What are the greatest science fiction films?
Writing by Jana on Tuesday, 1 of July , 2008 at 1:06 pm
The American Film Institute recently released a list of the top ten greatest films in fantasy and science fiction. The science fiction list is fairly decent. The fantasy list….um, Groundhog Day? Are you people fucking joking? No. They’re not. John Scalzi’s not touching the fantasy list either (yet) but he posts an interesting blog over at AMCtv asking the readers what their top list is for science fiction.
His five are: The Matrix (1999); Ghost in the Shell (1995); The Incredibles (2004); 12 Monkeys (1995); Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004).
I agree with The Matrix and Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, further on my list of best science fiction films:
Solaris (1972): The original Russian film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky based on the novel Solaris by Polish science fiction author Stanisław Lem. Themes of love, loss, the nature of existence and our memory abound in this gloomy, existential masterpiece.
Solaris (1992): Yeah that’s right. Again. Can you tell I’m a huge Solaris fan all around? The 1992 version is directed by Steven Soderbergh, and stars George Clooney. This version focuses too much on the relationship of the leads, but it is a stunning and under-rated film regardless. Read the book, watch the movies, prepare to ponder the mysteries of life and God.
Children of Men (2006): directed by Alfonso Cuarón and loosely adapted from P. D. James’s 1992 novel The Children of Men. Starring Clive Owen.
Dark City (1998): a science fiction film noir directed by Alex Proyas. I still remember walking out of the theatre after seeing this for the first time with friends. I was 14 and literally disoriented and dizzy, stumbling around the mall, and talking about the implications of humanity and memory and God (I seem big on these themes, don’t I?) this film had introduced to me. Brilliant.
Blade Runner (1982): the cyberpunk classic directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford. Eyeballs. Thumbs. Eyeballs and thumbs….
I could go on, but I won’t.
Not today anyway.
Category: film, science fiction
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Comment by Fábio
Made Tuesday, 1 of July , 2008 at 3:36 pm
We definitely seem to be in the same wavelength. The two Solaris are on my list as well - and I screened both to my Scriptwriting class last month! I was amazed at their reaction - most of them are in their early twenties, and they loved the Tarkovski´s version, which so many people today consider boring. And, what´s more, seeing the two movies only a week apart made me see the many references Soderbergh made to the first film.
IMHO, both Solaris are great adaptations of Lem´s book.
Comment by Jana
Made Wednesday, 2 of July , 2008 at 7:36 am
Tarkovsky is anything but boring. I think the trick to actually enjoying his work is leaving behind expectations formed by modern cinema (fast-paced action, fast-paced dialogue, fast-paced everything) and letting yourself be totally immersed in the experience. The first time I saw it, it was an accident, and I remember being mesmorized by the imagery and the music.
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