Best Sci-Fi Tournament - Round 1 Group K

[Ben Staad]

Yes! I think we have finally agreed on something.

Gattaca is a sci fi must.

One of the best sci-fi films of all time, hands down.

[frik]

How many films (of each group) move on to round 2? If it's only 1, and Return of the Jedi (the worst of the Star Wars originals) beats 2001, my faith in this tournament will be severely shaken.......

sk

[Mattrick]

Top half moves if I'm not mistaken. Jedi isn't very good, can't believe it has this many votes.

[pathoftheturtle]

Say what you like about the Ewoks, that's the movie that finally showed us the Emporer, finally showed us Jabba, finally let Lando do good stuff...

Quite a contrast between the emotional restraint of 2001 and the wild emotion of ACO, the other Kubrick-directed nominee.

I liked Altered States, really. Didn't like the ending so much, but it's still a better movie than the Blob 88.

[fernandito]

How many films (of each group) move on to round 2?

Six films move on. I'm posting the winners from each group in the initial thread. Once the opening group stage finalizes I'll post a roadmap of the 'playoff' rounds.

Say what you like about the Ewoks, that's the movie that finally showed us the Emperor, finally showed us Jabba, finally let Lando do good stuff...

In all honesty I don't mind the Ewoks, and I like Ep. VI as a whole, I just feel it doesn't quite reach the high watermark of its predecessor. Having said that, Luke vs Vader and the latter's ultimate redemption is one of the series' most crucial moments.

Quite a contrast between the emotional restraint of 2001 and the wild emotion of ACO, the other Kubrick-directed nominee.

You know, I've never drawn that contrast in my mind before now. Good call. Both films are an assault on the senses but at a very, very different tempo. Man, those are such great films. I don't know what we did as a species to deserve Kubrick but I'm so glad we did it.

[Mattrick]

Jedi has its worthwhile parts sure its just not nearly as good as it's predecessors. The best part of the it is Bib Fortuna, that guy rules. The bad outweighs the good or at least evens out. Phantom Menace has worthwhile parts just not enough and Episode 3 is about on par with Jedi, probably a little higher. Just hoping Jedi doesn't get too far because it's weaker than a lot of nominees.

[pathoftheturtle]

Six slots available. I'll save further RotJ comparisons for later rounds - it clearly will get at least a little farther. The Blob/AS/Incredible Shrinking Man race is what worries me ATM.

[Merlin1958]

Jedi has its worthwhile parts sure its just not nearly as good as it's predecessors. The best part of the it is Bib Fortuna, that guy rules. The bad outweighs the good or at least evens out. Phantom Menace has worthwhile parts just not enough and Episode 3 is about on par with Jedi, probably a little higher. Just hoping Jedi doesn't get too far because it's weaker than a lot of nominees.

Oh c'mon Jedi has talking fish!! LOL

[mae]

I hope the votes will be adjusted as per earlier request before being counted.

[Heather19]

I'm just happy Gattaca is getting some love. I wasn't sure how many people saw that one.

I hadn't seen Gattaca in years, and after seeing it mentioned it recently in one of the other threads I decided to revisit it. So glad I did. Now I can confidently vote for it throughout the rest of the tournament, regardless of what films it might go up against. Whatever shortcomings it might have stylistically, it more than makes up for in poignancy. A great fable about the power of the human spirit.

I saw Gattaca in the theater when it first come out. Don't really recall enjoying it all that much. Should I go back and rewatch it?


And Ricky have you watched The Abyss yet?!

[Ben Staad]

I know this wasn't directed at me but my vote is yes.

I saw Gattaca in the theater when it first come out. Don't really recall enjoying it all that much. Should I go back and rewatch it?

[fernandito]

I saw Gattaca in the theater when it first come out. Don't really recall enjoying it all that much. Should I go back and rewatch it?

Absolutely.

[Ricky]

And Ricky have you watched The Abyss yet?!

No.

BUT. I made a list/set up DVR recordings of a lot of the ones in the tournament that I haven't seen. I won't be able to watch The Abyss by the time this poll closes, but will definitely get to it before the next round.

[pathoftheturtle]

I saw Gattaca in the theater when it first come out. Don't really recall enjoying it all that much. Should I go back and rewatch it?

I third the motion. You have to really think about it to get it. It's that kind of film.

[mae]

This poll actually has three of my Top 5 sci-fi movies of all time, I think: Gattaca, 2001, and The Abyss. All masterpieces of genius.

[mae]

Looks like poll editing went a bit awry, hoping Jerome can fix it in time for the poll's closing. The Blob, Altered States, and The Incredible Shrinking Man should be tied at 9 at this time.

[Heather19]

I know this wasn't directed at me but my vote is yes.

I saw Gattaca in the theater when it first come out. Don't really recall enjoying it all that much. Should I go back and rewatch it?

I saw Gattaca in the theater when it first come out. Don't really recall enjoying it all that much. Should I go back and rewatch it?

Absolutely.

I saw Gattaca in the theater when it first come out. Don't really recall enjoying it all that much. Should I go back and rewatch it?

I third the motion. You have to really think about it to get it. It's that kind of film.

Well that's 3/3. I guess I'll give it a go.

And Ricky have you watched The Abyss yet?!

No.

BUT. I made a list/set up DVR recordings of a lot of the ones in the tournament that I haven't seen. I won't be able to watch The Abyss by the time this poll closes, but will definitely get to it before the next round.

You better! I need you to be able to vote for it in future rounds

[fernandito]

The following films are advancing to the next round

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
2001 : A Space Odyssey
Star Wars Episode VI : Return of the Jedi
The Abyss
Gattaca


There will be a tie breaker between the following films for the final berth
The Blob
Altered States
The Incredible Shrinking Man

[Ricky]

The Abyss is On Demand for free, so I'm going to try and watch it before the poll closes.

I believe HBO GO or MAX GO has it streaming in HD. Did you get a chance to watch it yet?

And Ricky have you watched The Abyss yet?!

Watched it today and I've got to say that I was pretty underwhelmed by it as a whole. I kind of figured I might be (I'm generally not a fan of underwater exploration movies). There were a couple of scenes that I enjoyed

Spoiler:

(Lindsey's drowning and resuscitation)

and the last half hour, but overall I thought it was a pretty standard action/adventure/Sci-Fi movie.

[Heather19]

[mae]

I know.

First of all, I love underwater scenes, and with a whole movie taking place underwater is just bliss. Secondly, the aliens are pretty amazing-looking and the idea of aliens living on the ocean floor is really original and great. The score is one of the best ever. Acting is solid throughout. Great effects. And that descent into the abyss is just holy-crap awesome.

Yes, The Abyss, in my view, is the best sci-fi film ever made and one of the very best films of the 1980s.

[frik]

No Cameron movie is pretty standard. The Abyss stands head and shoulders above most action/sf movies.

sk

[Ricky]

Sorry, guys. I would disagree. The aliens and effects may have been cool, but the characters were pretty forgettable. I wouldn't rank it anywhere near the top of Sci-Fi films.

[divemaster]

I, too, loved The Abyss. Top-5 sci-fi for me. I didn't find the characters forgettable at all. In fact, that's what bumped the movie up a notch for me--above just aliens and FX. The motivations and interactions between the husband/wife having relationship troubles, and the Michael Biehn character, especially. It made the move deeper and more "real" to me. Sure, some of the others were filling out stock roles, but with leads like that I thought it was a surprisingly deep movie (no pun intended).

[fernandito]

I need to watch it again. Like I mentioned elsewhere, I remember liking The Abyss but not being blown away by it, certainly not to put it in the Top of anything lists.