It’s time for tech … It’s time for Tech … it’s time for TECHTAINMENT TUESDAY!

If you imagine that title as a little jingle reminiscent of School House Rock or something similar, then it is more fun. Anyhoo, yes, it is once again Techtainment Tuesday boys and girls. I had some trouble trying to come up with something this week. Due to circumstances that are beyond my control, I feel totally tired and brain dead so far. I think it might be sympathy tiredness. Is that possible? I know sympathy weight gain and morning sickness, but can I be sympathetically tired and just out of it? But I digress …

I figured that with the Oscars so fresh in our minds, I would do another movie type thing. Now, I haven’t watched the Oscars yet, (I DRVed them so I could fast forward past the musical numbers) so don’t tell me who won. Just kidding, I know who won. I also know that they did a couple of tributes. They did one to John Hughes, who taught me how to be a geeky teenager in the 80’s, and they did a tribute to Horror movies. I heard that some of them weren’t really horror movies but still, Roger Corman won some kind of award and that ROCKS!

Today, I am going to do my own little tribute to Science Fiction movies. Science Fiction is defined by Webster (from 1851 mind you) as: fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component. Wikipedia understandably has a much longer definition which you can read here if you are so inclined.

While I do enjoy a wide range of Sci-Fi, I don’t consider myself a Sci-Fi geek. Well, maybe a little bit with Stargate, but that is about it. I do know my trivia from Star Trek and Star Wars and what not. I have my own clone trooper, but I do not live in my mother’s basement, I am married, I have a job, and am expecting a child. I also do not have any uniforms, prosthetic forehead ridges or ears, cannot speak Klingon and have never been to a “Con”. (Although, I would go to the Stargate convention IF I win the free tickets.) Ok, so maybe I am on that fine line bordering geekdome. All of this is beside the point. My main point of today is to list out my favorite Sci-Fi movies. What a better tie in than entertaining technologically. Now, there are a lot more movies that I am sure I like, and watch over and over. But these are the ones that I thought of off the top of my head as I was writing this during lunch. I figure the first ones to pop in my head are the ones I like the most right?

I think that most of these are agreed upon to fit into the Sci-Fi genre. There are a lot of others that could be considered Sci-Fi/Fantasy, as they are sometimes lumped together, but I am not so much for the fantasy part … I changed my mind, as I was sitting here thinking to movies I wanted to list as examples, I realized there are a lot of movies that I would consider “fantasy” that I like. Once again, I digress. That will be another day’s blog when I can’t think of anything.

Oh yeah, the movies. Listed below, in alphabetical order as to not play favorites, are my top 16 Sci-Fi movies. Why 16? Just how many I thought of. This is not an all time list as everyone’s opinions vary greatly. This is just MY list of some of MY favorite Sci-Fi movies. I will say that I think my wife has only seen 2 or three of these and didn’t like one of my favorites, TRON, at all. I made her watch it so she would be ready when the sequel comes out. I am starting to babble again, here they are:

• 2001: A Space Odyssey – A classic! I recommend reading the book first so that the movie goes a little faster for you.

• Altered States – I have wanted to try a deprivation chamber ever since seeing this movie. If you have seen it you know why.

• Blade Runner – Would you help a turtle that is on it’s back?

• Day The Earth Stood Still (original) – Classic McCarthy era paranoia. Don’t want to even see the remake. The message and times are what made this one so good.

• Fantastic Voyage – Shrinking down and Raquel Welch in a tight wetsuit. Says it all.

• Forbidden Planet – Any movie that makes the lyrics of “Late Night Double Feature Picture Show” is a classic in my book. Plus, Robby the Robot!

• Gattaca – Weird, creepy and disturbing. LOVE IT!

• Godzilla (1954) – Any of the Godzilla movies from Japan with the guy in a rubber suit are great.

• Logan’s Run – Only live until 30? I know a lot of people, including me who didn’t start living until after that. (One of the better spoofs on Family Guy by the way.)

• Planet of the Apes (1968) – Apes taking over. I think my dog is secretly watching this one too often.

• Scanners – Now THIS is a power I want to have. Lots of people who’s heads I would like to explode. David Cronenberg classic.

• Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back – I think the best one. Love Hoth, Darth is Luke’s father, yada yada.

• Stargate – If I could, I would SO go through the gate. This is probably my most geeky thing.

• The Andromeda Strain (original, although the mini-series wasn’t too horrible)– Scary to think that it could totally happen. Could you hit the fail safe?

• Them! – Giant ants. Scared the bejeezus out of me as a child. Still get wigged out if ants  are crawling on me.

• Tron – For its time. GREAT effects. When the sequel comes out this year (December 17 I understand after watching the trailer) they can advertise “Starring Oscar Winner Jeff Bridges”

Well, those are my favs. I know, kind of a long post today but what the heck. Thow out some suggestions for GOOD or CLASSIC sci-fi movies.

Until next time … Klaatu barada nikto!

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