Dr. Ted Butryn's

Science-fiction Movie Recommendations

Movies are in no particular order!

1. Minority Report (2002) worthy fare starring Tom Cruise and Colin Farrell...worth the rent for the eye-replacement scene, and it raises some serious questions about technology and surveillance.

2. Rollerball (197?) Skip the horrendous remake and check out James Caan at the protagonist...good critique (or glorification?)of sport violence and corporate sport.

3. The Omega Man (1971) & Soylent Green (1973) OK, so the acting and special effects aren't impressive, nor is Heston's acting, but that's part of their charm I think...dated, but decent storylines that should still resonate today.

4. Fantastic Planet (1972) I think this is on my other list, but definitely check out this animated tale...from France, but in English.

5. The Andromeda Strain (1971) I know, another 70s film, but this one is ahead of its time, in plot if not in effects...the acting is better here as well in this story about a biological space-germ that accidently gets released...again, who really knows what's clinging to falling space debris and returning shuttles?

6. Escape from New York (1981) I saw this at the drive-in (with Scanners as the double-feature) when it came out...what were my parents thinking! Kurt russell is good, as is the incomparable Harry Dean Stanton, in this one...not sure about its value as social critique, though...

7. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Classic, classic, classic! One of the better social commentaries in here as well...check it out!

8. eXistenZ (1999) Cronenberg's above-average take on video games of the future...plug your game into your "bioport" and who knows where you'll end up...but is it real? Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jude law are really effective here as well.

9. Blade Runner (Director's Cut) (1982) an amazing film in story, performances, and set. Ridley Scott (Alien, Black Hawk Down) may be one of the most versitile directors ever...Harrison Ford is nearly perfect as Deckard, who may...well, you'd better watch it yourself! A must-see for sure.

10. A Clockwork Orange (1972) This probably disturbs quite a few folks, and rightly so...Stanley Kubrick's use of image, both shocking and beautiful, as well as his use of music, are incredible, as is Malcolm McDowell's performance as Alex, the man who would be reformed!

11. Gattaca (1997) A good film about our not so perfect genetically-designed future where gene manipulation has launched the newest social hierarchy. Good performances by Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, and Jude Law. Actually, read Huxley's Brave New World before you do anything!!!

12. Solaris (1972) Yes, long before cheeseball (but improving actor) Clooney and company botched the remake, there was a haunting, weird, and, well...sloooow original that is still a good watch.

13. Strange Days (1995) Pretty underrated (Ebert loved it, but it made only like $3 million!) story about black market virtual reality software that lets you experience the scene, even snuff scenes! A bit overdone in sport, but Angela Bassett & Ralph Fiennes are good.

14. Total Recall (1990) Yes, Arnold is actually really good in this tale about mutants and rebellion on Mars. Pretty violent, but the images and atmosphere of Verhoeven's Mars are potent. Check out Robocop (1987) by Verhoeven as well...excellent movie, excellent social critique, and Peter Weller is great.

15. Fahrenheit 451(1966) Francois Truffaut's worthy, if a bit stilted and weak on the F/X, treatment of the Bradbury novel that portrays a dystopia in which reading is illegal.. Good for its message and visuals if nothing else--with all the hours kids spend on video games today, you'd thing reading WAS illegal! Check out the dvd, which has a few cool extras.

15. The Matrix (1999) This is on my main movie list, but I figure it needs to be here as well.

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