[DaveFi]

 http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/chil...e_thinking_man


Pretty good list. Let me add these to the list, which should have been included, or come close:


Akira: Katsuhiro Ôtomo's post-apocalyptic masterpiece. Every bit as valid as the other top 10 films in the list, and I might argue, almost as important to popular culture (especially to animation and sci-fi) over the last 30yrs as 2001 was before. The books are even better than the movie.


Ghost in the Shell: Also a very important film. The true successor to 2001. Takes you on a trip to the inside. What exists when science brings us to the point when the body is no longer neccessary? Are we still human?


Alien/Aliens: While some might argue these are action/horror, they are certainly explorations into the experience of the "the other".

 

[rickumali]

The Solaris mentioned in the list is the original by director Andrei Tarkovsky. A more recent version was done by Stephen Soderbergh, and I enjoyed it a lot. I thought back then that this was a pretty worthy sci-fi movie. (I didn't see the Tarkovsky version.)

 

[DaveFi]



Quote:
Originally Posted by rickumali /forum/post/15538153


The Solaris mentioned in the list is the original by director Andrei Tarkovsky. A more recent version was done by Stephen Soderbergh, and I enjoyed it a lot. I thought back then that this was a pretty worthy sci-fi movie. (I didn't see the Tarkovsky version.)

See the original, then you'll think the remake was crap.

 

[Gary McCoy]

I think it's a good list. I had never heard of Primer so I promptly put it on top of my NetFlix queue.


Two quibbles.


1) I think BOTH versions of Solaris are boring, as is the original novel. Robert A. Heinlein was apparently no admirer of Russian culture, he claimed that translating Russian literature improved it.


2) Sleeper had some chuckles but it would never have occurred to me to put it on any list of superior films. I personally am no admirer of NYC culture or Woody Allen's works.


What I would add to the list:


1) The Man From Earth - a fascinating exploration of immortality and religion. No special effects, no screen stars, and no forgetting the plot.


2) The Thing - the 1982 remake by John Carpenter is the preferred version, an almost exact filming of the John W. Campbell novel Who Goes There?.


3) 12 Monkeys - For my money, one of the two best time travel films made.


4) The Terminator - The other good time travel film.


5) The Matrix - The only good film about virtual reality.


Other lists are possible - the best SF Thrillers (for me, Alien is #1), the best SF action flick (I like both The Fifth Element and Star Wars), the best Fantasy (LOTR and Star Wars), etc.

 

[Gary McCoy]

This may blow your mind, but it's a defensible selection - Fight Club belongs on the list of a thinking man's SF movies.

 

[Rutgar]



Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveFi /forum/post/15539384


See the original, then you'll think the remake was crap.

I haven't seen the original. And I still thought the remake was crap.

Other than Solaris, I think the list is pretty much, 'spot on'. Although, I also have never heard of 'Primer'. So I too, am adding it to my Netflix queue.

 

[Airboss]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary McCoy /forum/post/15540459


I think it's a good list. I had never heard of Primer so I promptly put it on top of my NetFlix queue.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rutgar /forum/post/15540768


Although, I also have never heard of 'Primer'. So I too, am adding it to my Netflix queue.

Gentlemen you are in for a treat!! Primer will have you scratching your head, but be warned, it requires several viewings to fully appreciate.


It's been discussed on AVS several times, here are a few of the threads:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...38#post9382938

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...0#post12235400

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...7#post10510617

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...75#post5588675

 

[mproper]

Primer is a great flick. I have watched it several times to "grasp" it....I think they've made one of the best time travel movies ever. You can tell a lot of thought went into it, and the inherent problems/paradoxes that plague most time-travel movies. Great great flick, at least as far as a "thinking man's " SF fan flick goes. No car chases or explosions, is what I mean.


And The Man From Earth is also a great SF Thinking Man's flick (I thought about that long after the movie was over).


Also, was disappointed that Donnie Darko was not on that list.

 

[Rutgar]

I thought A Man From Earth was a bunch of atheistic tripe. Interesting one time through, but hardley worthy of even being in a top 100 best sci-fi list, much less a top 10. I'm not even sure I would consider it 'sci-fi'. Although I suppose the Sci-Fi channel would with all of their ghost and supernatural crap. But I digress.

 

[sdurani]



Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveFi /forum/post/15539384


See the original, then you'll think the remake was crap.

Other way 'round for me. Thought the original was impenetrable. By comparison, the Cameron/Soderbergh re-make was not only understandable but held my interest begining to end.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveFi /forum/post/15537669


Let me add these to the list, which should have been included, or come close:

Agree with your additions (especially GitS). I would have added 'Contact' to the list.


Sanjay

 

[IAM4UK]

Another nod for "12 Monkeys," and its inspiration, Chris Marker's photo-roman "La Jetee." Brilliant concept, well-executed. Any "Sci-Fi flick for thinking people" should reward close attention and thought, and "12 Monkeys" absolutely does.

 

[bobloblaw]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Airboss /forum/post/15540858

Gentlemen you are in for a treat!! Primer will have you scratching your head, but be warned, it requires several viewings to fully appreciate.


It's been discussed on AVS several times, here are a few of the threads:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...38#post9382938

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...0#post12235400

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...7#post10510617

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...75#post5588675

Absolutely! Primer was fantastic. After my first viewing I immediately watched it again with the Director's commentary turned on to gain more insight into the film. You will be shocked that it did not get more publicity as a top notch sci-fi film.

 

[bobloblaw]



Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveFi /forum/post/15539384


See the original, then you'll think the remake was crap.

Another vote for the original version of Solaris. Great storytelling.

 

[Airboss]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bobloblaw /forum/post/15541858


Absolutely! Primer was fantastic. After my first viewing I immediately watched it again with the Director's commentary turned on to gain more insight into the film. You will be shocked that it did not get more publicity as a top notch sci-fi film.

Primer Primers: Do Not Read Until AFTER you have seen the movie!

WikiPrimer

Official Site

Primer Explained

Another version of Primer explained

Nice little article

 

[Rutgar]

I got lucky. I put Primer in my queue this morning, and it just shipped. So I should be able to watch it in the next few days.

 

[Airboss]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Rutgar /forum/post/15543842


I got lucky. I put Primer in my queue this morning, and it just shipped. So I should be able to watch it in the next few days.

And the day after and the day after (unless you watch it several times in a row... which I would recommend at least for the first two viewings).

 

[spyder696969]

The Quiet Earth > Solaris.


In fact, Earnest Goes to Camp > Solaris.

That said, Solaris (remake) should get the nomination for best time-travel movie in history. Anyone that has been unfortunate to have been subjected to this drivel ends up wishing they had a time machine to regain the most boring two hours of their life!

 

[Morpheo]

Speaking of time travel, The Time Machine should be on the list...

 

[TrickMcKaha]

I'd add Dark Star, goofy for about an hour, then twenty minutes of stuff, I think, profound enough for any movie.

 

[thehun]



Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveFi /forum/post/15539384


See the original, then you'll think the remake was crap.

Right, LOL The original was shown where I come from[ at each time a Soviet premier died ]back in the 80's on state television, no doubt to punish the rest of us who dared to live. An unbelievably boring movie that seems to have far more fans here in the US then where it was made.


I would add Cameron's The Abyss to the list in place of Solaris for sure.