And behind door number 22... a guide to some music of the more traditional kind
Catherine Munn and Jacob Martin list their Top 5 programmes to watch over the festive period.
And behind door number nine... some dazzling musical delights
The complete arts guide, for week 9
Ah, science fiction films. Quelle horreur. What kind of nerdy social pariah, you may ask, would be an open fan of them – let alone pay enough attention to compile some kind of ranked list? Surely these are the folk who will live in their parents’ houses well into their 30s(although, given the current unemployment statistics, that will now include just about everyone), are notoriously badly dressed and have dubious standards of personal hygiene. And they probably dress up as Chewbacca in their spare time. Of course, we need these people to program our computers, design our websites (like The Yorker), invent new gadgets to generally improve our lives, and make us look more attractive by comparison. But apart from all that, what are they good for? Well, apparently some of the greatest movies of cinematic history have been written, directed, and financed by nerds. I know – I was shocked too…
10. Alien (1979)
The director Ridley Scott’s first big film, in which Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) battles the now iconic aliens which burst out of people’s chests and just won’t die. So much so, that they returned for three sequels and two prequels, where they proceeded to do what Arnold Schwarzenegger couldn’t and take down the Predator. Don’t watch it alone.
9. Sunshine (2007)
In the year 2057, the Sun will decide to expire earlier than intended. In a last-ditch bid for survival, humanity sends a team of scientists to reignite the dying star with a nuclear weapon onboard the spaceship Icarus (not a great name considering its mission). Past Mercury, they receive a transmission from another ship, and things begin to go horribly, horribly wrong.
8. Terminator 1 & 2 (1984 & 1991)
Discerning readers will see this is actually two films. Well spotted! Unfortunately, there are no prizes here at The Yorker. The reason for this duopoly is that good old Arnie (sorry, Governor Arnie) just can’t be contained into one film. As the hard-talking robot from the future, he first attempts to murder people, then reforms to become the good guy. Or something.
7. Back to the Future (1985)
Marty Mcfly (the always loveable Michael J. Fox) is a down and out loser, with no prospects and a horrible family. However, after a phone call from his scientist friend Doc, he finds himself travelling through time in a converted station-wagon, significantly improving his life in the process.
6. Planet of the Apes (1968)
Astronaut Taylor (Charlton Heston) gets caught in a time warp (although he doesn’t know it), and is sent into the future, where the earth is ruled by damn dirty apes. Of course, the costumes may look cheesy now, but back in the ‘60s it was all cutting edge. Probably.
5. Jurassic Park (1993)
Steven Spielberg’s adaption of Michael Crichton’s novel was, quite frankly, amazing. Innovatively designed CGI dinosaurs burst out of their enclosures and endanger their handlers, including Jeff Goldblum. The film which taught us to never underestimate velociraptors’ ability to operate door handles.
4. The Man from Earth (2007)
What if, by biological freakery, a caveman from 14,000 years ago had never died, but had instead witnessed all of human social evolution since before recorded history began? That’s exactly the question which Professor John Oldman asks his colleagues at his farewell party. However, it may be more than just a hypothetical question…
3. The Matrix (1999)
Monumental effects and stunts abound as Neo (Keanu Reeves) fights for his life in the artificial reality of the matrix. Probably one of the coolest films ever made, it did spark an annoying trend for wearing trench-coats and sunglasses indoors. What sequels?
2. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
I know what you’re thinking, but this is the exception to the general crappiness of Trek. Not many films manage to be thrilling, uplifting, and use the works of Shakespeare, Milton, Melville, Dickens and C.S. Forester as touchstones. This film, however, does it all with ease.
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, in which two astronauts and one increasingly homicidal computer travel to the further reaches of the solar system, on a mission that will change humanity’s destiny forever.
um.....Star Wars: A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back? Brazil? Aliens? and oh i dunno...BLADERUNNER?
I think it's a pretty decent list. Star Wars would have been far too predictable, but it's a pity Blade Runner isn't included. Not sure about Planet of the Apes either.
The Man from Earth is such an underrated film - no special effects whatsoever, just leaves everything to the imagination. So is Wrath of Khan, but that's probably because it looks too nerdy.
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