1. 2001- A space odyssey
2- Star wars episodes 4-6
3. Moon
4.Office Space
5. Kevin Spacey

As some of you know...I'm kinda comical at times, and a fan of Star Trek to boot....So given a fair warning, here is my list:

#1. Galaxy Quest (I can't believe it either, but, I first watched it last year and I now love it like my own big toe).
#2. Star Wars a New Hope (The first was the best, as far as I'm concerned).
#3. Star Trek First Contact (The Undiscovered Country and The Voyage Home are my two other favs).
#4. Aliens 2 (The best lines of any space movie: "Game over man," "...A dry heat," "RIPLEY!" LOL Any movie that can get me on an extreme edge and make me laugh is great).
#5. Independence Day (So many left and I know this one doesn't take place in space...but, it is one of the most memorable for me. I saw it July 4th when it came out..it was glorious, still is).

This would be up on the list if it was a movie instead of a series but, Odyessy 5 was a great show that got cancelled before it could end....If you like space shows, you'll like this one, ending or no, great story.

Hmm. I usually don't really like science fiction movies set in space, beacuse I think they are the wrong way to approach the genre. They have a tendency to boil down to a spectacle, and lacks the philosophy, imagination and atmosphere that I like about science fiction books and, to some extent, TV shows.

If I have to choose of the best space films, let's see...

1) 2001: A Space Odyssey (book is better)
2) Contact (book is way better)
3) Alien/s (can't decide which)
4) Star Wars (any of the films in the original trilogy. The prequals weren't that bad either, but not for this list)
5) Apollo 13 (dramatisation of one of the most dramatic events in human spaceflight. Works for me)

Honorable mentions:

6) Moon (who knew they made movies like this anymore? Gets two thumbs up from me)
7) Event Horizon (I usually get more grossed out than actually scared by horrors or thrillers, but this is probably one of the few exceptions. One hell of an atmosphere)
8) The Fifth Element (I didn't like it all at all when I saw it the first time. It is only recently I understood I wasn't supposed to take it seriously. Duh!)
9) Avatar (a fine sci-fi retelling of Pocahontas. I know some hate it, but I enjoyed it for what it is)

But again, in my opinion any of these movies are easily bested by any sci-fi books and some selected shows.

You two lack a sense of humor, for one. Just because one "grows up" one doesn't necessarily have to "outgrow" the films they loved as a child.

========================
Anyone noticing the pattern here? In that most here seem to loves films from their age and not much from other ages. It seems as we get older we fail to enjoy the films of later ages as time goes on, or disregard those of previous ages in some cases. I know there are exceptions, iot just irks me is all, to see nostalgia goggles get in the way of having fun watching more movies or enjoying them/etc.

I mean I like the old SW trilogy, the cheesiness of total recall, the slapstick of Spaceballs, the newer stuff like SW Phantom Menace & AVP 1/2, etc. IMO, making films more action filled doesn't mean I automatically give them bad marks, and I don't give all films from my era and before a free pass either. I weigh each on how it plays out, even if it doesn't mesh totally with others in it's series.

Well, I think you'll see that phenomenom in any list that requires some modicum of subjectivity. Whether it's movies, athletes (Gretzky is and always will be the greatest hockey player of all time), television shows, etc., people will naturally gravitate to the things that belong to their era. It's natural, I suppose, because it's what we know best.

I know...but imagine all we miss out on if we stick too much to that part of our humanity. All the stuff of ages lost to time/etc....like classical music.

Kinda strange to see a remark like this on this site haha...Bbut it is funny how often people say things like this, especially when they like to throw the word 'nostalgia' out there as a reason people like the things from their youth better. But that typically doesn't hold much weight when you consider that it means that they must not be able to like anything they read, watch, or play, older than the newest they have read, watched or played. On many occasions I've liked something much older than the new things that are out and have enjoyed. For example, I've played many horror type games, many of them newer. Recently I was able to get my hands on a copy of Parasite Eve for the first time to play it. It's now my favorite of the genre, even if it isn't strictly horror.... but if that doesn't count I also recently finally played RE2.... that's my second favorite

As for preferring things from your time. I'm 21 so i suppose my time would be 90's and 2000's. For games that sounds about right to be sure. But for everything else? My taste in movies tend toward at least 10 or 20 years before. Especially with music. And I know a lot of people same generation as me who are the same.... though I may be the oddball in that group too. Name a movie from the past few years and chances are I'd rather watch The Third Man again and for those of you who don't know that'd be from 1949.

Oh and by the way your hockey facts are wrong... the correct answer is Lemieux 0=)

^^ As I said there are exceptions of people liking stuff from all or many eras and genres, but the number isn't as high as those who stick to one-two eras(their own and possibly one more). Which is sad really...consider all that such people are missing out on.

I forgot about this movie. Is a good one!

1.) Serenity
2.) Empire / First Trilogy
3.) Wrath of Kahn
4.) Apollo 13
5.) Enemy Mine

So many to pick from, very hard to choose.

** Sunshine Spoiler Below *****










This is just my opinion of course... Not knocking anyone who liked it.

I saw many people picked sunshine... It was one of the best sci-fi space movies I have ever seen until the moment the sun zombie shows up... It was like they were trying to be very serious and realistic and then were almost done and decided.... you know what... Let's throw in a FUCKING SUN ZOMBIE... That would be AWESOME!! That's right... A sun zombie... I almost lost my lunch all over the DVD... could have been one of the greatest Sci-fi movies of all time... and now it is a big steaming pile of donkey crap. I am only this aggravated because it was so good up until that part... *sigh*

Most people seem to like Sunshine despite the plot twist, not because of it. Can't remember reading a single positive comment about it, even from glowing reviews. Maybe one or two at most.

In keeping with what genre I think the OP characterizes as a "Space Movie":

1) Moon: My favorite, a real thinking-man's "space movie" and a tour de force for Sam Rockwell. A meditation on many things; loneliness, identity, and even corporate exploitation of a type (without spoiling any plot points) more subtle than the usual "Evil Empire" characterizations in this type of genre film.

2) Contact: Carl Sagan's classic brought to life in an engaging philosophical presentation of ideas with a great ensemble cast (even if it can't capture all the essence of the source material, a typical problem). I even like Matthew McConaughey and James Woods in this, two actors who usually rub me the wrong way.

3) The Right Stuff: I enjoy good docudrama about momentous events and eras in history, and in dramatizing the early NASA program this truly has all the "right stuff."

4) First Contact. My favorite Star Trek movie (and the last one worth watching or with any merit IMO). Pretty much has it all. Suspense, action, pacing, time travel, a host of great character actors, and a drunken Troi. What's not to like?

5) Plan 9 From Outer Space: Due to its sheer, hilarious camp value from the master of the Z-grade, no-budget, ineptly written and directed B-movie. For me it's funnier than a 1000 Spaceballs and other films of its ilk.

1. Sunshine - I love everything about this film from the (in my mind) spectacular AV effects in space to the strange ruminations on humanity and religion that pop up in the end.
2. October Sky - There's obviously no space footage here but it's a movie all about building rockets. And repairing father son relationships.
3. Serenity - Loved the show, love the film a bit less but it was so good to see those characters continue into a new medium that I overlook any negatives about the film.
4. Star Trek - I'm preferential to the new JJ Abrams version because it was a nice action flick. It was kind of a throwback to those pulpier adventures that were filled with great set pieces and a good dose of character.
5. Galaxy Quest - I found it funny and enjoyed its satirical take on frothing fan boys and the pitfalls of fame.

my list is a bit different I think :)

1. Starship Troopers (only the first one)
2. Spaceballs
3. Leprechaun 4
4. 2001
5. Space Truckers

Serenity
Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan
Alien
Star Wars 5: The Empire Strikes Back
2001: A Space Odyssey

These are the first 5 that come to mind, but there's just so many I love. I could go on forever.