Well, fellow Misfits, by now you've undoubtedly read our list of the essential Sci-Fi movies of all time. Lists such as these no doubt generate controversy, and with good reason: such lists are intensely subjective. Luckily, my middle name's "Subjective" (thanks, Mom!) and as such have no problem with spreading such controversy across the interwebs.

For those of you that felt the list was incomplete, incorrect, or simply lacking the requisite amount of cowbell, let me add my personal "Must Owns" movies to the already stellar list provided by the collective group that populates this blog with sci-fi goodness on a weekly basis. Keep in mind I'm not trying to sell you on the greatest films of all time today. Rather, I'm merely giving you five geektastic films that stand out in my personal collection as epitomizing the best this wide-ranging genre have to offer. If you don't like them, well, I guess you don't like me. Which would put you in an insanely large group of humans. Oh well. On with the list!

The Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition
Yes, I'm semi-sorta completely cheating straight out of the gate, but I choose to look at these three films as one complete, coherent story doled out over a number of years. Even if you dismiss the fact these were all filmed at the same time, you cannot deny the cohesive storytelling that permeates this epic trilogy. Come for battles the likes of which had never been seen (and never quite been replicated since), stay for the bold, unapologetic emotional connections between the characters. Director Peter Jackson zooms out from the dirty fingernails of a hobbit's hand to the vast landscapes of Middle Earth with an attention to detail that never ceases to amaze. (Make sure to get the "Extended Edition" of these films, with literally hours more story poured back into the theatrical cut. In all respects, this is the definitive version of this story.)

X-Men 2: X-Men United
This, people, is how you do a superhero team movie. While the original film in the series had its moments, this sequel surpassed it (and most other superhero films) in almost every conceivable category. Adding depth to existing characters, introducing new ones in a non-jarring manner, and condensing the narrative to its leanest and meanest, X-Men 2 showed that a "comic book movie" could transcend its hardcore base and appeal to anyone who loved a good movie. Director Bryan Singer did this by adhering to the template other genre directors such as Sam Raimi and Guillermo del Toro follow as well: placing relatable characters inside fantastical situations.

Back to the Future
Yea, I said it. Hardly a hip choice, but possibly the best time travel story ever told. Too often, time travel sagas get bogged down in complex sets of rules they inevitably violate, but Future uses the narrative device to tell a very simple, heartfelt story: a son's redemption of his own family. And if you're detecting a theme in my choices (movies that do not ignore heart in favor of spectacle), you're quite the astute reader. Then again, my next choice inverts this trend.

2001: A Space Odyssey
You can look at this movie in a few ways: incomprehensible arty-farty weirdness, visual background as you, um, break on through to the other side, or as I choose to view it: a desperate plea. It's not by mistake that the most human of characters in this film is HAL, the artificial intelligence controlling the space-ship in the final third of this film. The series of black monoliths throughout the film push humanity towards its next evolutionary cycle, but also threaten to envelop humanity itself inside the technology they use to go Kirk-style across the universe. Still, there's a thread of hope at the end, with a final shot that...well, I'll just let you see it for yourself.

Batman Begins
This passes the all-important "no matter at what point I encounter this movie while channel surfing, I stop and watch until the end" test. Director Christopher Nolan's decision to give Gotham City a recognizable, realistic set this film apart from its four predecessors and chose villains from Batman's rogue gallery that could actually exist in our world. Couple that with some of the best acting seen in any superhero film (let's conveniently forget about Mrs. Tom Cruise for a moment) and you had a reboot that had you waiting for the sequel the minute it was over.

There you have it, kiddos...my personal Top 5 flicks. What are the five sitting on your shelf that you couldn't do without? Which of these listed above do you love? Hate? Discuss below!

Comments

Nice list, and thanks for sparing us from the cliché "Star Wars", "Star Trek", and "Matrix" choices.

Along the lines of your choices, I think "Dark City" would fit in nicely.

Blue Sean | May 20, 2008 7:58:23 AM | #

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I have to disagree with 2001. I've seen the movie about 5 times b/c I'm still trying to detect why people love this movie. To me it seems like I'm waiting for something to happen in the movie until the closing credits. The said thing is I still have to watch the movie at least one more time as I've bought the Kubrick DVD collection but have yet to get around to watching it (I've got a backlog of about 100 DVDs that I've bought but yet to watch - tv and movies). I justified the purchase of collection even though I only like 3/5 movies in it b/c the price justifies it. I can stomach watching 2001 and Eyes Wide Shut once more each in order to get my money's worth - although I will get my money's worth even if I never watch those 2 movies, it just makes it easier to justify the purchase of the set rather than the individual movies this way.

I would include The Matrix in any top 5 Sci-Fi movie collection as it clearly stands up well still (albeit only 9 years later) and will likely for the next 25 years as it had both great effects and a great story. It also has clearly affected the way movies, specifically Sci-Fi/action movies, are made.

My current Top 5:

Aliens
T2
The Matrix
Serenity
Hellboy

This list is subject to change once I've hit the post button and these lists are clearly very subjective and are prone to differ depending on my mood or what I'm yearning to see/watch again.

Rishi | May 20, 2008 12:48:10 PM | #

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These lists are always fun to view but are also an exercise in futility. It seems like everyone forgets that there was sci-fi film before 1970.

My list (in no particular order):

1. Aliens
2. Forbidden Planet
3. The War of the Worlds (George Pal)
4. Logan's Run
5. Planet of the Apes (60s)

Biodredd | May 20, 2008 2:39:17 PM | #

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No Lord of the Rings -- I didn't like it the first time, I haven't liked it since.

My top 5 films, though, in no particular order:
- Star Trek II
- Empire Strikes Back
- Spider-Man 2
- Dune (extended cut)
- Army of Darkness

Brian.from.Canada | May 21, 2008 11:17:48 AM | #

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For me, Serenity is one of those "no matter at what point I encounter this movie while channel surfing, I stop and watch until the end" films.

DL | May 21, 2008 1:40:19 PM | #

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2001: A Space Odyssey is my favorite movie of all time, but I understand why people are not entertained by it. It's not strictly 'entertainment'. 2001 is not a traditional narrative. It's less about what's happening on screen than what is happening in your head.

It was no accident that all the human characters are banal in the extreme. Conversely, the AI HAL 9000 is one of the most quietly poignant and compelling "villains" in cinema history. The scene where Frank Poole is killed by HAL, you just feel surprise but when Dave Bowman deactivates Hal it is downright gut-wrenching.

Of note is also the visual effects, which for the mid 1960s are nothing less than phenomenal. They STILL look incredible and seamless.

Also of special mention is the use of classical music in the movie. "Also Sprach Zarathrustra" was an inspired choice for the main theme, and the Khachaturian and Ligeti works are also used brilliantly.

Favorite sequences:

HAL pleading for his life as Dave Bowman shuts him down. Gets me every time. *sniff*

The 'intergalactic hotel suite' scene, in which Dave Bowman lives out his natural life in 'captivity', only to experience a rebirth after being visited on his deathbed by the Monolith.

The Dawn of Man, in which Moonwatcher has the epiphany of a thousand lifetimes.

————

In my opinion, it's one of the best movies ever made, my favorite, and I'm glad not everyone 'gets' it.

The irony, of course is that there's nothing to 'get', it's supposed to make you think, not make you think something specific or come to a specific conclusion.

Bold, maverick filmmaking from a true legend of the cinema. Who else could pull off a movie with minimal dialogue, minimal character development, and minimal plot? Stanley Kubrick, that's who.

Six out of five stars!!!

Siansonea | May 22, 2008 11:25:35 AM | #

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Has anyone else seen "A boy and His Dog" with a very young Don Johnson as the title character.
Here is the IMDb synopsis:
A post-apocalyptic tale based on a novella by Harlan Ellison. A boy communicates telepathically with his dog as they scavenge for food and sex, and they stumble into an underground society where the old society is preserved. The daughter of one of the leaders of the community seduces and lures him below, where the citizens have become unable to reproduce because of being underground so long. They use him for impregnation purposes, and then plan to be rid of him.

Harry | May 22, 2008 1:13:24 PM | #

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Nice list.

Mine would be:

5. Matrix
4. Dune
3. Lord of the Rings
2. Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan
1. Star Wars IV: Empire Strikes Back

Blue Sean-

Did we scare you off on the LOST Blog. I know it goes off-topic a bit (which is why I don't visit as often), but I personally miss your insight. You are missed.

Shaggysteve | May 22, 2008 3:36:47 PM | #

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Shaggy- Nope, I still read Ryan's portion but I saw a spoiler in one of the comments a few weeks back so I have paused my commenting until after the season finale.

Blue Sean | May 28, 2008 8:41:53 AM | #

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