Take me to your leader!

Science Fiction to stir your soul

“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” 1950’s America was a place of paranoia and suspicion. As the McCarthy trials proved, America was well in the midst of bad case of them and us. The majority of the sci-fi made around this time utilized this, but “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” did it so wonderfully. Has been re-made since with pleasing results, but for me the original is the best.

“Alien” and “Aliens” I wont go as far as saying the sequel is better. For me both films are stunning, and offer the rarity of a strong female lead character.

“2001: A Space Odyssey” Ok, Ok I don’t really understand this film fully, but, visually this film is unparalleled.

“Things to Come” While this film is at times a little boring and a bit preachy (H.G.Wells has a rant about things); it does offer a wonderful view of the future. The special effects are stunning, considering this film was made in 1936. On a par with “Metropolis” for its futuristic viewpoint and being ahead of its time.

“King Kong” This film is the eighth wonder of the world. Willis O’ Brien breathes life into an 18 inch high model with some stunning stop motion effects. Remade in 1976 and currently being remade by Peter Jackson…because you just can’t trample on the memory of a great film enough. Quite racy for the time…Fay Wray’s breasts avoiding the censor, it was the first film popular enough to be re-released. I can’t praise this film enough.

“The Invisible Man” James Whale has given cinema so many icons…Frankenstein’s Monster, The Bride of Frankenstein, that bizarre family from “The Old Dark House” and of course a Mad Scientist extraordinaire in “The Invisible Man”. Claude Rains excels in his first major role as a scientist who finds the key to invisibility. Wonderful special effects and nice comic touches.

“The Thing” Highly influential Sci-Fi film that again utilizes 1950’s paranoia. Produced by Howard “I’ll give any genre a go” Hawks and re-made, with added gore, in 1982 by John Carpenter. Effective little film that has stood the test of time.

“Invaders from Mars” A truly scary film, that had a profound effect on me when I watched it as a child. Told from the point of view of a young boy as he witnesses his parents, friends and neighbours taken over by Aliens.

“Blade Runner” Don’t you just love Post modern, film noir, science fiction? Harrison Ford does Humphrey Bogart as an ex-LA detective seeking rebel androids. Very deep but beautiful to look at as well as engaging.

“Gojira” but you can call him Godzilla. While the Americans made films about cold war paranoia, Japan explored the after effects of the nuclear attacks of WWII. Made about 10 years after Hiroshima, American nuclear weapons’ testing inadvertently creates a monster that terrorises Japan. I love Godzilla movies; they have such a wonderful sense of fun and such cool creatures…Ebirah, Mothra, Gigan. Long Live Gojira, King of the Monsters!

This is by no means a definitive list...and in case you’re wondering the “Star Wars” films have been omitted because they’re simply a big camp space soap opera, and Jar Jar Binks is a crime against humanity.