The Top 10 Moments in Sci Fi

As decided by Sky TV

I was watching this run down on BSkyB's flagship channel, where they were detailing the top 10 moments in Sci Fi.

I'm going to list them here, but I have to disagree with some of them. And after I think about it some more, I'll put my own top 10 up. But for now, here they are, and feel free to comment:

10) From "Empire Strikes Back" : Vader's reveal "Luke, I am your father"
Probably the most startling moment in the original trilogy, this was the thing which shocked the audience the most, and caused multitudes to wonder if it was true. The fact that Vader is Dutch for "Father" apparently never gave anyone the heads-up.

9) From "Blakes 7" : The ending of the finale.
Cited by JMS as the best ending to any show, ever. Like any SF effort by the BBC, its budget was around 50 cents an episode. But what made this show amazing, was the writing. I remember revisiting the show in the late 90's, and my father (who didn't like SF as a rule) telling me that this was really good. Any doubts you might have that the show was kiddy fare, is dispelled in the first episode when you discover a political dissident is framed by the administration on kiddie-porn charges, and mindwiped.
This show was all about how one man could fight the system. Except he lost! Hah! The final episode ends with the hero being killed by his eponymous best friend, and all the rebels get shot. Long live the Federation!

8) From "The Matrix" : The Bullet Time sequence
At the time, a truly revolutionary scene. Even Keanu's wooden performance couldn't detract from this amazingly fluid camera technique. It's a shame that the german version of the movie can't do justice to Trinity's wonderfully brusque "Dodge This!" instead having her say "Only a machine!"

7) From "Quatarmass And The Pit" : Opening the Pod
Again, a classic SF movie, with more emphasis on plot than effects. As such, this is the first one that I really have issues with. I don't think this belongs on the list. Granted, the way the movie takes you by surprise.. thinking it's an unexploded WW2 shell, before revealing it's true alien nature, is a cool shock to those who didn't know what they were getting. But the actual opening of the Pod, IS let down by the effects.

6) From "Planet of the Apes" : The Statue of Liberty reveal
This scene has been lampooned so often now, it's hard to remember how powerful it was when we first saw it. From the brain of Rod Serling, if memory serves, this twist ending hit the audiences hard, leaving most of them in shocked silence. Tim Burton can suck Rod Serlings big one.

5) From "Doctor Who" : The Dalek invasion of Earth
Now, I'm a fan of the Doctor. I think that show had some terrific moments in it, and when it was good, it was very very good. But this? No no no no no no. The Dalek Invasion of Earth wasn't that good a story. The reveal of the Dalek coming up from the water, was "meh!" tv. But then, I never found them scary anyway.
I guess a large part of this had to do with not seeing a lot of the early Doctor Who stories, and encountering them in novel form. The series translates better into the written word in many ways.
So no, if you had to pick a moment, the first time he regenerates is probably the one to go with. It changed the show forever, and was unique in SF, lending beautifully to the series' longevity.

4) From "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" : The communication via music scene
No one, who has seen this movie, can forget the five note tonality which represented the "let's make contact" theme. Dah dah dah -- DAH DAH. Seeing this in a stereo theatre in the 70's, when the base kicks in and rumbles you in your seat... Awesome moment.

3) From "ThunderBirds" : The opening titles.
I have nothing to say, except, whoever picked this is doing some serious drugs. Marionettes in the top 10 of SciFi?

2) From "Alien" : The Chest Bursting scene
Talk about your terrifying moments. You just know that in today's world, a moment like this would be featured in every promo and advert for the movie, because todays coke-addicted advertising execs love blowing their wad in some bizarre premature ejaculatory frenzy. Must be all that soggy biscuit playing those freaks do.
For a first time viewer of this movie, who had no idea what to expect, this was the scene that made you proud to be a man. Just knowing you'd never be pregnant, looking at your belly, knowing something was growing inside of you, and having this memory in your head... God, it was GREAT to be a man.

1) From 2001 : Hal goes mad.
Open the Pod Bay doors please Hal.
This moment, I think, is put in there for those technophobes who still think digital watches cause cancer and the betamax is trying to kill them. Again, totally fabulous movie, but this moment doesn't deserve to be here.

So there they are. I'm sure everyone has their own favourites. I'm going to have a think about mine, and put them up later.
posted by Manchild at 11:30 PM