Suggested Sci-Fi Movies

SUGGESTED MOVIES

SERIOUS SCI-FI

Star Wars Trilogy(Video set)
Not released on DVD yet
All three in one video set. These are the special editions and quite pricey, but it's well worth it. If you've never seen Star Wars before then you owe it to yourself to get it. While the Special Effects are looking a bit dated and the acting was never up to scratch, these movies are well deserving of the title "classic".

Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Video)
Not yet released on DVD
While many people argue that this isn't worthy of the series I beg to differ. There are many great action scenes and the special effects are outstanding. While the acting isn't exactly brilliant, none of the other titles in the series had particularly good acting either. Darth Maul makes a compelling villian and Obi-Wan is a good hero. Anakin (Jake Loyd) and Jar-Jar Binks get a bit annoying but they aren't enough to say that this film is bad. If you liek Action sci-fi then you'll like this. If you like deep and meaningful plots, give it a miss.

X-Men (Video)
X-Men (DVD)
The remake of the famous comic. While it doesn't have all the characters, this is a good thing. There were something like 50 main characters introduced in the comic book series and having that many people introduced into one movie would not only be confusing but incredibly stupid. Instead, they introduce ten of the characters and have cameos from some of the others. The sequels are slowly going to introduce more. The acting and special effects are very good, and the plot is pretty well thought out as well. They changed the costumes but spandex would have looked incredibly bad on them anyway (think of the Phantom movie). While there aren't many action scenes, the 3-4 of them are extremely long and cool.

Star Trek: First Contact (Video)
Star Trek - First Contact (DVD)
In my opinion, the best Star Trek film. This will appeal even to people who aren't Star Trek fans. Right from the onset this film is packed with action. It's about the conflict between the Federation and the Borg (the ultimate cybernetic bad guy race). It's got great special effects and acting, a usual for "Star trek: the Next Generation" movies.

Star Trek: Insurrection (Video)
ST:TNG Movie Pack (DVD)
The DVD is a pack with Generations, First Contact, and Insurrection but it might be worth the expense. This is the latest Star Trek movie and has some great special effects. This has some dark themes ad doesn't have as much action as First Contact but is still a really good film. All the cast are here, even Worf who was supposedly reassigned to Deep Space Nine. The badguys in this are new to the series and the writers have made them "3D".

Aliens: Special Edition (Video)
Aliens (DVD) This is the best in the Alien series. It's still dark in nature like the others, but this is more thrilling and still has quite a lot of action. Good characterisation and creature effects help to make this one a classic. While the special effects aren't that good anymore, except for the creature effects, they're still good enough that it doesn't distract you because of bodginess. There are a few long periods of nothing happening but that doesn't detract much from the film.

Alien Resurrection (video)
Alien Resurrection (DVD)
This isn't as good as Aliens but better than Alien or Alien3. The special effects are better than ever and there's way more action and suspense than the first three. This also stars Winona Ryder, as an android, and Sigourney Weaver is now half Alien. The story is weird and the plot isn't that good. This is still better than the run-of-the-mill action film though, so all fans of action sci-fi will really like this.

Dune (Video)
Dune (DVD) Based on the book by Frank Herbert. The Special Effects are very dated on this. It's worse than Star Wars in this respect. If you're expecting something really close to the book than you'll be disappointed. It might take watching it a couple of times watching it, but this movie will really grow on you. The acting on the whole isn't that good, but Patrick Stewart is good in it. The plot is top notch and some of the action scenes and dialogue are really good.

The Matrix - Standard Collector's Edition (Video)
The Matrix (DVD)
This movie is the epitome of sci-fi action. It has intriguing plot, background, characters, special effects, and action scenes. The acting, in general, is top notch. This movie's a bledn of martial arts, cyberpunk and action and works extremely well. If you haven't seen this, shame on you. If you have, get it anyway.

Jurassic Park - Collector's Edition (Video)
Jurassic Park -Collector's Edition
Based on the book by Michael Crichton. While the book is better in terms of plot, and everything else that makes a "good story", this film is full of great special effects, action, and suspense. I don't know fo any other film where the villians are dinosaurs. That in itself is a good enough reason to get it. The sequel is also based on a book by Michael Crichton but this one is better.

Planet of the Apes (Video)
Planet of the Apes (DVD)
This movie is getting very old, but odly, it doesn't seem dated like many other old sci-fi movies. The makeup (on the monkeys) is still good and so is the acting, mostly. The plot and themes that are brought up are very involving and intriguing. This movie spawned 4 sequels, two TV series, and lots of merchandise. This is by far the best out of the five movies though. I haven't seen the series but I doubt it's of comparing quality.

The Fifth Element (Video)
The Fifth Element (DVD)
This is a very funny sci-fi action movie with lots of character. It stars Bruce Willis as the protagonist as well as Milla Jovavitch. The acting leaves something to be desired and so does the plot, but there's plenty of good action, humour, special effects, cool aliens, and great atmosphere.

2001-A Space Odyssey (Video)
2001: A Space Odyssey (DVD)
This movie is famous, and yet not many people like it. There are long periods of not only nothing happening, but also extreme silence. It takes at least two viewings to fully appreciate this movie and if you want to fully understand the beginning and ending, both are rather weird, I reccomend that you read the book. Contrary to popular belief, neither was based on the other, they were released at practically the same time and are meant to shed light on each other.

Mad Max Collection (Video)
Mad Max (DVD)
The Road Warrior (DVD)
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (DVD) I haven't seen the first one, but judging from the rule that the first one is nearly always the best, then they all deserve to be in this section. They're set in a post-apocalyptic world and have a good atmospere. These were some of Mel Gibson's first acting jobs and he still has a heavy Australian accent. The plots are quite good but the acting leaves something to be desired. Sorry Mel. Lots of action and weird environments make these very good action sci-fis.

Highlander - 10th Anniversary Edition (Video)
Highlander Collector's Pack (DVD) Highlander is classified as Science Fiction, though I can't really see why. It still is great with lots of potential. Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery are good in this but the villian is over the top. The series was OK but not as good as the first movie, neither were the other movies. The two other films seem to contradict all the things set up in the first (to do with the Immortals) but they're still quite good.

Home

Star Wars Trilogy(Video set) Not released on DVD yet	All three in one video set. These are the special editions and quite pricey, but it's well worth it. If you've never seen Star Wars before then you owe it to yourself to get it. While the Special Effects are looking a bit dated and the acting was never up to scratch, these movies are well deserving of the title "classic".
Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Video) Not yet released on DVD	While many people argue that this isn't worthy of the series I beg to differ. There are many great action scenes and the special effects are outstanding. While the acting isn't exactly brilliant, none of the other titles in the series had particularly good acting either. Darth Maul makes a compelling villian and Obi-Wan is a good hero. Anakin (Jake Loyd) and Jar-Jar Binks get a bit annoying but they aren't enough to say that this film is bad. If you liek Action sci-fi then you'll like this. If you like deep and meaningful plots, give it a miss.
X-Men (Video) X-Men (DVD)	The remake of the famous comic. While it doesn't have all the characters, this is a good thing. There were something like 50 main characters introduced in the comic book series and having that many people introduced into one movie would not only be confusing but incredibly stupid. Instead, they introduce ten of the characters and have cameos from some of the others. The sequels are slowly going to introduce more. The acting and special effects are very good, and the plot is pretty well thought out as well. They changed the costumes but spandex would have looked incredibly bad on them anyway (think of the Phantom movie). While there aren't many action scenes, the 3-4 of them are extremely long and cool.
Star Trek: First Contact (Video) Star Trek - First Contact (DVD)	In my opinion, the best Star Trek film. This will appeal even to people who aren't Star Trek fans. Right from the onset this film is packed with action. It's about the conflict between the Federation and the Borg (the ultimate cybernetic bad guy race). It's got great special effects and acting, a usual for "Star trek: the Next Generation" movies.
Star Trek: Insurrection (Video) ST:TNG Movie Pack (DVD)	The DVD is a pack with Generations, First Contact, and Insurrection but it might be worth the expense. This is the latest Star Trek movie and has some great special effects. This has some dark themes ad doesn't have as much action as First Contact but is still a really good film. All the cast are here, even Worf who was supposedly reassigned to Deep Space Nine. The badguys in this are new to the series and the writers have made them "3D".
Aliens: Special Edition (Video) Aliens (DVD)	This is the best in the Alien series. It's still dark in nature like the others, but this is more thrilling and still has quite a lot of action. Good characterisation and creature effects help to make this one a classic. While the special effects aren't that good anymore, except for the creature effects, they're still good enough that it doesn't distract you because of bodginess. There are a few long periods of nothing happening but that doesn't detract much from the film.
Alien Resurrection (video) Alien Resurrection (DVD)	This isn't as good as Aliens but better than Alien or Alien3. The special effects are better than ever and there's way more action and suspense than the first three. This also stars Winona Ryder, as an android, and Sigourney Weaver is now half Alien. The story is weird and the plot isn't that good. This is still better than the run-of-the-mill action film though, so all fans of action sci-fi will really like this.
Dune (Video) Dune (DVD)	Based on the book by Frank Herbert. The Special Effects are very dated on this. It's worse than Star Wars in this respect. If you're expecting something really close to the book than you'll be disappointed. It might take watching it a couple of times watching it, but this movie will really grow on you. The acting on the whole isn't that good, but Patrick Stewart is good in it. The plot is top notch and some of the action scenes and dialogue are really good.
The Matrix - Standard Collector's Edition (Video) The Matrix (DVD)	This movie is the epitome of sci-fi action. It has intriguing plot, background, characters, special effects, and action scenes. The acting, in general, is top notch. This movie's a bledn of martial arts, cyberpunk and action and works extremely well. If you haven't seen this, shame on you. If you have, get it anyway.
Jurassic Park - Collector's Edition (Video) Jurassic Park -Collector's Edition	Based on the book by Michael Crichton. While the book is better in terms of plot, and everything else that makes a "good story", this film is full of great special effects, action, and suspense. I don't know fo any other film where the villians are dinosaurs. That in itself is a good enough reason to get it. The sequel is also based on a book by Michael Crichton but this one is better.
Planet of the Apes (Video) Planet of the Apes (DVD)	This movie is getting very old, but odly, it doesn't seem dated like many other old sci-fi movies. The makeup (on the monkeys) is still good and so is the acting, mostly. The plot and themes that are brought up are very involving and intriguing. This movie spawned 4 sequels, two TV series, and lots of merchandise. This is by far the best out of the five movies though. I haven't seen the series but I doubt it's of comparing quality.
The Fifth Element (Video) The Fifth Element (DVD)	This is a very funny sci-fi action movie with lots of character. It stars Bruce Willis as the protagonist as well as Milla Jovavitch. The acting leaves something to be desired and so does the plot, but there's plenty of good action, humour, special effects, cool aliens, and great atmosphere.
2001-A Space Odyssey (Video) 2001: A Space Odyssey (DVD)	This movie is famous, and yet not many people like it. There are long periods of not only nothing happening, but also extreme silence. It takes at least two viewings to fully appreciate this movie and if you want to fully understand the beginning and ending, both are rather weird, I reccomend that you read the book. Contrary to popular belief, neither was based on the other, they were released at practically the same time and are meant to shed light on each other.
Mad Max Collection (Video) Mad Max (DVD) The Road Warrior (DVD) Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (DVD)	I haven't seen the first one, but judging from the rule that the first one is nearly always the best, then they all deserve to be in this section. They're set in a post-apocalyptic world and have a good atmospere. These were some of Mel Gibson's first acting jobs and he still has a heavy Australian accent. The plots are quite good but the acting leaves something to be desired. Sorry Mel. Lots of action and weird environments make these very good action sci-fis.
Highlander - 10th Anniversary Edition (Video) Highlander Collector's Pack (DVD)	Highlander is classified as Science Fiction, though I can't really see why. It still is great with lots of potential. Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery are good in this but the villian is over the top. The series was OK but not as good as the first movie, neither were the other movies. The two other films seem to contradict all the things set up in the first (to do with the Immortals) but they're still quite good.