 March 24, 2008 - 1:23pm | I just posted something that brought back some great memories of one of my favoritehard sci-fi movies of all time: Runaway, with Tom Selleck as a bomb squad cop and Gene Simmons (of KISS) as one of the best terrorist villains in cinema hisory. I must have watched that movie a few hundred times when I was a kid. I wish I owned it on DVD. We're just barely one step removed from that today. Other favorites of mine include the obvious: Blade Runner, Alien, Aliens, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Serenity, and I'm sure there's plenty others that aren't coming to mind at the moment. |
 March 31, 2008 - 10:20am | Dark Star, 1974 of course!, would have been my first choice. But since its already taken, I have to balence between Andromeda Strain and Silent Running. The only tiper there is Bruce Dern's performance in Silent running. Not even Art could argue either one of those is not Hard Sci-Fi Its hard to believe neither of those was mentioned yet. Stepping away from the hard category, Damnation alley, but the origonal book was better Logan's Run, Cheesy, but acceptable. I agree Forbidden Planet OLD but still good! Again, the origonal book was better. The Alien and Terminator series were good thrill rides if you ignore the science. (That's what wilful suspension of disbieleif is all about. ) Outland (The Sean Connery, cop on Titan thing,) was very good. "Ya done good!" The martian Chronicles! Great, if short of the book. I vastly prefer the Sci-Fi adaptation of DUNE myself, MUCH closer to the book. (Read that at least 6 times!) I've been a Star Wars geek sinse '77. Wrath of Kahn is far and away the BEST of the Trek movies, but the TNG ones beat out most of the others. The Donald Southerland Invasion of the body Snatchers was cool! That's all for now, but I will weigh in again upon further reflection. :) FIAWOL
TANSTAAFL!! |
March 31, 2008 - 1:19pm | I heard about Andromeda Strain and Silent Running, but I don't think I ever saw them. |
 March 31, 2008 - 4:32pm | STAR WARS man--and I mean STAR WARS--The first one!!!!!!!! Not all that junk that followed after Return of the Jedi. Sergeant |
 March 31, 2008 - 6:03pm | No grenade fishing please! We've all got bones to pick with the prequels to SW. I mean, Ja ja bin..... see you got me started!! I had high hopes for Johnny Mnemonic, but it just went to mush. My favourite character was the cybernetic preacher - I still smile at that! That's the thing about Sci fi films IMO, there may be a lot of rubbish, but within each film is a glimmer of a great idea. That's what I take away each time. Take for instance, Dark Star - a terrible film, but the end shot of the doomed crew mate surfing into the planets atmosphere - you can't get better than that. |
 April 1, 2008 - 12:59am | My favorite definition of Hard Sci Fi is the rule of 3 disconnects: Hard sci fi only breaks up to 3 of the known rules... So, for example, you might have some form of FTL, some form of gravitics, and some form of small reliable fusion power, but if you add defensive shields, you're no longer hard sci-fi. Aliens fits. We have only three visible disconects: FTL drive, Androids, and aliens that can use us as hosts for reproduction... (Hibernation berths using tetrodotoxins are doable NOW... but are risky as all heck...) Pitch Black, also... (the sequel goes soft sci-fi) |
 April 1, 2008 - 7:55am | In order: Silent Running, Stargate, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and...G-Saviour.... "You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so." —Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation |
 April 3, 2008 - 7:36am | I'm glad Silent Running was mentioned. That is a great movie. Has a good message to it. The ships are cool too. At least I got to scare an alien rabbit thingy...... |
April 3, 2008 - 8:30am | Actually, the design concept made the cameos. The actual model was deconstructed and parsed out years previously. Only one piece exists today in the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in Seattle. |
April 3, 2008 - 8:41pm | I'm glad Silent Running was mentioned. That is a great movie. Has a good message to it. The ships are cool too. Preachy, but awesome... |
April 5, 2008 - 9:30pm | Anybody remember The Galaxy Rangers or the Exo-Squad cartoons...Pretty cool!!! Sergeant |
April 5, 2008 - 9:32pm | Anybody remember the Galaxy Rangers or the Exo-Squad cartoons...Pretty cool stuff!!!! Sergeant |
 April 6, 2008 - 6:08am | Hmm... favorite HARD sci-fi... Well, first of all, my definition of hard sf: fiction in which science defines the setting, using sound and reliable scientific principles and laws of physics. With that in mind, Gattaca, Silent Running, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Capricorn One, Sunshine, and the Andromeda Strain. Stepping away from hard sf, we have a wide variety of "sci-fi" that I love, of which I'll only list my top ten or so, in no particular order: Dune, Star Wars (the whole shebang), Star Trek (yeah, all of it; the good, the bad and the KHAN!!!!), Farscape, Battlestar Galactica (both series, but not that Galactica 80 farce), Alien/Aliens, Pitch Black, War of the Worlds (both the 50's and the 2005 versions), the Thing (again, both versions), and Bladerunner. There are many more, but those top my lists. Long live the Frontier! |
April 7, 2008 - 6:53am | If we bring in TV series, then I add Babylon 5, Space:Above And Beyond, Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, Gundam SEED and Cowboy Bebop to the mix. As for movies, I also like Char's Counterattack and F91.... "You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so." —Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation |
April 8, 2008 - 1:06pm | I remember The Galaxy Rangers cartoon. I was reminded of it in SF8 with the android horse. At least I got to scare an alien rabbit thingy...... |
April 8, 2008 - 1:11pm | Actually, the design concept made the cameos. The actual model was deconstructed and parsed out years previously. Only one piece exists today in the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in Seattle. You never saw the movie, yet you give me a big "Actually" about it? Thanks for clarifying it for me.... At least I got to scare an alien rabbit thingy...... |
 April 8, 2008 - 2:00pm | How about War of the Worlds from the EIGHTIES! That show was da bomb!! |
April 9, 2008 - 7:26am | How about War of the Worlds from the EIGHTIES! That show was da bomb!! I didn't know about that one. I'll have to check it out... At least I got to scare an alien rabbit thingy...... |
April 9, 2008 - 8:00am | It was very well done. That dude from Predator was in it. (Another good movie...) |
 April 10, 2008 - 12:43pm | Don't forget about Ice Pirates. Just kidding |
 April 10, 2008 - 7:28pm | Without a doubt, for hard sci-fi, Outland (an old fashion western in space complete with shotguns) would be the first. 2001, 2010, Alien and Bladerunner are up there as well. I think I still have Runaway on an old VHS tape! It wasn't too bad for it's time. The TV series Earth 2 is not too bad to plumb for some ideas of crash landing on an alien planet and doing some basic survival. That and the corporate character is a great npc for some game. |
April 13, 2008 - 3:54pm | It was very well done. That dude from Predator was in it. (Another good movie...) Unfortunately, if any remember it at all, they'd remember Adrian Paul's appearance from the second season.... "You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so." —Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation |
 April 13, 2008 - 5:01pm | Serenity : Seemed to be going somewhere before the cancellation. Fortunately, Josh Wedon was able to make a movie and answer some of the questions he raised. The only thing that bugged me was the River «super-women fighter» plot. Buffy all over again? ---------------- Babylon 5 : Certainly up there with the best SF tvs shows. Great Arc story of biblical proportions. Unfortunetly, Strazinsky's penchant to use his characters to write long moral/ethical monologues dulled the experience for me. ---------------- Star Trek : (Frail of heart don't read this) Should have stayed a sixties re-run show. The hole Federation «jolly do good» philosophy was simply unpalatable in today's world. ---------------- StarGate : The best of what made the sixties Star Trek a success but with todays means. The best SF «entertainement» for the last decade. ---------------- Battle Star Galactica : Completely unexpected. Dark, gritty, powerfull performances, excellent writing. I almost didn't watch the first show for fear of seeing a 21st century version of the old campy series. Was I in for a surprise !!! «Language is a virus from outer space» William S. Burroughs |
April 15, 2008 - 7:34am | I completely despise the new BattleStar Galactica. I loved the old show. Ed James Olmos is no Lorne Greene Cylons should NOT be hot... Baltar should NOT be hot... And anything with cross-breeds between cylons and humans makes me want to vomit. There - I said it. |
April 15, 2008 - 9:35am | I have to agree with Imperial Lord -- I just don't like the new BSG. |
April 16, 2008 - 2:54pm | The new BSG is so bad as to make Galactica 1980 look good. I'm sorry, but there is no Baltar but John Colicos'. Ed James Olmos is no Lorne Greene. But he makes a dandy Cruz Castillo. "You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so." —Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation |
April 16, 2008 - 3:46pm | Okay guys, I don't mind if you disagree with me on BSG. That's what FORUMS are for. After all BSG set very different story telling goals than the original series. The first series was a familly entertainment product. They new BSG aims at a somewhat older crowd. TV as come a long way in the last 10 years. I think B5 and Buffy set the tone for entertainment shows that tackle both the fantastic and the everyday life issues we face. Acting as also come a long way. The statuesque-style acting of Lorne Greene appears very artificial to me. James Olmos has grown as an actor since his participation in Miami Vice. He is able to change demeanors completly in a single shot close-up shot. He does not need the artifice of editing to cover a lack of acting ability... I think both shows are great in their own way. In the final analysis they cannot really be compared. «Language is a virus from outer space» William S. Burroughs |
April 16, 2008 - 3:58pm | No, he just needs an act of God....:D "You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so." —Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation |
 April 16, 2008 - 9:05pm | Hey, some people prefer camp over grit. There simply is no reconciling the two. It's like comparing the A-Team to something like "Apollo 13." I'll take a show that approaches human ingenuity and triumph as depicted in Apollo 13 over how it's done on the A-Team (or McGyver) any day. The new BSG is more about adult drama than it is about family entertainment/adventure. It is a densely plotted, psychological, and philosophical journey. It takes itself very seriously. Probably too seriously for some people. Baltar in the new BSG may be physically attractive, but he's an infinitely more complex character than the 70's series. In fact, the clear-cut idea of a "bad guy" in the new BSG is an enormously slippery concept. Half the time, the threat to mankind comes from within. That willingness to ride the razor's edge is what makes it so good. And for people that don't like it... no problem. There is more than enough cheese churned out by the pizza factories for them. ;) I'm just glad that it has managed to galvanize enough of an audience to keep going. There has been a lot of good (and bad) Sci-Fi killed by the networks in the past. It's a real joy to see something worthwhile not only survive, but thrive and pick up some critical recognition in the process. |
 April 17, 2008 - 5:01am | Pitch Black has the greatest space travel crash seen in my opinion. I also like the idea that no one knew what punched a whole in their freighter...pirate rail guns?, micro meteorites?, gavitational debris/space junk? great stuff. Chronicles is also a favorite but definitely goes way out on a limb but I do love the detail and imagination that went into it. I am not sure that Firefly / Serenity is hard sci-fi per se but I think its pretty plausible and has a great story. As far as FTL, it may not have been proven but the theory has been sound for a long time especially in the realm of quantum physics where studies are being conducted on how particles are poping in and out of our physical universe all the time. SF definitely treads on the parallel universe theory pretty routinely as I dont ever remember seeing the frontier on a star chart.....lol. I don't know that FTL should be excluded from Hard Sci-fi as long as it is based on real scientific theory that exisits today. A movie that just says we got FTL for the sake of spanning a great distance in 90 minutes really shouldn't qualify as hard sci-fi. For example, the movie Contact definitely was about FTL and made for some very compelling lean towards a hard sci-fi movie. Just my humble opinions. |
