Top ten sci-fi films

Top ten sci-fi
Much like horror this is a very difficult genre to pin down because it can cover such a wide range of styles. Someone once told me a quote from a well-known sci-fi author who said something along the lines of “Science fiction depicts events that show us where technology and science might lead us in the future.” Which lead to a debate about Star Wars and how by that definition it couldn’t be sci-fi because by its own admission it takes place “A long, long time ago” not in the far away future. Of course this is completely absurd and nobody would deny that Star Wars is a sci-fi film I simply use it as an example of how hard it is to boil down the essence of sci-fi.

Usual disclaimers for my top ten apply.
- These are not what I objectively consider the best. Just the ones I enjoy the most.
- They are in no particular order.
- I constantly change my mind so I might forget much better movies.

Anyway onwards for glory.

10 – Aliens. Godamn this movie is just good fun. What’s most surprising is that it actually runs with the canon of the original but Cameron manages to make it jump from sci-fi horror into a pure adrenaline fueled action film but maintaining the same stark visual style and tension of the original.

9 – The Matrix. The concept of a virtual world isn’t anything new (hi Tron) most films tend to stick with placing the action squarely in one of the two worlds. The Matrix totally ditched this and has the heroes fighting battles on two fronts both equally important to the central story. While some of the effects look a bit dated and bullet time has become the most over used technique in action movies now it’s still a brilliant and original sci-fi movie. Oh and the sequels aren’t that bad.

8 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day. A second entry for James “King of the world” Cameron, while some of the most famous lines people remember actually come from the original this is unarguably the better film. The effects still look great today and it works just as well as a sci-fi and an action film and like Aliens manages to cross over to appeal to both audiences. The sequels are that bad.

7 – Jurassic Park. Another film where the effects still stand up as well today as they did when they first hit the big screen. While the obvious warnings about playing God and the trope of messing with things best left alone are handle with all the subtlety of a rhino tap dancing through your living room it’s still a brilliant film that balances tension and action to great effect.

6 – Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Apart from having one of the most over used quotes in sci-fi this earns its place simply for being one of the most emotionally engaging sci-fi films of all time. It perfectly balances plot, character development and (admittedly still kind of corny) effects to deliver a truly amazing story. If you don’t shed a tear during Spock’s death then I fear for your emotional well- being.

5 – Starship Troopers. Everyone these days loves to talk about its lampooning of wartime propaganda but at its heart this is just a brilliant sci-fi action flick. The action barely lets up for more than a few minutes at a time and the character development is completely underappreciated as are the characters themselves who manage to rise above their stereotypes and be genuinely likeable despite all their jock posturing.

4 – Serenity. I’m not a died in the wool brown coat and if I’m honest didn’t really enjoy the series that much but the film is brilliant. The pacing is brilliant, the humour never feels forced, and the action scenes are a joy to watch and even if you’ve never seen the series before the film manages to make you emotionally invested in the characters and genuinely care about their mission and their ultimate fates. Even if you hated Buffy, Angel, Dr Horrible and everything else Joss Whedon has done this deserves to be checked out at least once.

3 – Dark City. This is nearly impossible to describe without spoiling the plot but it involves a vast conspiracy about alien parasites done in a neo noir thriller style. It doesn’t move at a break neck pace but at no point is it boring and the entire cast deliver great performances including Richard O’Brien as the incredibly creepy Mr Hand.

2 – Planet of the Apes. It’s a testament to the strength of the story and the amazing cast that you completely forget you’re watching men and women in rubber ape suits and completely suspend disbelief for the entire film. Even today with the cold war over the emotional impact and themes of the film still resonate as much now as they did in nineteen sixty eight.

1 – The original Star Wars trilogy. OK I cheated but it’s difficult to pick favourites and really the overarching story of the trilogy makes each film equally important. Even ignoring the fact that they pioneered techniques which changed the way films are made they are just extremely well made and fun films that appeal to sci-fi fans of all ages and are still finding new fans with each passing generation.