Best sci-fi movie that was NOT a franchise

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by KevinP, Nov 23, 2021.

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  1. Vaughan

    Vaughan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Essex, UK
    Man, the opening 20 minutes of that is brilliant. The remainder is a total disaster barring one scene near a fast flowing river (you'll know it if you've seen it). I still haven't recovered from the whole basement sequence.
     
  2. raveoned

    raveoned Forum Resident

    Location:
    Ambler, PA
    It's the bedrock for a lot of Sci-Fi movies and television shows to follow, most notably Star Trek. Adapt Shakespeare's The Tempest, put in the moral dilemma of having to evacuate the Professor and his daughter, only to find what was to happen made for a damn fine movie. And the Disney studios did the visual effects!
     
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  3. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    You guys are in for a treat. I think its on youtube free..
    The Man with the X-Ray Eyes 1963 ‧ Sci-fi/Horror ‧ 1h 20m

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. bob_32_116

    bob_32_116 Forum Flaneur

    Location:
    Perth Australia
    Solaris was the first that came to my mind, but I see it's already been mentioned quite early.

    Also - Predestination.
     
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  5. Sgt. Abbey Road

    Sgt. Abbey Road Forum Resident

    Location:
    Graz, Austria
    That’s easy for me! My favourite movie of all time:)
    [​IMG]
     
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  6. Rich-n-Roll

    Rich-n-Roll Forum Resident

    Location:
    Washington State
  7. Silent Running.
    Sunshine.
     
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  8. Roland Stone

    Roland Stone Offending Member

    To expand on my selection, seeing ANNIHILATION in a new theater equipped with Dolby Atmos probably pushed it into my lead position. It was a surreal experience that I imagine was akin to what people experienced watching 2001 in a theater several decades ago: WTF is going on?

    When the exploration group finally approaches the lighthouse and we see the flower people, the mold people and finally the negative image alien, it was the first time in a long time I was conveyed that sense of wonder and the alien we so rarely get from SF movies. What is happening? What is it?
    What does it -- whatever it is -- want?

    Like 2001, the movie doesn't explain it all to us, which I appreciated. Sometimes it's better to leave the audience wondering. So many movies (and shows and novels) pound you over the head with explication.

    And apropos for an audiophile board, the movie featured an exquisite ATMOS mix of "Helplessly Hoping" and truly unique music for the final act. I'm still not sure if that was "just" the soundtrack or the sound of the alien (or whatever it was).
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2021
  9. unclefred

    unclefred Coastie with the Moastie

    Location:
    Oregon Coast
    2001 has a sequel so it's out of the running. Hmmm just about all of the best ones do. I could go with The Thing but instead I'm going with something fun-
    The Fifth Element.
     
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  10. mcnpauls

    mcnpauls Forum Resident

    Location:
    Europe
    Phase IV is a great science fiction movie.
     
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  11. unclefred

    unclefred Coastie with the Moastie

    Location:
    Oregon Coast
    if you haven't seen it, The Hellstrom Chronicle would be a good one to check out.
     
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  12. formu_la

    formu_la I'm not a robot

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    Ad Astra.
     
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  13. ralphb

    ralphb "First they came for..."

    Location:
    Brooklyn, New York
    Really a two part mini-series, but what the hell...
    World On A Wire (1973) - Directed By Rainer Werner Fassbinder
    Based on a 1964 novel , Simulacron , by Daniel Galouye.
     
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  14. Luvtemps

    Luvtemps Forum Resident

    Location:
    P.G.County,Md.
    Soldier.
     
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  15. ssmith3046

    ssmith3046 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Arizona desert
    I love The Arrival. Not to be confused with Arrival.
     
  16. Spastica

    Spastica Run aground on the floor for you....

    Location:
    Modesto, CA
    Europa Report
     
  17. Vaughan

    Vaughan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Essex, UK
    My favorite author, JGBallard, wrote a great novel you might enjoy - The Crystal World. Not precisely the same, but when I saw that haze for the first time in Annihilation, I was reminded of it.
     
  18. Vaughan

    Vaughan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Essex, UK
    The Thing has, sadly, had sequels.
     
  19. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    Ooh I love this thread. Now I have something to watch when my in-laws gets here....:-plnktn-:
     
  20. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    Definitely with Charlie Sheen. Its on youtube and the whole movie.
    The other nice movie I like is Retroactive. That blonde chick that was in that movie is so beautiful. Something like Beautiful with respect not a bump and grind "spa-ghetto..."
     
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  21. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    Is tis the movie that before the guy smacks you he says "I Come in Peace...?"
     
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  22. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    The Last Star Fighter resides here.....

    [​IMG]
     
  23. Adam9

    Adam9 Русский военный корабль, иди на хуй.

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    District 9
     
  24. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy - Touch the Face of God -

    Location:
    Northwest, USA
    Hey, no problem, Miller.. Let the Mayor go, we 'll even throw in a Blaupunkt.

     
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  25. bob_32_116

    bob_32_116 Forum Flaneur

    Location:
    Perth Australia
    This was one of the best early SF stories I have read. It was published here under the title Counterfeit World. I didn't know a movie was made of it, though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.

    Having been a reader of SF from way back, I have often found it a disappointment in the medium of film. There are exceptions, for example, I thought Total Recall was much better than the story on which it was based, We Can Remember It For You Wholesale. I'd be interested in the opinion of someone who has both read Counterfeit World and seen the film, whether the film did it justice.
     
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