Greatest Sci Fi Movies: Honorable Mentions

Metropolis (1927)
E.T. (1982)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
The Terminator (1984)
Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
The Road Warrior (1981)
Return of the Jedi (1983)
Aliens (1986)
Escape from New York (1981)
The Thing From Another Planet (1951)
12 Monkeys (1995)
First Contact (1996)
Omega Man (1971)
Dark City (1998)
The Matrix (1999)
Interstellar (2014)
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Predator (1987)
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Bride of Frankentein (1935)
Star Trek IV: Voyage Home (1986)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
Signs (2002)
War of the Worlds (1953)

Top 10 Science Fiction films

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
3. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
4. Star Wars (1977)
5. The Wrath of Khan (1982)
6. Planet of the Apes (1968)
7. The Thing (1982)
8. Blade Runner (1982)
9. Alien (1979)
10. Frankentstein (1931)

Sci-Fi History: Star Wars (1977)

George Lucas was inspired by Flash Gordon and the Japanese film The Hidden Fortress when he wrote Star Wars. The film became a pop culture sensation, perhaps the biggest one ever. Star Wars proved a watershed moment in film. It inspired everything that followed either in the use of special effects or in attempts to recreate its themes. Along with Jaws, Star Wars created the summer blockbuster. The film has spawned several sequels and prequels and its rights now belong to Disney...which means Star Wars will never die.

Sci Fi History: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Close Encounters postulates that mankind is ready to enter into the intergalactic community. They can even communicate with aliens via music. The film shows a moment where mankind evolves to its next stage as typified by Roy Neary's entry into the ship at the end. The film, along with Star Wars, helped reinvigorate Sci-Fi films.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Kgzn3tDQU

Sci-Fi History: Logan's Run (1976)

How does a society respond to resource depletion, overpopulation, and overcrowding? The 1967 novel Logan's Run envisions a future in which this problem is solved through murder. In the film adaptation, the state kills anyone at age 30. The society is perfect for anyone under 30.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSUAAKFLoL0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WUUnc1M0TA

Sci Fi History: Soylent Green (1973)

The world is dying. Overpopulation, pollution, industrialization, and poverty strangle humanity. People survive on a processed food called Soylent Green. Charlton Heston is a police officer investigating a murder. Assisted suicide is legal in this world. Heston's friend, played by Edward G. Robinson in his final role, decides to end his suffering and goes to a clinic. Upon his death, Robinson's body is shipped to be processed. At the end of the film, Heston discovers the truth...Soylent Green is people!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVpN312hYgU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edQNjJZFdLU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IKVj4l5GU4

Sci Fi History: The Omega Man (1971)

Richard Matheson's novel, I am Legend,, had been adapted three times into motion pictures. Vincent Price starred in the first in 1964. The Omega Man with Charlton Heston came next. Will Smith starred in the third in 2007.

In the Heston version, biological warfare wipes out the planet in 1975. Robert Neville survives and creates a serum to cure survivors that were transformed into zombie-like albino nut jobs. These infected people, the Family, try to destroy technology because they feel that technology destroyed the world. In the end, Neville dies, but gives the serum to unaffected survivors who head for the hills.

On a side note, the film featured the first interracial kiss in movie history.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUkU18MrBzU

Sci Fi History: Planet of the Apes (1968)

Planet of the Apes might be the most disturbing post apocalyptic film ever. Humanity devolved to little more than cattle. Meanwhile, apes became the planet's dominant species. The apes hunt people for sport and enslave them. The dominant species developed speech and advanced intelligence. On top of this, the film's star, Charlton Heston, was an A-list actor and hero. Despite this, not even Heston could not overcome this threat to humanity, which is part of the film's appeal. Moses could not escape the Planet of the Apes, so who could? In addition to Heston's helplessness, the end was particularly disturbing when his character discovers he is on Earth after a long space voyage. Lastly, the film dealt with racial tensions by focusing on three types of apes. Gorillas were the enforcers, chimps the intellectuals, and orangatans ruled. Each type of ape held their own prejudices against the other reflecting modern America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJT2vJMsYc4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb4eZ7Z5yk8

Sci Fi History: 2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick directed this amazing sci-fi masterpiece. The film is split into four acts that follows man's evolution, which is aided by mysterious monoliths. It begins with "The Dawn of Man" featuring a bunch of protohumans learning to kill. In the second act, 21st century man discovers a monolith on the moon. Act III sends the cast to Jupiter where 2001 transforms into a horror film. The ship's computer, HAL, systematically murders the crew. One man survives into Act IV where he seemingly evolves into a higher being after an encounter with the monolith.

2001 was revolutionary. It did not feature humanoid aliens. A conspiracy on Earth program HAL to kill the astronauts 25 years before The X-Files. The special effects were cutting edge. The film influenced George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Additionally, elements of 2001 can be seen in Blade Runner, Close Encounters, Alien, Contact, and other films and television programs.


Dawn of Man:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypEaGQb6dJk




Trailer:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6ywMnbef6Y




Theme Song:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxLacN2Dp6A

Sci-Fi History: Iron Man (1963)

Stan Lee wanted to create a quintessential capitalist character in the Cold War universe. He introduced Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #39 in 1963. Iron Man’s alter ego, Tony Stark, was a billionaire playboy that was captured and forced to create a weapon of mass destruction by his kidnappers. Instead, he created an iron suit and escaped. Stark was based on Howard Hughes without the mental issues. However, through the run, Stark suffered his own problems resulting in alcoholism. In 2008, Robert Downey Jr. brought the character to life and Iron Man’s popularity reached new levels.

1960s cartoon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EBar7BK8Mk

Downey Jr:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A52Y4IorgDU

Sci Fi History: The Time Machine (1960)

H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine has been adapted into two full length films, at least two television series, and comic books. The book has influenced science fiction and science for over a century. In fact, the term time machine originated with Wells. The most famous adaptation came in 1960. The makers adapted the film to the Cold War and included a nuclear holocaust as well as the first two World Wars. The book sympathizes with the working classes in the form of the Morlocks, who live underground, operate machines, and cannibalize the Eloi. The Eloi represent the leisure classes who have developed into child-like sheep. The film ends with the traveler returning to Victorian Britain, grabbing some things, and setting off to the future to be with Weena, whom he saved from the Morlocks. Wells was not the first to ponder time travel, but he popularized it and time travel has been a key component of science fiction ever since.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKP-WkcDT5s

Sci-Fi History: Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959

Aliens try to stop mankind from building a doomsday weapon and initiate “Plan 9” to resurrect all of Earth’s dead thereby creating a zombie army. It is generally considered the Worst Movie ever made (Twilight might have a say in this). The film has since become a cult classic, inspired Tim Burton’s Ed Wood in 1994, and is remembered as the great Bela Lugosi’s last film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHRq80QNnJM

Sci-Fi History: The Fly (1958)

A poor scientist accidentally mixes his molecules with a fly creating a monster. He asks his wife to find the original fly to reverse the mess before he becomes a fly. Unfortunately, he runs out of time and the fly-brid is killed by his wife. Meanwhile, a fly with the scientist’s head is being hunted by a spider. The film spawned two sequels and a 1986 remake, which also resulted in a sequel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdv4QA-O1bg

Sci Fi History: The Blob (1958)

 

Steve McQueen, the embodiment of cool for a generation, made his film debut in The Blob. A meteorite strikes a hill unleashing an alien blob monster. The thing oozed into a small Pennsylvania town consuming all in its path. Eventually, the town uses fire extinguishers to freeze the monster. After, the Air Force transports it to the arctic. Some argue the blob represented communist encroachment. Although a number of period films tackle this subject, The Blob seems to be a simple sci-fi horror flick. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdUsyXQ8Wrs

Sci Fi History: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Aliens attack a small town and replace people with duplicates devoid of emotion or individuality. A doctor discovers the plot and tries to stop the invaders. Critics have argued for years about the film’s theme. Some believe it was a commentary on conformity in Middle America. Others argue it is a warning about communism. One critic claims it is an examination of the reduction of personhood in the face of extreme leftist ideology. Still others point to Senator McCarthy as inspiration. It could also be the loss of one’s self in the modern world. One thing is for certain, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is about the loss of individuality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFnSxeDfENk

Sci-Fi History: Godzilla (1954)

Godzilla was a Japanese reaction to nuclear power. In 1945, the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan ending World War II. Memories of the attacks led Japanese writers to develop Godzilla. The monster became a metaphor for nuclear weapons. In the beginning, he was a destructive monster. However, Godzilla's popularity forced a change. In later films, Godzilla played the hero and sometimes defended humanity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKrj1ymJzmo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laJ7UCzCtV4

Sci Fi History: The Forbidden Planet (1956)

The Forbidden Planet combines Shakespeare with Freud serving as a precursor for future Sci-Fi endeavors. The movie stars Leslie Nielson and Anne Francis and introduces Robby the Robot. It borrows heavily from The Tempest and uses Freudian ideas on the subconscious. The film is a direct ancestor of Star Trek. Gene Roddenberry cited Forbidden Planet, with its United Planets, as an influence.  Today, the film is considered both a cult classic and a sci-fi classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y4crGU7dkg

Sci-Fi History: The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tolkien was under pressure to write an adventure story, so he came up with a sequel to The Hobbit. The work is split in two. The first book begins with Bilbo Baggins’ 111^th birthday and ends with his nephew, Frodo, setting out on an adventure of his own. The second book shows the creation of the fellowship, which sets off to destroy the ring of power. Frodo decides at the end to break the fellowship and heads to Mordor to destroy the ring.

The book’s major theme is the corrupting influence of power. At one point or another, the ring seeks to corrupt those who encounter it. Only Frodo seems somewhat immune and that immunity is continually tested.

Sci Fi History: War of the Worlds (1953)

The 1953 film is loosely based on the H.G. Wells novel. The film differs from the book in several aspects. In particular, the role of religion, the aliens look, and the alien spacecraft all differ.  Additionally, the original was set in Victorian England while the film has a decidedly Cold War feel including nuclear weapons. In the end, the 1953 adaptation won an Oscar for special effects and included in the National Film Registry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9T9f3UbGuo

Sci Fi History: The Thing (1951)

This movie scared me as a kid and is one of the best films of the 1950s. A group of scientists at an arctic research station are visited and attacked by an alien being. James Arness stars as the alien, but you can’t recognize him without the makeup. John Carpenter remade the film in 1982 starring Kurt Russell.  In 2001, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.