Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies and TV Shows In The Past 25 Years

[EliSnow]

Entertainment Weekly has done one of those lists again. Truthfully, although I often disagree with these lists, I do like them just for the reason to debate the merits of some of these movies. Haven't finished the list yet, so I can't spoil the top spot ....yet.

Top SciFi (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20036782_20037403_20037541,00.html)

[EliSnow]

Okay, I have a couple of gripes. For television show, rather than ST:TNG, I'd have liked to see Farscape and Babylon 5. But neither of those shows did as well as TNG or as Battlestar is doing now.

For movies, there's no way I'd have Starship Troopers on the list. There are other movies like 12 Monkeys or even Robocop that are much better than that. I like the movie as a camp movie, but it's not a top 25 moment in sci fi.

At first glance, I don't disagree with the top 5 too much, although my order may have been different.

[Furtherman]

For the past 25 years, that's a pretty good list.

I love that they put Batterstar Galactica up there at #2 and saying that "any given episode of Galactica is better than 90 percent of what's on the air". So true.

And I think I agree with their #1 choice.

In fact, I think that is the last movie I recall seeing multiple times in the theater. I can still remember my friends and I looking at each other saying this was the coolest f'n movie we've ever seen.

[Judge Smails]

I like how the Star Wars cartoon made it, but none of the Star Wars movies did. Suck on that, George Lucas!

[EliSnow]

For the past 25 years, that's a pretty good list.

I love that they put Batterstar Galactica up there at #2 and saying that "any given episode of Galactica is better than 90 percent of what's on the air". So true.

And I think I agree with their #1 choice.

In fact, I think that is the last movie I recall seeing multiple times in the theater. I can still remember my friends and I looking at each other saying this was the coolest f'n movie we've ever seen.

I may give Blade Runner the edge over their #1, but it's a close call.

[Furtherman]

For movies, there's no way I'd have Starship Troopers on the list.

I'm with you there. Although I haven't seen it in years and never even bother with it when it's on cable, I just felt that movie was plain cheesy. You can still make a social statement or whathaveyou without being cheesy and having Casper Van Diem and Whats her name who married Charlie Sheen.

[Furtherman]

I like how the Star Wars cartoon made it, but none of the Star Wars movies did. Suck on that, George Lucas!

I find a great viewing is watching The Clone Wars into Revenge Of The Sith.

[MadMatt]

I like how the Star Wars cartoon made it, but none of the Star Wars movies did. Suck on that, George Lucas!

The Clone Wars series was the best Star Wars "thing" to come out sin Empire. They were definitely better than any of the new movies, I mean vastly better.

If you haven't seen either incarnation of the series, definitely check it out. General Grievous is soooo much cooler in the animated series - I couldn't believe how weak he was in the movies.

[EliSnow]

The Clone Wars series was the best Star Wars "thing" to come out sin Empire. They were definitely better than any of the new movies, I mean vastly better.

If you haven't seen either incarnation of the series, definitely check it out. General Grievous is soooo much cooler in the animated series - I couldn't believe how weak he was in the movies.

That inconsistency really, really pissed me off about Revenge. They use the cartoons to set up Grievous as this Jedi-killing machine, and then you see the movie, and he's a wheezing mess, who runs from Kenobi.

Did anyone making the movie watch the cartoon?

[Furtherman]

General Grievous is soooo much cooler in the animated series - I couldn't believe how weak he was in the movies.

That inconsistency really, really pissed me off about Revenge. They use the cartoons to set up Grievous as this Jedi-killing machine, and then you see the movie, and he's a wheezing mess, who runs from Kenobi.


If I remember correctly, Grievous was weakend when the armor around his human heart was crushed by... either Mace or Kenobi... towards the end of the Clone Wars, causing great injury. That's why he was a wheezing mess, and thus weaker in Revenge.

At least I don't think it was a continuity problem.

[EliSnow]

If I remember correctly, Grievous was weakend when the armor around his human heart was crushed by... either Mace or Kenobi... towards the end of the Clone Wars, causing great injury. That's why he was a wheezing mess, and thus weaker in Revenge.

At least I don't think it was a continuity problem.

Okay, well maybe I needed to re-watch the Clone Wars again. That does explain things, although I think it would have been better for the film if that didn't happen.

[Furtherman]

That's true. When first seeing Sith I'm sure most people were thinking "Why is that robot coughing?" And if you didn't know he had human organs (I think they are briefly shown when Kenobi shoots him), it would seem a bit strange.

[MadMatt]

If I remember correctly, Grievous was weakend when the armor around his human heart was crushed by... either Mace or Kenobi... towards the end of the Clone Wars, causing great injury. That's why he was a wheezing mess, and thus weaker in Revenge.

At least I don't think it was a continuity problem.

OK, maybe weakened was the wrong term - how about Lucas turned him into a Cowardly, Pathetic Douche.

Grievous was hurt at the end of Clone Wars, but not so much that he would undergo a personality and skill change. He was taking on multiple Jedi at once and collecting the lightsabers of his victims - you can't get much more badass than that.

Lucas stripped the character of its drive and skill. It was a travesty.

[MadMatt]

OK, aside from my Star Wars bitching the list was pretty good. One of the best I've seen actually.

There are a couple points of arguement, but they generally did very well.

I agree with Eli that "Farscape" and "Babylon 5" should be on there, particularly "Farscape." They were top notch series, even though they didn't acquire the popular attention that they deserved.

And Starship Troopers was a joke. It was an alright movie, but it doesn't belong on the list. Hell, the 5th Element was a better movie than troopers.

[torker]

Starship Troopers rules!

[Furtherman]

OK, maybe weakened was the wrong term - how about Lucas turned him into a Cowardly, Pathetic Douche.

Grievous was hurt at the end of Clone Wars, but not so much that he would undergo a personality and skill change. He was taking on multiple Jedi at once and collecting the lightsabers of his victims - you can't get much more badass than that.

Lucas stripped the character of its drive and skill. It was a travesty.

I'm gonna have to defend Lucas on this one. Granted, this all would have been better if filmed for the movie, but I remember reading about Grievous and how he was once a warrior but ended up having all his internal organs, including his brain, transferred into a robot shell. So basically he was the same man, only with a metal skin.

What in fact happened to him was a heart attack. And you are weakened after a heart attack. He probably would have killed all the jedi before that happened and Kenobi is lucky he fought him in that weakened state. You do have a personality and skill change after a heart attack, or at least damage to your heart. That's when you truly feel your mortality.

Wow I just wrote a lot about a hybrid robot.

[feralBoy]

I probably would have put galaxy quest a little higher on the list. Children of Men? I dont' think that deserves to even be on that list.

I'm glad the thing was on there too. I may have put it a little higher though.

[TheMojoPin]

I'm stealing this thread's lunch money. Hand it over, NERRRRRRRRRRRDSSSSSS!!!

http://blogs.chron.com/blog9/ogre01.jpg

[MrPink]

Only things on there I liked were Terminator, Total Recall, and Aliens.

[cougarjake13]

i agree with how the fuck can starship troopers be on the list

but not 12 monkees or 5th element

what about escape from new york or resident evil ?? those were better than troopers

[patsopinion]

it seemed like the people who made this list had very selective memory
(mojos post was fucking great)
theres no way that the camp on this list is even diserving of reading any other material that these guys had on their site
i mean galaxy quest
and i wouldnt call lost sci fi(dont get me wrong i love lost but it doesnt belong metion in the greatest sci-fi)

it felt like there was a girl editor for this site who went back and took all the good off the list

[MadMatt]

it seemed like the people who made this list had very selective memory
(mojos post was fucking great)
theres no way that the camp on this list is even diserving of reading any other material that these guys had on their site
i mean galaxy quest
and i wouldnt call lost sci fi(dont get me wrong i love lost but it doesnt belong metion in the greatest sci-fi)

it felt like there was a girl editor for this site who went back and took all the good off the list

There are obviously some problems, but for a magazine pop-culture list, this one isn't too bad. There is a lot more tha agree with than I disagree with.

[patsopinion]

heres the imdb list of top 25 sci fi in last 25 years(movies only)

The Matrix (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103064/)
Blade Runner (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/)
Donnie Darko (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246578/)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086190/)
Back to the Future (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/)
Grindhouse (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462322/)
Children of Men (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206634/)
Kin-Dza-Dza (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091341/)
Twelve Monkeys
The Terminator
Brazil
gee i wonder where they got most of their shit from (http://www.imdb.com/chart/scifi)

[PapaBear]

How the fuck can they have Galaxy Quest and not Fifth Element?

[TheRealEddie]

How the fuck can they have Galaxy Quest?

fixed...

[ChimneyFish]

So many problems with this horseshit.
Was this written by little baby retards????

Disrespecting V like that........





















I still have to see Clone Wars, too.

[furie]

Bladerunner should have been #1

[EliSnow]

Only things on there I liked were Terminator, Total Recall, and Aliens.

Methinks you're not a sci fi fan.

And you didn't like the Matrix?

[EliSnow]

i agree with how the fuck can starship troopers be on the list

but not 12 monkees or 5th element

what about escape from new york or resident evil ?? those were better than troopers

Escape from New York was from 1981 so not within the last 25 years. And Resident Evil doesn't belong on any best of list. At least Starship Troopers had some fun camp quality to it, and was a satire on the fascist bent of the original book.

[EliSnow]

it seemed like the people who made this list had very selective memory
(mojos post was fucking great)
theres no way that the camp on this list is even diserving of reading any other material that these guys had on their site
i mean galaxy quest
and i wouldnt call lost sci fi(dont get me wrong i love lost but it doesnt belong metion in the greatest sci-fi)

it felt like there was a girl editor for this site who went back and took all the good off the list

There are obviously some problems, but for a magazine pop-culture list, this one isn't too bad. There is a lot more tha agree with than I disagree with.

I agree with Matt. For a list of 25 things in the last 25 years, it only has a couple mistakes.

Pat, what things do you think should be on the list?

[ChimneyFish]

I know it's not the best, but I can't put Galaxy Quest on there, and leave off Return Of The Jedi.

Just realized I made a mistake.:wallbash:

Oh well. I still think V should have been higher.

[EliSnow]

I know it's not the best, but I can't put Galaxy Quest on there, and leave off Return Of The Jedi.

You're probably right, but I'm okay with it. Galaxy Quest did a great job in its purpose: poking fun of Star Trek mania and other sci fi things. Return of the Jedi was good, but wasn't the best of the Star Wars movies.

[ChimneyFish]

You're probably right, but I'm okay with it. Galaxy Quest did a great job in its purpose: poking fun of Star Trek mania and other sci fi things. Return of the Jedi was good, but wasn't the best of the Star Wars movies.



Definitely not.
Plus it was one year off.

[EliSnow]

Definitely not.
Plus it was one year off.

??

Jedi was 1983, so it was within the last 25 years.

[ChimneyFish]

I'm all screwed up on dates here.
I just imdb'd it.


Some personal honorable mentions:

The Last Starfighter

Adventures Of Buckaroo Bonzai

Krull(might be more fantasy, but it was about aliens)

Invaders From Mars

Starman

Night Of The Comet(although I haven't seen it in a really long time)

And there's one I can't remember the name of, and I can't seem to find it. It was something about space pirates, or something like that.

[Furtherman]

The Last Starfighter

And there's one I can't remember the name of, and I can't seem to find it. It was something about space pirates, or something like that.

Yikes... have you seen The Last Starfighter lately? I caught it recently on cable for the first time since I was a kid. Wow that movie did not hold up at all. The computer animated special effects might have wow'd me as a kid but they are unwatchable today. Plus the story was just awful. I was disappointed.


And the last one you are thinking about is probably The Ice Pirates (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087451/). That was a movie I liked too, but haven't seen in a very long time. I wonder if that would hold up today?

[EliSnow]

And the last one you are thinking about is probably The Ice Pirates (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087451/). That was a movie I liked too, but haven't seen in a very long time. I wonder if that would hold up today?

With Robert Urich as the lead? I'm guessing no.

[ChimneyFish]

Yikes... have you seen The Last Starfighter lately? I caught it recently on cable for the first time since I was a kid. Wow that movie did not hold up at all. The computer animated special effects might have wow'd me as a kid but they are unwatchable today. Plus the story was just awful. I was disappointed.


And the last one you are thinking about is probably The Ice Pirates (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087451/). That was a movie I liked too, but haven't seen in a very long time. I wonder if that would hold up today?

Admittedly, I haven't seen The Last Starfighter since the 80's probably.
I think i'm just going on more of a nostalgia thing right now.


And the one I was thinking of was "Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone", with none other than Molly Ringwald. Not a masterpiece, I just remember my cousin and I loving that.

[Furtherman]

And the one I was thinking of was "Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone", with none other than Molly Ringwald. Not a masterpiece, I just remember my cousin and I loving that.

I remember that! It was in 3-D wasn't it?

[A.J.]

Winner. And Star Trek's greatest moment.

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/070503/scifigallery/wrath_l.jpg

[EliSnow]

Winner. And Star Trek's greatest moment.

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/070503/scifigallery/wrath_l.jpg

Is that one crew member about to go down on Kirk?

[Furtherman]

Winner. And Star Trek's greatest moment.

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/070503/scifigallery/wrath_l.jpg

Is that one crew member about to go down on Kirk?

That is an awkward scene. Because Bones and Scotty let go first and that crew member just kind of sits there for a second more than moves away without ever showing his face. Ever since I noticed that I chuckle at that scene.

[A.J.]

Is that one crew member about to go down on Kirk?

Lots of crew members (and alien chicks) went down on Kirk.

[ChimneyFish]

I remember that! It was in 3-D wasn't it?

It was.
Weird. I didn't even remember that.
I think I first saw it on HBO, or we rented it.