"Arrival isn't just one of the best films of 2016 (and a strong contender for best overall), it's one of the best science fiction films of the past decade, ferociously smart and deeply emotional. It is precisely what I was hoping it would be, and feels like just the blast of fresh air the back half of this year needs, cinematically-speaking."
http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/09/24/arrival-is-easily-one-of-the-years-best-films
This film can't come fast enough. Denis Villeneuve has consistently proven to be an absolutely talented and breathtaking director.
"Everybody is a book of blood; wherever we're opened, we're red."-Clive Barker
Whenever I read someone else's list of "best" sci-fi, I cringe because often they don't have a clue what they are talking about. Bob Blackwood and I conducted a poll of science fiction fans (starting in 2001 and ending in 2010) to determine the best science fiction films. Science fiction fans know what is the best. Bob and I had our own "best" lists, but that didn't get in the way of finding out what the "best" films are according to science fiction fans. We took ten years out of our lives to do the poll. We enlisted the work of a sociologist, and covered the world, from the San Diego Comic Con to DragonCon to Worldcon...and hundreds of other conventions and thousands of science fiction fans in between. Our book, Future Prime: The Top Ten Science Fiction Films, came out in October of 2015. We detailed our poll in one chapter, and then spent the rest of the book talking about the "best" that science fiction fans selected. We could not have included more fans in our poll, and it's doubtful anyone else will ever conduct a similar kind of poll over ten years. Before you start dictating what you think are the "best" films, read our book. Our list is the authoritative one on science fiction films as selected by thousands of science fiction fans. From 1 to 10, here are the "best" SF films: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner, Forbidden Planet, The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Alien, Planet of the Apes (1968), The Terminator, Star Wars, The Matrix, and Aliens. There are no better films than what we have listed. Read our book and discover why. Then, if you wish to compile your own runnersup list, at least you will have the basis for what came first before you start spouting out titles that make you sound naive, immature and uneducated.
Your list is laughable. some sf fans dont know crap when they see it or arent exposed to less than mainstream sf.
So...your best of ws compiled by *beep* and not "film buffs"? There needs to be a balance. All genrefans equals far too much hackery. Too many film buffs and you go far too arty. But to not have at least ONE Tarkovsky "sci-fi" film in "your" top ten--epic fail, son. Epic fail. And I'm not even a huge Tarkovsky fan!
Wil illegally download your book to see if any Shane Carruth films are included :D :D :D
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before you start spouting out titles that make you sound naive, immature and uneducated
His book has just one 'review' on two web sites...and they are from the same person...word for word.
It's pretty obvious why his book is doing *beep* i wouldn't touch it even if he gave me money to read it, after i looked at his "top 10 list" i don't even want to read anything he has to say about any movie whatsoever, it's just a waste of time and brain activity
shareThis is perhaps the most pompous and arrogant post I've seen in a while. Just because you wasted ten years asking a bunch of sci-fi nerds what their favourites were, you think you're an authority on something so subjective? Its absurd.
There are no better films than what we have listed.
...that make you sound naive, immature and uneducated.
Your list is hilarious. I've seen all of those and I would probably not even put any of them anywhere near a top 10 list. Some of those titles i wouldn't even put in a top 100 list of scifi (forbidden planet in particular, one of the worst movies i've seen in my entire life, and that says a lot)
shareI'm not sure where you're coming from here, but Forbidden Planet is considered one of the true Si-Fi classics by most film historians. It's a very well done futuristic take on William Shakespeare's The Tempest. There are many, many other films I feel should be included in this list: War of the Worlds (color version from the 1950's) and Close Encounters..." are just a couple.
We just have very, very different definitions of "best". A small selection of "elites" or "film know-it-alls" opinion on the quality of a movie isn't the slightest relevant or interesting to me nor the vast majority of people who enjoys movies. They're only interesting and relevant to other elitist-wannabes
There is not a single movie made before 1980 that i would consider anywhere near top 50 i think, maybe a very very small selection of movies would make it to a top 50 list. To me, in terms of determine "best" it is done by popularity, which sort of "taste" is most popular. If you put everyone in the world infront of two movies, one good sci fi from year 2000 up to 2016, then afterwards one of those "classics" from 1950, which one do you honestly think would receive more praise? It's obviously not even remotely close, the top classic movie would be disregarded so fast it would be ridicilous, and most people would probably not have the patience to last the entire movie.
Very true. And your points above are well taken. All I really meant by my post is that the so-called "10 best" lists are usually, if not always, a matter of opinion and/or personal taste/interest -- all other factors (e.g. quality of the production) being more or less equal. Please understand that there was absolutely nothing personal involved. Actually, my comments, other than what I said re The Tempest, were directed at the poster (jflynn-24) who initially brought up the 10-best nonsense. One thing, though; think of the opposite of "elitist". I can think of many terms that might apply, and I wouldn't want to be an elitist, an elitist wannabe or anything opposite. Personally, I'd rather be somewhere in the middle. What I mean is that I can both enjoy The Tempest (first written in the 17th century) and at the same time enjoy War of the Worlds (first written in the 19th century).
shareI am going with the best sci-fi film of all time as being the thoughts that go through jflynn-24's head. I have not seen it though. If it existed I would call it 'Attack of the Giant Ego 2" It is a sequel to the thoughts in Donald Trumps head film.
shareHow in the world(s) could the 'List' exclude 'Invasion Of The Body Snatchers(1956)'????
shareI concur, I concur!!
His films are not just good movies. They are exceptionally GREAT works of art. There is such detail and perfection that is put into his works. While every note might not hit the bullseye, in my book his consistent track record pumps out one near masterpiece after another.
The other night I just watched Enemy. Holy cow was my mind blown! Disturbing. Slightly perverse. David Lynchian. Psychological symbolism and terrific imagery with an interesting color pallet. It's one is those gems that not only requires multiple viewings but actually gets better each time you see it (as you will surely catch some Easter eggs inside).
Sicario is my favorite so far. I have not yet seen Incendies but wow... I think Denis Villenueve has surpassed Christopher Nolan (and probably even Spielberg) as one of the best film directors of our generation.
It's crazy the amount of "hate" the IMDB trolls are posting... based on a short preview and haven't even seen the movie nor read the Hugo / Nebula award winning story which this film is based. Some people...
That's a big statement.
What's missing in movies is same as in society: a good sense of work ethic and living up to ideals.
Yeah... I admit it is a big statement. Spielberg has definitely earned the right to make a turkey every so often (cough... War Horse, Lincoln).
Nolan's ambition and grandiose ideas usually trump any minor misgivings I have with his works. I do enjoy his analytical approach, and it was a nice surprise to see some heartfelt moments with Interstellar. Spielberg is still the king when it comes to heart... he has a way of shooting a scene where the audience can practically feel the characters' emotions.
Villineuve's films (like Nolan) are also very analytical. But for some reason he seems to nail the performances and camera angles better than Nolan can. He's better at letting things linger a bit to settle in the audience's minds. He hasn't made any billion dollar movies nor has he developed super ambitious projects before Arrival. But I do suspect that Arrival will have both the Spielberg emotional punch while also having that Nolanesque analytical puzzle.
It doesn't hurt to have a great script to work with, but to me it seems like Villineuve's can find the BEST way to shoot every single scene from start to finish whereas the other can have their noticeable missteps.
Def wouldn't call it best sci fi of the decade. Best of the year maybe, although there hasn't been much competition.
shareWhat would you say might be the best sci-fi film inside the last 10 years?
shareChildren of Men. Personal favorite is Edge of Tomorrow though.
share**LOVED** Children of Men!! That final long extended take - battle sequence was stunning. Only once or twice did I catch a clever editing trick to seamlessly combine what seemed like 15-20 minutes of footage. But the futuristic concept was dark, unique, and wicked. It had sort of a Kubrick feel to it.
Edge of Tomorrow was such a hoot because of the surprising humor! I was cracking up all the way through. Great editing and comic timing. A very fun movie (kind of in a similar way as The Matrix type of fun). As for sci-fi I have a feeling Arrival would be right up my alley because I enjoyed Contact so much.
Arrival is in the same league as children of men and superior to edge of tomorrow which felt too hollywood at times
shareWhat would you say might be the best sci-fi film inside the last 10 years?
Mad Max: Fury Road
http://www.pro-rock.com/
Another studio shill using a hacked foreign account with just one review of one film - cmon if you want to fool folks on IMDB you will have to do a better job.
Its uncle Frank Kirsty!
Its time to play!
Soon, we will all have special names!
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