Topic: A shocking list of movies I've never seen

[Weisshaupt]

Good Lord. I just had a post almost ready of my personal list of top 25 - I had compiled it and was thoughtfully placing it in order - and something happened to the page. Blew it away. Save often, save often, save often...

 

And explain what is wrong with 5th element while you are at it.

[Libertas]

I liked 5th Element, good humor, Oldman is a good baddy, Mila is hot, and stuff goes boom!   

MST3K is freaking hilarious...I gotta get some of that!  Haven't seen it since it went off-air.   

[trapeze]

I loved the ending...

Hey, thats not the real ending...
Army of Darkness Alternate Ending

Sam Raimi deserves recognition for his contributions, as well.

[Weisshaupt]

Okay, so Fantasy Films (including comics):

LOTR.
The Princess Bride
Time Bandits
The Fisher King
Holes (does this count? There is a curse in it...)
Batman Begins/The Dark Knight
Watchmen ( Ultimate cut)
Unbreakable ( I have found M. Night Shyamalan films to require at least two viewings before you will like them)
Lady in the Water
Ever After ( If only the feminists would have let him save her once. )


Guilty Pleasures ( again, I know they aren't great films)
Ladyhawke
The Beast Master
Speed Racer (I to this day can't explain why)  

Obscure
The 5000 fingers of Dr. T.  (Dr Seuss)
The Guild ( watchtheguild.com)
Dorkness Rising (If you ever played D&D- its hysterical. If you haven't, don't bother. A film by geeks, for geeks)

[IronDioPriest]

1) Planet of the Apes
2) The Thing
3) The Andromeda Strain
4) Dark City
5) 28 Days Later (Viral-Zombie flick firmly presented as a sci-fi crossover)
6) Priest
7) Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
8) Blade Runner
9) Dune
10) Twelve Monkeys
11) Alien
12) Reign of Fire
13) Contact
14) Pitch Black / Chronicles of Riddick (I include both because I always watch them together)
15) The Matrix
16) They Live
17) T2 Judgment Day
18) I Am Legend / Omega Man (Since they tell essentially the same story and I love them both, they share a spot)
19) Predator
20) Star Trek (2009)
21) 1984
22) Jurassic Park
23) Altered States
24) Stargate
25) Frankenstein (It really WAS a sci-fi film)

Some honorable mentions:

King Kong (Jeff Bridges/Jessica Lange version)
Godzilla (and several subsequent follow-ups)
Minority Report
Rollerball
AI Artificial Intelligence
Soldier (w/Kurt Russel, NOT Universal Soldier)

[IronDioPriest]

And explain what is wrong with 5th element while you are at it.

I thought the overall look and feel of the film was cheesy IMHO. Flying cars occupying the space above city streets. The costumes. Willis' campy character. Oldman's over-the-top bad guy. Costumes. Sets. Just didn't trip my trigger.

I didn't hate it. I just don't love it like so many sci-fi fans seem to love it.

[trapeze]

Well, color me "perplexed" that you could not find "The Fifth Element" appealing and yet you included the horrid David Lynch abortion, "Dune" on your list.

"Dune" was an absolute disaster and is about as good an example in how not to adapt a book to the screen as Peter Jackson's LOTR is. IMO, that is.

[IronDioPriest]

Well, color me "perplexed" that you could not find "The Fifth Element" appealing and yet you included the horrid David Lynch abortion, "Dune" on your list.

"Dune" was an absolute disaster and is about as good an example in how not to adapt a book to the screen as Peter Jackson's LOTR is. IMO, that is.

I know exactly what you're saying, except I don't consider it a disaster. In fact, as I criticized the costumes and campy aspects of TFE, Dune popped into my head as something I'd probably need to explain, and voila, here ya are!

My only answer is that Dune is a sweeping epic story that somewhat transcends the film, and it's very dark/grim, which I like. I appreciated the way the film dealt with the religious overtones, and it's uniqueness in its cheesiness was appealing to me.

ETA: You didn't like LOTR???

[edit from trap] Yes, I did like LOTR. Sorry for the clumsy grammar that would allow you to misinterpret my comments.

[trapeze]

One more that you left off your list, IDP...

"I Am Legend" is a remake of "The Omega Man" which is a remake of "The Last Man On Earth."

All three based on the 1954 novel by Richard Matheson, "I Am Legend."

You did not say whether you have read "Dune." Did you? I probably would have hated it less if I had not read the book. Peter Jackson is not hated for LOTR because he held to the details of the original story about as well as the film media would allow. Another movie series that I would place in the contempt category for straying from the story are the recent Narnia films. It is the height of arrogance for a director and/or screenwriter to "improve" upon C.S. Lewis.

[trapeze]

BTW, it is a rather sad commentary on state of the Republican primary campaign and candidates that this thread is so much more appealing to work on than current events.

[IronDioPriest]

One more that you left off your list, IDP...

"I Am Legend" is a remake of "The Omega Man" which is a remake of "The Last Man On Earth."

All three based on the 1954 novel by Richard Matheson, "I Am Legend."

You did not say whether you have read "Dune." Did you? I probably would have hated it less if I had not read the book. Peter Jackson is not hated for LOTR because he held to the details of the original story about as well as the film media would allow. Another movie series that I would place in the contempt category for straying from the story are the recent Narnia films. It is the height of arrogance for a director and/or screenwriter to "improve" upon C.S. Lewis.

I've never seen Last Man on Earth.

I did read Dune, but AFTER I saw the film for the first time. Loved the book, and its sequels, as bizarre as they were. And to add to the Dune discussion, as much as I appreciate the Lynch film for what it was, I've ALWAYS wanted to see a new version of that film done without the camp and cheese. It could be so incredibly dark, ominous, and just plain cool if done right. Somebody tried a mini-series several years ago and it was a miss.

I agree re; LOTR - that's why I asked, cuz I would've sworn we had the conversation before and that you liked the films, so I was confused.

I also agree re; Narnia. Terrible films (particularly the 2nd and 3rd installments) that don't hold a candle to the books. They missed the mark terribly.

[Weisshaupt]

You did not say whether you have read "Dune." Did you? I probably would have hated it less if I had not read the book. Peter Jackson is not hated for LOTR because he held to the details of the original story about as well as the film media would allow. Another movie series that I would place in the contempt category for straying from the story are the recent Narnia films. It is the height of arrogance for a director and/or screenwriter to "improve" upon C.S. Lewis.

Dune is a great story.  It is also as hard to adapt to film as LOTR was, if not harder.  I didn't hate Dune, but a great film adaptation it is not.
I still think Peter Jackson did a decent job with LOTR (extended editions) , and improved on the story in some places ( Fellowship Drags. It does. Deal with it) .  The images Jackson provided were just what I saw in my  minds eye while reading, so I enjoyed the movies in large part just because it was like actually visiting Middle Earth for me.  The Book will nearly always be better, and Hollywood will always cut one or two of the "good parts" just for reasons of time.  So maybe my expectations are low to start with, but I never expect a perfect rendition. Removing Tom Bombadil out and the Scouring of the Shire for the films didn't bother me at all. 

Of course Jackson is apparently screwing up "The Hobbit" by adding in the bits where Gandalf left to expel the necromancer from Mirkwood.  This irritates me, but in the end I may enjoy the end product.  The best stories, the ones that really matter, will be retold. And some times they will suffer in the re telling, and sometimes they will improve.

  I didn't hate  the new Narnia films either,  but they really failed to capture Aslan ( He is huge folks. He Towers over the children, standing or sitting. )  and the resurrection in the first movie was sadly understated IMO.  For that reason I still prefer the animated version. Yes the animation is 2nd rate, but its 100% faithful to the story, and does a far better job capturing the spirit of the thing.

Just curious,  ever read the original Philip K Dick stories for Total Recall, or  Blade Runner?  Sometime artistic license by the director can improve a story. Sometime not. And sometimes its just required by the medium.  I don't need every jot and tittle from the book to enjoy the retelling.
 

[Alphabet Soup]

BTW, it is a rather sad commentary on state of the Republican primary campaign and candidates that this thread is so much more appealing to work on than current events.

I mentioned escapism upstream. That's my new address 

[Pandora]

BTW, it is a rather sad commentary on state of the Republican primary campaign and candidates that this thread is so much more appealing to work on than current events.

I mentioned escapism upstream. That's my new address  

Indeed.  Sometimes I (we) just need a break from the constant barrage of outrageous, oppressive and depressing.

No, this does not mean we are "American Idol" types; I said "a break" not a reality-banishment zone.

[Sectionhand]

1) Planet of the Apes
2) The Thing
3) The Andromeda Strain
4) Dark City
5) 28 Days Later (Viral-Zombie flick firmly presented as a sci-fi crossover)
6) Priest
7) Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
8) Blade Runner
9) Dune
10) Twelve Monkeys
11) Alien
12) Reign of Fire
13) Contact
14) Pitch Black / Chronicles of Riddick (I include both because I always watch them together)
15) The Matrix
16) They Live
17) T2 Judgment Day
18) I Am Legend / Omega Man (Since they tell essentially the same story and I love them both, they share a spot)
19) Predator
20) Star Trek (2009)
21) 1984
22) Jurassic Park
23) Altered States
24) Stargate
25) Frankenstein (It really WAS a sci-fi film)

Some honorable mentions:

King Kong (Jeff Bridges/Jessica Lange version)
Godzilla (and several subsequent follow-ups)
Minority Report
Rollerball
AI Artificial Intelligence
Soldier (w/Kurt Russel, NOT Universal Soldier)

A REAL oldie but worth a watch ... " Things To Come " with Raymond Massey and Ralph Richardson .

[Predator Don]

I love sci fi ......and i can find something in each I really appreciate.... But district 9 doesn't belong near the top 25.

Battle LA was a pleasant surprise. Always like to see our soldiers win. Avatar.....I've seen it. Great movie as far as special effects, but the reference to global warming, soldiers the bad guys, all the liberal talking points are touched.

Too difficult to make a list, but I judge my favs by my tv time.....as if it is on, I'll try to watch. So Terminator, matrix, all the riddick stuff, predator,alien, if those series are playing, I watch.

Don't know if this is considered sci fi, but Armageddon is one of my all time favs. The right stuff..liked it. "Sunshine " is one I enjoyed also.

And not to forget the new stuff out. I'm hooked on ironman and can't wait for the avengers. And although probably not sci if, Real Steel was great, as it had something for me and the wife.

Chit, I'm leaving out Bruce bannon.....and Charles and storm and wolf man.....and fantastic 4...ok I meant to leave that out.

Oh, no sci if where a teenager saves the planet. And no friggin twilight.

[IronDioPriest]

The movie that ALWAYS makes me stop and watch if I happen across in on TV is "The Thing". The story, characters, and setting are wonderfully done, and this is as good as pre-GCI special effects makeup gets. When the makeup and effects are this good, there is something about actual analog film capturing actual objects in an actual room that just looks more "real" than CGI, in certain respects.

CGI of course has its own superiorities, and it is looking more "in real space" with every year that goes by. Gollum was groundbreaking in that regard. But "The Thing", and films from that era like "Alien", began to take the concept of "if you can imagine it, you can make it look real in a movie" to its pinnacle.

[Pandora]

Loved all the Alien movies; if any of them are on, I'm sucked in.  The original Alien hooked me because it was the first movie I'd ever seen where the "heroine" didn't jump OVER the gun on her screeching way out of the room.

Both Riddick movies, both Ironman (s) and both Transformer (s).  Sorry, Don; teenage boy saves world.

Terminator, Matrix, Armageddon, Red Planet, Space Cowboys, Mission to Mars* -- speaking of *Gary Sinese, really liked Imposters; not sci-fi though, futuristic (although IMDB classifies it as sci-fi).

[IronDioPriest]

...The original Alien hooked me because it was the first movie I'd ever seen where the "heroine" didn't jump OVER the gun on her screeching way out of the room...

Yup. Sigourney Weaver & her Ellen Ripley kicked the door down for female action heroes. There were tough chicks before that, but not like Ripley. Every ass-kicking movie heroine has that movie to thank for upping the game.

[Predator Don]

Loved all the Alien movies; if any of them are on, I'm sucked in.  The original Alien hooked me because it was the first movie I'd ever seen where the "heroine" didn't jump OVER the gun on her screeching way out of the room.

Both Riddick movies, both Ironman (s) and both Transformer (s).  Sorry, Don; teenage boy saves world.

Terminator, Matrix, Armageddon, Red Planet, Space Cowboys, Mission to Mars* -- speaking of *Gary Sinese, really liked Imposters; not sci-fi though, futuristic (although IMDB classifies it as sci-fi).
[/quote



Pan, I love the transformers movies. I guess there is the exception to every rule......lol.....