 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. |
 May 17, 2008 - 5:37pm | Yeah one measly Superbowl ring and Flash Gordon... YES but End of Line.... TRON RULES Sergeant |
 June 4, 2008 - 6:33pm | I see you guys went from movies to include TV series. Babylon 5 was to me the greatest sci-fi series to air on American TV, movies like Predator 1 & 2 are the movies as well as Soldier. If you watch Soldier with Kurt Russel closely you'll see and hear references to the Blade Runner movie. Aparently Kurt's character fought the same battle as Roy Batty did at the Tannhauser Gate. Anime has a lot of good sci-fi and hard sci-fi, the Gundam series is one most will now be familiar with. But there's also Crest of the Stars, The Dirty Pair, AT Votoms, and my current #1 favorite Legend of Galactic Heroes. In every age, in every place, the deeds of men remain the same. |
 June 5, 2008 - 5:10am | In college, the dean of the englsih department did her doctoral on Blade Runner and wrote a book called retro-fitting blade runner which discussed many of the themes in the movie. I especially liked the theories and essays that debated whether Deckard was a replicant or not. Great movie! We also had a creative writting class called writting about science fiction where we analyzed and wrote about the great authors Dick, Heinlien, Leguinn (probably mis-spelled her name), Asimov, and many others. But I agree Blade Runner was one of the all time great Sci-Fiction movies. |
 June 5, 2008 - 7:24am | I am a big fan of Blade Runner too. Most of the time the book has more detail and insight than the movie. So, I read "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep", which is supposed to be what Blade Runner is based off. I didn't like the book at all. Blade Runner is totally different. The same can be said about Logan's Run. At least I got to scare an alien rabbit thingy...... |
 June 5, 2008 - 3:15pm | In college, the dean of the englsih department did her doctoral on Blade Runner and wrote a book called retro-fitting blade runner which discussed many of the themes in the movie. I especially liked the theories and essays that debated whether Deckard was a replicant or not. Great movie! We also had a creative writting class called writting about science fiction where we analyzed and wrote about the great authors Dick, Heinlien, Leguinn (probably mis-spelled her name), Asimov, and many others. But I agree Blade Runner was one of the all time great Sci-Fiction movies. LeGuin, Arizona. She's an awesome writer, BTW. Another movie which was superior to the stories on which they were based was, believe it or not, I, Rowboat, I mean Robot, which I never saw, 'til my girlfriend got the DVD and me and her son watched it. It compressed all of Asimov's robot stories(even Robots Of Dawn, which the only novel-length work of Asimov's I can stand)into a single, well thought-out storyline which the screenwriters fleshed out with an awesome backstory for Will Smith's detective character—featuring an orignial twist to the generic "anti-machine" stereotype—and, in so doing, gave Smith the ability to demonstrate he is a serious actor , something's he's only demonstrated in one other movie of his I've seen(Ali, also a must-see). "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 |
June 6, 2008 - 6:09am | ty for the spelling correction I couldn't remember "I rowboat" (Too Funny, I fell out of my chair on that one) I also liked the robot movie Robin Williams was in, Bicential Man or something like that. Also liked Minority Report, kind of Hard Sci-fi to a fashion, all of the psychic stuff (while I peronally believe in it) may not fit into that catagory though. |
June 7, 2008 - 1:09am | No probs, Arizona. Bicentennial Man is good, yeah. Didn't see Minority Report. "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 |
 June 8, 2008 - 10:06pm | and, in so doing, gave Smith the ability to demonstrate he is a serious actor , something's he's only demonstrated in one other movie of his I've seen(Ali, also a must-see). I think Smith had some nice dramatic moments in "I am Legend" too. Which was a good "inspired by" movie, but I'm still waiting for a more faithful adaption. As for "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" not being as good as Blade Runner... I agree... to a point. The characters in the movie were far more compelling and likable (except for maybe Rachael, who had a sinister edge in the story.) But so many of the ideas and concepts behind what being human is... and how the characters cling to the shredded remains of what it used to be is in the book. But Dick just kind of understates most of it, seemingly hoping that the sheer lunacy of how even perfect simulation fails to truly fulfill humanities needs will be a powerful enough concept to carry the story. It was obviously powerful enough to inspire a great movie like Blade Runner, so for that I'm grateful. |
 June 14, 2008 - 4:32pm | I've been thinking recently, and while it turns techno-fantasy, the Riddick Trillogy is quite good. I hope the greenlight is given for a 4th... As to Buck Rogers... the Pilot was theatrically released... the Series took a quick nose-dive a few eps in, and another steep dive for season 2. The setting, however, was not bad, just the stories being told. Stories that read like really lame RPG sessions. |
July 2, 2008 - 8:08pm | Hard SciFi: some oldies come to mind, although I do not remember the names... Saturn something with Farrah Fosset Sean Connery as a Investigative 'cop' on some sort of mining facility a weird one where a house computer held a woman hostage and ultimately impregnated her. and then some that are not quite so obscure... Blade Runner Alien series Predator 12 Monkeys Body Snatchers (i like the newer re-dos better) then the semi hard science ones... Johnny Mnemonic Matrix Running Man and others in this kind of genre farrah fawcet was in SATURN 3 sean connery was in OUTLAND house computer= DEMON SEED (i really need to fill my head with something useful) |
 July 3, 2008 - 12:08pm | My Fav's (in no special order); -Outland (with one exception, people don't explode in a vaccum). -Runaway (Gene Simmons had a gyrojet pistol with 'fire & forget' targeting) -2001 A Space Odessey -Martian Chronicles (a tv mini-series in the '80s based on Ray Bradbury's book) -An 80's movie that I do not remember the name, it was a Robinson Corusoe type storyline except he was marooned on Mars. -I have to include Star Wars episode IV 'A New Hope' just because it set my imagination on fire. -Ziggy Stardust's "Major Tom"... oh wait, thats music, sorry. |
 July 3, 2008 - 5:34pm | BD wrote: -An 80's movie that I do not remember the name, it was a Robinson Corusoe type storyline except he was marooned on Mars. The name of that movie is Robinson Crusoe on Mars. And it is from the 60's 1964 to be exact. One of the classics from that era same as the first Star Trek and Lost in Space. |
July 4, 2008 - 5:02pm | I've been thinking recently, and while it turns techno-fantasy, the Riddick Trillogy is quite good. I hope the greenlight is given for a 4th... As to Buck Rogers... the Pilot was theatrically released... the Series took a quick nose-dive a few eps in, and another steep dive for season 2. The setting, however, was not bad, just the stories being told. Stories that read like really lame RPG sessions. The first season setting and technology was okay, and Micheal Ansara was decent as Cain(should've made him the number-one villain, IMO)...as to where it took a nose-dive, it was the first regular-season episode,"Planet of the Slave Girls," re-titled "The Sea of Stone," or something like that, where Jack Palance played a Svengali-like master villain and Buster Crabbe(the originial Buck Rogers) did a cameo. As for movies, two personal faves are "The Day the Earth Stood," and "This(Gilligan's)Island Earth." "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 |
July 4, 2008 - 5:05pm | My Fav's (in no special order); -Outland (with one exception, people don't explode in a vaccum). -Runaway (Gene Simmons had a gyrojet pistol with 'fire & forget' targeting) -2001 A Space Odessey -Martian Chronicles (a tv mini-series in the '80s based on Ray Bradbury's book) -An 80's movie that I do not remember the name, it was a Robinson Corusoe type storyline except he was marooned on Mars. -I have to include Star Wars episode IV 'A New Hope' just because it set my imagination on fire. -Ziggy Stardust's "Major Tom"... oh wait, thats music, sorry. You're half right. The movie was Ziggy Stardust And the Spiders From Mars, starring David Bowie, released 1973(I think), while the song "Major Tom" was released by Peter Schilling in 1985(?). "Earth below us, drifting, falling. Floating weightless. Calling, coming hommmmee." "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 |
July 5, 2008 - 5:40pm | Another one I just thought of that I always like is "Soylent Green". |
July 5, 2008 - 5:54pm | Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from mars was a space opera? a musical of sorts wasn't it? I do remember David Bowie singing. Yes Peter Schilling released a version of "Major Tom" in 1983. But the version I'm thinking of has David Bowie sing the song. |
 May 4, 2010 - 3:58pm | I finally saw Silent Running for the first time the other day. Here's my one word review: CRAP! Now, here's the longer version. The movie was preachy, slower than 2001: A Space Odyssy, Dern sucked, the wardrobe sucked, and the movie does not belong in the hard sci-fi category of discussion. The highlight of the movie was when Dern's character repaired the droid. Yeah, great message, but did they need to spend two hours saying "save the forrests"? The movie was Polanski's Repulsion meets 2001: A Space Odyssy, without the interesting stuff. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
 May 5, 2010 - 8:47pm | I thought I'd bring up a few not mentioned yet, just for discussion The Black Hole Flash Gordon (by Filmation) The original V Starship Troopers Event Horizon Pandorum Jason X Battle Beyond the Stars Enemy Mine The latest Star Trek Aliens vs Predator Thundarr the Barbarian |
May 5, 2010 - 8:55pm | Here's some more raw meat (I know all of these may not be "hard") THX 1138 District 9 Planet of the Apes The Thing Time Bandits Them! Jurassic Park Altered States West World They Live Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow A.I. Dreamscape |
 May 5, 2010 - 9:20pm | Wow Billygoat, in 2 post you hit all of the non hard science movies, most of them a little hoaky, except you missed Ice Pirates (now there's a movie with SF style robots!) personally I think the latest Star Trek is the best ever. there were issues with it like Spock being on one Planet and witnessing what he witnessed in space from the planet surface- and the some of the other non-science problems with the movie but from a story stand point and the casting of the crew it hit all the right notes, nearly every actor nailed the essence of the character from the original and most of them did it with out being a bad copy of the original (I've heard a comment by some who didn't like Checkov but I feel the actor did what he had to do to be the Russian wiz kid promoted to the crew, IMO the guy doing Macoy felt like he was trying to hard in a few scenes). The story moved fast and if you suspended disbelief for the science they murdered it was cool By far my favorite movie I saw last year. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
May 5, 2010 - 9:43pm | Couldn't agree more about Star Trek I do think some of these could qualify as "hard" though. Pandorum is a really good movie. The plot was good. The acting was solid. The science wasn't too crazy. I'd like to think the writer played Metamorphosis Alpha a time or three. The Thing (John Carpenter version) holds a special place with me. I can watch this flick over and over. Also the Flimation Flash Gordon is a superior version of the Flash Gordon story. I also didn't mention Logan's Run BTW... I own Ice Pirates |
 May 6, 2010 - 11:26am | Enemy Mine does well on the science. The story does not revolve around the science but don't use that to knock it. The fighter craft are strictly rocket powered planes. The space station rotates for gravity if I remember. Nothing to suspend belief about. It is a character story just like many Asimov stories. I consider it hard SF. -iggy |
May 6, 2010 - 1:59pm | Enemy Mine does well on the science. The story does not revolve around the science but don't use that to knock it. The fighter craft are strictly rocket powered planes. The space station rotates for gravity if I remember. Nothing to suspend belief about. It is a character story just like many Asimov stories. I consider it hard SF. Enemy Mine is a great story and thats the thing, they didn't need to focus on the science and the gimics Jest tell a great story and people will come. maybe we should add the Planet of the Apes series to this. I remember Logan's Run from back in the day when we were desparate for any sci fi on tv but any sci fi that came along got screwed up by hack writers and then got cancelled. They started out good then went down hill with poor writing. About the only episode I really liked from the 2nd BSG series (after they reached earth) was the one that was the return of Star Buck to explain the origin of the weird know it all kid, it did the Enemy Mine thing with Star Buck and a cylon- that was cool. it had that whole angelic being thing going with that woman on the planet and the implication that the baby was starbucks but there was an element of immaculate conception since Star Buck didn't have sex with her (poor guy) and at the end of the story he puts her and the baby in his ships cockpit that has been attached to the crashed cylon ships engine and sends them off to the galactica and goes with his cylon friend to face down the newly arrived cylons. Adama is sort of telling the story to the boy and that only he is found in the cockpit of starbuck's ship wrapped in a warrior cloak with the medalion from starbuck- the angelic woman is not there and has somehow disappeared on the way to the Galactica. I remember that episode some well because I had to pee for 45minutes of the show and didn't want to go to the bathroom and let my sister steal my father's chair from me and try to change the channel. So I desparately squirmed in the chair till the end and screemed at the TV when it was over, "That's It?" Because Star buck was left alone on the planet and not brought back to the series as they implied in the trailers promoting the episode. I was pissed off about that and I nearly pissed myself just to see the whole episode. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 May 7, 2010 - 9:28pm | Really enjoyed Farscape, but you've got to watch "Peacekeeper Wars" to see how it really ended (season 5 ending wasn't the end), Babylon 5 is by far one of the better sci-fi shows to date, if a bit preachy. As to films, about the only one that hasn't been mentioned that I liked is the original 1970's 'Rollerball' - the later remakes really missed the point somehow, and just concentrated on the violence. As to the ongoing BSG debate - I like both series, for different reasons (and they are almost totally different shows). NBSG is harsher and makes you think about some of the difficult choices - at it's best it challeges your perception of right and wrong by stages until it turns those perceptions around and makes you look at things from another perspective. |
May 8, 2010 - 5:44am | As to the ongoing BSG debate - I like both series, for different reasons (and they are almost totally different shows). NBSG is harsher and makes you think about some of the difficult choices - at it's best it challeges your perception of right and wrong by stages until it turns those perceptions around and makes you look at things from another perspective. ooops I should have been more clear when I said 2nd series I meant after they cancelled the first series then brought it back for one season or so with all new cast except Loren Green was still there as Adama The explained the new cast as it took along time but they reached earth and the orginal characters grew old and died and now Boxy was all growed up and filling the Apolo role. With a blond side kick reminiscent of Star Buck. I remember now that the even did a travel back in time 2 part episode and visited Hitler's Germany. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
May 8, 2010 - 8:22pm | I realised which series' of BSG you meant. I tend to lump all of those series together as 'old' BSG (classic BSG should be the better term, lol!), the recent one as 'new' BSG. I never saw the episode you mentioned, but I did see the time travel one; time travel in BSG made the ships, uniforms and equipment turn white, lol! Btw - just realised that "grown-up Boxy" in BSG80 (old BSG) is the same guy that played John Crichton's father in Farscape. Sci-Fi shows are really inbred, aren't they? |
May 30, 2010 - 4:22pm | It's sad. I have seen everything on all the lists over the last 5 pages at least once. For a hard Sci Fi fav I would have to go with 2001. Otherwise it would have to be Babylon 5. |
November 3, 2010 - 4:37pm | Robinson Crusoe on Mars This movie was good hard science fiction when it came out, though now it would be considered light sci-fi due to the knowledge we've acquired regarding Mars since then. However, the movie is great if you forget that it's Mars. It's especially a gold mine of ideas for Star Frontiers survival quests. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
 November 3, 2010 - 10:21pm | The subject is HARD sci-fi, but Fifth Element is cool too. Ohhh! Out this h'yar ways, we call that there HARD sci-fi of yers, "Science Non-fiction"  Mah favs are Forbidden Planet, Serenity, Starstip Troopers & Aliens My SF website izz: http://ragnarr.webs.com |
November 15, 2010 - 2:57pm | The Thing From Another World View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
