The Sheila Variations

This list is the 50 sf film "canon" as listed by John Scalzi in his new book The Rough Guide to Sci-Fi movies. (http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/003785.html) There are something like 250 films reviewed in the book.

Check out Forbidden Planet. It's Shakespeare's Tempest on another planet starring Leslie Nielsen with dark hair.

Cool meme.

I am very impressed that you've seen Bucaroo Banzai, which is one of the most ridiculous films I've ever seen. I love the closing credits sequence, with everyone just walking...

I also have to recommend that you see On The Beach, which has some really great moments in it. Plus, Gregory Peck is in it, which is always good.

I've seen almost every movie on this list. I must have no life.

-OR-

I like really good movies. :-)

Wow that's quite a list.. and for a canon [even unofficially] I think I've seen the majority - but not Buckaroo Banzai.

Since they're not ticked off your list, Sheila, I'd also recommend Forbidden Planet - as Scott decribed above.

The Day The Earth Stood Still - a little heavy on the world peace message.. but still worth watching.

The Invasion of the Body Snatchers [1956] - darker and better than the remake.

The Thing from Another World - the remake [the Thing] has understandably better effects.. but it doesn't chill as much.

Additions to the canon - from Dan's list - The Thing.. even with the above caveat and Time Bandits.

Other notables -

Gattaca - wheelchair bound perfect swaps identities with dna-defective genius [previous post reference :)]

Sphere - underwater/outer limits with Hoffman, Stone, Jackson et al.. could have, perhaps should have, been even better.. but I liked it.

I wouldn't bother with Sleeper, though.

Meh. Sleeper had its moments. I added a few. City of the Damned probably being the addition I'd recommend most highly.

Stolen from Cullen's list is the recommendation of Silent Running - because of Bruce Dern.

And, in turn, that prompted - Dark Star. A classic.

Are TV series pilots/finales allowed? I would also add the two-hour premiere to the new Battlestar Gallactica series and the two-hour Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars.

What...no Battlefield Earth?

Emily -

I think that movie isn't on this list because it's not sci-fi, obviously. Anyone who is even mildly "clear" should know that. It depicts what REALLY happened on this planet, and should be seen more as a docudrama.

You're correct, of course. May Xenu forgive my blasphemy for suggesting otherwise.

I won't report you to Jessica Rodriguez.

YET.

Dude, I'm TOTALLY on the path. I swear. Please don't sec check me!

Emily - Have a 7 hour sauna, blast yourself with niacin deposits, and call me in the morning.

You'll be able to reach me via the exploding volcano on the horizon.

"Omega Man", "A Boy and His Dog", and "Soylent Green"

Soylent Green, yes.

And "Dark Star" IS a classic. Oh yes. Love it.

Sheila, it makes me sad that you have not seen "Forbidden Planet" and "The Day the Earth Stood Still". The latter is worth watching for Patricia Neal, if nothing else.

I did like the additions.

I would add that you can watch "Them!" and "Mimic" back-to-back, for they are virtually the same story. Sheila, my daughter went to NYC last year with her choir, and they rode the subway (a big deal). She insisted on watching "Mimic" again shortly before her trip, so that she was deliciously terrified in the subway.

I would also add "The Andromeda Strain". We started watching two science fiction movies every Friday night three years ago and kept it up for well over a year. I told my daughter that one of the rules of these movies, especially the old ones, is that there's always a babe. She thought "Andromeda" really stood out because the babe is an unattractive middle-aged biologist, not somebody's cute daughter or girlfriend.

And how about "When Worlds Collide".

As to "The Thing", I preferred the short story it came from - "Who Goes There". A bit wordy in spots, but still a good read. Also preferred reading "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (by the same Jack Finney who wrote Time and Again, how weird is that).

"She insisted on watching 'Mimic' again shortly before her trip, so that she was deliciously terrified in the subway."

Laura,
For some reason, I just find that completely adorable.

Ooh, This Island Earth. The MST3K version.

Emily, we thought it was kind of cool, but we're used to her. : )

I wanted to confirm the praise for The Day the Earth Stood Still. While it has some cheesy dialog here and there, it is a great flick. Bernard Herrmann did the musical score, using at least two Theremins--which is a very strange instrument. The music is ahead of its time. Just for you, Sheila--A little remembered fact is that Patricia Neal was having an affair with Gary Cooper during the time of filming. She seems quite "calm" in her performance.

DBW - apparently, Gary Cooper's penis was enormous. Lucky Patricia.