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[Dommo]

Yes it is.

It's definitely a bit of a grey area, but generally:

Science Fiction is about the reaches of our technology on Earth. It's an extension of what we currently have, directly, on this planet. That doesn't mean it needs to be set on Earth or anything, just that it should draw from, extend and build on technologies that currently exist, or technological problems the human race may face in the future. It serves as commentary on how we should be directing our technologies from here into the future.

Star Wars doesn't really fit this definition. It works, most certainly, because it relates to humanity but using more universal themes that don't actually relate to technology or the future of our race at all. The futuristic setting is used as a fictional backdrop to exaggerate elements (like the fictional world of Westeros treats its females far worse than in the real world, allowing the show to highlight through exaggeration the problems females face in real life) and more creatively tell story. In this way, the setting is being used in the exact same way that something like Lord of the Rings uses it. Just because there are elements that we would arbitrarily define as "futuristic" doesn't really make it SciFi.

So, in short, a SciFi story's themes will directly tie into the problems with technology or the future of humanity, which Star Wars most definitely doesn't deal with. A fantasy story uses an abstracted setting to more creatively tell story, and can exaggerate elements for more impact. That's my takeaway anyway.

Edit: Have I too made a mistake for raising this further?

 

[Transhuman]

I’ve always viewed Gattaca (1997) as a lower-budget cousin of this film.

I'm surprised he didn't include Transformers 3.

My list.

Alien
Blade Runner
Gattaca
Gravity
Moon
Primer
Sunshine
The Matrix
The Prestige
Tron

Yes, the Prestige is a motherfucking sci-fi film.

Edit: And Dark City as a Runner Up because holy fuck I love Dark City.

 

[Tertullian]

The Island is decent. Entertaining, but it's very heavy handed, and that mid-movie chase scene has to be 5 hours long.

Top 10 of all time? Over Metropolis, Moon, Alien/Aliens? You gotta be shitting me.

 

[demon]

Yes, the Prestige is a motherfucking sci-fi film.

It is although I'd say it's a bit of a spoiler to someone who hasn't seen the movie yet.

 

[Jorok Goldblade]

Star Wars seems more like fantasy with spaceships to me than sci-fi.

Basically, there are two categories of "Sci-Fi":

Science Fiction - tries to remain scientifically plausible. Typically supported by actual scientific principles, even if only on the theoretical end of science. (Star Trek)

Future Fantasy - Technology and alien stuff are a stand-in for magic. The story does not care if its supported by science, only if the audience can suspend disbelief. (Star Wars)

 

[Joni]

I like the stuff he listed and I know, so everything I haven't seen yet added to my shopping list.

 

[ЯAW]

It's definitely a bit of a grey area, but generally:

Science Fiction is about the reaches of our technology on Earth. It's an extension of what we currently have, directly, on this planet. That doesn't mean it needs to be set on Earth or anything, just that it should draw from, extend and build on technologies that currently exist, or technological problems the human race may face in the future. It serves as commentary on how we should be directing our technologies from here into the future.

Star Wars doesn't really fit this definition. It works, most certainly, because it relates to humanity but using more universal themes that don't actually relate to technology or the future of our race at all. The futuristic setting is used as a fictional backdrop to exaggerate elements (like the fictional world of Westeros treats its females far worse than in the real world, allowing the show to highlight through exaggeration the problems females face in real life) and more creatively tell story. In this way, the setting is being used in the exact same way that something like Lord of the Rings uses it. Just because there are elements that we would arbitrarily define as "futuristic" doesn't really make it SciFi.

So, in short, a SciFi story's themes will directly tie into the problems with technology or the future of humanity, which Star Wars most definitely doesn't deal with. A fantasy story uses an abstracted setting to more creatively tell story, and can exaggerate elements for more impact. That's my takeaway anyway.

Edit: Have I too made a mistake for raising this further?

So are series like Dune and Book of the New Sun scifi or fantasy? I thought I was big scifi fan but now I don't know what I have been reading all these years

 

[Transhuman]

It is although I'd say it's a bit of a spoiler to someone who hasn't seen the movie yet.

It doesn't really spoil the plot though, just the surprise of knowing it's a sci-fi film halfway through.

 

[kswiston]

Top 10 of all time? Over Metropolis, Moon, Alien/Aliens? You gotta be shitting me.

He might not have seen those films. He's not Roger Ebert. Also, as I realized after the fact, the list is his favourite movies. Made the same mistake in thinking it a top 10 based on quality.

like the fictional world of Westeros treats its females far worse than in the real world, allowing the show to highlight through exaggeration the problems females face in real life

Getting on a major tangent, but Westeros only treats its females harshly compared to modern developed societies. Historically (and currently in some regions), females went through most of the same things. Stuff like "The law of the first night", the marrying of pubescent girls to old men, and widespread rape during war happened in reality. I don't think that aspect of the ASOIAF series is supposed to be a commentary. It was just a representation of what was common various societies during the middle ages.

 

[Fox Mulder]

solid list.

The Island is awesome.

 

[kehs]

Bladerunner?

Time to stop taking this physicist seriously.

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

The Island? Neil, I thought we were cool.

 

[injurai]

My favorites in no particular order.

Blade Runner
2001
Primer
Moon
Sunshine
District 9
Solaris
Alien
Gattaca
Gravity
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Children of Men
Brazil
Dark City
A Scanner Darkly

I'm surprised not even one of the bolded movies made it on his list.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

This dude just wrecked the rep..lol. NEVER put out a nerd list, son. Seppuku all up in this bitch!

 

[Gozer the Gozerian]

if neil thinks the island is a good movie then how am i supposed to trust science

 

[Real Hero]

well his favourites aren't the same as mine! What a hack.

 

[Stet]

Dude has weird taste in movies. No Gattaca...

 

[Toxi]

Is Hyperion sci-fi?

There are a few future extensions of tech (Namely the Technocore), but most of it just uses space and the planet as a fantastic backdrop for the characters' stories. The Shrike may as well be magic.

It also won a Hugo award and is my favorite book.

 

[Dommo]

So are series like Dune and Book of the New Sun scifi or fantasy? I thought I was big scifi fan but now I don't know what I have been reading all these years

I haven't read Book of the New Sun but yeah, Dune is another one of these hotly debated examples where it's not quite clear and the greyness comes to the forefront. According to my definition, I think it'd fall squarely in the Fantasy category. Can't see myself calling it SciFi if I don't call Star Wars SciFi. But it's interesting that Dune always has, and still really is for the most part, defined as SciFi, while Star Wars often isn't these days. Just going to the wiki, for example: "Dune is a 1965 epic science fiction novel" and "Star Wars is a 1977 American epic space opera film." So.... I dunno.

Getting on a major tangent, but Westeros only treats its females harshly compared to modern developed societies. Historically (and currently in some regions), females went through most of the same things. Stuff like "The law of the first night", the marrying of pubescent girls to old men, and widespread rape during war happened in reality. I don't think that aspect of the ASOIAF series is supposed to be a commentary. It was just a representation of what was common various societies during the middle ages.

Yeah, I won't go into much detail just because it is going so OT, but yeah, you're right. It was a bit of awkward wording on my behalf. It may not be a commentary, but I think it's a great launching pad to have really strong female characters battle with these standards. In that sense, it resonates with audiences more strongly than if it was set in the modern day NY, where those problems certainly exist (which is why it resonates in the first place) but wouldn't necessarily resonate as effectively as in the world of Westeros.


I guess to keep things at least a bit on topic, I think the list is generally great. And it's good to see he picks actual good films over films that are just scientifically accurate which is a common annoyance of mine. I mean more generally than that - often when it comes to people rating films, it comes down to whether or not it accurately portrayed their profession, rather than taking it on its own merits as a story.

 

[Darkgran]

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

Good job Neil.

EVERYONE needs to see this.

 

[ЯAW]

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

Good job Neil.

EVERYONE needs to see this.

Ugh, B&W movies. Just do yourself a favor and watch the Keanue Reeves version from 2008. Much better paced with better acting.

 

[Kraftwerk]

Ugh, B&W movies. Just do yourself a favor and watch the Keanue Reeves version from 2008. Much better paced with better acting.

 

[Steiner84]

no alien?
event horizon?

well then...

 

[kswiston]

Is Hyperion sci-fi?

There are a few future extensions of tech (Namely the Technocore), but most of it just uses space and the planet as a fantastic backdrop for the characters' stories. The Shrike may as well be magic.

It also won a Hugo award and is my favorite book.

Hyperion goes to great lengths exploring the ramifications of technology and science in that world, so yes, it's sci fi.

 

[DemurOnion]

I didn't even see that. Shameful.

THE FUCK? Gattaca is easily up there.

New ones like Surrogates were pretty cool and better than some of those.

Close encounters not being there is near sin.

No fucking Fifth Element means you no longer have my support. Most of the choices are good. Deep Impact LOL. Okay. It was okay.

 

[Eusis]

Watchmen (2009)

I don’t know if I am alone in thinking that Watchmen is the best-of-genre among all superhero films.

Only because many of us held it up to the comic rather than other superhero movies. In some miraculous alternate universe where this was an original movie creation rather than a comic adaptation it'd probably be supremely more impressive.

 

[DemurOnion]

My favorites in no particular order.

Blade Runner
2001
Primer
Moon
Sunshine
District 9
Solaris
Alien
Gattaca
Gravity
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Children of Men
Brazil
Dark City
A Scanner Darkly

I'm surprised not even one of the bolded movies made it on his list.

That is a good list. Spotless Mind isn't gonna get the sci-fi badge though from me.

 

[NaughtyCalibur]

Ugh, B&W movies. Just do yourself a favor and watch the Keanue Reeves version from 2008. Much better paced with better acting.

What the FAQ

 

[Scipius]

That list is sorely missing both The Andromeda Strain and Silent Running. Tyson is a hack, confirmed.

 

[Jonm1010]

I guess I meant discuss with authority. His opinion holds as much weight as anyone here.

EDIT: I suppose is does say favourite and not best.

Except people are actually interested in his opinions..

 

[Eusis]

What the FAQ

Neophiliacs.

 

[Thatonemoor]

Glad to see Neil likes Watchmen, that movie is amazing and it's a shame people keep comparing it to the comic to keep it from being recognized.

 

[Prophet Steve]

He even mentions Gattaca and but rather puts The Island on there.

 

[- J - D -]

He's got The Quiet Earth on his list. That alone makes it respectable, even if he has The Island on it and relates it to Gattaca.

 

[Dabanton]

Some good choices. I applaud both Deep Impact and The Island's inclusion.

 

[Screaming Meat]

Ugh, B&W movies. Just do yourself a favor and watch the Keanue Reeves version from 2008. Much better paced with better acting.

Glad to see Neil likes Watchmen, that movie is amazing and it's a shame people keep comparing it to the comic to keep it from being recognized.

The Comic is a literary masterwork. The film is an MTV promo... at best.

 

[Ashodin]

I really liked Deep Impact as well. Meteors yo!

 

[SpyGuy239]

The Island?!?!??!

Spoiler

LOVED THAT FUCKING MOVIE.

 

[| Praxis |]

Good to see he chose Terminator over T2. Knew Contact would be on there too, I really like that film.

 

[Brakke]

Brakke's Top Ten Sci-Fi Movies:

1. Starship Troopers
2. Starship Troopers
3. Starship Troopers
4. Starship Troopers
5. Starship Troopers
6. Starship Troopers
7. Starship Troopers
8. Starship Troopers
9. Starship Troopers
10. The Fifth Element

Suck on it, NdGT

 

[PrimaNocta]

I enjoyed The Island as well but it wouldn't be anywhere near my top ten.

 

[Future Foundation]

Pretty "Meh" list, to be honest. I expected better from him.

That list needs:

Moon.
District 9
Serenity
Alien

No list needs Serenity.

 

[McLovin]

I've never seen the island or quiet earth. Will check them out.

 

[linsivvi]

The Island? LOL.

Gattaca's plot isn't even similar to the Island. Never let me go, on the other hand, is similar, and is still superior.

Keep your day job, Neil.

 

[ЯAW]

My top 10 changes daily but right now I feel like this:
(Not in any order)

La Jetée
12 Monkeys
On the Silver Globe
2001
Stalker
Fantastic Planet
Its Hard to be a God
Ghost in the Shell
Planet of the Apes (OG)
Total Recall

 

[Screaming Meat]

My top 10 changes daily but right now I feel like this:
(Not in any order)

La Jetée

La Jetee is B&W!

 

[dark_inferno]

Pretty "Meh" list, to be honest. I expected better from him.

That list needs:

Moon.
District 9
Serenity
Alien

Sunshine too and everything is fine.

 

[Dabanton]

No list needs Serenity.

Or Moon either

 

[mreddie]

I would have laughed my ass off if his number one was Gravity.

 

[Thatonemoor]

The Comic is a literary masterwork. The film is an MTV promo... at best.

Having read the comic multiple times I agree it is a masterpiece but the movie is amazing also but people always compare it to the comic and keeping the from judging it as its own work. I don't see how anyone who has read the comic can hate the movie it is almost the same thing scene for scene, line for line. Which is why it is good.