World's Greatest Sci Fi Film Ever - THE VOTE

[Penfold]

The nominations have been collated and with only three movies getting five or more nominations, I chose to include all the films that received four nominations as well. I've tried selecting the '3' options per user, so everybody has three votes to cast. I've also ticked the box to enable users to change their vote should the need arise (hope these work). Feel free to reveal and discuss your choices.

[pip]

I'll stick with the three from my original vote, Terminator , Planet of the Apes and Balderunner

[Jan Van Quirm]

I can't believe that Dark Star didn't get through!

It's very obscure and clunky in the CGI dept now, but it was a brilliant spoof of 2001

[Quatermass]

Dark Star had CGI?

[Jan Van Quirm]

Of course not!

[Quatermass]

Didn't think so. I'm sure the original Star Wars had CGI, but very primitive stuff used for the computer simulation during the Rebel briefing.

[Tonyblack]

Voted!

[MongoGutman]

well for a start I'm shocked, shocked that Quatermass and the Pit didn't make the final list. That said, the first two were easy - Star Wars changed everything for SF. Everything. The release of SW was a watershed moment for the whole genre. At the time I wasn't much of a fan of it - I was already a SF fan and also a fantasy fan and I didn't really like the way the film mixed the genres up: it seemed neither fish nor fowl - looking back I can see I was too blinkered.

The Matrix was such a great idea and so well made - every shot just seemed perfect with ground breaking SE to boot. My jaw dropped.

then to choose between the rest... 2001, well, you know, no doubting Kubrick was a genius but I always found his pacing to slow. District 9? I can only assume it made the list because its so recent - instantly forgettable minor movie. Terminator 2 - great thrills and spills action adventure, great monster, but too star-driven, take away Arnie and what have you got? Planet of the Apes - good idea, good lead, but I didn't think it was particularly well made. Clse Encounters I enjoyed but that Speilburg surburban cosiness and the special effects ending spoiled it for me.

So the choice came down to between two Ridley Scott movies, both set in corporate dystopias - each in their own way saying that the future is like now, only more so - for me Blade runner was a little too de-focused whilst the focus on Alien was intense. One of the first movies to put gothic horror in space, a truly alien alien for a change.

[Quatermass]

Mongo, have you ever watched the original serial of Quatermass and the Pit?

[raptornx01]

Being recent doesn't make a film bad. District 9 is what sci-fi is SUPPOSED to be. using a fictional tale to deal with real world problems and situations. up until the ending the film is essentially a true story told using beings from another world. there really was a sort of invasion of aliens as refugees poured into south africa from other nations. they were segregated into camps. the locals all hated them. thought they were a nuisance, thought they were leading to crime. the shanty town the film takes place in wasn't a set, those were real homes that those refugees were living in. and the evictions really happened because of the locals protesting and wanting them out. The commentary track on the disc is really fascinating and worth a listen.

On top of that the film sets the bar for what a low budget film can look like as far as special effects.

[Who's Wee Dug]

I can't believe that Dark Star didn't get through!

It's very obscure and clunky in the CGI dept now, but it was a brilliant spoof of 2001

I had that listed Jan but changed my mind at the last minute 5 is never enough, loved the dialog with the bomb

[Mycroft Vimes]

I can't believe that Dark Star didn't get through!

It's very obscure and clunky in the CGI dept now, but it was a brilliant spoof of 2001

I was pressed for time and couldn't find it quickly enough before or i'd have posted this...
"Snap out of it,bomb!"

"Let there be light..."

[chris.ph]

job done

[high eight]

None of the above, I'm afraid. I just can't generate any enthusiasm for any of those films.

[Quatermass]

Both front-runners so far are Ridley Scott films. RIDLEEEEEYYYY!

BTW, Ridley Scott used to be a designer for the BBC, although he would take a director's course. Guess which alien he very nearly designed?