Sci-Fi / Fantasy film recommendations

[lambysdad]

Hi all,

As it will soon be Winter (I'm overseas just now), I'd like to start planning which films I can watch during my time off on those long dreary days.

Haven't seen a good Sci-Fi / Fantasy film in ages so would be good to know if any are worth watching....obviously Star Wars is top of the list!

Over to you

[Eric Mc]

Queue people listing their favourite sci-fi films.

There are so many sci-fi themed films being made these days that it is now a major part of the film industry's output. In the past it had been a bit of a specialist niche.

I would recommend some older classics, such as

1950s

The Day the Earth Stood Still
The War of the Worlds
The Forbidden Planet
When Worlds Collide
Destination Moon

1960s

2001: A Space Odyssey

I would also recommend Walt Disney's 1950s TV specials about the future of space travel - hosted in part by Dr Werner Von Braun. They were made in full colour, are an hour long and are free to watch on youtube. I [personally think they were instrumental in America landing men on the moon in 1969.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWJrvT9sTPk

[lambysdad]

Thanks Eric,

I have those you listed on DVD / Blu Ray....although 2001 is high on the list to watch again soon.

I was hoping there have been some 'future classics' made recently.

[Blaster72]

Eric Mc said:

Queue people listing their favourite sci-fi films.

That I think is what he's after and is exactly what you've just done Eric.

Anyway, I'd recommend Moon if you haven't seen it. Not exactly fast paced but a nice well made sci-fi film

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/

Other than that and very surprisingly I really enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy and John Carter.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2015381/?ref_=nv_sr_1

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401729/?ref_=nv_sr_1

My all time favorite though is Aliens although I can't believe you won't have already seen it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090605/?ref_=fn_al_tt...

Lastly, one to avoid totally - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970416/?ref_=nm_flmg_... the original was shocking pile of dung, the remake tried really hard and succeeded to be even worse.

[MiniMan64]

I realise they're not strictly SciFi but Gravity and The Martian have both got to be on that list!

The Martian is probably the best film I've seen all year.

[lambysdad]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.
Here's what I currently have on my list;

Star Wars - The Force Awakens
James Bond - Spectre
Mad Max - Fury Road
The Hunger Games - Mockingjay
The Martian
Maze Runner - The Scorch Trials
Jurassic World
The Last Witch Hunter
Avengers - Age of Ultron
Ex Machina

I fully expect to be disappointed by at least one of these

[Eric Mc]

Blaster72 said:

That I think is what he's after and is exactly what you've just done Eric.

Anyway, I'd recommend Moon if you haven't seen it. Not exactly fast paced but a nice well made sci-fi film

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/

Other than that and very surprisingly I really enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy and John Carter.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2015381/?ref_=nv_sr_1

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401729/?ref_=nv_sr_1

My all time favorite though is Aliens although I can't believe you won't have already seen it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090605/?ref_=fn_al_tt...

Lastly, one to avoid totally - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970416/?ref_=nm_flmg_... the original was shocking pile of dung, the remake tried really hard and succeeded to be even worse.

I certainly haven't listed my favourites. SOME are included in the list but I deliberately thought that rather than just list what I liked, I would highlight the fact that some older pre 1980s stuff is worth watching.

The OP didn't initially specify any time period or that he specifically wanted recent stuff.

It's interesting that a James Bond film is now classified as sci-fi by some. It just shows that the boundaries between what constitutes "sci-fi" and "normal" films is very, very blurred these days.

Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 29th November 10:40

[Funkycoldribena]

Surely They Live is the obvious one?

[Du1point8]

What kind of sci-fi do you want?

Animation
Space ships
Future
GoT Fantasy?

Then is it:

Space Opera
Action
Adventure
Romance
etc
etc

Helps split it down to what you will and won't watch.

[mp3manager]

The Matrix
Cube
Moon
Bladerunner
District 9
The Thing
Akira
The Abyss
Total Recall

[Eric Mc]

I tend to like "nuts and bolts" type sci -fi i.e. sci-fi that is recognisably feasible.

There has been a bunch of new films that fall into that category - all worth watching -

Gravity
Interstellar
The Martian

I also watched recently "Tomorrowland". It's flawed in many respects but still an interesting idea. I would recommend watching it AFTER watching those 1950s Disney TV programmes I included in my original list. Puts it all in context.

[lambysdad]

Difficult to narrow down exactly what I like...more traditional Sci-Fi / Fantasy really.

Not into animation
Do not want to see Game of Thrones (I'm guessing that's what GoT is?), as I prefer the books.

Was hoping for more recent films, I see a lot listed on flights which 'look' ok, but would rather watch them on a bigger screen with decent sound.

In response to Eric...no I don't class James Bond as anything other than action....but I would like to see the film.

[Du1point8]

City of lost children
Delicatessen
Casshern
Frank Herbert's Dune
Frank Herbert's Children of Dune
Colossus: The Forbin Project
Screamers
Space Battleship Yamato
Space Pirate Captain Harlock
serenity
equilibrium
sunshine
the black hole
enemy mine
The Fifth Element
Gattaca
Battle Los Angeles
Cloverfield
krull
Wall-E
2001:A space Odyssey
2010
Dark city
Event horizon
Twelve monkeys
Alien
Aliens
Terminator
Clockwork orange
The Thing (80's version)
Frankenstein
Outland
The Abyss
Predator
Slaughterhouse 5
Tron
Torn legacy
Metropolis
Planet of the Apes
ET
Rollerball
The Running Man
Stargaze
THX 1138
Serenity
The Quiet Earth
Mad Max
Gattaca
The Andromeda Dtrain
Westworld

moon 44
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M9CKUPzUjc&fea...

moontrap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=270j3YK2YMU&fea...

Arena
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHKnU-YkOE4&fea...

Robotwars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBAUacDVwJo&fea...

Robotjox:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUxDmKFCD2o&fea...

Others include
soldier
virus
Wing Commander
PitchBlack

Space Above and beyond
BSG
B5
Stargate
Terra nova
Falling skies
Firefly
Lexx
Andromeda
Farscape
Total Recall 2070
Warehouse 13
Fringe
Dark Angel
Sliders
Torchwood
3rd rock from sun
Roswell
Town called eureka
Threshold
first wave
Primeval
Surface
crusade
Earth 2
Caprica
SeaQuest DSV
eerie Indiana
Invasion
Sanctuary
Journeyman
Supernatural
The Dresden Files
The Event
Terminator - Sarah Connor Chronicles
The 4400

Tripping the Rift

Sure I have missed some.

[bingybongy]

lambysdad said:

Thanks for the suggestions so far.
Here's what I currently have on my list;

Star Wars - The Force Awakens
James Bond - Spectre
Mad Max - Fury Road
The Hunger Games - Mockingjay
The Martian
Maze Runner - The Scorch Trials
Jurassic World
The Last Witch Hunter
Avengers - Age of Ultron
Ex Machina

I fully expect to be disappointed by at least one of these

I can pretty much guarantee Mad Max will disappoint. It's awful.

Oblivion and the one where he dies every day, both with Tom Cruise are much better than they sound.

[glazbagun]

Alien 1 & 2. If you haven't seen them (why?!) they're very different. Much of them is now cliche, but at the time was stellar.

Two (to my mind) similar Sci-Fi thrillers:
Cube.
Coherence. Both about a small group of people with a puzzle to work out.

Gravity. If you have a good TV/sound then it amazed me in the cinema. I'm not sure it would on a laptop screen.

Galaxy Quest- a great send up of Star Trek. Not a serious film at all, however.

The Martian was very good.

[vixen1700]

Really enjoyed Coherence, watched it the other week and thought it was excellent. Had no idea it was made with such a tiny budget.

Also watched Ex-Machina recently and found it quite dull.

Anybody mentioned Dredd yet, that's a cracking flick.

[ASK1974]

Some of my favourites

Pitch Black
Aliens
Interstellar
Star Wars (the originals)
Star Trek (2009)
Star Trek - into Darkness
The Abyss
The Matrix
Terminator 2
Inception
Twelve Monkeys
Signs
Fifth Element

[rich85uk]

ASK1974 said:

Some of my favourites


Interstellar
Star Trek (2009)
Star Trek - into Darkness
Inception

Interstellar seems to divide opinion, personally i thought it was near perfection

i would also add:

Edge of Tomorrow
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1631867/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Looper
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1276104/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Neither are instant classics, but both are great films that are often overlooked and will work well with your big screen and surround sound

[deanobeano]

Its old but
Silent running
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067756/

Enemy Mine
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089092/

Forbidden Planet
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049223/

[glazbagun]

deanobeano said:

Its old but

Enemy Mine
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089092/

I need to rewatch this, was an awesome movie in my childhood!