josuff247

Any recommendation for some good sci-fi movies.
I can only watch starwars, star trek, terminator and Matrix
so much!

Thanks.

Rivero

If you haven't already, try Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner, the two finest science-fiction films ever made.

btw, Star Wars isn't sci-fi.

DaveCole

Avalon, 12 monkeys, Dark City, eXistenZ, Thirteenth Floor, and a classic: Tron

Matthew Chmiel

- 12 Monkeys
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- The Abyss
- Akira (Japanese anime)
- Alien
- Aliens
- A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
- Blade Runner
- Brazil (more of a fantasy than sci-fi)
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind
- Cube
- Dark City
- The Day The Earth Stood Still
- The Matrix / Reloaded / Revolutions
- Metropolis (both the original silent film and the Japanese anime)
- Minority Report
- Solaris (both the Russian and American versions)
- Starship Troopers

NitroJMS

Dark City is excellent.

Also, check out The Fifth Element. A very fun scifi/action film.

nemein

What do you mainly like about Sci-Fi? Is it just furturistic settings or do you like space battles, robots/computers gone amuck or the "classics", action movies just set in a "sci-fi" setting or dramas, or all the above?

Not knowing what you are looking for anyway some that come to mind are:
Equilibrium (action, better than Matrix IMHO)
12 Monkeys (it's Gilliam what more needs to be said )
Gattaca (great drama/mystery)
Cube (fun independent film can be a bit gory at times)
the first 3 Alien movies (I know not everyone likes the 3rd one but I thought it was good)
Last Starfighter (not the best movie in the world but the first to use CG extensively)
Pitch Black (decent action/horror)
Free Enterprise (not really sci-fi but about people who like sci-fi)
Time Machine (the old one)
Planet of the Apes (again the original)
Red Planet (I know not everyone liked it though)
Total Recall (based on a story by the same author who did the Blade Runner story)
Strange Days (maybe a bit dated now considering the 00 is past but still enjoyable kind of in a film noir sense)
TRON, Them, Thing from Another World (3 more classics)
Outland (a old fashioned western shoot out in space)
Minority Report (It's got Tom but it's still good )
Event Horizon (atleast it starts off good )
Logan's Run, Fahrenheit 451 (two more classics)
Soldier (again not everyone likes this one I thought it was enjoyable)

If you are looking for TV series I'd recommend Firefly (watch the series to prep for the movie), Stargate SG1 (watch the series based on the movie ), Babylon 5 (watch the series and the movies [atleast all that are out now]), Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles (the series that was better than the movie IMHO, it's animated though so not everyone likes it)

cruzness

Some more that nobody mentioned:
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (original and 70's version)
Krull (more fantasy than SciFi)
The Thing
Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai
Independence Day (popcorn Sci-fi)
The Running Man (great Scifi action cheese that is surprising revelent when you consider our fascination w/ game shows and reality TV)

Dead Star

Wow this is like 99.9%(starship troopers as the .01%) exactly what I wouldve posted. Awesome

mgbfan

Well that's a pretty open question. I'll suppress the overwhelming urge to make the distinction between "sci-fi" and "science fiction." Yes, there is a difference, but for the purposes of your question, it's not important.

That said, science fiction is a very wide open genre, so it's hard to pin down what's good for your tastes. If it's action movies in futuristic settings that you like, try classics like Blade Runner and the Alien series. These are more than just action movies, but they'll satisfy that requirement plus give you a little extra.

If you prefer a more dramatic, emotional, intellectual piece, consider the absolutly fantastic Gattaca, and 12 Monkeys. You should be thrilled with both. Gattaca, in particular, is probably the most underrated science fiction movie I can think of.

If you're more of a guy who just wants some braindead entertainment (some will tell you otherwise, but these films have their place as well), go with the likes of Armageddon, Starship Troopers, etc.

Saw some recommendations here for Cube and Solaris. Personally, I'd shy away from these films. Both very weak, in my opinion.

RichC2

Ghost in the Shell is pretty apt. It's more of "see it to see what its inspired" than for the movie itself (which I didn't like, but it has legions of fans just the same).

Agree with Dark City (one of my all time faves), Minority Report, AI, and quite a few others.

Donnie Darko and A Clockwork Orange are listed as Scifi on imdb.com so I'll go ahead and add those... as well as City of Lost Children.

cheapskate

Don't supress the urge...

Tell us what the difference is between "Science Fiction", and the abreviated version "Sci-Fi". Then maybe I'll share my opinions on the difference between Hi Fidelity and Hi-Fi!

Gattaca is a fantastic movie though.

turborobb

Starship Troopers! (warning, people either love or hate Starship Troopers, there is no middle ground... personaly, I think it's one of the best sci fi films ever.)

Trancers (great 80's B-movie, it spawned 5 sequels, but the first is the best, one of Helen Hunts first roles)

Logans Run (classic 70's sci fi... a bit slow pased for some)

Doctor Who - Tomb of the Cybermen (ok, it's a TV show and not a movie, but "Tomb" is one of the most classic pieces of sci fi ever)

Apone

Only Star Wars, Star Trek, The Terminator and The Matrix? Firstly I recommend:

Total Recall
Arnold's most laughable performance!!! Still Predator is the best, check that out too.
Starship Troopers
Plenty of mid-level-gore battles. Arachnids tearing soldiers apart, then in an exchange Arachnids getting blown into pieces.
Equilibrium
Try not to compare or think about The Matrix while watching it, seperate movie experience makes it good.
Fifth Element
Gunfights aren't that spectacular but nevertheless enjoyable. Presentation itself is worth checking out anyway.

Then move on to these:

Aliens
One of the best Sci-Fi action films. No doubt.

Dark City
Wonderful cinematography, it's less dark mood than Blade Runner and around the end there's happy light. Yay!

Blade Runner
Not sure if you would like it straight away but give it a go. It's intelligent and grimly beautiful. Very dark tone so best to watch it at night.

Finally if you really liked those (or most of them):

2001: A Space Odyssey
There are no gunfights or explosive action and doesn't need them.

Metropolis
It's black and white but DOESN'T matter!!!

josuff247

Besides the movies I mentioned in my original post the other sci-fi movies I own are

Planet of the Apes(yes, only the original)
Fifth Element
And Aliens(I saw all, but liked this one the best)

I have seen many of the ones posted, and look forward to trying some of the recommendations.

Thanks.

PS, Is the x-files TV series worth a try?

RyoHazuki

Yes it is.

nemein

If you're w/ Netflix I'd rent it first (some store may have them too I haven't checked). It's really kind of a mixed bag, if you can get into the whole running conspiracy theme it's a decent show, if you can't some of the stand alone eps are still really enjoyable. Overall it's worth a look but it's not something I'd recommend as a blind buy (esp at the price they are asking for it).

nemein

I agree, atleast in the way Outland and Soldier are sci-fi westerns, SW is a sci-fi fantasy.

antennaball

Haven't seen it mentioned, but I would also suggest Event Horizon. One of my favorite movies in this genre.

TomOpus

How about Silent Running?

mgbfan

Very well then. "Sci-fi" is, or at least was, originally a term used to describe a lot of the more pop-culture (but less literate and less scientific) fiction out there. The most obvious andf popular example of "sci-fi" is the various Star Trek series.

"Sci-fi" originally was not an abbreviation for "science fiction," but a desparaging term meant to seperate what many people considered to be drek from true works of classic science fiction.

Of course, in the interevening years, the term has found the mainstream and now it's largely used interchangably. But even still, to many of us out there, the term "sci-fi" still gets a cringe when applied to a genuine work of science fiction.

rushmore223

Did I see somebody actually mention Krull?????!!!!!!








Hehehehehe, why not mention, Yor, Hunter from the Future then.

Hendrik

. . . The Thirteenth Floor . . .

...and let's hear it for some oldies...!...:

. . . Destination Moon . . .

. . . When Worlds Collide . . .

. . . The War Of The Worlds . . .

. . . Forbidden Planet . . .

. . . On The Beach . . .

. . . The Day The Earth Caught Fire . . .

...and last, but by no means least (although, truth to tell, I could go on all day!)...:

. . . The Day The Earth Stood Still . . .

. . . . . .

nemein

Atleast noone has mentioned "The Core" yet

Hendrik

...or "Sphere"...

. . . . . .

The Dude

I was just laughing about how horrible that movie was with my students...it pained me to even think about it (and sadly, many of them thought it was a really "neat" movie, sigh)