My Ten Favorite Science Fiction Movie Blockbusters
Here is the promised follow-up to my previous post ( The Top Ten Recent Sci Fi Films You May Not Have Seen Yet), "My Ten Favorite Sci Fi Blockbusters of My Lifetime". The previous list was limited to only those films that according to Wikipedia have grossed less than $100 million. These films all have grossed more than $100 million. Again, no superhero movies were included and I only considered movies that have come out in my lifetime (since 1983).
Why then are so many movies tilted towards the recent years? For instance, in the previous list the earliest movie came out in 1997. I've got a couple theories. First, the arbitrary limit of $100 million according to Wikipedia doesn't reflect the amount of time a movie has been out, nor inflation since the movie came out. That means that recent movies (a) have had less of a chance to make as much money, but also (b) modern blockbusters make a LOT more money in terms of sheer magnitude.
Some other possible reasons: (a) movies that came out during my "formative years" as a teenager/early adult may have had more of an impact on me, so I rate them higher; (b) I'm very much of the "cult of the new" and tend to rate newer/shinier/more updated things higher than older things; (c) the declining costs of special effects have increased the total number of sci fi films that have come out, so there's greater probability of a good one showing up; and (d) science fiction films actually HAVE gotten better since the 1980s, whether because they have learned/improved from the past or because sci fi has reached a certain level of acceptability in modern culture (see the related fantasy film Lord of the Rings winning all the Oscars in 2004).
Enough with the chit-chat again! On with the list:
10. The Truman Show (1998)
I referenced this one last time in my review of "Eternal Sunshine", but Jim Carrey really deserves credit for both that film and this one. Continuing my theme of liking stories about a constructed reality, this one is interesting as it and EDtv both came out about the same time and closely predated the current wave of "reality television". The science fiction in this one is subtle (did I get that right, prototaph?), but still makes a movie on the scale of inventing one entire person's world possible.
9. Aliens (1986)
The first one came was disqualified since it came out before I was born, but this second film in the series is a fantastic film in its own right. Probably the epitome of "gritty" sci fi/action movies, and beginning of a trend of James Cameron making sequels better, or at least on par with, the originals. (The main reason T2 didn't make the cut for this list is that I haven't really seen it enough/recently)
8. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
In my review of "Galaxy Quest" last time, I claimed I wasn't a "hardcore trekkie". While true, I'm mostly comparing myself to those people who learn Klingon and go to all the conventions. Though I've never done either, I do love me some "Star Trek: The Next Generation", and this film is obviously the best featuring that cast. Patrick Stewart is in his best form here as Captain Picard.
7. Independence Day (1996)
I know, I know. COMPLETELY implausible. But who cares? This one's a blast. It came out when I was 13 years old, so this may be an example of hitting me with the right level of humor, action, and adventure that every 13 year old wants. I also really like disaster stories, and I'd actually welcome the possibility of a sequel where they're rebuilding everything.
6. District 9 (2009)
Here is another thing sci fi often does correctly: Tell a story about aliens/robots/etc in some far flung future/past/planet, but have it ACTUALLY be about only humans in the present. The history of District 9 is actually from an independent film by the then-unknown director interviewing people of South Africa about downtrodden refugees living in Johannesburg without telling them it would be used in a science fiction film. The result was a very enlightening commentary on social divisions presented to people who might not actually have taken the time out to stop and think about it. This commentary is sometimes transparent and/or heavy-handed in the film, but in the end I think exemplifies one of the best uses of science fiction.
5. Inception (2010)
Christopher Nolan: Best director of the early 21st century? He's got Memento, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, and now this one, Inception. More action-in-a-constructed-reality to hit those buttons. Beyond that, however, it also uses some of the most sophisticated science fiction tropes (not to mention special effects) to tell the story of a man coming to grips with a very realistic tragedy and striving for what truly matters. After my first time watching it, I knew it was a great movie, but couldn't quite place how it succeeded whereas the superficially similar movie Push failed. Watching it a second time, I could see that the spectacular action scenes of Inception were really just backdrop to the human story, acted out fantastically by Leonardo DiCaprio. It's a story that could have (and has) been told in any time or place in human history because it is always True (with a capital T). But I wouldn't have ever seen that story except because it was wrapped in these (admittedly quite beautiful in their own right) science fiction trappings.
Side note: It was only with this movie that I've finally "forgiven" Leonardo DiCaprio for his teenage hearthrob ways that I had to put up among all my female acquaintances as a teenager. "Catch Me If You Can" and "The Departed" got him close, but this one finally won me over to admitting that Leo is a really great actor, too.
4. The Fifth Element (1997)
And sometimes, you don't want social commentary, philosophical explorations, or humanity defining stories. You just want FUN. In those times, one of the best places to turn to is Luc Besson's "The Fifth Element". It's got action. It's got comedy. It's got a stellar cast, memorable lines, and awesome special effects that hold up well over a decade later. And the Diva Dance! Really not much to dislike about this film.
3. The Matrix (1999)
Everybody's seen The Matrix; I don't really need to try and sell it. What I'll talk about instead is this "constructed reality" thing I keep talking about. What do I find so intriguing about it? Well, in case you weren't sure, I'm an incredibly introverted, intuitive thinker so the perceptions that feel "realest" to me are my own thoughts and feelings. Hence the idea that the "outside" world is not "real" is a very accessible concept to me. The way we build up coherent systems of belief, desires, and intentions and transform raw data into information into knowledge into wisdom fascinates me to no end. See also this xkcd comic. Add this fascination to some very interesting entertainment and you probably have me hooked.
It's too bad they never made any sequels to the Matrix. I bet they wouldn't have been good ;-)
2. Jurassic Park (1993)
Another movie about the right topic that came out at the right time in my life. At ten years old, I was convinced that I was going to grow up and become a paleontologist and go out to Montana to dig up dinosaur bones. Lots of kids go through a "dinosaur phase" but I was an absolute dinosaur nut, memorizing large amounts of minute trivia as only a burgeoning geek could. So to ten year old me, the idea of dinosaurs coming to life was PURE AWESOME. It couldn't get any better than this.
Jurassic Park was also the breakthrough that computer generated special effects needed to start being everywhere in movies. However, with JP we still got some great examples of how to use modern animatronics in movies that some filmmakers today could probably use a lesson or two in. The most advanced graphics programs today still can't perfectly generate the depth and texture of real objects (though I expect that to be less and less true as we continue to move forward).
1. 12 Monkeys (1995)
Not quite a "constructed reality" (or is it), 12 Monkeys presents at least a conflicted reality for its protagonist. Helmed by former Monty Python (!) member Terry Gilliam (I know him best as Patsy, the guy banging coconuts together in Holy Grail), this movie showed that Bruce Willis had broader abilities than evidenced even in the Die Hard films, and was one of the first films to introduce the world to the greatness of Brad Pitt in a very well done role (earning him an Best Supporting Oscar). I consistently rank this film as my favorite of all time, but it's hard to pinpoint exactly why. It's just got the right level of eerie, twisted, off kilter mood combined with a highly sophisticated plot on an interesting subject matter. It's a really nuanced, cerebral, sometimes challenging film that just really gels with everything I like in my entertainment.
I've tried to look for other Terry Gilliam films I might like as much, but he's been hit or miss. "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was a trippy ride (and a great Johnny Depp role). "Brazil" was underwhelming (though Robert De Niro was good in it). Actually, Brazil disappointed me so much that I've yet to see "Baron Munchausen" or "Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus", both of which otherwise look good. Don't suppose anyone has any opinions of those ones?
Top ten lists always feel like copouts, but at the same time I like organizing and ordering my "favorite things". Writing these movie lists has prompted me to think up some other lists, so don't be surprised if you see a few more from me in the future...
Why then are so many movies tilted towards the recent years? For instance, in the previous list the earliest movie came out in 1997. I've got a couple theories. First, the arbitrary limit of $100 million according to Wikipedia doesn't reflect the amount of time a movie has been out, nor inflation since the movie came out. That means that recent movies (a) have had less of a chance to make as much money, but also (b) modern blockbusters make a LOT more money in terms of sheer magnitude.
Some other possible reasons: (a) movies that came out during my "formative years" as a teenager/early adult may have had more of an impact on me, so I rate them higher; (b) I'm very much of the "cult of the new" and tend to rate newer/shinier/more updated things higher than older things; (c) the declining costs of special effects have increased the total number of sci fi films that have come out, so there's greater probability of a good one showing up; and (d) science fiction films actually HAVE gotten better since the 1980s, whether because they have learned/improved from the past or because sci fi has reached a certain level of acceptability in modern culture (see the related fantasy film Lord of the Rings winning all the Oscars in 2004).
Enough with the chit-chat again! On with the list:
10. The Truman Show (1998)
I referenced this one last time in my review of "Eternal Sunshine", but Jim Carrey really deserves credit for both that film and this one. Continuing my theme of liking stories about a constructed reality, this one is interesting as it and EDtv both came out about the same time and closely predated the current wave of "reality television". The science fiction in this one is subtle (did I get that right, prototaph?), but still makes a movie on the scale of inventing one entire person's world possible.
9. Aliens (1986)
The first one came was disqualified since it came out before I was born, but this second film in the series is a fantastic film in its own right. Probably the epitome of "gritty" sci fi/action movies, and beginning of a trend of James Cameron making sequels better, or at least on par with, the originals. (The main reason T2 didn't make the cut for this list is that I haven't really seen it enough/recently)
8. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
In my review of "Galaxy Quest" last time, I claimed I wasn't a "hardcore trekkie". While true, I'm mostly comparing myself to those people who learn Klingon and go to all the conventions. Though I've never done either, I do love me some "Star Trek: The Next Generation", and this film is obviously the best featuring that cast. Patrick Stewart is in his best form here as Captain Picard.
7. Independence Day (1996)
I know, I know. COMPLETELY implausible. But who cares? This one's a blast. It came out when I was 13 years old, so this may be an example of hitting me with the right level of humor, action, and adventure that every 13 year old wants. I also really like disaster stories, and I'd actually welcome the possibility of a sequel where they're rebuilding everything.
6. District 9 (2009)
Here is another thing sci fi often does correctly: Tell a story about aliens/robots/etc in some far flung future/past/planet, but have it ACTUALLY be about only humans in the present. The history of District 9 is actually from an independent film by the then-unknown director interviewing people of South Africa about downtrodden refugees living in Johannesburg without telling them it would be used in a science fiction film. The result was a very enlightening commentary on social divisions presented to people who might not actually have taken the time out to stop and think about it. This commentary is sometimes transparent and/or heavy-handed in the film, but in the end I think exemplifies one of the best uses of science fiction.
5. Inception (2010)
Christopher Nolan: Best director of the early 21st century? He's got Memento, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, and now this one, Inception. More action-in-a-constructed-reality to hit those buttons. Beyond that, however, it also uses some of the most sophisticated science fiction tropes (not to mention special effects) to tell the story of a man coming to grips with a very realistic tragedy and striving for what truly matters. After my first time watching it, I knew it was a great movie, but couldn't quite place how it succeeded whereas the superficially similar movie Push failed. Watching it a second time, I could see that the spectacular action scenes of Inception were really just backdrop to the human story, acted out fantastically by Leonardo DiCaprio. It's a story that could have (and has) been told in any time or place in human history because it is always True (with a capital T). But I wouldn't have ever seen that story except because it was wrapped in these (admittedly quite beautiful in their own right) science fiction trappings.
Side note: It was only with this movie that I've finally "forgiven" Leonardo DiCaprio for his teenage hearthrob ways that I had to put up among all my female acquaintances as a teenager. "Catch Me If You Can" and "The Departed" got him close, but this one finally won me over to admitting that Leo is a really great actor, too.
4. The Fifth Element (1997)
And sometimes, you don't want social commentary, philosophical explorations, or humanity defining stories. You just want FUN. In those times, one of the best places to turn to is Luc Besson's "The Fifth Element". It's got action. It's got comedy. It's got a stellar cast, memorable lines, and awesome special effects that hold up well over a decade later. And the Diva Dance! Really not much to dislike about this film.
3. The Matrix (1999)
Everybody's seen The Matrix; I don't really need to try and sell it. What I'll talk about instead is this "constructed reality" thing I keep talking about. What do I find so intriguing about it? Well, in case you weren't sure, I'm an incredibly introverted, intuitive thinker so the perceptions that feel "realest" to me are my own thoughts and feelings. Hence the idea that the "outside" world is not "real" is a very accessible concept to me. The way we build up coherent systems of belief, desires, and intentions and transform raw data into information into knowledge into wisdom fascinates me to no end. See also this xkcd comic. Add this fascination to some very interesting entertainment and you probably have me hooked.
It's too bad they never made any sequels to the Matrix. I bet they wouldn't have been good ;-)
2. Jurassic Park (1993)
Another movie about the right topic that came out at the right time in my life. At ten years old, I was convinced that I was going to grow up and become a paleontologist and go out to Montana to dig up dinosaur bones. Lots of kids go through a "dinosaur phase" but I was an absolute dinosaur nut, memorizing large amounts of minute trivia as only a burgeoning geek could. So to ten year old me, the idea of dinosaurs coming to life was PURE AWESOME. It couldn't get any better than this.
Jurassic Park was also the breakthrough that computer generated special effects needed to start being everywhere in movies. However, with JP we still got some great examples of how to use modern animatronics in movies that some filmmakers today could probably use a lesson or two in. The most advanced graphics programs today still can't perfectly generate the depth and texture of real objects (though I expect that to be less and less true as we continue to move forward).
1. 12 Monkeys (1995)
Not quite a "constructed reality" (or is it), 12 Monkeys presents at least a conflicted reality for its protagonist. Helmed by former Monty Python (!) member Terry Gilliam (I know him best as Patsy, the guy banging coconuts together in Holy Grail), this movie showed that Bruce Willis had broader abilities than evidenced even in the Die Hard films, and was one of the first films to introduce the world to the greatness of Brad Pitt in a very well done role (earning him an Best Supporting Oscar). I consistently rank this film as my favorite of all time, but it's hard to pinpoint exactly why. It's just got the right level of eerie, twisted, off kilter mood combined with a highly sophisticated plot on an interesting subject matter. It's a really nuanced, cerebral, sometimes challenging film that just really gels with everything I like in my entertainment.
I've tried to look for other Terry Gilliam films I might like as much, but he's been hit or miss. "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was a trippy ride (and a great Johnny Depp role). "Brazil" was underwhelming (though Robert De Niro was good in it). Actually, Brazil disappointed me so much that I've yet to see "Baron Munchausen" or "Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus", both of which otherwise look good. Don't suppose anyone has any opinions of those ones?
Top ten lists always feel like copouts, but at the same time I like organizing and ordering my "favorite things". Writing these movie lists has prompted me to think up some other lists, so don't be surprised if you see a few more from me in the future...