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Best sci-fi isn’t always about lightsaber fights
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dear Mr. Smithee,
I enjoy reading your column and I noticed you haven’t commented before on science fiction films. My top five would be “Star Wars,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “The Matrix,” “Blade Runner” and “Gattaca.”
So, all-knowing movie sage, how did I do?
KEVIN WAGNER, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Dear HAL,
You did better than Steven Spielberg, who messed up “A.I.: Artificial Intelligence” by not having the robotic Haley Joel Osment sit for eternity, waiting for the Blue Fairy to actually do something.
You did better than John Travolta, who in his vast dunderheadedness made the truly awful “Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000.”
But I must say you left out from the tippy-top of your list some rather fine examples of cinematic sci-fi. If one must name a top five - and, clearly, that seems to be your game - I would offer the following as my own worthy list:
No. 1. “2001: A Space Odyssey.” You try making a modern-day film that has not a single word of dialogue in, like, the first 20 minutes.
No. 2. “Alien.” Scarier than “Aliens” and better made.
No. 3. “The Empire Strikes Back.” Thank Godard George Lucas didn’t direct.
No. 4. “Planet of the Apes.” Not the dumb, idiotic, ridiculous-ending version done by Tim Burton, but the definitive Charlton “It’s a madhouse!” Heston spectacular.
No. 5. “Metropolis.” One of the best silent films ever.
Next in line (but not in order): “King Kong” (the original), “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” “Gojira,” “Blade Runner,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “The Terminator,” “Star Wars,” “Return of the Jedi,” “Starship Troopers,” “Dark City,” “The Matrix” and “Jason and the Argonauts.”
Because I like them (and still not in order): “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (both versions), “The Time Machine” (the original), “Starman,” “Time After Time,” “Altered States,” “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “The Thing” (both versions), “Videodrome,” “WarGames,” “Aliens,” “Predator,” “They Live,” “Tremors,” “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” and “Independence Day.”
And let’s not forget: “Sleeper,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Escape From New York,” “Back to the Future,” “Brazil,” “Lifeforce,” “Akira,” “The Abyss,” “Jurassic Park” and “Men in Black.”
ALAN
P.S. You get a “Superman Returns” shirt and an “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirt.
Dear Mr. Smithee,
Love your column. It’s become a weekly must-read. That said, I am compelled to pick a cinematic bone with you.
In a recent column, you cited “The Deer Hunter” as a great film. It is one of my personal missions to debunk this myth whenever necessary. “The Deer Hunter” is easily the most overrated and inexplicaable best picture winner this side of “Shakespeare in Love” and “Crash.” It’s no great film, only pretentious, tedious, faux-Hemingway clap-trap. The Vietnam as national self-destruction metaphor of Russian roulette could simply not be more obvious.
But aside from that, keep up the great work.
TOM BAKER, Sandy Springs
Dear Mau!!
You might not realize this, but his is Accuracy Week at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. And I feel so strongly about accuracy that I must call into question something I read earlier in the week in my very own newspaper.
It was a story that mentioned Beyonce Knowles and described her as a “singer” and “actress.” I can attest to the former but must take issue with the latter. Miss Knowles may be a movie star, but she is certainly no actress. You need proof? “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” “The Fighting Temptations” and “The Pink Panther.” I rest my case.
As for “The Deer Hunter,” let me first say that my remarks involved the context of seeing said film with a theater audience.
The first time I saw “The Deer Hunter,” those there with me were radically affected, especially by the intense captivity scenes including the gunplay you so readily mention. One young man sitting near me was so distressed he put his head down below his knees.
If for no other reason that that, “The Deer Hunter” is one of the great movies. Its impact is forceful and deliberate.
And, clearly, you’ve never seen “The Greatest Show on Earth,” which is the absolute worst movie ever to be named Oscar’s best picture.
ALAN
P.S. You get a pair of “Big Momma’s House 2” panties (and trust me, they are big) and an “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirt.
HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. SMITHEE?
E-mail him at alansmithee@ajc.com or go to accessAtlanta.com and click on Movies. Please include your name, city and daytime phone number. Mr. Smithee can’t reply to ever request, but inquiries chosen for publication will receive movie-related prizes.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Alan Smithee
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By Jeffrey Thomas
June 30, 2006 7:55 PM | Link to this
OK So I agree with just about all your selections as far as the Sic-fi is concerned, but what about Twelve Monkies? You have to admit it was a darned good movie :o) It even made ya think ;o) Love your column and agree with the guy up with all the good comments. Thanks
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