"Middle aged" sci-fi movies

[dfalconet]

I didn't want to say "old" movies because they are some of my favorites and .....well, you know...................................

One of my favorites, "Silent running", already has a thread over in the "On the Horizon" forum. It is already 3 pages long with 63 posts. But, feel free to add to this thread if you would like to say something about the movie itself.

Another favorite is the original "War of the Worlds". At the time it was released, the special effects were spectacular. Of course, by today's standards, you may think they are quite lame. But in those days, the story itself was at least as important as the action and effects.

[moovok]

"Total Recall" - classic, original and brilliant :)
"Alien" - come on, FANTASTIC film and in that time, special effects were nearly null

[General Phoenix]

One of my favorites, despite being fifty years old: "Forbidden Planet."

The effects were incredible for the time, Leslie Nielsen was excellent in one of his few serious roles as the spaceship captain, and Ann Francis was (all due respect) HOT in those short dresses. :) Not to mention a very good script and excellent performances across the board.

I also like the original version of "The Thing." I actually prefer it to the effects-heavy Carpenter remake.

[General Phoenix]

BTW, since I'm sure that someone will mention 1968's "2001: A Space Odyssey" I have to say that I prefer the 80's sequel "2010: The Year We Make Contact."

Mainly because Peter Hyams did a great job of wrapping the effects around a very tightly-written script. As much as I like the visuals of "2001," the whole film seemed to be about the special effects, and it pulled me too far out of the story itself.

Besides, "2010" had a couple of my favorite actors in it, including Roy Scheider and Helen Mirren, in one of her few nudity-free roles. I liked it anyway. :)

[shugotenshi]

Did anyone watch the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy movie that came out recently?

[moovok]

"Middle aged" sci-fi movies aren't really latest ones. If you want to discuss the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy there's enough threads (or create your own) on the subject

[shugotenshi]

I forgot to add in the subject of the 1984 hitchhickers guide, which is middle-aged, in my original post. But you're right I shall start a new tread. Sorry if I offened you.

[Warrior]

I love many of the classic scifi films.

Pisses me off that todays Hollywood can't come up with original stuff, so they "re-make" everything. And act like they are the originators.

[moovok]

You didn't offend, and there was no 1984 Hitchhiker's Guide movie, radio maybe, film nope. I kinda like some of the new films, but films like Day After Tomorrow, there was no story whatsoever. With the old films, they had 90 minutes usually, maybe 2 hours to condense not only a plausable story but try with their budget to do some great special effects, but they did it.

Nowadays it's more special effects then develop a story around that...

[General Phoenix]

Odd you should mention remakes, Darrell - since "Forbidden Planet" which I mentioned before is reportedly a futuristic retelling of Shakespeare's "The Tempest." I'd expand on that, but I never actually read "The Tempest" having had my fill of badly-performed Shakespeare back in high school. :)

[Warrior]

A book to a movie/TV show is one thing. But re-making movies/TV shows I do not understand.

Why don't they call it something else, since it's NOT like the original in the first place?

Good example- Charlie's Angels. Movies are nothing like the series. Since it's different, why use the name?

Latest one to irk me? The Honeymooners.

I've nothing against the skin color changes, BUT... what if The Jeffersons got the same treatment? What if Archie Bunker got that treatment? Or Sanford and Son?

...oye. I need nap.

[p.s. Cargile]

"Outland". I used to have a copy of that on VHS--a pirated copy I got in Okinawa before they were shut down--and would love to findi it on DVD someday. Sean Connery playing cop of Ganydeme busting drug users. Hey, there's not really spiders in your pressure suit. . .

Then there was a movie "Saturn--" something, a number I think. Had Farrah Fawcett in it and some robot with a human brain. Robot goes mad, high-jinks ensue.

[Warrior]

Saturn 3 is the Farrah movie you're thinking of.

[fls13]

The original Planet of the Apes was a great movie. Westworld was really good. 2001 is one of my all-time favorites. A Clockwork Orange certainly had elements of sci-fi although it was more of a social satire. Heavy Metal was good stuff, too.

[skyhawk223]

I always found Planet of the Apes a bit disturbing. Not sure why.
I like The Black Hole. A bit sappy, but hey, it was a Disney film.

[shugotenshi]

When I saw Black hole, I thought that the ending left open the possibility of a sequel...

[fls13]

A few others after racking my brain, and doing some internet browsing to refresh my memory.

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea-The Kirk Douglas/James Mason version from the 50s. The squid fight was awfully good for its' time.

Marooned-I saw this in the theatre when I was a kid and it was awesome. Gregory Peck and Gene Hackman in a space rescue thriller.

Slaughterhouse Five-I wouldn't have thought of it as sci-fi, but with the time travel elements and the aliens from Tralfamadore, I guess it is. I loved this movie.

[p.s. Cargile]

How could I forget Heavy Metal. I found it to be better than the recent Heavy Metal 2000.

ANd I don't know how many times I watched "Time Bandits" on HBO. And "Krull." Horses that leave fire in their tracks--what was that all about?

[dfalconet]

Wow! You are all bringing back some great memories. And I have remembered another one. It is "On the Beach". It was only marginally a sci fi. It was much different than the current end of the world movies. In this one, there was no one to save the world at the last minute. Have any of you seen it?

[skyhawk223]

Not I. Never heard of it.

Time Bandits! 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea! Loved them both.

[General Phoenix]

Wow - can't believe I forgot about "Saturn 3." That was actually the first movie I got to see with any sort of nudity in it. :)

My dad was/is a big sci-fi fan, so he figured it was okay since it was a S/F movie. It was also the first thing I ever saw Harvey Kietel in. What ever happened to that guy, anyway? :D

[shugotenshi]

My mom got this DVD set of a series that came out in the sixties called the avengers that I'm currently borrowing. though this is a mystery series by the looks of it.

[Thomas P]

Well, middle aged classics would certainly include the aforementioned 'Forbidden Planet' (1956!!!). Yes, it was 'Tempest' inspired but the film was very mature when compared to it's contemporaries and, even, modern films. I have to say that 'The Illustrated Man' (1968) and 'Colossus, The Forbin Project' (1970) were films that I still have fond memories of.

Other still excellent films, in their middle age would be:

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
The 27th Day (1957)

Aside form those other excellent ones mentioned above!

[General Phoenix]

Paul, you mentioned "Outland", right? Check at the closest Best Buy or Fry's store, and you should find it on DVD for about $10.00. For an older, somewhat low-budget film, the video transfer is excellent.

It's considered a "B-movie" by most of the FX-junkies, so it's pretty cheap to pick up these days.

[fls13]

Just saw that Westworld is going to be on Turner Classic Movies this Tuesday at 9:45pm eastern time. If you've never seen it and get TCM, check it out. :O)

[STEVEFRIARS]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Tron. I mean, come on! - glow-in-the-dark swimming caps, frisbee battles, and those big scary space invader things - Classic!
They should really remake it. Without Keanu Reeves.

[Skullsplitter]

How 'bout Metropolis ? It was made in 1926, some of the acting seems hammy by todays standards, but it set the bar for movie special effects & the design of the Robot maria was adapted for C3PO in Star Wars.

Oh, & BTW watch it without the modern soundtrack.

& please hollywood don't do a remake - it'd suck, just like all the other remakes of foreign films do.

[STEVEFRIARS]

There is a Japanese animated semi-remake of Metropolis, I believe.
I was always very impressed with the robot in that fillm and was quite disillusioned to find out that (1) it was made of wood (painted to look metallic) and (2) there was a bloke inside it.

[Skullsplitter]

Actually the person inside the robot costume in Meropolis was Brigitte Helm - the actress who played Maria - you can find on set photos of her in the costume online.

[xantor]

The metropolis robot was the best costume in a science fiction film till star wars came out IMO.

Them! and This island earth are quite good, the special effects and dialogue are laughable at times but they were very good films.

[STEVEFRIARS]

Skullsplitter was right - I found pictures of Brigitte Helm in that robot costume online. Can't have been very comfortable for her.
It just squeezes by as science fiction, but I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Krull - a real 80s classic. After Tron, it was the best film to feature a hero with a magic frisbee.

[SONGOKU316]

Speaking of "Middle age movies" how about these two.

"The Last Starfighter" as good as "Tron" but more sci-fi in theme. :cylon:
"Dark Star" a real funny sci-fi classic by john carpenter. :biggrin:

[jotoki365]

I personally love post apocalyptic stuff (dark mind that i have). Stuff like Soylent Green and the Omega man. No I'm not a Heston fan just like those movies. The quiet earth is another. War of the worlds the old one. The new one is ok but they really messed up the ending. It ended up being almost an after thought where in the original movie it was integral to the resolution. I too wish hollywood could find writers with original ideas but sadly while people keep going to these money spinning creatively starved remakes they'll keep making them. Alien and Aliens (not three and 4 though). There are others too but they dont come to mind right now.

[nyrath]

Another favorite is the original "War of the Worlds". At the time it was released, the special effects were spectacular. Of course, by today's standards, you may think they are quite lame. But in those days, the story itself was at least as important as the action and effects.
Did you know that the George Pal "War of the Worlds" was almost made into a TV series back in the 1970's?

http://www.war-ofthe-worlds.co.uk/war%20of%20the%20worlds%20george%20pal%20tv%20series.htm
http://www.projectrho.com/SSC/model.html#blueprints

[wulf111]

When Worlds Collide was one of the first Sci-fi movies i saw also Journey to the Center of the Earth and At the Earths core are pretty good

[morganzacd5p]

Forbidden Planet was the only film to scair me as a kid... Just because they didn't show the monster, let you come up with it.

[Warrior Woman]

Ah, the memories!!! The Avengers was a great series with funky Sci-Fi elements in it. I really liked Mrs. Peel. (Diana Rigg)

Movies? "The Fantastic Voyage", with Raquel Welch. The special effects were good for the time, the story cheesy, but fun to watch.

Someone mentioned Anne Francis, I just love her. She did quite a few Twilight Zones (the original) and a short lived series called "Honey West" where she was a PI with a pet occelot.

Another TV cult classic that had Sci-Fi elements was "The Prisoner" with Patrick McGoowin (sp) who extended his role from "Secret Agent" to this series. For any cat fanciers out there he was also in the "Wonderful World of Disney" story "The Three Lives of Thomasina" another of my favorites but definately not Sci-Fi.

Hmmmm. Am I showing my age???? :wink:

Peace
WW
:kimba:

[evil_genius_180]

You're not necessarily showing your age. A lot of that stuff is out on DVD now. :wink:

I missed this thread before. I love the timeless classics, though I haven't seen as many as I should. Most of my favorites are already listed. Though I didn't see Dune or Highlander (sorry if they're there, I skimmed.) Those are a couple of great '80s sci-fi movies. You've gotta love movies like Dune that were all done with miniatures and mock-ups because CGI was a long way off. :D

[chimera46]

I guess it shows my age to say that the first Sci-Fi movie I remember seeing as a kid was actually Space Balls. I can't help but feel it skewed the other real sci-fi I'd watch later. Still, from my point of view it's a classic, and it explains how that big statue got on the beach at the end of Planet of the Apes...

[Fretslayer]

I never really got into Spaceballs - I guess it's because IMO Mel Brooks was ripping off 'Hardware Wars' and I think he's too good to do something so cheap. Place both films side by side and it's pretty obvious what inspired him to make his movie.

Somebody made a comment regarding the writers in Hollywood not coming up with anything new...Well, the way I see it is that the Hollywood film industry is exactly like the Hollywood music industry. And having spent most of my life as a professional rock musician I can tell you this... Hollywood plays it safe - above and beyond all else, Hollywood (film, TV, and music) is about one thing and one thing only. Money making products. Nothing more, nothing less.
They (the entertainment buSINess) are too afraid to take a chance on something that might lose money and so they take the safe and easy path. They turn old 70s TV shows into current movies, they take movies that we saw only 10 to 15 years ago and do a remake, they take any movie that was successful on a financial level last year and crank out a lame sequel this year. It's all about money and as many of you know, art and creativity is about anything but money.

During the 80s the Hollywood music business signed any band from L.A who had a blonde lead singer. They took some bands that were really good and 'wussed' them out so they could sell more albums to a middle of the road consumer. The same evil (for lack of a better term) that befell the the music business in the last 20 years has also effected the film/TV industry. Safe = Paycheck.

There are people out there who are writing original and intersting works however they are seen as a 'risk' by a business that sees risk as a dirty word. The blame (IMO) lays not so much with the writers as it does with the people who run the studios and green light (or don't) the projects what we get to see.

If you're really looking for something cool or original then look for indy films and fan films. Are they all good? Nah, but what is? Like any other form of entertainment, we (the consumer) get exactly what we ask for...and we in the U.S know all too well that if you give a kid a steady diet of McSlop they'll never know what they're missing out on.

The other option you have is to do what I've been doing - learn some CG programs (odds are you already know a few if you're hanging around a site like this) and make your own fan-film. Upload that puppy to any website you can and see what happens.

Currently I have a few CG films in the pipeline.

1) The Legacy of Time - A scifi film set in the year 10,191 (my tip of a hat to Dune) where we are at war with something from another world. Sound familar? Well sure....but you'll never guess the ending and when it happens you'll be left going 'WTF?! I never saw THAT coming!'

2) Godzilla: The Lord of Terror - Not a funny or cute Gozilla 70's style film where Godzilla is a friend to small children, puppies, and the enviroment - but instead a return to the dark and scary nuclear hell beast that was Gojira. The story is very original and will (if I'm effective) scare the Hell out of people and make them fear nuclear war - as was the original intention of Gojira.

3) My Vampire Story (I don't have a final title for it other than the working title) - Set in the 1800s it's a vampire story seen from a perspective that has never been told before. I'd say more about it but I'm afraid to. LOL - When it's finished people will (I hope) really dig it. I've seen a lot (and I do mean a lot) of vampire films over the years of my life and I've not see ONE like the one I've written and am currently animating.

And a silly little "Star Trek meets Alien" thing I'm doing just for fun and because I like to make people laugh.

I guess the was a long way to a short point but if we as fans of scifi demand better and we support those of us who are trying to create something better then we all win.

I've read through this thread and I see mention of so many great films that it makes me smile like a kid on Christmas morning...or a serial killer covered in blood. They pretty much look the same. ;P

Have any of you seen an animated film titled 'Gandahar' (aka Lightyears)?
http://imdb.com/title/tt0095525/

If not then it's worth taking a look at - I remember seeing it way back in the day and being wow'd by it.

p.s.
Sorry for the long rant!

[Giantsquid]

My favorite non-star wars movies from that time period were The Black Hole, mainly because I was intrigued with the idea of robots at the time ans Saturn 5... erm...because I was intrigued by the possibilities of Farah Faucett at the time... erm.. yeah that's the ticket. lol

[evil_genius_180]

Hmmm... I never noticed this thread before (probably 'cause it got burried.)

Now, how can some of you you call movies like Alien and The Black Hole and especially newer stuff "middle-aged?" Alien and The Black Hole both came out the year I was born and I'm sure as hell not middle aged. :tongue2:

[Fretslayer]

Hmmm... I never noticed this thread before (probably 'cause it got burried.)

Now, how can some of you you call movies like Alien and The Black Hole and especially newer stuff "middle-aged?" Alien and The Black Hole both came out the year I was born and I'm sure as hell not middle aged. :tongue2:

I saw both of those films in the theater and I'm not middle aged.
Both are awesome films though.
I love 'The Black Hole' because of the Max robot (somebody ought to make a mesh of that bad boy!) and the space scenes were a-ma-zing for the time.

Alien?

Oh man, who doesn't love a ghost story set in space?
Alien is (IMO) an all time horror/scifi classic in the tradition of the original 'Frankenstein' film.

[dprisciak]

I think the movies before CGI had a more realisic look. Yes you could tell Logans Run was a model but when you had hundreds of extras in The Ten Commandments - it just seems more real.

[Fretslayer]

I think the movies before CGI had a more realisic look. Yes you could tell Logans Run was a model but when you had hundreds of extras in The Ten Commandments - it just seems more real.

I think that when CG is used correctly it can be quite awesome (Starship Troopers) but when it's sloppy it ruins the film (Van Helsing).

When I watch 'Logans Run' I think they did a good job for the time period it was shot during but it's very dated at this point. Can CG replace an epic physical set? I don't think so. The scenes in SW:ROTJ are interesting but when I watch 'Conan the Barbarian' I'm pulled from my happy little world into that one because the set design is so awesome.

CG effects, like any other effect (remember the men who did stop motion animation effects hated the latex physcal effects by masters like Rick Baker and Stan Winston) have their place are they're sort of like a spice rack in the kitchen.

Food with no spice = bland.
Food that is overspiced = muddled flavors and not at all good.

I love Rick Baker and Stan Winston style effects and I love CG effects.
When you see a film like Jurassic Park they nailed it with regards to good balance of each. For an effect (CG or otherwise) to be effective, you should not notice that it's an effect.

-steps off the soap box-
LOL!

[Taranis]

I like the cheap and often ignored sci-fi
touches my fun sci-fi bones
Battle beyond the stars ..
Ice Pirate's

[Fretslayer]

Ice Pirates was great.

...SPACE HERPES?!

LOL

[evil_genius_180]

Invasion of the Body Snatchers. (the '78 remake.) You can't help but love the ending. :evil: