Super Hero vs. Science Fiction

A little off-topic, this one.  I was considering role-playing genre and inspirations for games (after Matt’s previous post) and I realised that I hadn’t seen a big budget science fiction movie released in ages.  Everything had either been fantasy, kids movie or a comic book spin-off.

Am I missing anything?  Apart from the Star Wars Episode III, has there been any scifi blockbusters in the last few years?

About AJ

Gamist: 14%, Simulationist: 29%, Narrativist: 57%. Ah, the irony.
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5 Responses to Super Hero vs. Science Fiction

  1. matt says:

    Well…..since 2000? Excluding (most) comics, fantasy, kids movies. I’m bolding some that I particularly liked.

    Godzilla (2000)
    Hollow Man (2000)
    Mission to Mars (2000)
    Pitch Black (2000)
    Red Planet (2000)
    Sixth Day, The (2000)
    Space Cowboys (2000)
    Titan AE (2000)

    Donnie Darko (2001)
    Evolution (2001)
    Ghosts of Mars (2001)
    Jurassic Park III (2001)
    K-Pax (2001)
    A.I. (2001)

    28 Days Later (2002)
    Clockstoppers (2002)
    Eight Legged Freaks (2002)
    Equilibrium (2002)
    Men in Black II (2002)
    Minority Report (2002)
    Rollerball (2002)
    Signs (2002)
    Solaris (2002)
    Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

    Core, The (2003)
    League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
    Matrix Reloaded, The (2003)
    Matrix Revolutions, The (2003)
    Paycheck (2003)
    Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

    Alien Vs. Predator (2004)
    Butterfly Effect (2004)
    Chronicles of Riddick, The (2004)
    Dawn of the Dead (2004)
    Day after Tomorrow, The (2004)
    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    I, Robot (2004)
    Shaun of the Dead (2004)
    Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
    Starship Troopers 2 (2004)

    Doom (2005)
    Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
    Island, The (2005)
    King Kong (2005)
    Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
    Serenity (2005)
    War of the Worlds (2005)
    Zathura (2005)

    Scanner Darkly, A (2006)
    V for Vendetta (2006)

    coming soon….

    Demolished Man, The
    Farenheit 451
    Jurassic Park IV
    Red Dwarf, The Movie
    Rendezvous With Rama

    and

    The 23rd Letter….ahem….

  2. Aidan says:

    Lengthy reply as I dissect the list. Any I leave out I haven’t seen.

    Godzilla (2000) – remake
    Hollow Man (2000) – flop (but not too awful a movie)
    Pitch Black (2000) – I thought this was horror (and hence haven’t watched it yet)
    Space Cowboys (2000) – Only barely scifi
    Titan AE (2000) – Enjoyable movie, although animated

    Donnie Darko (2001) – Good movie, but indie (i.e. not a blockbuster)
    Evolution (2001) – More a comedy
    Jurassic Park III (2001) – Better than the previous sequel
    K-Pax (2001) – Again, only barely scifi
    A.I. (2001) – arg … tooo … long ….

    28 Days Later (2002) – Horror (although I did see this one because I’m usually okay with schlock)
    Eight Legged Freaks (2002) – Comedy
    Men in Black II (2002) – Bad sequel
    Minority Report (2002) – Yes! This qualifies. Despite weak ending.
    Rollerball (2002) – Remake
    Signs (2002) – As much a horror as sci-fi.
    Solaris (2002) – Total flop.
    Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) – Franchise movie

    Core, The (2003) – Quite enjoyed this one
    League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) – Comic book
    Matrix Reloaded, The (2003) – Average
    Matrix Revolutions, The (2003) – Waste of time
    Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) – Sequel

    Alien Vs. Predator (2004) – Sequel
    Butterfly Effect (2004) – Still haven’t seen this and really must
    Chronicles of Riddick, The (2004) – See comment under Pitch Black
    Dawn of the Dead (2004) – Remake
    Day after Tomorrow, The (2004) – Loved this one, despite some inherent cheesiness
    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – Barely scifi
    I, Robot (2004) – Yes, this qualifies – I’d forgotten about it
    Shaun of the Dead (2004) – Comedy
    Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) – So much potential and yet so pants
    Starship Troopers 2 (2004) – They made a sequel?

    Doom (2005) – Computer game
    Hitchhiker\’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005) – Remake
    Island, The (2005) – Yes, this qualifies.
    King Kong (2005) – Remake
    Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) – Sequel
    Serenity (2005) – Loved it, but based on a TV show
    War of the Worlds (2005) – Remake
    Zathura (2005) – Kids movie

    Scanner Darkly, A (2006) – Still want to see this, but I believe it’s an Indie
    V for Vendetta (2006) – Comic Book

    So, there have been plenty of sci-fi movies I guess, just not much that’s been original and from a big budget house. That’s really not unexpected, when I think about. Didn’t realise they were making Rendezvous with Rama – I’d be interested in seeing that one.

    23rd Letter, eh? Coming soon to a YouTube near you?

  3. matt says:

    Mannnn, now the goalposts have moved….

    Didn’t realise you were looking for “Sci-Fi-u-like, but not comedy, kids, horror, sequel, based on a TV show or comic, or part of an established franchise….”

    Now we have the criteria nailed down we can get to the nitty-gritty….

  4. matt says:

    Well, that’s MATURE.

    Soap-dodger! :):):)

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