The 1953 film War of the Worlds, produced by George Pal and directed by Byron Haskin, is probably the most recognized adaptation of H.G. Wells’ 1898 novel and is considered to be a classic in the genre. I consider it the best 1950s B-movie ever made. There have been many adaptations of War of the Worlds over the years.
Metropolis is the second of the silent films on this list and considered the first great science fiction film. I will go further than that - it is one of the greatest films of all time. Period. This is not hyperbole; this film is brilliant. It is beautiful and nightmarish and at times hallucinogenic.
So what is there left to say about 2001: A Space Odyssey that has not been said already? There have been books and documentaries, scholarly papers and entire websites devoted to deconstructing and analyzing this film’s themes and symbolism and importance to cinema. It is constantly considered one of, if not the, greatest science
Zardoz is a difficult thing to get a read on. It could be a surreal exploration of the meaning of life. It could be a meditation on the Nietzschean ideal of the Will to Power. It could be a muddled piece of exploitative trash. A tough call. And to be honest I don't think
As with many films on this list I first discovered this movie watching TV late at night. I suppose it will become a running theme in this segment, insomnia and UHF leading to some pretty strange post-midnight viewings. And perhaps it is the delirium of half-sleep that makes a film about intelligent ants in
I’ll say right off the bat that this is not exactly a classic. There are plot holes and stiff dialogue and the science definitely leans more towards fiction than fact. And there are some questionable robot designs. Despite that I recommend this film. It is a flawed gem. At the time it was rather
Le voyage dans la lune or A Trip to the Moon is a 1902 silent movie by Georges Méliès. It is considered the first science fiction film. It is also the first of several silent films on this list. Silent films can be problematic when I recommend them to people. The narrative structure, the
Welcome to the second of the 99 Science Fiction Films You Must See. This week the dark, alternate future that has you question what and who is really human, Blade Runner. The first thing you need to figure out when talking about Blade Runner is just what film it is that you are watching.
Welcome to the first of the 99 Science Fiction Films You Must See. This week we start with an undeniable classic and a film that set the standard for what science fiction films would become for decades, the influential and beautiful Forbidden Planet. Forbidden Planet, made in 1956, is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's
A few years ago I started a feature in which I compiled a list of 99 sci-fi films that everyone must see (thus the tile of this article) and would every other week post an article making the case for why I felt that they should be in fact seen. Well for one reason
