Obscure and/or underrated sci-fi films

[goldenboy]

You guys, any sci-fi films you like that weren’t blockbusters? Something maybe sort of obscure or underappreciated? My picks:

Starman, John Carpenter—with Karen Allen, Jeff Bridges

Dark City, Alex Proyas—with Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly

The Arrival, David Twohy—with Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Crouse

Gattaca, Andrew Niccol—with Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman

[dashboardprophet]

You guys, any sci-fi films you like that weren’t blockbusters? Something maybe sort of obscure or underappreciated? My picks:

Starman, John Carpenter—with Karen Allen, Jeff Bridges
Dark City, Alex Proyas—with Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly
The Arrival, David Twohy—with Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Crouse
Gattaca, Andrew Niccol—with Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman

Can't argue with any of those choices...

I'll add:

Brother From Another Planet, John Sayles - with Joe Morton

[prydain]

I agree with Gattaca. I also find Van Helsing and Constantine to be underrated.

[Old Master]

I can think of two off the bat: Altered States (1980), with William Hurt as a scientist who submits himself to a series of mind-expanding experiments by enclosing himself in sensory-deprivation chambers and taking hallucinogenic drugs hoping to explore different levels of human consciousness....but instead succeeds in causing his body to evolve and devolve into things.......

and Alien Nation (1988), with James Caan and Mandy Patinkin.

[Akasha]

oh...i saw GATTACA in my bio class...i really liked it

and ive wanted to see constantine since it has came out...looks like a serious version of Dogma

[Anita Blake]

What about Mystery Men. That movie is absolutely hilarious!

[Vilandra]

Totally agree on Gattaca - class film. :)

Also from the horror genre - Dog Soldiers. So good!

[Anita Blake]

I haven't ever seen Gattaca but I want too. Have ya'll seen The Day the Earth Stood Still? That's a pretty good sci-fi movie as well. And Mars Attacks. That's pretty funny as well.

[Vilandra]

Both are great, yes :)

[N4H]

There's one I have on my top ten list, but I can find very few people to discuss it with. They either haven't seen it, or didn't like it. I think it's something special, and as witness to that I can't help noticing little bits and pieces of it have been borrowed by other in the sci/fi genre ever since it came out.

It's called Strange Days.

[dashboardprophet]

There's one I have on my top ten list, but I can find very few people to discuss it with. They either haven't seen it, or didn't like it. I think it's something special, and as witness to that I can't help noticing little bits and pieces of it have been borrowed by other in the sci/fi genre ever since it came out.

It's called Strange Days.

Is this the film written by James Cameron and directed by Kathryn Bigalow (she also made 'Near Dark')? A friend of mine mentioned it to me not long ago, saying I should watch it. I'll have to check it out.

[blackdog]

There's one I have on my top ten list, but I can find very few people to discuss it with. They either haven't seen it, or didn't like it. I think it's something special, and as witness to that I can't help noticing little bits and pieces of it have been borrowed by other in the sci/fi genre ever since it came out.

It's called Strange Days.


It's been a few years since I saw this. Not a bad movie.

I agree with those of you who have mentioned Gattaca. A very underrated movie that I suspect will be more appreciated in the future.

Kurt Russell's Soldier is a favorite of mine.

[Vilandra]

I've seen it - I can't say it's my favorite film, but it was interesting and Ralph Fiennes was really good in it :)

[Bored of the Dead]

I re-visited a movie a few nights ago, Disturbing Behaviour, with Katie Holmes and James Marsden, and i gotta say, its a very entertaining, and interesting film and concept.

[Vilandra]

I really love that one, I have to say :)

[goldenboy]

I can think of two off the bat: Altered States (1980), with William Hurt as a scientist who submits himself to a series of mind-expanding experiments by enclosing himself in sensory-deprivation chambers and taking hallucinogenic drugs hoping to explore different levels of human consciousness....but instead succeeds in causing his body to evolve and devolve into things.......

and Alien Nation (1988), with James Caan and Mandy Patinkin.


Aww man, I saw Altered States when I was a kid and it freaked me out. Some of the freakiest hallucination scenes of any film—with the goats and crucifixes and stuff.

[prydain]

I say this all the time (maybe not on here), but The Island is COMPLETELY underrated. I think it's the best sci-fi movie of 2005.