15 Years of Science Fiction (5-1)

5. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Ok, so the story is simple.  Sometimes that is not a bad thing.  Ok, Mad Max is not even the main character.  Who cares?  It is one of the most exciting movies I have ever seen, and proved without a doubt that practical effects are infinitely better than an over dependence on CGI.  Fair caution: do not watch this if you do not like "weird" science fiction, because this is about as weird as it gets.

4. Sunshine (2007)

Speaking of weird...  The first time I saw this, I did not know what to think.  Avoiding spoilers, because this is a movie that not enough people have seen, the third act takes a huge turn that can make your head spin.  Regardless, it's fairly good hard science fiction and compelling characters.  Basically the good things I said about Snowpiercer and Interstellar.

3. The Fountain (2006)

I'm still not really sure if this is technically science fiction, but whatever.  This is another movie that will make your mind do loops and you will keep thinking about it for days after you watch it.  It is very bizarre, but the chemistry between Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz and their performances keep the movie grounded.  Make sure to stick around for one of the great musical climaxes in film history.

2. Moon (2009)

Reportedly when shown to NASA scientists this movie received a standing ovation.  I still have no idea how Sam Rockwell did not receive Best Actor, let alone be even nominated, for what was essentially a one-man show.  It is a great cautionary tale of where science can take us if unchecked, but I will not say more and spoil it for those who have not seen it (shame on you).

1. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Yes, Tom Cruise at #1.  This movie blew me out of the water.  Funny, exciting, thoughtful, everything you want.  The characters are actually well thought out.  The acting is top notch.  The action scenes are well done with lots of real stunts (thanks to Cruise).  It basically is a Normandy Invasion movie set in the future.  I cannot recommend this movie enough.

15 Years of Science Fiction (10-6)

10. Cloverfield (2008)

Another Abrams, this one a very interesting first-person take on monster movies.  This is the classic example of watching a movie and wanting more.  Sometimes it's best to not answer all the questions, especially in monster movies (but not in TV shows, Lost).

9. Source Code (2011)

I took a chance on this movie because I liked the director's previous effort (which may show up later in this countdown).  I was pleasantly surprised to find a taught, suspenseful thriller that made me somewhat change my opinion of Jake Gyllenhaal.  It is definitely an edge-of-your-seat movie that will keep you guessing to the very end.

8. Godzilla (2014)

I understand, and pity, people who did not like this movie.  Yes, they did not show Godzilla much.  When done well, like here, it is an excellent choice (see: Jaws, Cloverfield).  The final battle was a great payoff for those who were patient.  I hope this series gets a few more installments to see where they take it.

7. Minority Report (2002)

I missed this one in the theaters because of my self-imposed Spielberg ban after the dreadful A.I.  When I finally saw it I was kicking myself for missing an exciting story that began the march of Tom Cruise to top science fiction action star today.

6. Interstellar (2014)

Like Gravity, a movie that blew me away in the theater.  The visuals are spectacular.  I get why people do not like it after some scrutiny, but I still think it's an example of hard sci fi done well.  

15 Years of Science Fiction (15-11)

Continuing...

15. Gravity (2013)

  

Seeing this in 3D in the theater was a marvel.  Beautiful images, haunting sounds (or lack thereof), a reminder of the beauty and peril of space flight.  Unfortunately the closer you look at it the more issues arise.  I still do not understand why they made her a doctor, why she would be working on the Hubble, and why someone else would have to explain to her medical things.  For the experience alone, I figured it was worth a top-15 choice.

14. Looper (2012)

 A brutal film, that bends the mind's idea of time travel.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt is brilliant as a young Bruce Willis.  I was completely sucked in, even if the ending was a not quite what I expected.

13. The Road (2009)

I am a big fan of survival films and post-apocalyptic films.  This is one of the best of both worlds.  I love that there is no explanation needed for the apocalypse, it just happened and now this man and his son have to deal with it.  It does not hurt that one of my favorite actors has a cameo.

12. Predators (2010)

So maybe I have this a little high because I wanted for so long to see a good Predator movie in the theater.  This was a great attempt at rebuilding the franchise destroyed by the AVP movies.  I am hopefully that more sequels will come expanding on a truly interesting universe.

11. Snowpiercer (2014)

This movie is not for everyone.  It is difficult to watch at times, but that was what kept me in it.  Chris Evans shows here that he is a legitimate actor.  It is also one of those movies, like Memento, that not enough people have seen and those who have love it.  I would like to see more American directors take chances like foreign ones.

15 Years of Science Fiction (20-16)

20. Prometheus (2012)

  

I understand the hate for this film, because people were expecting Aliens and got Alien.  I never understood that, given the director of the film.  I found it to be compelling, and the sign of a good movie: I kept thinking about it for a long time.  It was a very good re-establishing of the franchise.  The only reason I do not have it higher is because of some of the issues with stupid characters.

19. Oblivion (2013)

  

I do not like Tom Cruise as a person at all.  As an actor, as this list will show, I find him to be one of the best action stars going who picks some great films.  Are there hints of Scientology in this movie?  Maybe.  But that does not take away how interesting the story is as a welcome departure from so many sequels and reboots.

18. Inception (2010)

  

Christopher Nolan is a good story teller, but he is far from the greatest as some people like to make him out to be.  This is a well-shot movie with a story that is overly complicated and not as smart as some people make it out to be. 

17. Serenity (2005)

Surprisingly low given how much I love the TV show?  Confession time: I saw the movie first.  I remember thinking: this is good, but I bet it would be better if I had seen the show.  I immediately bought the show, fell in love, and realized the movie still has some issues.  Overall it does capture the heart of the show, and for that deserves at least this placing if not higher.

16. Super 8 (2011)

 I am a big J.J. Abrams (non-Star Trek) fan.  This movie is just fun, and reminds me of so many good movies from my youth (E.T., Goonies, etc.).  I am also a big fan of hiding the monster until he needs to be seen, which will be evident later in the countdown.  A special recognition for some of the best acting from young actors I have ever seen, especially when they are acting like they are acting.

Last 15 Years of Science Fiction (Movies 25-21)

In honor of a good friend FINALLY watching the Star Wars movies.

Whether you have noticed or not, we are in a golden age of science fiction movies.  There is everything from ridiculous over-the-top action movies (Mad Max) to hard sci fi (Interstellar), and much of it is very good.  It has always been my favorite genre, mostly because you can do anything with it you want.  It is the most malleable genre, and authors and directors have long known this.  Since the 1950s they have been doing everything from making bold political statements (Planet of the Apes is a chastisement of racism) to social commentary (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) to just making a buck (take your pick).  This is still the case, of course, today.

This is the start of my picks for the top 25 science fiction movies of the past 15 years (so starting with 2001, sorry Pitch Black).  It does not include superhero movies, because I think of those as a completely separate genre.  It does not include a few others that people have labeled as science fiction, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Time Traveler's Wife, because I wanted to focus on "traditional" science fiction.  But certainly those types of movies prove the elasticity of the genre.  As all rankings and lists, it is a bit arbitrary since my opinion and list could very easily change tomorrow.  Feel free to agree or disagree with me.  Without further ado, #s 25-21:

25. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Slightly breaking my own rule that Star Wars is not science fiction to make a probably controversial pick.  I love Star Wars.  I like the prequels.  They are not great, but they are entertaining at parts.  Revenge of the Sith has some great lightsaber battles, and the Jedi cull is rather heartbreaking.  It is easily the best of the prequels, and not that far off the originals.

24. Jurassic World (2015)

Ok, so some of my love for this might be nostalgia.  The story has some problems if you look at it too closely.  None of the problems take away from the fact that it was an extremely fun movie, and we got to see dinosaurs wrecking havoc and fighting each other.  It was what I wanted it to be, and sometimes that is enough.

23. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

A very good revival of one of the classic science fiction series.  It was an intriguing idea to go back and look at how the apes start to reach ascendance.  I also think, if you want it to be, and can be a good cautionary tale about genetic research and what not.  But really, it's a bunch of monkeys running around, which is fine in my book.

22. Dredd (2012)

I like the Stallone Judge Dredd.  I've never read the comics.  I understand the most recent Dredd is more faithful.  I don't know, but I do know it was a gritty, in-your-face action movie with some great and weird visuals.  I loved that Karl Urban wanted to be authentic and did not care about showing his face, one of the biggest complaints with Stallone's version.

21. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Good, better than its predecessor, but still cannot touch the original.  There are some major plot holes that ding it a little, though I'm always a fan of seeing monkeys with guns.  I am hopeful for the future of this series.