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San Francisco, 1:49 AM
Thu Dec 17
24 posts in the last 24 hours

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of cylon_conspiracy cylon_conspiracy
    12/16/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    That's a lot of movies. That's almost 2 movies per year!

    Glad to see Primer on there. That was a movie I rented based on the cover and I loved how such a low-budget looking movie could be so convincingly good. I forgot what it was called, it's been a few years since I've seen it. I'd like to see that one again.

    Can't wait for Moon to be on DVD so I can see what the fuss was all about.

    And although technically it's fantasy, I think a prequel could have been put up there. Let's say ROTS, for being the most OT like SW prequel and having some legitimate drama, compared to the first two.

    And I don't care what the haters say, Transformers 2 belongs up there, and in the years to come, will be seen as the subversive mind fuck it really was, not the movie that was mistakenly taken at face value by so many elitists.

    I saw someone mention Children of Men... not sure what I think about that one. Dystopia doesn't sell me the way it used to. Still, it's a hard movie to not think about, and the subtle updating of tech was impressive, as it wasn't marketed as a film with many special effects, but they were there, in a real-world "this is exactly what it would like" type of way.

    And, Spielberg deserves a mention. Minority Report is a movie I watch maybe once a year, holds up quite well.

    I'm sure I'll think of way more movies that could have been added soon.
     Reply
    cylon_conspiracy was starred cylon_conspiracy was unstarred
    Image of cylon_conspiracy cylon_conspiracy
    12/16/09

    @cylon_conspiracy: I found one. Someone mentioned Outlander. THAT was a freaking great movie, that no one saw.
     Reply
    cylon_conspiracy was starred cylon_conspiracy was unstarred
    Image of cylon_conspiracy cylon_conspiracy
    12/16/09

    @cylon_conspiracy: So, to add I've got:

    A.I. (probably my favorite sci-fi of the decade)
    Watchmen
    Unbreakable
    Matrix
     Reply
    cylon_conspiracy was starred cylon_conspiracy was unstarred
    Image of Wookie1972 Wookie1972
    12/16/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    Thanks for including Eternal Sunshine - the best PKD adaptation that wasn't really a PKD adaptation.
     Reply
    Wookie1972 was starred Wookie1972 was unstarred
    Image of Post-Nuked Post-Nuked
    12/16/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    I really loved seeing Slither in there. I think it is a really over looked film.
     Reply
    Post-Nuked was starred Post-Nuked was unstarred
    Image of Leland Rzepecki Leland Rzepecki
    12/15/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    And here I thought I was the only one who really like Pitch Black.
     Reply
    Leland Rzepecki was starred Leland Rzepecki was unstarred
    Image of GodofMonkeys GodofMonkeys
    12/16/09

    @Leland Rzepecki: Far from it!
     Reply
    GodofMonkeys was starred GodofMonkeys was unstarred
    Image of GonePostal77 GonePostal77
    12/15/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    Just my two cents, but while Slither is an entertaining horror film with some sci fi plot elements, it's hardly a science fiction film. Nor is the Dark Knight, really, which only has Batman's tech as the SciFi connection.

    Children of Men, like everyone has said, is easily one of the top films of the decade. How no one at io9 thought it worthy of inclusion here is a bit maddening.

    Also, I don't agree that Donnie Darko has aged well. Maybe it's because the Director's Cut ruins the film for me. I'd toss out Time Crimes as a better alternative.
     Reply
    Allen_Richards promoted this comment GonePostal77 was starred GonePostal77 was unstarred
    Image of Allen_Richards Allen_Richards
    12/15/09

    @GonePostal77: Great call on TIME CRIMES! I'd forgotten all about that movie.
     Reply
    Allen_Richards was starred Allen_Richards was unstarred
    Image of cylon_conspiracy cylon_conspiracy
    12/16/09

    @GonePostal77: I agree, Dark Knight doesn't belong here. If it did, all the Espionage type movies that have hi-tech stuff would be sci-fi too.

    Of course, Batman Begins had supernatural elements so could be considered sci-fi.

    Wonder if Nolan will bring those elements back next time around.
     Reply
    cylon_conspiracy was starred cylon_conspiracy was unstarred
    Image of Muckley Muckley
    12/15/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    Another vote for Children Of Men. Would also suggest The Fountain, the Solaris remake, and 2046 (whether it counts as sci-fi or not) . And I thought (in blasphemy?) that 28 Weeks Later was better than Days...
     Reply
    Allen_Richards promoted this comment Muckley was starred Muckley was unstarred
    Image of Allen_Richards Allen_Richards
    12/15/09

    @Muckley: Wong Kar-wai is my favorite director, but I often overlook 2046 when thinking about genre cinema. It certainly has aspects of sci-fi, and in that regard would qualify.

    I'm with you on 28 WEEKS to an extent. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a better movie than 28 DAYS, but it's certainly more intense.
     Reply
    Allen_Richards was starred Allen_Richards was unstarred
    Image of Allen_Richards Allen_Richards
    12/15/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    When you have a thread approaching 500 posts, some things are going to get buried.

    [www.netflix.com]

    That link should make it nice and easy for anyone to add these titles to their Netflix queue. As I mentioned below, some are even IW, which makes catching up even easier.

    Hope it helps!
     Reply
    Allen_Richards was starred Allen_Richards was unstarred
    Image of dicksson dicksson
    12/15/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    Why isn't Code 46 on this list?
     Reply
    Byronotron promoted this comment dicksson was starred dicksson was unstarred
    Image of Byronotron Byronotron
    12/15/09

    @dicksson: rawr! agree!
     Reply
    Byronotron was starred Byronotron was unstarred
    Image of cylon_conspiracy cylon_conspiracy
    12/16/09

    @dicksson: Damn, flashback. It's crazy how you forget a movie until you're reminded of it. All I remember of that was some sad love story gone wrong with Tim Robbins. Might see it again.
     Reply
    cylon_conspiracy was starred cylon_conspiracy was unstarred
    Image of dicksson dicksson
    12/16/09

    @cylon_conspiracy: Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton. It's got a great "not too distant future" thing going on. It's been years for me but I remember really liking it the last time I saw it.
     Reply
    dicksson was starred dicksson was unstarred
    Image of Alexis Alexis
    12/15/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    I always thought that Serenity might be a movie strictly for fans, but I've had many, many people (who aren't into sci-fi) bring the film up to me since it came out. To me, that is a success. A film that can appeal to hardcore nerds as well as "mainstream" types.

    Also, the Incredibles is parody, not a ripoff. The whole movie is based on generic superhero prototypes and how that works as a family dynamic. It wasn't a film about powers, it was a film about how an otherwise normal family deals with powers. Not to mention the fact that the film was funny and regularly made jokes about the superhero genre. It was very self aware.

    If you wanna call "ripoff" please direct your anger at Heroes instead. That show uses every basic storyline from X-men poorly, while the creator practically boasts about his lack of comic book knowledge.
     Reply
    Alexis was starred Alexis was unstarred
    Image of houdinination houdinination
    12/15/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    [x] Children of Men. Everytime I watch it I have to watch it again, straight away. And since someone mentioned Idiocracy, I'd put it in instead of either the incredibles or wall-e.
     Reply
    Byronotron promoted this comment Annalee Newitz approved this comment houdinination was starred houdinination was unstarred
    Image of Byronotron Byronotron
    12/15/09

    @houdinination: yeah, i could have done with out the incredibles on this list for children of men. i'm just not a huge pixar fan. cept toy story. that is pure gold.
     Reply
    Byronotron was starred Byronotron was unstarred
    Image of Smurf-Revenge Smurf-Revenge
    12/15/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    I'm a big fan of Ghost in the Shell: Innocence as well as The Stand Alone Complex and 2nd Gig series. Maybe there needs to be a cartoon/anime list.
     Reply
    Allen_Richards promoted this comment Edited by Smurf-Revenge at 12/15/09 10:34 AM Smurf-Revenge was starred Smurf-Revenge was unstarred
    Image of Allen_Richards Allen_Richards
    12/15/09

    @Smurf-Revenge: I'm not sure GitS:I is better than GitS. It's certainly a more philosophical and introspective film, but I think Mamoru Oshii got hung up on the philosophies of it all in the same way The Wachowski's did with the last two MATRIX films.
     Reply
    Allen_Richards was starred Allen_Richards was unstarred
    Image of Smurf-Revenge Smurf-Revenge
    12/16/09

    @Allen_Richards: Excellent comparison. But at the same time there were some beautiful scenes in that last Matrix flick (re: the widescreen shots of the machines invading Zion). And I actually like The Innocence because I actually respect Oshii's search for "deeper" implications of artifical intelligence and consciousness (even though there was far less action).The Stand Alone series really turned inward with the whole Laughing Man scenario. But at the same time, the new self-awareness of the tachikomas and the hunting-down of Section 9 provided a good balance between theory and excellent action scenes.
     Reply
    Edited by Smurf-Revenge at 12/16/09 8:37 AM Smurf-Revenge was starred Smurf-Revenge was unstarred
    Image of Jason Rouse Jason Rouse
    12/15/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    Am I the only one who didn't like The Host? I rented it after hearing all the hype about it and honestly don't have a clue what everyone liked about it. It's OK, but Cloverfield was much more fun and original feeling.
     Reply
    Alexis promoted this comment Jason Rouse was starred Jason Rouse was unstarred
    Image of Alexis Alexis
    12/15/09

    @Jason Rouse: You are not alone.
     Reply
    Alexis was starred Alexis was unstarred
    Image of justingeist justingeist
    12/15/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    DD has an amazing soundtrack. The opening with Echo & the Bunnymen's "Killing Moon" is ridiculously awesome.
     Reply
    Byronotron promoted this comment justingeist was starred justingeist was unstarred
    Image of Byronotron Byronotron
    12/15/09

    @justingeist: which is weird because it's not the song that he originally wanted to use.
     Reply
    Byronotron was starred Byronotron was unstarred
    Image of bluehinter bluehinter
    12/15/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    I agree with most of those, though feel it's a crime against sci-fi that nobody else has mentioned The Fountain and the ultimate dystopian gun-fu flick (and role that almost certainly earned Bale the part of Batman) Equilibrium.

    I'd also give honorable mention to Children of Men, Time Crimes, Revenger's Tragedy, Special and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (which was quite good, just not as good as every version that came before)
     Reply
    Edited by bluehinter at 12/15/09 9:02 AM bluehinter was starred bluehinter was unstarred
    Image of DozertheDozarian DozertheDozarian
    12/15/09

    @bluehinter: I keep hearing about how great Equilibrium is. I'm going to have to procure a copy of said video and watch it. I've seen bits and pieces but never the whole thing...
     Reply
    Byronotron promoted this comment DozertheDozarian was starred DozertheDozarian was unstarred
    Image of Andy Neil Andy Neil
    12/15/09

    @bluehinter: The only thing worse than putting The Fountain on that list, would be putting Primer on that....excuse me? It IS on that list? Ugh. Talk about a full feature film BEGGING to be a 15 minute short. Interesting premise aside, the film is damn-near unwatchable. And Charlie wants us to watch it TWICE??

    Children of Men however WAS a perfect film. Can't believe Avatar (which hasn't even been released yet) has been inducted, and this Cuaron gem gets pushed aside.
     Reply
    bluehinter promoted this comment Andy Neil was starred Andy Neil was unstarred
    Image of Byronotron Byronotron
    12/15/09

    @DozertheDozarian: yeah, seriously equilibrium is only ok. it's just a ripoff of 1984 and farenheit 451.
     Reply
    Byronotron was starred Byronotron was unstarred
    Image of bluehinter bluehinter
    12/15/09

    @Andy Neil: Primer happens to be one of my all-time favorite movies (I'd even go so far as to say it was the best sci-fi movie of the decade, period.) but it's obviously not for everyone.

    I'm an old school physics geek, who used to hang out with people like Aaron and Abe. (actually, one of them's over at the LHC right now)
    The fact that most people only understand a fraction of their technical jargon should in no way hamper their enjoyment of this film, but then again, I happen to like stories that see people thrust into a completely unknown situation, who must then try to figure out what the hell's going on, rather than just blowing shit up.
     Reply
    bluehinter was starred bluehinter was unstarred
    Image of birdtongue birdtongue
    12/16/09

    @bluehinter:
    this -- "stories that see people thrust into a completely unknown situation, who must then try to figure out what the hell's going on" -- is also why i have a fond place in my heart for Primer, and also how i experienced the first Matrix. i cannot understand those who willingly abandon such wonder.

    clearly, i'm a "no spoilers" kind of gal. i've been pretty lucky to have friends who try to respect that.

    the guys in Primer could be using Trek-speak, "put this tech in the tech," for all i care (though i do appreciate even the veneer of credibility, and i was pleased to recognize a bit of the argot); it's a tersely-paced movie, in the vein of the best noir. some people don't like being forced to wait, and listen, and frankly, think. it is a very quiet movie; it's also very philosophical.

    plus, i have mondo respect for the production aspect of it -- $7k, trained himself, got his family and friends to do tech stuff and act, his mom catered (how cute is that!?)
     Reply
    bluehinter promoted this comment birdtongue was starred birdtongue was unstarred
    Image of bluehinter bluehinter
    12/16/09

    @birdtongue: It's also a classic example of the "Less is More" approach to screenwriting.

    That's why I happen to love the old Quatermass movies, shows like The Outer Limits and Twilight Zone, and more recently, the Steven Moffat's episodes of Doctor Who.

    A big bug-eyed monster jumping out of the closet is scary... once.

    But learning that there's something dangerous lurking in the shadows... You can't see it, you can't stop it, and it has just become aware of you... that's the kind of nightmare fodder that just keeps on giving.
     Reply
    bluehinter was starred bluehinter was unstarred
    Image of kazlehoff kazlehoff
    12/15/09

    In reply to 20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
    this list is relevent to my intrests.
    however

    Remove "Spider Man 2" (fantasy/action. not scifi)
    "The Dark Knight" (GREAT MOVIE, but fantasy/action. not scifi) and
    "The incredibles" (excuse me while i go puke @ this being included)

    allow me add:
    "Chronicles of Riddick"
    "Event Horizion" and
    "The Matrix"

    Honorable mentions imo: Children of men, The island, Aeon Flux, Battlefield Earth, Heavy Metal 2000, Titan A.E., Minority Report, I Robot, Resident Evil, Signs, The Thirteenth Floor & End of Days.
     Reply
    Discodave: R.O.A.C.H. M.O.T.E.L. approved this comment kazlehoff was starred kazlehoff was unstarred
    Image of Discodave: R.O.A.C.H. M.O.T.E.L. Discodave: R.O.A.C.H. M.O.T.E.L.
    12/15/09

    @kazlehoff: Well, if Dark Knight's ineligible as sci-fi, you sure as hell aren't getting End of Days. And, honestly? Battlefield Earth? Woahboy.

    Oh, and The Matrix was last decade.
     Reply
    Discodave: R.O.A.C.H. M.O.T.E.L. was starred Discodave: R.O.A.C.H. M.O.T.E.L. was unstarred
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