ROTTEN TOMATOES: Ten Sci-Fi Flicks for the Thinking Man

Ten Sci-Fi Flicks for the Thinking Man

...or woman.

by Jeff Giles | January 07, 2009

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Unless you've been living in a cave for the last four years, you know that the cheesy old sci-fi TV series known as Battlestar Galactica got picked up, dusted off, and given the all-time, grand champion, mother of all reboots. Solidly led by a couple of veteran movie actors (Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell), BSG has garnered a reputation as one of the best shows on TV. But don't just call it a sci-fi show; its so much more than that. It's about love and loss. It's about what it means to be a soldier, and what it's like to be a refugee. It's about religion and fanaticism. It's about government and corruption. But mostly it's about our own humanity, and what it really means to be human. Since some of us here are at RT are huge BSG fans (and we're betting some of you are too), in honor of the beginning of the end (starting next week), we thought we'd share a list of "thinking man's" sci-fi films; sci-fi stories that aren't about laser battles or rampaging mutants, but more thoughtful pieces on what it really means to be human.

By the way, if you're wondering who we think is the final Cylon, as you can imagine, we're still arguing about that; when pressed, most of us that watch the show suspect President Laura Roslin (even if she doesn't know it). But Editor in Chief Matt Atchity is going with an extreme longshot and betting that the final Cylon will be revealed as Zack Adama.

More info...

Planet of the Apes

We like to think of ourselves as the pinnacle of evolution -- or the divinely appointed head of the food chain, whichever you prefer -- but what if our inability to transcend our biggest flaws (like, say, our thirst for war) resulted in humans losing their top-dog status? These were the questions asked by Pierre Boulle's novel, La planète des singes, adapted for the big screen by Michael Wilson and Rod Serling for this 1968 classic. Planet of the Apes took some liberties with Boulle's book, but that's par for the course with adaptations -- and the changes worked, most notably Serling's addition of the film's classic twist ending, which Boulle said he wished he'd come up with himself. Blending thought-provoking commentary and popcorn action at a level few science fiction films had achieved, Planet struck such a chord that it spun off multiple sequels, a television show, and Tim Burton's 2001 remake (not to mention the reboot that's reportedly in the works). As Variety noted on the film's release, "Planet of the Apes is an amazing film."

More info...

Dark City

Philosophers and scientists have been trying to locate the seat of the human soul for as long as there have been philosophers and scientists, and we're arguably no closer now than we were when we started -- so it would be unreasonable to expect a 100-minute science fiction film to solve the riddle, or even shed any new light on the subject. Dark City probably doesn't do either of those things, but it does provide plenty of nifty special effects, and blends sci-fi and noir more enthusiastically than any major entry in the genre since Blade Runner. For some critics, this wasn't enough to forgive City's occasionally incomprehensible plot (eFilmcritic's Rob Gonsalves called it "one of the most ludicrous movies in years"), but most scribes responded to director/co-writer Alex Proyas' stylish visuals, and some fell completely in love with it; the Washington Post's Stephen Hunter, for one, declared that "if you don't fall in love with it, you've probably never fallen in love with a movie, and never will.".

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(1-20 of 320 posts) | Reply

arendr writes:
on Jan 07 2009 06:50 PM

Nice work here, Jeff. I'm glad you mentioned Solaris.

And I hope to one day have the pull in Hollywood to make a movie like 2001.

(Reply to this)

Detrs writes:
on Jan 07 2009 06:51 PM

"Thinking man's sci-fi" is a contradiction in terms.

Not a bad list though.

(Reply to this)

ttboy80 writes:
on Jan 07 2009 06:54 PM

This list gives a visual representation as to why Sci-Fi is my favorite genre, yet I like so few sci-fi movies.

Brilliant group of films.

(Reply to this)

Detrs writes:
on Jan 07 2009 06:56 PM

That's because most sci-fi is terrible. There are far more "Supernova"s than there are "Blade Runner"s.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jan 07 2009 06:58 PM

Cool list, I actually have never watched Battle Star. Why isn't Alien or Aliens on this list?!? Especially Aliens?!? The final cut of Blade Runner is definitely my favorite Sci-Fi film, then 2001, then Solaris, then Empire Strikes Back, then Aliens, and finally Back to The Future. The Dark City Director's Cut is great and I like it more then the original cut which I already thought was great. Also of-course the T1 and T2, but those are more along the lines of action but offers a lot I think intellectually. I would say there hasn't been a great Sci Fi film since Children of Men, and I also really liked Minority Report which had a great concept. I cant wait til next year considering all the Sci Fi films coming out- Avatar, Star Trek, T4, and Transformers 2. Yes all of those wont be great films I think except maybe Avatar, I think Star Trek and T4 will turn out pretty good, and I am still unsure of Transformers 2- I just hope it has a better story this time and they could easily make a better sequel. I actually have not see Gattaca yet, I just never got around to it but I will check it out soon.

(Reply to this)

Detrs writes:
on Jan 07 2009 07:04 PM

The problem, as I see it Jokerboy, is that, much like literature, most sci-fi is a pastiche moved into the future: "Firefly" was a western with space-ships. "Blade Runner" is more film noir than anything else.

You get the idea. In SF writing circles, this is sometimes known as "used furniture."

(Reply to this)

pinkincide writes:
on Jan 07 2009 07:33 PM

Glad to see Dark City featured so prominently. Of all the movies that did that artificial reality thing, Dark City did it best. At least it came up with something better than using humans for generating electricity.

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Glyoung writes:
on Jan 07 2009 07:46 PM

The Battlestar Galactica series will be the first television series in which I will buy. A must own in my opinion. It will be my pleasure to introduce this series to all of those whom I meet that have slept on it. I just hope that Caprica is as good as Battlestar.

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jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jan 07 2009 08:08 PM

In reply to this comment (#2236531)
Yeah I love it when Sci Fi combines with other genres like the awesome Firefly and Blade Runner, I don't get why filmmakers don't ever try that approach now when doing a Sci Fi film.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Jan 07 2009 08:22 PM

Okay my homeboys, I was like "This list is pimp!" until, the end. "Blade Crawler" and "2001: A Space Odyssey"... Okay, "2001" is very good, especially HAL 9000, but it's a little overated. I never sensed an alleged controversy about human battle such stuff AAAAAAAA!!!! The ending makes no sense, no frekin' sense. But like I said, ya otta love HAL. 7/10.

As for "Blade Crawler", I only saw the theatrical version, and it was so dissapointing. I liked the Harrison Ford parts ( I liked Fords narration by the way) and the film looked great. But the replicants were so boring. What makes them different? I don't know. And there was too much emphasis on scenary instead action or plot. Massive letdown. 4/10.

I agree with jokerboy, some stuff is definatley missing. Although, jokerboy I wouldn't worry about Transformers 2, I'm worried about Star Trek. I think the new trailer was shock full of cliches.

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vashfanatic writes:
on Jan 07 2009 08:27 PM

In reply to this comment (#2236676)
Go watch the final cut before you render any opinion on "Blade Runner" - one of my favorite movies of all time.

As for why "Aliens" isn't on this list... it's a great movie, but it doesn't make you think, as in, contemplate any of life's various mysteries, which is what this list is supposed to be about.

(Reply to this)

goldmonkee writes:
on Jan 07 2009 09:14 PM

Gattaca is my favorite movie, period. I also haven't seen Battlestar, will have to check it out.

(Reply to this)

ambientcafe writes:
on Jan 07 2009 09:27 PM

Director Robert Zemeckis's adaptation of Carl Sagan's novel, 'Contact' should be on the short list as well....hopefully, Warner'll show some Bluray love for this title in 09'.

(Reply to this)

Nick C. writes:
on Jan 07 2009 10:10 PM

You know, I'm not sure how people don't understand 2001... It's not meant to be fully understood because it deals with subjects that we can only wonder about.
Very good list though, I haven't seen all of them, but I will definitely check the rest of them out.

(Reply to this)

Iamremote01 writes:
on Jan 07 2009 10:22 PM

Where is "Sunshine"?!?
Even "28 Days Later" has amazing social/human commentary. Danny Boyle deserves a little love on this list.

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mouse_clicker writes:
on Jan 07 2009 10:30 PM

Great list! I'd also include the original sci-fi classic, though, Metropolis. I can't wait for the new DVD with so much of the old footage recovered!

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rushmore223 writes:
on Jan 07 2009 10:31 PM

Good list, but where is 12 Monkeys and Brazil.
Those are two staples of great, intelligent sci-fi.

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philth writes:
on Jan 07 2009 11:20 PM

In reply to this comment (#2236504)
Is this a joke? Sci-fi when done well can produce some of the most cerebral fiction imaginable.

(Reply to this)

gigaherc writes:
on Jan 08 2009 12:18 AM

Alien (space creature genre), Terminator and 12 Monkeys (time travel genre) should also make the list.
Anyways, great list, could be my favourite movies list.

(Reply to this)

Detrs writes:
on Jan 08 2009 02:16 AM

In reply to this comment (#2237158)
Uh, no...try looking up the difference between science-fiction and sci-fi; maybe do a bit of research before you say something. Most people even many casual fans, don't know that the terms refer to different things.

There is a world of difference between something like Malzberg's "Galaxies" and crap like "Galaxy 666."

Is there anybody in the world who knows anything about literary history any more? You're talking to someone who eats, breaths, and sleeps sf out of all proportion to reason. Like said, maybe next time it would help if you actually knew something about the genre before posting.

Science-fiction, certainly, is never less than thought provoking even when it fails to engage on all levels. Sci-fi on the other hand is the pap that most people (almost usually rightly so) dismiss out of hand for being crap with aliens, laser guns, time travel, space-ships. You know the, silly stuff. That's not to say it can't be fun and moving in it's way. I refuse to call that a "guilty pleasure" because there's nothing guilty about it. Some of my favorite books are "mere" sci-fi ("The Man Who Never Missed," "Skinner," "War Games," etc), but they pale in comparison to things like "Kirinyaga," or "Dying Inside."

Do you see what I'm getting at yet?

If you want to know about SF, start with the name Hugo Gernsback and read the following, "Breakfast in the Ruins," "The Dreams our Stuff is Made Of," and "Critical Theory and Science-Fiction."

Let me know when you want to get serious about this discussion.

(Reply to this)

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