stayed the course! Nonetheless, what he originally did with a cast of unknowns and some cool models back in the '70s deserved the initial global reaction.
8. Soylent Green (Richard Fleischer) - Another great Charlton Heston flick with a vision of a future of supreme hardship to humanity brought on by the type of politics he now embraces. A world so crowded with homeless people you can't walk down the street without stepping on dozens of people, and nothing much left to eat...
9. The Thing (from Another World) (Christian Nyby)- (Original!) Sure it was just a monster movie where the monster happened to be an alien, and there are no shortage of other examples of this vehicle. But the monster alien was also a vegetable, and they were in the antarctic (a likely idea lifted from Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness), and it was really pretty damn scary!
10. On the Beach (Stanley Kramer) - In many was too realistic to be what many consider "science fiction" it nonetheless extrapolates on a future vision and uses it for the backdrop of a powerful story. Sadly, perhaps the ultimate science fiction then.
Thanks to everyone who has submitted so far. Great choices!
Those who have been reminded of other favorites when reading subsequent lists, let me remind you that you are allowed to edit your list at any time up until the close of voting. _________________ Violet "Violanthe" Kane
[email protected] ARWZ.com: A Magazine of Alternative Reality Fiction
4. Star Wars: Episode IV � A New Hope
by George Lucas
1977
5. Forbidden Planet
by Fred M. Wilcox
1956
6. The Matrix
by Andy & Larry Wachowski
1999
7. Dark City
by Alex Proyas
1998
8. Silent Running
by Douglas Trumbull
1972
9. Pitch Black
by David Twohy
2000
10. Dark Star
by John Carpenter
1974
How I hate working out those lists... Only 10 ? I've had to leave out Terminator, Total Recall, La Cit� des Enfants Perdus (well, it's an SF film, absolutely...) and at least one of the Dalek films, can't remember which... And Planet of the Apes (the old one) etc. I already regret having posted !
Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Waco, Texas
Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 9:36 pm
When Violanthe posted this question on my ezboard a few days ago, I listed twenty films because it was difficult to eliminate some of them from consideration. After several days thought here is my finalized list. The first three I am definitely sure of in the order, the others could possibly be in a different order at different times.
i love all these movies for different reasons, so i'm not going to rank them. i like the idea of non-ranked movie lists getting equal weight. so here goes:
serenity, directed by Joss Whedon (my husband and i are currently renting the DVDs of the tv show, it's twice as good!)
metropolis, directed by fritz lang
spirited away, directed/created by hayoa miyazaki
alien, directed by james cameron
2001: a space odessey, directed by stanley kubrick
the abyss, directed by james cameron
akira, directed by Katsuhiro Otomo
vanilla sky directed by cameron crowe
brazil directed by terry gilliam
that's not 10, but i'm gonna stick with this list for now. i have trouble putting down any of the star wars movies as "best" scifi, because they've almost become cliche, and as much as i love the matrix flicks, i have trouble listing any of them, because they seem more like a super sexy music video than a movie to me.
A Revision to my original list (this is so hard!):
1. Blade Runner
directed by Ridley Scott
(a scary, but believable future, with a great story and a great director).
2. 2001: A Space Oddysey
directed by Stanley Kubrick
(could have been better, but was so ground-breaking that it has to be on the
list).
3. Spirited Away
directed by Hayao Miyazaki
(I don't know if this anime movie is strictly an SF film, but it is so good I
had to include it) .
4. Alien/ Aliens
#1 directed by Ridley Scott/ #2 directed by James Cameron
(these two have to be considered together as 1 big story)
5. Invasion of the Body Snatchers
directed by Don Siegel
(this movie scared the bejeesus out of me when I was 15, and now, 40
years later and presumably much wiser, the allegorical subtext from the
50's applied to the present day is still scary)
6. A Clockwork Orange
directed by Stanly Kubrick (again)
( a very disturbing extrapolation of a possible future world)
7. The Day the Earth Stood Still
directed By Robert Wise
(a classic)
8. Ghost in the Shell
directed by Mamoru Oshii
(superb anime from the comics of Masamune Shirow)
9. Akira
directed by Katsuhiro Otomo
(one of the early post-apocalyptic anime movies, and still one of the best)
10. Star Wars - A New Hope
directed by George Lucas
(the original movie - a technical masterpiece)
My list is heavily skewed toward movies that show the consequences of where our collective governments (and the US in particular) seem to be leading us. I hope that these portrayals of the future prove not to be too accurate, but I'm not overly optimistic
Here's my list, although as usual, I reserve the right to change it up to the end!
1. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (George Lucas) 1977
This was the first movie with modern-day effects and surround sound. It used the time-honored good-vs-evil theme to create something everyone is still talking about.
2. Alien (Ridley Scott) 1979
3. Silent Running (Douglas Trumbull) 1972
4. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (Stephen Herek) 1989
Time travel... fun... quotable... everyone's seen it!
5. 2001 A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick)
6. E.T. (Steven Spielburg)
7. Planet of the Apes (Franklin J. Schaffner)
8. The Terminator (James Cameron) 1984
9. The Matrix (Andy & Larry Wachowski) 1999
10. Minority Report (Steven Spielberg) 2002
I wish this taught people that you can't punish someone because they MIGHT commit a crime. For instance, today the US has laws revoking rights from some adults. Although Prohibition of alcohol was repealed, it still applies to 18-20 year olds. They can join the military and die for their country, but can't toast it! Why? Because some of them MIGHT drive drunk!
Johnnycab, why did you think Aliens was a classic but Alien was not? I
thought the first movie was such an original concept and so full of
suspense! The second movie was good but IMO not "best ten ever" good.
Just curious!
Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Posts: 649 Location: NSW, Australia
Re: Top 10 Science Fiction Films
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:24 am
Alicia GA wrote:
Johnnycab, why did you think Aliens was a classic but Alien was not? I
thought the first movie was such an original concept and so full of
suspense! The second movie was good but IMO not "best ten ever" good.
Just curious!
Better made film, held suspense better, lacked the last-man-standing slasher mentality of Alien, actors and actresses were given a whole lot more to do this time around.
1. Blade Runner by Ridley Scott
2. The Matrix by the Walhowski Brothers
3.Silent Running by Douglas Turnbull
4. The Omega Man by Boris Sagal
5. Mad Max 2 by George Miller
6. The Terminator by James Cameron
7. Outland by Peter Hyams
8.Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Phil Kaufman
9. Starship Trooper by Paul Verhoven
10,. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country by Nicholas Meyer
Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Brisbane, Australia
Top Ten....
Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 5:37 pm
1. Soylent Green by Richard Fleischer
Ever since I saw this movie, it stuck with me. When a part of a movie stays in my conscience in a good way I consider it a goo done.
2. Silent Running by Douglas Trumbull
This one too stuck with me over the years. The scene where he is playing cards with Huey, Dewey, & Louie still cracks me up.
3. 2001 A Space Odyssey
by Stanley Kubrik
4. The Matrix by Andy & Larry Wachowski
We're talking the first movie, not the horrid sequels. Great mind-twisting concept presented here and even though I still see Keneau Reeves as 'Ted', he did good as Mr Anderson/Neo unaware of it all. The second and third movies were crap though.
5. Blade Runner by Ridley Scott
I like the director's cut DVD as it is one complete Sci-Fi!
6. The Fly by Kurt Neumann
This movie was one I first saw on Saturday afternoon TV as a kid and the famous 'Help Me!' bit stuck. The giant fly head di dgive me a couple nightmares shortly after seeing it. Also, a couple years later when Star Trek debuted I though tthey took ther transporter idea and perfected it, and they even used the combining of and splitting things in a couple episodes.
7. Total Recall by Paul Verhoeven
Say what you will about Arnold, but this movie really messed with my head when I first saw it. Even after subsequent viewings I don't have the story straight. For a 'b'ish movie I thought it was great. The line that stuck with me was 'Two Weeks" which I may repeat whenever anyone tells me they're taking two weeks off.
8. A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrik
A twisted movie that I remember going to see a few times when it was on at the local drive in in high school. My eyes still ache when I think of them being held open...
9. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure by Stephen Herek
A great comedy sci-fi that I can watch again! It takes time travel to the extreme!
Also, I can't get over Reeves as Ted! When I first saw Matrix and he stops the bullits, I was expecting him to break into that grin and go 'EXCELLENT!' and follow it with an air guitar riff.
10. Back to the Future by Robert Zemeckis
This one, and the second one really has given me lots of entertainment. Another goofy time travel story that Christopher Lloyd & Michael J. Fox really carried well.
Last edited by Hanas�an on Mon Jun 19, 2006 12:54 pm; edited 1 time in total
Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 306 Location: Port Angeles, Washington
Top 10 Science Fiction Films
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 6:38 pm
It has taken me quite awhile to come up with my list of the Top 10. There are so many films to choose from, and so many that have a claim for one reason or anther. I'm still not convinced that it is the ultimate list, but these are all films that people should see and appreciate.
1. On the Beach by Stanley Kramer
It is incredibly vivid in its depiction of a world slowly winding down to its end after a nuclear war. The movie provides a poignant look at what happens to a few people and it also presents a warning of what we could do to the world, if we don't wise up. It's number 1 because, in addition to a good story, it serves as convincing piece of (dare I say it?) propaganda.
2. The Day the Earth Stood Still by Robert Wise
An alien lands and tells the people of Earth that we must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets. Probably the ultimate '50s social message movie -- it still plays very well today. There are a few unintentionally funny moments though. As ljim2000 once noted, there is a certain irony to the doctors expressing amazement at the alien's long life span, while lighting up cigarettes.
3. Metropolis by Fritz Lang
Visually, stylistically, and in its construction, every Alternative Reality movie that came after it owes it a debt. In addition to the pioneering special effects, the movie also presents as social dystopia for us to examine. In may ways it pre-figured the cyber-punk movement by 60 years. This is the Great-Grandfather of them all.
4. The Brother from Another Planet by John Sayles
This is one of those wonderful little low budget gems that are often overlooked. A mute alien slave, running away from his masters, crashes on Earth and hides in Harlem. It is a great and skewed look at race and attitude in our culture. Joe Morton, who plays the brother, carries the movie without ever speaking a line. And the last scene will haunt you.
5. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb by Stanley Kubrick
In many ways, the flip side of On The Beach. This movie is tragic and darkly funny at the same time. Watch a damn-fool start WW III. Watch the leaders of the world still looking for an angle at the very end. Peter Sellers delivers three of his best performances, but Slim Pickens steals the show as the leader of a badly crippled bomber, determined to carry out his mission at all costs.
6. Robinson Crusoe on Mars by Byron Haskin
Yes, it was a B movie from 1964, but it caught the feeling of a man stranded far from home, trying to cope with a hostile environment. An astronaut is shipwrecked on Mars and has to survive all alone out of contact with home. This film does a very nice job showing his struggle.
7. 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick
Visually, this movie broke with everything that had come before. It set the standard by which everything that followed would be judged. Besides giving us a surreal panorama, it also introduced the Greater-Than-Human Cosmic Wonder story to the general audience. (And I think Stanley Kubrick is going to wind up with the most votes of any director, since he's got three movies nominated.)
8. Dark Star by John Carpenter
Because all my picks can't be nice and sweet. This movie shows the dark side of what can happen when a group of men are packed into a ship built by the lowest bidder and sent off on an extended, dangerous mission far away from home. This movie is sickly funny. It may have a special meaning for me, because just before I saw it I had been on a patrol in nuclear missile sub that bore an uncanny resemblance to what the crew in the movie went through.
9. Star Wars (aka "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope") by George Lucas
Another film that visually set a new standard to live up to. The original version only, please, before Lucas started messing around with it, adding and deleting scenes. You also need to keep in mind the era in which it was first shown: after a decade of self indulgent film noir, this was a mind-bending breath of fresh air.
10. Forbidden Planet by Fred M. Wilcox
Another trend setter, visually and thematically. This 1956 film raised the bar for special effects and visuals. It was also a cautionary tale about the monsters that exist in the unconscious minds of men. Still one of the great classic films.
There were some others that I really considered, but, with a limit of 10, didn't quite make the list:
1984 (1956) Michael Anderson
Brazil (1985) Terry Gilliam
Soylent Green (1973) Richard Fleischer
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) Don Siegel
Starman (1984) John Carpenter
The Man in the White Suit (1951) Alexander Mackendrick
Fahrenheit 451 (1966) Fran�ois Truffaut
Earth Girls Are Easy (1988) Julien Temple (Oh, come on! It was fun.)
Allegro Non Troppo (1977) Bruno Bozzetto (I had trouble convincing myself that it was legitimately Alternative Reality Fiction.)
There were a couple that made other people's lists that didn't make mine. I think A Clockwork Orange is a powerful piece of film-making, but I don't think it is the kind of thing that can be watched over and over, which is one of the requirements for a classic. Blade Runner was originally on my list, but I watched it recently; for all its beautiful visuals and fine acting, I realized that it is very much a 1982 period piece and really doesn't belong on a list of all-time greats. Hurt to leave it off.
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