Comments on: The Five Underrated Sci-Fi Movie Masterpieces

By: escapenate

escapenate — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:47:56 +0000

screamers, pitch black, star troopers… all cliche, b-grade films… but all fun

By: lone77star

lone77star — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 08:24:28 +0000

Dark City is one of my all-time favs. And, while I agree that Gattaca had some good stuff with plot, emotion and situation, I don’t find it as watchable. I’ve seen it twice and might never see it again. Dark City, on the other hand, I’ve seen nearly a dozen times.

Someone mentioned “The Man From Earth.” Is that science fiction? I suppose one could classify it as such. But I have to agree that Jerome Bixby’s last work is a work of art. Not often am I riveted by “talking heads” scenes. This is an entire movie that is almost completely “talking heads.” What holds it together are the people and the dialog. I dream of writing dialog that compelling — ripe with implications.

And thanks for the heads up on Primer. I gotta check it out.

By: kaiijy

kaiijy — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:37:27 +0000

I don’t know how Sunshine, a film with so many script flaws could even be at TOP10: “Look! My film is boring me, let’s add a mutated man with superpowers to kill everyone”. I hate Boyle on its own, because that kinda of crap is a constant on his films.

Its quite a shame ppl get so connected to the 00′s DVD U.S. releases while making these lists, the lists become biased by themselves.

Wanna watch “underrated” sci-fi movies? Why don’t you start with Planet of the Vampires? An italian B-movie which inspired Alien & Aliens in several motions (including plot).

How someone dare listing Sodenbergh’s Solaris over Tarkovsky’s Solaris? Carpenter’s The Thing? Verhoeven’s Total Recall? Marker’s La Jetèe? Cronenberg’s The Fly? Godard’s Alphaville? I’m glad to see Primer around here, but what pisses me off isn’t that these films were not in the list, they were not even in discussion!

By: firstmagnitude

firstmagnitude — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:23:49 +0000

Crack In the World is so notable as being prophetic in nature in regards to what is happening now with the BP Gulf disaster. Greed and corruption overtake the rationale of science to where the Earth may come apart. The dialogue in the movie uses many of the same terms you would here right now on CNN. Fortunatley, this 1964 movie is going to be finally released on DVD this August 2010. It should not be overlooked for the acting, music and direction along with the sci-fi is excellent!

By: kubrickkubrick

kubrickkubrick — Sun, 23 May 2010 03:52:22 +0000

PRIMER!!!!!!

I think Science fiction is the genre with the most potential. However, I hate most Sci-fi movies. Why do we ignore the science part so stubbornly? When will we see an intelligent life from from another planet that isn’t a humanoid? We see more diversity on our own planet than writers seem to imagine there being in all the Universe; I promise, if doesn’t have a recognizable face and communicate vocally I will still buy a ticket! But, if a non-anthropocentric alien is too much to ask for, how about a little attention to detail. Less noisy, fiery explosions in space. Less famous theory name dropping which make no sense and assume the audience is entirely composed of ignorant philistines…. my list of complaints is endless and it appears I’m ranting.

Anyhow, thank you for making Primer the number one. This is truly underrated. Made for about 7000 dollars, (its impossible to make a movie for $7000,) this one of the best movies I have ever seen. There is a unshakable realism in every corner of this movie. Taking a impossible notion, and making it believable is the mark of a genius. You are not watching an actor pretend he is a engineer; You are watching an how an engineer acts!

GATTACA is another example a great movie which portrays a very possible reality. There is a hundred different things I would like to mention about it but it is a fairly well known movie, thus, doesn’t need my promotion.

Not to ignore the rest of the list, some good movies there. I really just hoped on to applaud the choice of Primer and to encourage more people to see it tho.

By: gimpo9

gimpo9 — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:20:04 +0000

Perhaps the most perfect science fiction movie ever made was “The Man in the White Suit” (1951), which starred a very young Alec Guiness. It does what classic science fiction should: based on real or plausible science, it explores the effect of new knowledge and/or technology upon human society. This movie is a timeless cautionary tale about unintended consequences, and in it’s final scene, a quick jab of a warning about the foolishness and futility of trying to stifle scientific inquiry and the ramifying and viral nature of knowledge.

By: larryvgs

larryvgs — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:19:04 +0000

The director’s cut of “Aliens” is still the best sci-fi film I have sever seen start to finish. I thought “Silent Running” was way overrated. “The Andromeda Strain” (1969) still stands up as does another one you are overlooking “Colossus: The Forbin Project” (1970). Absolutely loved the ending to that one.

By: vizualgrl

vizualgrl — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 04:19:15 +0000

i’m posting a late comment, because i just happened onto your blog. It’s hard to limit a list like this to only five or ten, so it’s good to see a forum like this & hear others’ opinions, Now have some must-see movies that I haven’t yet, such as Primer, Sunshine…. Thanks!

Other good ones are Wim Wenders’ Until the End of the World, but can only get it in PAL format. I’m not crazy about William Hurt, who plays the lead role, but loved the concepts of “filming for the blind” & “dream addiction”. Speaking of William Hurt, what about Altered States? Another great concept – sensory deprivation & evolution regression (?) .

Loved the concept for Gattacca also & couldn’t figure out why no one had heard of it. The Man Who Fell to Earth, Pi, Event Horizon, 12 Monkeys & Brazil (Terry Gilliam), A Boy & His Dog (Don Johnson at his best..ha,ha) – all great.

Check out Peter Greenaway’s Pillow Book. Not sure if it would be classified as sci-fi, but it’s pretty wild (probably too long for most audiences).

Dune was too cartoonish for me. The book was so much better (the first one). Don’t think I would include Tron and eXistenZ.

By: dtoler2520

dtoler2520 — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 01:10:48 +0000

I like the list. I have two additions: Hardware (1990) and Brazil (1998). The only half-way recognizable name in Hardware is Dylan McDermott, who found greater fame on TV with “The Practice”. Although Hardware is a small, slightly-dated movie mostly taking place entirely within a woman’s apartment, it’s filled with disturbing, dreamlike images and hypnotic music. In many ways, it was ahead of its time with its post-apocalyptic themes touching on ruthless population control and environmental degradation. Meanwhile Brazil updates Orwell’s 1984 and adds a touch of humor and satire. Still, the original ending is devastating.

By: ecvoice

ecvoice — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 09:13:08 +0000

Dark City is one of my all-time favorite films. Sadly, few people know of this gem. I introduce it to every movie-lover I know.

The Fountain, also, amazing. Can’t believe it got such mediocre reviews. I think a lot of folks just didn’t get it.

Silent Running and Primer are new to me, so I’ll check those out.

One oldie-but-goodie that I believe to be seriously underrated is The Day the Earth Stood Still. Yeah, it’s a classic…but the remake just cast such a shadow over the name that I get the impression people have forgotten it.

As for Serenity…loved it, but was it underrated? Doesn’t stand up to multiple viewings, for me at least, like Dark City, The Fountain or the original Day the Earth Stood Still. Still, it’s worthy as a film. I wouldn’t say it’s underrated so much as off-the-radar.