Star Wars as fantasy - sure. I wouldn't say it was my number 1 fantasy movie (that would probably be LOTR) but I think it meets that definition a bit better. And yes, I do think movies like The Matrix and Blade Runner were great sci-fi. Maybe it's been too long but what was up with "the force"? It seemed like it was Eastern Mysticism applied to fantasy space fiction. I mean that the force was supposed to have good stuff and bad stuff but the vast majority of the characters seemed to have no access to it. How does it differ in essense from Harry Potter's magical abilities?
Oh yeah, for sure Back to the Future. That was my series growing up largely in the 1990's after it started coming out. For originality, back to the future takes the cake.
The Force isn't science: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/528857/science-fiction science fiction: Fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals, or more generally, literary fantasy including a scientific factor as an essential orienting component. But if you make the jump the Star Wars is a vision of human life in the future (instead of a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away), interacting with aliens, space travel, etc. It can be considered sci-fi, imo.
Everyone here is wrong - this is the greatest sci-fi film ever: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AMEc_MiLmgw&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AMEc_MiLmgw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> And don't give me any "it's fantasy" BS - everyone knows that we are only a few years away from genetically engineering boisterous bird people.
The Force came first? I always though Harry Potter was Luke/Anakin Skywalker ripoff. (I still enjoy it though) It looks like you need to a visit to Wookieepedia. http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/The_Force
I'm happy that Planet of the Apes got a mention. Would have to agree 2001 is the absolute top of the stack. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (and I'm serious) <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8Db4avDn1mc&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8Db4avDn1mc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
From Buckaroo... Rawhide: Dr. Banzai is using a laser to vaporize a pineal tumor without damaging the parthogenital plate. A subcutaneous microphone will allow the patient to transmit verbal instructions to his own brain. Observer: Like, "raise my left arm"? Rawhide: Or "throw the harpoon." People are gonna come from all over. This boy's an Eskimo.
Ummm, unless I am misreading your post I am terribly confused. You do realize that both Star Trek and Lost in Space started over ten years before Star Wars came out, right?
Who dares to argue with my wife?! Seriously, guys, she's right. Just give up and say you're sorry. Wikipedia is attempting to define the genre in a way to help people understand the population of books and movies that are out there, not trying to define the essence of the idea. It is trying to be inclusive. I think a better definition would be a work that explores the implications (classically philosophical) of scientific theories. Light sabers, land speeders, tie-fighters, the force, the death star, and droids are all in the movies, but the implications of none of these are explored in any depth; they are essentially ambiance. The deepest exploration of the ones you've mentioned is the force, which is not scientific at all. I think the most interesting truly sci-fi element is the intermingling of humans, aliens, and droids in a vast multi-racial society. But, there isn't any exploration of how that happened, what it means, how it works, etc. It too is reduced to ambiance. Compare that to something like Blade Runner, which deals with concepts like what it means to be human if the same consciousness can be made in an android. That's a real sci-fi.
I'm biased towards Kubrick movies so I will say 2001 but Blade Runner is an awesome movie. Others that I like (and pretty much all have been mentioned): Star Wars, Episode IV The Empire Strikes Back Return of the Jedi Alien AI Back to the Future A Clockwork Orange The Matrix Total Recall Wall-E Any love for Disney's "The Black Hole" from '79 or how about "Tron" - does that one qualify?
In SW there is also the theme of technology vs nature. "This station is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it." "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force." - Vader You have the Empire and the Death Star vs Yoda and his swamp etc. So I think there is a little more to it than just ambiance.
I'm going to go with 2001. And Planet of the Apes too. I'm with the Valdez's on Star Wars. Really liked them -- but not IMO science fiction. The technology/thinking/philosophy was much less a key element of those movies then the good v evil story. I didn't leave the theatre thinking about the future (technically the past, I guess), or different possibilities of thought. There was no "what if" scenario. Just a setting in space. (with really loud spaceships).
I'm a sci-fi junkie and I have to say that The Matrix is the best I've seen. Great mix of sci-fi and action. It doesn't get the love it should because it's sequels didn't live up to the hype. I'll agree with the consensus on the rest of the top choices. Stargate was a pretty cool Sci-Fi flick for it's time, and it gave birth to one of the greatest Sci-Fi TV properties ever.
I'll grant that as a theme. But, I don't know if I'd call that a sci-fi theme, since one half of the tech vs. Force struggle is completely made up. In that regard, perhaps you could hold it to a high philosophical standard for fantasy. So, perhaps a bit more than ambiance, but still not sci-fi.
I actually thought more about it and I think Team Valdez is on to something. Star Wars isn't an in-depth exploration of science fiction, it is more of a fantasy film that takes place in "long ago in a galaxy far, far away" Blade Runner, A Scanner Darkly, or other Phillip K Dick ventures really do define what sci-fi has the potential to be. We get glimpses into an alien culture, but the surface level things like light sabers, Darth Vader, things that are basically just "cool space versions" of things we have on Earth. Bladerunner on the other hand, is a contemporary masterpiece in which it delves into the intellectual problems facing human beings and non-human beings alike. Entities that live in a time and place where morality has to be completely redefined. Then you've got The Matrix that was "sexy" sci-fi where everyone is pair of walking sunglasses and trenchcoats who happen to know how to hack into computers. But it also brings in fascinating philosophical questions about reality and perception.
See, honey, we can gang up on peeps on the BBS and beat down their arguments with a coordinated tag-team.
