Back to the Future: Cool Sci-Fi Retro Movies

Had enough of big pastel coloured CGI effects? Tired of prequels that try to force feed familiar characters into the story that eventually looks like a Southern in-bred fest? Looking for that old magic that made going to the movies fun again? Wanting to sell a used '67 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500? Wait... I'm rambling again aren't I? Tired of all these sentences ending in a question?

Alright let's talk cool sci-fi retro movies. That's right I'm talking bout old school nuts and bolts special effects movies that were done with limited budgets, but STILL managed to rock my world. (Note these films are not in some kind of chronological order or countdown... I'm too lazy to categorize 'em).

Let's start with:

Star Wars - Let me clarify, when I say "Star Wars" I'm talking about the very first movie (No not Phantom Menace). I mean the first movie released in 1977 that is now titled "Episode IV: A New Hope". This for me is George Lucas' seminal work that encompasses Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, Akira Kurasawa WWII dogfights and every western ever made. This movie was done the hard way with physical models, real stormtroopers, actual sets and the only computer graphics in sight were the one's that appeared on a monitor screen. This movie was the epitome of cool when Lucas had the edge, before lapsing into self parody with muppets and teddy bears.



Forbidden Planet - How can you get any better than Shakespeare's The Tempest in Space? This movie broke new ground in 1956 with the introduction of Robby the Robot, the use of an all-electronic music score and awesome special effects (For it's day). Also the movie features Canadian born actor Leslie Nielson in a serious role as Commander John J. Adams (before he went all "Airplane" and Frank Drebin on us). The cast also includes Warren Stevens as Lt. "Doc" Ostrow AKA the Kelvan named Rojan in the Star Trek TOS episode "By Any Other Name", Richard Anderson as ship's engineer Lt. Quinn AKA Oscar Goldman of "The Six Million Dollar Man", and let's not forget Anne Francis as Altaira... Va Va Voom!!!

War of the Worlds - No I'm not talking about 2005 film starring scientology guru Tom Cruise, I'm referring to the 1953 Version produced by George Pal and directed by Byron Haskin. This version starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson involved stunning special effects which were head and shoulders above the standard B-movie fare that was popular at the drive-in's of that time. A conscious effort was made to avoid the "flying saucer" look producing the famous manta ray death ships. The aliens were actually really cool and the film contains iconic moments such as the destruction of the Eiffel tower at the end. The crashing of the Martian war machine with the entry port opening up and showing the dead Martian's limb coming out was a scene repeated in the new film as well.

Alien - In space no one can hear you scream, and such was the case with this 1979 Ridley Scott classic featuring one of the most iconic extraterrestrial designs ever conceived by surrealist artist H.R. Giger. Part sci-fi, part horror "Alien" was downright scary. The movie has both perfect timing and pacing allowing a slow build up that is both moody and realistic. The "Alien" set designs are the most memorable in film history being otherworldly and dare I say it sexual in appearance. (Heck the monster itself is literally a big dickhead!!!). The characters portrayed in the film come off as being realistic and approachable and launched the careers of Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerrit, John Hurt, Ian Holm et al.

which brings us to...

Planet of the Vampires - Mario Bava Italian Sci Fi/Horror director supreme brought this gem to life in 1965. Why is it relevant? Bava used the mirror-based Schufftan Process to combine live action with miniatures that avoided the costly matte/optical printing techniques. The story is actually above par with atmospheric moodiness and scale and there is even a scene with the crew exploring a derelict spaceship of unknown origin complete with giant skeletal remains that harkens to the film mentioned above. The crew were comprised of an international cast meaning that the portrayer's spoke their lines in English, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian making some interesting lip syncing, but most importantly the film featured hot female actresses in latex spacesuits.

The Day the Earth Stood Still - Okay much like "War of the Worlds" I'm not referring to the recent 2008 picture starring chisel faced and wooden acting Keanu Reeves, I mean the original 1951 movie directed by Robert Wise with Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal and Hugh Marlowe. The most stunning effect was the saucer itself that had no seams when opening up imitating an experimental substance that acts like living tissue. Once opened, the rift appeared to heal like a wound, leaving a continuous surface with no scar. Another reason that makes this film great is the fact that it was one of the first movies to reverse the plot and presents mankind as a threat to the universe and the alien as a peaceful emissary from the stars.


Blade Runner - Ridley Scott you magnificent bastard!!! In 1982 you managed to create a SECOND sci-fi masterpiece starring Han Solo portrayer Harrison Ford. Based on the Phillip K. Dick Novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" Blade Runner is a world unto itself depicting a futuristic version of Los Angeles circa 2019. The miniatures of the city were worth the price of admission alone and the Spinners or flying cop patrol cars were the icing on the cake. The movie is classic film noir and serves as a benchmark for science fiction films set in an urban motif.

Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers - In 1956 stop motion god Ray Harryhausen gave us an alien invasion that destroyed major landmarks in the United States 40 years before Roland Emmerich's "Independence Day". This classic directed by Fred F. Sears starred Phillip Marlowe (The Day the Earth Stood Still) and Joan Taylor as a husband and wife team that discovers that alien forces from a dying planet are attempting to take over our little world for their own diabolical purposes. The highlights of the movie come near the end as the saucers crash into every recognizable Washington landmark that exists.

and finally...

2001: A Space Odyssey - In 1968, a year before man landed on the Moon Stanley Kubrick gave us the grand-daddy of all sci-fi films. Based on the Screenplay written by Arthur C. Clarke, 2001 is a cerebral journey noted for its scientific realism and visual effects. In 1991, it was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress. Kubrick's stunning attention to detail redefined the look of sci-fi films and remains as the pinnacle of technical achievement that all other movies of the genre are based on.

When the Earth Cracked Open - For those of you who are asking about the picture at the top this Movie was never made by Hammer Films, I just added it in because I thought it looked cool.