Top 5 science fiction movies of all time

This list is entirely opinion based. I'm not an expert on science fiction movies or movie making for that matter. The list is based on the movies I've seen and biased toward live action films.

Sunshine: Many people assume that Sci fi movies set in space are supposed to be all about stylistic spaceships and ominous planets filled with bloodthirsty aliens and the fact is one way or the other that’s what these kind of movies are always all about. Sunshine by Danny Boyle is truly a breath of fresh air in this genre. Its realistic, believable and mostly what Sunshine is, is a beautiful work of art. I think this is one of those movies that truly gave it’s subject the respect and genuine appreciation it deserves. The obdurate surface of mercury, the details of Icarus II and the beautiful surface of the sun are just stunning. And below the surface of this beauty there is always the unrelenting loneliness of space surrounding everything, spreading its oxygenless presence like Sauron over middle earth, waiting to suck this band of astronauts to oblivion. Its very likely that a man alone in this atmosphere became a nutcase, as was with the Icarus I captain.
Sunshine did not exactly push the envelope as fars space Sci Fi films are concerned, but what it does is showed exactly how these kind of movies are supposed to be made in the first place, like an intricate piece of artwork.


Dark City: Although I like Dark City I have to admit the casting was a little off the mark. Rufus Sewell just don’t cut it as Murdoch in my opinion. What I like about this movie though is the production design. The dark foreboding city as the camera widens in the beginning just suck you in. This is like the Matrix and Bioshock messed together with a better story. And it has such a perfect ending too.



Blade Runner: I was reading an article by Julian Jonker at Ctheory.net the other day that reminds me of why I chose to be buried inside this hellhole I’m living in and why I love Blade Runner so much. For me this movie is the epitome of how a dystopian society that we are inevitably moving toward is portrayed in its entirety. The production design and cinematography is near perfection.


The Abyss: This is actually the movie that had me interested in Science Fiction when I was younger. It was so utterly different for its time that for most people it was a borefest. I think though that the most impressive aspect of this movie is the sound. The echoing sonar beep of the ship is what really transported me to the hopelessness and loneliness of the ocean. Two thumbs up for immersiveness and the greatness that is James Cameron.


Alien: I recently saw Wall E and was debating whether I should let it take the 5th spot but decided Alien deserved it more not just because of the entertainment factor, in which Wall E would’ve won hands down, but because of the authenticity that Alien is. In the fifteen years or so that I’d seen Alien, I’ve never been so scared of outer space as a place inhabited by ruthless killing beings. And the miraculous thing about Alien is that this creature is not just a dog like animal that’s protecting it’s turf with a vengeance, like most killing space beings in movies tend to be, but a creature with a purpose, and that purpose is survival. It’s like the crew and the alien are fighting it out to survive. The alien is the T 1000 of space.