AFI's top-ten genre films
The American Film Institute has revealed its list of the top-ten science-fiction films:
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
3. E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial (1982)
4. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
5. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
6. Blade Runner (1982)
7. Alien (1979)
8. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
9. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
10. Back to the Future (1985)
It's not a bad list at all, and I'm pleased to see 2001 in first place. And I'll even grudgingly accept Star Wars: Episode IV.
But for my money, I'd drop E.T., Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Back to the Future, and replace them with Planet of the Apes (the 1968 version), Forbidden Planet, and either The Matrix or the Disney 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
The Robert J. Sawyer Web Site
Posted by Rob on Wednesday, June 18, 2008
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5 comments
5 Comments:
I've always thought the sequel to 2001, "2010: The Year We Make Contact" is somewhat underrated. Yes, the first film set a super-high standard to try to measure up to. Still, the sequel mostly shows good respect for science, and if you're going to use a story by a science fiction writer of Arthur C. Clarke's ability, of course you should end up with a good movie. Anyway, I recommend it to science fiction fans who haven't seen it, it's worth a look.
Here are my Top 10 SF films in no particular order:
Contact
Planet of the Apes
Gattaca
the Truman Show
the Abyss
Minority Report
the Host
Aliens
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Blade Runner
I won't say they're the Best -- just my Favourite. Subject to change on a whim.
What? How about "Them?"
What? No Sci Fi Channel Original Movies in the list? I'm simply shocked.
I agree with Evan on Contact and The Abyss. Both explore alien contact in a thought-provoking way rather than for pure entertainment value.
But I suppose the AFI's criteria for "top" films took into considerations factors like how broad an audience the movie appealed to.
Certainly, young or casual viewers are more likely to be brought into the Sci Fi fold through gateway popcorn flicks like E.T. and Back to the Future than through a serious human drama like Contact. Still, even under that reasoning, I agree that Back to the Future could have been replaced with The Matrix.
2001, Star Wars and E.T. I agree should be in the top 3. I would put either Blade Runner or Close Encounters at 4. Blade Runner I would put at 5 at least.
I think A Clockwork Orange is an over-rated sci-fi film. I would prefer Metropolis, Planet Of The Apes or The Matrix for dystopian sci-fi. I'd put Invasion Of The Body Snatchers above Alien for a best sci-fi horror film.
Forbidden Planet, Soylent Green, Solaris and The Quiet Earth I'm tentative about. I'd want them for sure in my top 20.
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