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From: DTN.381-2837%SU-Shasta,@Bill.Lynch.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Fave SF movies
Message-ID: <15037@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 3-Jan-84 14:58:05 EST
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.15037
Posted: Tue Jan  3 14:58:05 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 5-Jan-84 01:32:13 EST
Lines: 51


I'd like to get some discussion going of people's favorite SF movies (use
your discretion in defining what an 'SF' movie is...). I would enjoy seeing
some reasons behind the selections.

To get things rolling, here are some of mine:

2001, A Space Odyssey -- Numero Uno, bar none. I think this is the ONLY true
     Science Fiction movie ever made. Scientifically accurate and thought
     provoking. Although the special effects seem dated now, they are still
     fantastic! I think my favorite effect was the shot of the space station
     (with the approaching Pan Am liner in synch) that closes on the station
     until the camera seems to pass right through it. And the music! I could
     go on...

Alien -- A good old haunted house story set in space. Good acting, excellent
     effects (love that monster, small and large!), magnificent sets (loved
     the lived-in look of the Nostromo) and enough chills and thrills for
     ten other films. Great fun!

Frankenstein -- The one and only Boris Karloff version. Great campy acting!
     Set the style for countless films of this type for decades to come, but
     none approached the original.

The Star Wars Saga -- What can one say that hasn't already been said a thousand
     times? Simply a magnificent achievement.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers -- Both versions. 50's version is a great subtle
     commentary on the McCarthy Era. Remake is also quite good (although not
     AS good...). Loved the appearance of Kevin McCarthy (star of the original)
     in the remake (did YOU catch him??).

Altered States -- A much maligned film. Very good acting (William Hurt can do
     no wrong in my opinion) and very chilling scenes (the halucinations (sp?)
     in the cave and the isolation tank scenes stand out). Although it fails
     somewhat in the final scenes, this is still an excellent film.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind -- I really liked this movie although
     a lot of people seem to consider it a lesser-quality film by Spielburg.
     I thought the acting was first-rate, the pace relentless and the
     music outstanding. Favorite scenes: Opening in the desert, crowds in
     India, final encounter. I did not particularly like the added scenes
     in the 'special edition'; should have left well enough alone.

I could probably think of more, but I'll stop here and leave the door open
for others' opinions. Note: except for 2001, there is no significance to the
order of the above list.

-- Bill Lynch
   Digital Equipment Corp.
   Nashua, NH