Misfits Recommend: Essential Sci-fi Movies

We're all about costumer service here at Misfit Central so when reader Blue Sean emailed and asked for some movie suggestions, we were happy to oblige. But, instead of just giving our personal recommendation list, we decided to open it up and also include a list of absolute must-sees.

The criteria we used for this list took into account not only the quality of the movie (acting, script, directing, etc) but also how much impact its had on pop culture. So, without further ado...

Blade Runner
What's so great about humans? Blade runner Deckard (Harrison Ford) hunts a group of escaped replicants, but gosh, their short lifespans make them appreciate life ever so much more than normal people. Ignore the theatrical version with its awful voice overs, and opt for the ambiguous Director's Cut.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
This is as close to the perfect Star Trek experience as you'll get: a great villain, a tearful sacrifice and the story of the Kobayashi Maru test. The story and characters gel so well that even non-Trekkies love this movie. Bonus: the perfect-for-any-use shout "KHAAAAAN!"

Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Steven Spielberg likes him some stories about aliens but this, his first, is arguably his best. The 1977 ode to extraterrestrials was groundbreaking, not only for the special effects, but for the characterization of the aliens. It's also responsible for the most famous 5 note sequence ever played. There are three cuts available of the film but I'd suggest watching the original and/or the 1998 "Collector's Edition."

Alien/Aliens
While Spielberg's aliens were a fairly friendly lot, the same can't be said in this case. Ridley Scott presented an isolated, creepy experience as a crew fights for survival after being sent to investigate a seemingly innocent distress call while James Cameron really kicked it up a notch by simply making the title (and the creature) plural and increasing Ripley's badass factor. Ignore the Director's Cut of Alien but the Special Edition of Aliens is solid.

The Terminator/Terminator 2
Have you ever though your Tivo is conspiring against you? Then these movies are for you. Terminator is one part sci-fi epic, one part horror film as a nigh-unstoppable cyborg travels to the past to kill the woman who gives birth the leader of the human resistance movement. It's not quite as confusing as it sounds. Like Aliens, James Cameron upped the ante in T2 by adding a second cyborg (I sometimes can't look at Robert Patrick without getting a teensy bit creeped out), more action and, most importantly, transformed Sarah Connor into a gun-toting, slightly unhinged super-mom.

Star Wars: Episodes IV - VI
Sometimes referred to as "The Trilogy," these are the only films on the list that draw a gasp of disbelief and sadness if you haven't seen them. Now I could wax all poetic-like on the joys of lightsabers, Jedis and explosions in space or talk about how much impact this franchise has had on the world, but hearing about it is not nearly as fun as seeing it. Definitely watch the original versions first so you'll know why people got ticked at the Special Editions.

Do you agree with our essentials? Do you love these movies as much as we do? If it seems like we forgot something, don't fret too much until you've seen our personal lists...

Comments

I just saw Blade Runner for the first time and my mind was blown. GREAT damn movie and it raises questions that The Matrix and Battlestar Galactica has raised when it comes to artificial intelligence. I am writing a paper on it and I hope to post it one day...

Mark O. Estes | May 19, 2008 1:46:25 PM | #

---

I would like to add a complimentary list of fantasy films:

1. Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Because it was just awesome. Nothing compares. Get the wide screen editions with all the extras and set aside 3 days to watch it all.

2. The Princess Bride
Based on the book; smart, funny, heartfelt. Andre the giant as (wait for it) a rhyming giant, Robin Wright as the princess in distress, Cary Elwes as the dashing hero pirate. With a great cast and the best directing Rob Reiner ever did, IMO. Kidnapping, sword fights, great chase scenes, the pit of despair, and of course ROUS's (rodents of unusual size). Some great lines:
"Inconceivable," Vizzini
"You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means," Inigo Montoya

2. Legend
Yeah I know, I'm going to get a lot of fighting on this one. But, one of Tom Cruise's first movies, Ridley Scott directing; with visuals that still look great and an amazing score by Tangerine Dream. Tim Curry is Darkness; who sends out his goblins to kill the unicorns and destroy goodness and innocence. This is not a kid's movie, it is dark and scary in some scenes, see the director's cut it makes more sense.

3. The Hobbit
Animated, great cheesy 70's songs by Rankin and Bass (who did all the xmas specials), Peter Jackson said that he was inspired by this version for his Lord of the Rings. And John Huston voices Gandalf, whose voice is perfect for this. Really well done and made me want to read the book.

4. The Dark Crystal (although you could argue with me that Labyrinth might belong in this spot)
Done by Jim Henson with puppets and creative production, not CGI, it has a richness and beauty that is enthralling. Jen is the last of his kind and must restore a crystal shard to the broken crystal to keep the evil skekses from taking over the world for good. Great story without over the top battles or fighting scenes, it is a quiet, smart, thoughtful fantasy that is darker than one might expect from Henson, but that only makes it better.

5. Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962)
This is one of the first to use 3camera cinerama and it is a mixture of live action and old school stop motion effects. It tells 3 of the fairy tales against a backdrop of autobiographical story of the brothers. Last I checked it is not available on DVD but every so often it is shown on one of the old movie channels. Great work by Russ Tamblyn and lesser knowns as the fairy tale characters. (Don't get this version confused with Matt Damon/Heath Ledger's awful The Brother's Grimm)

Honorable Mentions: Labyrinth; Conan The Barbarian; The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire (TV Movie); The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe (the 1979 UK Animated version, done almost to perfection, the new movie doesn't even compare); Krull; and of course The Sword and the Sorcerer.

JB | May 19, 2008 5:48:15 PM | #

---

JB, if someone dared to argue with you on Legend I would fight by your side for infinity. I think Labyrinth should be higher on your list though...

Mark O. Estes | May 20, 2008 4:43:07 AM | #

---

Good list, but where's 2001: Space Odyssey? Forbidden Planet? And, the impossible- to-be-good-yet-it-is: Robinson Crusoe on Mars. Some really advanced special effects for that period. And Mark, good luck with the paper. Of course, Hal in 2001 is the original 'modern day' A.I. run amok. However, Forbidden Planet has that (as a wonderful twist). Thanks for sharing. V

VinnieD | May 20, 2008 4:05:00 PM | #

---

Disagree on Terminator -- it's just an action film once he arrives.

2001 definitely belongs, as does Forbidden Planet. You need to also add The Day The Earth Stood Still (still a powerful message), and Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

I'd also suggest Tron (for the computer world), Total Recall (the "is it real"?), original Time Machine movie, and the feature film of Dune.

Brian.from.Canada | May 21, 2008 11:17:31 AM | #

---

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Forbidden Planet

both classics

| May 21, 2008 2:28:05 PM | #

---

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Forbidden Planet

both classics

| May 21, 2008 2:28:45 PM | #

---

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. ...........is just a great movie ......oh how i love it

Irishtrekkie | May 21, 2008 3:35:30 PM | #

---

Mark, thanks for love on Legend.

I agree with The Day the Earth Stood Still, but Forbidden Planet could be lumped in with the original War of the Worlds, The Angry Red Planet, When Worlds Collide, Planet of the Apes, The Time Machine, The Quatermass movies, etc. All in the same vein - equal B movie standing. In the original Quatermass movie when that black thing comes out of the hole (satan?) scared the shXX out of me. Granted I was a little kid watching it as a rerun on Monster Sunday, but it induced good nightmares for years. lol

There are really so many, we shouldn't forget:
Soylent Green (is people)
The Omega Man
The Andromeda Strain
Clockwork Orange
Silent Running
Rollerball (one of my faves)
Logan's Run (still love Michael York)
Mad Max
The Black Hole (terrible, but I love the end when the robot and Maximillian Schell! merge, always makes me laugh)
Flash Gordon (great Queen soundtrack)
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai across the 8th dimension
The Brother from another Planet
SuperNova
Pitch Black
Deepstar Six
The Abyss
I could go on forever...
Next list: best sound tracks that John Williams didn't do.

JB | May 21, 2008 3:45:27 PM | #

---

Mark, thanks for love on Legend.

I agree with The Day the Earth Stood Still, but Forbidden Planet could be lumped in with the original War of the Worlds, The Angry Red Planet, When Worlds Collide, Planet of the Apes, The Time Machine, The Quatermass movies, etc. All in the same vein - equal B movie standing. In the original Quatermass movie when that black thing comes out of the hole (satan?) scared the shXX out of me. Granted I was a little kid watching it as a rerun on Monster Sunday, but it induced good nightmares for years. lol

There are really so many, we shouldn't forget:
Soylent Green (is people)
The Omega Man
The Andromeda Strain
Clockwork Orange
Silent Running
Rollerball (one of my faves)
Logan's Run (still love Michael York)
Mad Max
The Black Hole (terrible, but I love the end when the robot and Maximillian Schell! merge, always makes me laugh)
Flash Gordon (great Queen soundtrack)
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai across the 8th dimension
The Brother from another Planet
SuperNova
Pitch Black
Deepstar Six
The Abyss
I could go on forever...
Next list: best sound tracks that John Williams didn't do.

JB | May 21, 2008 3:46:59 PM | #

---

Hellz yeah! Totally agree with you. Btws, appreciate the love for Terminator/T-2 and Wrath of Khan. They are three of my all-time favorite movies, and it pisses me off when lists like this don't include them. So thanks!

Kat | May 21, 2008 10:06:32 PM | #

---

I would have to put Enemy Mine on the list. In my opinion, that is possibly one of the most overlooked Sci-Fi movies ever. The story of enemies who have to learn to work and live together is just superbly done. The final act, where Davidge goes back to rescue Zammis is just wonderful.

That and Innerspace were the first movies I ever saw with Dennis Quaid (I don't remember which I saw first) but I would have to say I never saw Quaid play a role with near as much heart and soul as he does in Enemy Mine.

Garlonuss | May 22, 2008 10:25:41 AM | #

---

Any list of must-see SciFi classics should begin with Metropolis, include Forbidden Planet, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and 2001: A Space Odyssey. I would also suggest A Boy and His Dog and Planet of the Vampires / The Demon Planet, 'cuz dat's how i roll!

Cass | May 28, 2008 11:45:10 PM | #

---

Misfit Central??? Is that in the basement of Walker? Is Fuzzy Pink there?

Jungle | Jun 11, 2008 3:55:07 PM | #

---

Nobody likes John Carpenters 1982 THE THING?
Watch the movie then play the game (at night) {creeeeepy!}

skwirl | Jun 29, 2008 7:21:56 AM | #

---

Post a comment

Name:
Email Address:	optional
URL:	optional
Comments: