# The greatest sci-fi movie ever made? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 13, 2008, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415 "2008-02-13T05:52:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/61 "2008-02-14T17:20:09Z")
[QUOTE=Bridget Burke] If it’s Steampunk you want–hope that you get the chance to see _The Fabulous World of Jules Verne_. I saw this B&W Czech film in a theater just after it was released over here. Apparently it’s hard to find–but the [Rotten Tomatoes](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fabulous_world_of_jules_verne/#synopsis) summary is pretty accurate: [/QUOTE] I agree that this is a great movie. But I’m not sure I’d call it steampunk, unless you consider Verne the first steampunk writer. I like it because it was so true to his work, which so few people have been. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/62 "2008-02-14T18:04:47Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio] Put me down for [**Space Truckers**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120199/). [/QUOTE] I caught this late one night - hilarious. I’ll mention movies that I like that haven’t been mentioned: The Running Man Soylent Green The Last Action Hero For me liking movies is more important than proving why these are great sci-fi. I have no great argument to justify my choices as great science fiction. They just are - to me. ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/63 "2008-02-14T18:27:21Z")
_12 Monkeys Alien Silent Running The Alien Factor_, by the legendary Don Dohler. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/64 "2008-02-14T18:31:14Z")
[QUOTE=Musky Moon] _Sunshine_ was well on it’s way to being the best sci-fi movie I’ve ever seen…till the skinless thing showed up and popped me right out of the mood. Shame…I would have sung it’s praises to anyone who would listen, up till then. [/QUOTE] Um…what skinless thing do you refer to? ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/65 "2008-02-14T20:38:05Z")
[QUOTE=Scubaqueen] i sit here for the umpteenth time watching one of my all-time favorites: The Day the Earth Stood Still. [/QUOTE] When that came on tv years ago, I had never heard of it, and I thought it was a completely laughable cliche of a 50s low budget drive in shlock. I’m not sure I can get past the horrible production values still. Is it really that deep? ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/66 "2008-02-14T20:41:20Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Um…what skinless thing do you refer to? [/QUOTE] Capt. Pinbacker…I don’t want to elaborate too much…for fear of spoiling. And I haven’t figured out how to do the little spoiler box yet. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/67 "2008-02-14T20:43:22Z")
Hmmm…the best ever? That’s a hard one. Top five would be easier, but if we’re going best ever, I am going to have to go with Blade Runner. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/68 "2008-02-14T20:56:06Z")
[QUOTE=Musky Moon] Capt. Pinbacker…I don’t want to elaborate too much…for fear of spoiling. And I haven’t figured out how to do the little spoiler box yet. [/QUOTE] It’s easy. Type {spoiler} text you want to hide {/spoilier}, except that you put [in place of the { and] in place of the }. Alternatively, you can use the quote button, and then replace the “quote=” with "spoiler and “/quote” with “/spoiler”. hit the reply to this post button to see an example. I still cannot recall anything skinless in Eternal Sunshine, though. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/69 "2008-02-14T21:09:38Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m not sure I can get past the horrible production values still Horrible Production Values? I’m really confused. Regardless of whether or not you liked the film, what made you think the production values were poor? This was as well-made as any other 1950s movie. It wasn’t even a “B” picture (which is a measure of how much money they were willing to spend, not a value judgement on the quality of script, director, or actors). The print I have on DVD is clear and crisp, with excellent sound quality. The acting is top-notch, and the effects were state-of-the-art for when it was made. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/70 "2008-02-14T21:09:52Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] I still cannot recall anything skinless in Eternal Sunshine, though. [/QUOTE] The poster is referring to Danny Boyle’s _[Sunshine](http://imdb.com/title/tt0448134/)_, not _[Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338013/)_. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/71 "2008-02-14T21:14:11Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] The poster is referring to Danny Boyle’s _[Sunshine](http://imdb.com/title/tt0448134/)_, not _[Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338013/)_. Stranger [/QUOTE] Ah! I thought i’d gone mad there for a moment. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/72 "2008-02-14T21:23:33Z")
[QUOTE=Cardinal] When that came on tv years ago, I had never heard of it, and I thought it was a completely laughable cliche of a 50s low budget drive in shlock. I’m not sure I can get past the horrible production values still. Is it really that deep? [/QUOTE] Well, there is the Christ allegory, and addressing the underlying fear that drove the defining nuclear arms race of the Cold War, long before that thinking was in the mainstream, even among strategic thinking. (The choice of nations abandoning their arsenals or being destroyed was levied by Klaatu in the film, but eventually became reality by the spectre of nuclear deterrence itself.) I’d agree that the film hasn’t held up that well–the two soldiers left guarding the spacecraft always makes me laugh–but it is far better than B-grade schlock in both intent and execution. It certainly differs from the archtype of alien invaders who want to eat our brains or steal our women, instead offering peace and enlightenment (or annihilation in prior restraint). Thematically, _2010: The Year We Made Contact_ is essentially derived from it. And while the special effects aren’t on par with later efforts, they were quite good for the day. It’s not [_Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049169/) or [\*It Came From Outer Space](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045920/)\* (though those films have their own charms). Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/73 "2008-02-14T21:26:16Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] It’s easy. Type {spoiler} text you want to hide {/spoilier}, except that you put [in place of the { and] in place of the }. Alternatively, you can use the quote button, and then replace the “quote=” with "spoiler and “/quote” with “/spoiler”. hit the reply to this post button to see an example. I still cannot recall anything skinless in Eternal Sunshine, though. [/QUOTE] ahhh…that’s where the confusion lies. I wasn’t talking about Eternal Sunshine…I was referring to the movie _Sunshine_ . The recent Danny Boyle movie about a team attempting to jumpstart the sun. Sorry if I wasn’t clear. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/74 "2008-02-15T00:04:35Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] Well, there is the Christ allegory, and addressing the underlying fear that drove the defining nuclear arms race of the Cold War, long before that thinking was in the mainstream, even among strategic thinking. (The choice of nations abandoning their arsenals or being destroyed was levied by Klaatu in the film, but eventually became reality by the spectre of nuclear deterrence itself.) I’d agree that the film hasn’t held up that well–the two soldiers left guarding the spacecraft always makes me laugh–but it is far better than B-grade schlock in both intent and execution. It certainly differs from the archtype of alien invaders who want to eat our brains or steal our women, instead offering peace and enlightenment (or annihilation in prior restraint). Thematically, _2010: The Year We Made Contact_ is essentially derived from it. And while the special effects aren’t on par with later efforts, they were quite good for the day. It’s not [_Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049169/) or [\*It Came From Outer Space](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045920/)\* (though those films have their own charms). Stranger [/QUOTE] Michael Rennie was ill The day the Earth stood still And he told us Where we staaaaaand . . . Wouldja believe there’s a [remake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Earth_Stood_Still_%282008_film%29) in production?! ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/75 "2008-02-15T00:48:09Z")
Thx 1138 ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/76 "2008-02-15T00:51:45Z")
**Logan’s Run** After **Star Wars** , we were spoiled by effects, and missed the lack of ideas. **Primer** was pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/77 "2008-02-15T01:23:25Z")
[QUOTE=Darth Nader] **Logan’s Run** After **Star Wars** , we were spoiled by effects, and missed the lack of ideas. [/QUOTE] 😕 But, the ideas in _Logan’s Run_ were retarded. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/78 "2008-02-15T01:47:16Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] 😕 But, the ideas in _Logan’s Run_ were retarded. [/QUOTE] Yes, but for Jenny Agutter changing into bear-skins, a lot can be forgiven. 😉 **The day the earth stood still** , for showing us how childish the pompous and self important Washingtonites were then and are still now. \*\* 2010\*\* for show ing us that command is more than just following orders that you know are stupid, wrong, and that fly in the face of overwhelming evidence otherwise. Funny, but I never loved the sound of a woman’s voice with a Russian accent before then. (Guess I’ve gotten into more of my ‘Bourbon from Kentucky’. 😃 ) **Robocop** , for further showing that ruthless detail to the bottom line does not lead to a better world, just to an insane one. “I’d buy That for a dollar…!” Of course, **Darkman**. It was sheer briliance if only for the lines: “Oh, god! Don’t! I’ve told you everything!” "I know, Rick. I know you did. \*But let’s pretend you didn’t! \* " And lastly, **Real Genius**. "To quote Socrates, _‘I drank What…!?’_ " ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/79 "2008-02-17T04:12:07Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Horrible Production Values? I’m really confused. Regardless of whether or not you liked the film, what made you think the production values were poor? This was as well-made as any other 1950s movie. It wasn’t even a “B” picture (which is a measure of how much money they were willing to spend, not a value judgement on the quality of script, director, or actors). The print I have on DVD is clear and crisp, with excellent sound quality. The acting is top-notch, and the effects were state-of-the-art for when it was made. [/QUOTE] I teach high school, and I’m tired of kids acting like anything before 1990 didn’t happen, but I hadn’t seen much in the genre from that time, and the chinzy spaceship and horrible spaceman suit just spoiled the whole thing for me. I’m willing to admit it probably has a deep point, if you all say so, but the B-movie production just strangled it for me. I can’t call them anything but B-movie production values. I know that there probably weren’t any better FX at the time, but whereas I thought Rebel Without A Cause was a marvelous piece of film and commentary when I saw it in 1986, The Day the Earth Stood Still has production that makes it almost ripe for Mike and the bots. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2008, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415/80 "2008-02-17T05:05:05Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] Well, there is the Christ allegory, and addressing the underlying fear that drove the defining nuclear arms race of the Cold War, long before that thinking was in the mainstream, even among strategic thinking. (The choice of nations abandoning their arsenals or being destroyed was levied by Klaatu in the film, but eventually became reality by the spectre of nuclear deterrence itself.) Stranger [/QUOTE] I like this movie, and I agree it is far better than most of the time, but I can’t forgive them for chickening out and not using Harry Bates’ ending. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-sci-fi-movie-ever-made/437415.md?page=5)