BladeRunner Ghost in the Shell 1 and 2 Terminator 1 and 2 RoboCop Akira Planet of the Apes (original) Matrix Trilogy Alien Aliens The Time Machine (original) Total Recall
I like 'AaronMan''s list above, but I would add to that:
The Fifth Element - Tremendous A/V quality; especially on the Superbit version.
Back to the Future - Currently only available in a box set with II and III.
Time after Time - H.G.Wells vs. Jack the Ripper!
The Abyss - Unfortunately, the current DVD presentation is non-anamorphic!
Jurassic Park - "All major theme parks have had delays. When they opened Disneyland in 1956, nothing worked, nothing." Dr. Ian Malcolm: "But if the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists"!
King Kong (1933) - Coming to Region 1 DVD for the first time in November.
I would very much like to recommend 'Forbidden Planet' but the current DVD transfer is dreadful.
Some good "kids-oriented" SCI-FI with great DVD transfers would include: 'Titan A.E.', 'The Iron Giant', and the recently released 'The Incredibles'.
(Of course, many of the 'Superhero' movies could be considered Sci-FI. Of those, the original Superman (1978) is probably the most Sci-Fi oriented, and the current DVD of that movie is very nice.)
The Day the Earth Stood Still Close Encounters of the Third Kind E.T. Metropolis Minority Report Planet of the Apes StarGate The War of the Worlds 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Then, there's good TV stuff: Doctor Who Space: 1999 UFO
I'd second many of the ones already mentioned. I'll also suggest the following which I don't think have already been mentioned:
Soylent Green The Andromeda Strain Sleeper Timecop X-Men Men In Black Mad Max The Road Warrior Westworld Futureworld The Final Countdown Logan's Run Galaxy Quest Cocoon K-Pax Fantastic Voyage Predator Silent Running Vanilla Sky Frankenstein
Hmmm... I stayed away from spoiler thread But from what I read in the imdb summary it sounds very interesting. While its not my typical movie the subject is something I probably will enjoy. Thanks I'll pick it up next time I'm out.
Background: the project was started by Stanley Kubrick, and passed on to Steven Spielberg - two men with entirely different styles. Both styles show through in the film, and are at odds with one another. The whole thing seemed kind of schizophrenic to me.
Gattaca Minority Report A.I. Vanilla Sky Blade Runner (but the transfer is terrible) 12 Monkeys The Lathe of Heaven (original version, but the transfer is terrible because they lost the actual film and had to use a worn-out videotape to make the DVD)
Campy-fun or otherwise lighthearted:
Fifth Element Stargate Men in Black 1 + 2
More action/adventure than science fiction:
Terminator 2 Alien
Historical:
Metropolis (proves Citizen Kane doesn't deserve the hype)
Kane tends to get hyped up in film schools as being responsible for films having narrative structure, realistic sets, interesting lighting, and all the other elements which today's films have. But you look back on a film like Metropolis and it is clear that these "vikings" (as Wells dismissively called everyone who had done what he later did) had it down already. I was simply highlighting that you can look very far back in time and still find some excellent films.
Well RogerH, like I said, this isn't a film for everyone, Your Milage May Vari. You may wish to rent it first as is seems to be a polarising film....not a lot of middle ground in the opinions it pulls out of people, I thought it was an extremely smart & effective film.
Adding to that, Blade Runner, Man Who Fell to Earth, Slaughterhouse Five, Silent Running, Logan's Run, Farenheit 451, Galaxy Quest, Barbarella, Solaris (Tarkovsky)...
The titles listed are all great suggestions for Science Fiction films.
I have a grouping of DVDs that I consider the landmark titles, the ones that were influential, and are favorites of mine that I never get tired of.
In no particualr order, they are:
The Day the Earth Stood Still 2001 Forbidden Planet War of the Worlds Invasion of the Body Snatchers Blade Runner The Time Machine The Thing Metropolis- (a title I have, but not seen yet!) Things to Come-(a title I don't have yet) When Worlds Collide Earth vs the Flying Saucers
The majority of the titles are from the 50's, a golden era for Science Fiction films. The last title is kind of goofy, but it's for fun. Like today's films (2005 version of WotW) that are likely influenced by the current events of the world, the 1950's sci-fi is also infliuenced and disquised as commentary for the Communists scare of the era, particularly Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
I am also a long time Star Trek fan and I think the list should include Star Trek-The Motion Picture, of all the Star Trek feature films, it is perhaps the purist vision of Star Trek crossing over into hard Science Fiction over socially conscience content for which the original series is best known for. It's also the largest film in terms of really feeling like a feature film, director Robert Wise influence no doubt.
Pitch Black The Chronicles of Riddick Thirteenth Floor Existenz Solaris Imposter Event Horizon Universal Soldier 6th day Primer The Final cut Brainstorm The Arrival Lost in Space Species Screamers Returner - I’ve never seen this but is one I want to rent Enemy Mine They Live Cherry 2000