So I'm a big sci-fi geek and this list is straight to my core. My first sci-fi show that I can remember watching in depth was Star Trek: The Next Generation. After that I was hooked. Keep in mind the dates i have are not necessarily continuous runs of shows just first and last year. Also for shows with multiple iterations I put them under one umbrella. Although I'll keep this to just the series and not Hollywood movies.
Honorable Mention:
Twilight Zone (1964-2003) Rod Serling's Masterpiece of sci-fi, suspense, and horror.
The Outer Limits (1963-2002) The same format as Twilight Zone but it came first and had a greater emphasis on sci-fi.
Sliders (1995-2000) Great start for a show but the last season fell apart when they lost Jerry O'Connell.
Quantum Leap (1989-1993) To be honest only slightly sci-fi. Really they just used sci-fi as a driver to some really good stories.
The Pretender (1996-2000) A brilliantly conceived show. Shame it was cancelled before resolved. The two follow up T.V. Movies didn't really resolve it either.
Highlander (1992-1999) A series based on my favorite movie. It took the concept more into depth. There was a very short spin-off series afterward.
The X-Files (1993-2002) Chris Carter's masterwork. A believer and a skeptic teamed up to solve mysteries and crimes no one else wants.
10. Lost (2004-2010) The first season of the show was marvelous. Each following season they continued to add new mysteries until the end of the show. It fell victim to it's own great mysteries. It was impossible to explain everything plausibly in a short time.
9. Farscape (1999-2003) If Gene Roddenberry and Jim Henson were best friends this would be the result. It was a great sci-fi show that did have puppet work over CG.
8. Fringe (2008-2013) In the X-Files investigation style this show deals with multiple dimensions in ways that work surprisingly well.
7. Eureka (2006-2012) Sci-fi comedy at it's greatest.
6. Star Trek (1966-2005) Classic franchise with so many iterations over the years that it's hard not to find something you like in one of them.
5. Doctor Who (1963-?) What can I say about the longest running sci-fi series ever? So many Doctors, one Tardis and many companions it's constantly improving.
4. Firefly (2002-2003) A western in space that was cancelled far too quickly.
3. Stargate (1997-2011) SG-1 was is the longest running continuous sci-fi series. All of the Stargates are very well done.
2. Battlestar Galactica (2003-2009) Ok this is the only show that I am not using all the iterations. The 2003 reboot is so well done that I've gotten people that hate sci-fi to watch it. It's characters are horribly flawed and that's what makes it work. It's a solid drama set in space.
1. Babylon 5 (1994-1998) A miraculous universe created by J. Michael Straczynski. His imagination seemed to know no bounds and the characters and story arcs are so well done that it is hard not to get hooked on this show.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Top 10 Surprise Endings
Most of us love a surprise ending. I will sit through the most boring move in the world for a good surprise ending. Actually one of the movies on this list one of my favorites bored me to death the first time I saw it. After that I love to look for the clues through the movie. This is a very difficult list to cut down to 10 especially being my first post, so I think some honorable mentions will make it worth it.
Honorable Mentions:
Memento (2000) This masterpiece of editing does not exactly have a surprise ending, more that it has a surprise beginning. If you've never seen the movie it will make more sense if you see it. It has some confusion at first but it soon comes together in this marvelously done film.
Se7en (1995) This is another great movie. It does have a surprise ending but the surprise only has a five minute build up to it. It was worth an honorable mention on this list.
Soylent Green (1973) This movie is dated and has a nice surprise ending, however it's been spoiled so much over the years you probably know the famous line.
Psycho (1960) One of Hitchcock's masterpieces. This one has the original surprise ending. Worth a watch if you don't think you'll be staying in a hotel anytime after.
10. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) This movie has probably the worst spoiled ending line of all time even more than Soylent Green. A great build up and one of the best kept secrets only George Lucas, Mark Hamil, Irvin Kershner, and James Earl Jones knew this line until premier. Everyone else was told it was a different line.
9. The Others (2001) This movie was great and had a nice surprise ending, albeit a bit predictable. Still a solid film for this list.
8. Planet of the Apes (1968) Classic movie remade, but the original is far better. The surprise is nicely done. This movie survives the test of time.
7. Twelve Monkeys (1995) A unique piece of time traveling work with an ending you weren't even expecting to expect. It comes out of no where and really is well done.
6. Identity (2003) A very well done thriller surprise ending. Should have figured it out before I did but when I did I was most impressed.
5. The Prestige (2006) I call this movie Batman vs Wolverine. I mean come on it even has Alfred in it. It has a really nice mix of characters and the casting was marvelous. The ultimate surprise was a little weak but well worth the price of admission. This is a solid movie.
4. The Game (1997) This movie blew my mind when I first saw it. I still years later am wondering if the movie is over :) j/k. But it will keep you guessing until the credits roll.
2(tie). The Sixth Sense (1999) This was THE "don't ruin the surprise" for most people. Sadly M. Night Shyamalan had to peak from his first movie but wow what a start. See it and I recommend watching the bonus features they clue you in to the hints in the movie to look for upon watching it again.
2(tie). Fight Club (1999) This movie kicks ass in so many ways. The surprise ending is awesome but the movie it's self is pretty kick ass so even if it didn't have the surprise ending the movie would still rock. R.I.P. Robert Paulson.
1. The Usual Suspects (1995) This is the movie I listed in the opening to this post. I'm not a big fan of crime dramas. If you aren't then I say, "watch this anyway." If nothing the ending is so masterfully crafted into the movie you will want to watch it again to see what you've missed. This is the movie that causes me to examine every part of every movie and find myself rarely surprised.
Honorable Mentions:
Memento (2000) This masterpiece of editing does not exactly have a surprise ending, more that it has a surprise beginning. If you've never seen the movie it will make more sense if you see it. It has some confusion at first but it soon comes together in this marvelously done film.
Se7en (1995) This is another great movie. It does have a surprise ending but the surprise only has a five minute build up to it. It was worth an honorable mention on this list.
Soylent Green (1973) This movie is dated and has a nice surprise ending, however it's been spoiled so much over the years you probably know the famous line.
Psycho (1960) One of Hitchcock's masterpieces. This one has the original surprise ending. Worth a watch if you don't think you'll be staying in a hotel anytime after.
10. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) This movie has probably the worst spoiled ending line of all time even more than Soylent Green. A great build up and one of the best kept secrets only George Lucas, Mark Hamil, Irvin Kershner, and James Earl Jones knew this line until premier. Everyone else was told it was a different line.
9. The Others (2001) This movie was great and had a nice surprise ending, albeit a bit predictable. Still a solid film for this list.
8. Planet of the Apes (1968) Classic movie remade, but the original is far better. The surprise is nicely done. This movie survives the test of time.
7. Twelve Monkeys (1995) A unique piece of time traveling work with an ending you weren't even expecting to expect. It comes out of no where and really is well done.
6. Identity (2003) A very well done thriller surprise ending. Should have figured it out before I did but when I did I was most impressed.
5. The Prestige (2006) I call this movie Batman vs Wolverine. I mean come on it even has Alfred in it. It has a really nice mix of characters and the casting was marvelous. The ultimate surprise was a little weak but well worth the price of admission. This is a solid movie.
4. The Game (1997) This movie blew my mind when I first saw it. I still years later am wondering if the movie is over :) j/k. But it will keep you guessing until the credits roll.
2(tie). The Sixth Sense (1999) This was THE "don't ruin the surprise" for most people. Sadly M. Night Shyamalan had to peak from his first movie but wow what a start. See it and I recommend watching the bonus features they clue you in to the hints in the movie to look for upon watching it again.
2(tie). Fight Club (1999) This movie kicks ass in so many ways. The surprise ending is awesome but the movie it's self is pretty kick ass so even if it didn't have the surprise ending the movie would still rock. R.I.P. Robert Paulson.
1. The Usual Suspects (1995) This is the movie I listed in the opening to this post. I'm not a big fan of crime dramas. If you aren't then I say, "watch this anyway." If nothing the ending is so masterfully crafted into the movie you will want to watch it again to see what you've missed. This is the movie that causes me to examine every part of every movie and find myself rarely surprised.
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