Classic SF...opinions....

[Harvey]

2010 (1984)

Not as notable as Kubrick's original, but a watchable sequel that is much more conventional than its predecessor. It's never had a decent release on DVD or Blu-Ray, though.

Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (1970)

If you want to take a look at one of the sequels to Planet of the Apes, you'll probably be best just seeing them all. Fans will tell you that either the second, third, or fourth movie in the series is the best sequel (with the third installment, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, being the most favored), but most will agree that the final film in the series, (Battle for the Planet of the Apes) is the worst.

Bride Of Frankenstein (1935)

It's terrific, though I'd consider it camp horror long before I thought about applying it with the sf label.

Capricorn One (1978)

The sf elements (the voyage to Mars) aren't the key to the story. It's much more of a conspiracy thriller in the vein of All The President's Men or Three Days of the Condor. It's also directed by Peter Hyams, who helmed 2010: The Year We Make Contact.

The Fly (1986)

It's better than the original, or either of its sequels. But not for the faint of heart--David Cronenberg doesn't shy away from gore.

Gattaca (1997)

It's one of the best sf movies released in the 1990s, and the Blu-Ray has a terrific transfer.

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)

Again, I can't recommend this film enough.

Marooned (1969)

I haven't seen it, but it's mentioned quite a few times in the book Screening Space, so if you do see it don't hesitate to share your reactions.

October Sky (1999)

It's not an sf movie at all--it's a drama about a few young men who build model rockets in a coal mining town in the 1950s. However, it's quite well made, and one of my favorite movies with the space race as a back drop.

The Right Stuff(1983)

Not sf, obviously, but probably the best movie made about the early days of the space race.

The X-Files: Fight The Future (1998)

If you have the series, the first feature film is an integral part of its mythology (it takes place between seasons five and six).

The X-Files: I Want To Believe (2008)

Fans were pretty divided over the second feature film, but it may be the final word on Mulder and Scully. If you're invested in their characters, it's worth seeing. It's a Monster of the Week type story, but with a strong emphasis on character.

 

[Warped9]

My "items of interest" list are things I'm pretty settled on getting. I've seen the vast majority of items on that list and it's just a matter of acquiring them.

Yes, I have all of The X-Files season sets so the two films just round it all off. No, I'm not interested in TNG after season three because then it began to bore me, and that includes the TNG films. I also don't care for STIV-TVH.

The initial films I had in the OP are the ones I've yet to add to the list as well as some of the suggestions posted that I hadn't thought of.

Original posted list:
Destination: Moon (1950)
When Worlds Collide (1951)
Them (1954)
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea (1954)
Conquest Of Space (1955)
This Island Earth (1955)
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956)
The Time Machine (1960)
Silent Running (1972)

Worthy suggestions so far:
Metropolis (1927) - I've actually see this on TCM, but I admit I had a hard time staying interested.
Things To Come (1936) - I think I've seen this quite sometime ago on TCM.
Invaders From Mars (1953)
Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers (1956)
First Spaceship on Venus (1960)
Robinson Crusoe On Mars (1964)
Five Million Years To Earth (1967)
Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun (1969)
The Andromeda Strain (1971)
Soylent Green (1973) - I've seen this once on TCM. I think I need to watch it again.
Time After Time (1979) - I remember quite enjoying this when it was first released.

 

[Harvey]

In that case, let me suggest a few things you haven't listed. It might also be helpful if you had a list of titles you weren't interested in, besides Star Trek, as your tastes in the franchise are well known on this board.

If you're a fan of the PK Dick original, Richard Linklaiter's adaptation of A Scanner Darkly might appeal to you. It's very, very faithful to the source material.

A recent Spanish film, Time Crimes, has a simply yet terrific take on time travel. Primer is also worth watching if you're interested in a harder sf take on time travel.

If Cronenberg's The Fly appeals to you, a look at some of his other sf ventures (particularly Scanners and Videodrome) might be worth it as well.

By the way, how does The Mask of Zorro qualify as sf?

 

[Warped9]

By the way, how does The Mask of Zorro qualify as sf?

I guess I just lumped it in with the superhero genre which is (in many cases) tangentally SF.

 

[Harvey]

Ah, I see. I'd describe it as an action-adventure film before calling it a superhero movie, but it is Zorro...

Have you seen The Prisoner (1967-1968) by any chance? It's a genre-bender, but there's definitely a strong grounding in sf in the setting. The transfer (and features) on the recent Blu-Ray release are well worth a purchase if you like the series.

 

[Professor Zoom]

By the way, how does The Mask of Zorro qualify as sf?

I guess I just lumped it in with the superhero genre which is (in many cases) tangentally SF.

Do you have the Rocketeer (the rocka who?) It's a great movie. Fun plulpy adventure with a James Horner soundtrack.

I don't remember if it was on your list or not.

It's one of my personal favorites.

 

[Kirkman1987]

Ah, I see. I'd describe it as an action-adventure film before calling it a superhero movie, but it is Zorro...

Have you seen The Prisoner (1967-1968) by any chance? It's a genre-bender, but there's definitely a strong grounding in sf in the setting. The transfer (and features) on the recent Blu-Ray release are well worth a purchase if you like the series.

Oh yes! The Prisoner is fantastic!

 

[Warped9]

I know of The Rocketeer, but have never seen it. I also know of The Prisoner, but again I've never seen it.

Just a note, but I received my confirmation of order from Amazon for Dracula (1931), The Wolf Man (1941), Them! (1954) and Silent Running (1971).

On another note this evening I watched only my second ever episode of the original The Outer Limits (I picked up Volume 1 this afternoon). The previous episode I saw was of a soldier from the future played by Michael Ansara some years ago. This evening I watched "The Galaxy Being" starring Cliff Robertson as a radio station operator whom makes contact with an alien from another galaxy(!). I have to say I was quite impressed overall as I thought it was well executed and done on what I consider to be an adult level for the early 1960s and still holds up pretty well. I'm looking forward to seeing other episodes.

 

[RandyS]

Regarding your "Items of interest" list, I strongly recommend:

Batman 1989

And the Batman 1966..

Oh right. I forgot that one. God catch.

I second that recommendation.

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

I'd suggest

The Day The Earth Caught Fire (1961)

British film that envisages a scenario where nuclear testing goes wrong. Prescient allegory of humans mucking up their own world.

Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969)

Gerry Anderson movie that postulates that Earth has a twin world on the other side of its orbit, where everything is mirrored.

The Shape of Things To Come (1936)

British film that envisaged the future unfolding over 100 years, with a prescient, and dark vision of a WWII that last 30 years, and future society re-building a utopia therafter. Screenplay by H.G. Wells

 

[Warped9]

Here's a link that lists all kinds of films: http://www.filmsite.org/sci-fifilms7.html

 

[Holdfast]

Destination: Moon (1950)
When Worlds Collide (1951)
Them (1954)
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea (1954)
Conquest Of Space (1955)
This Island Earth (1955)
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956)
The Time Machine (1960)
Silent Running (1972)

I've seen about half of those (probably more, but I can't clearly recall those others). Of them Silent Running is the best. One of a small handful of films I've cried at. And I'm not an emotional person, normally. No joke; get it.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

The Shape of Things To Come (1936)

British film that envisaged the future unfolding over 100 years, with a prescient, and dark vision of a WWII that last 30 years, and future society re-building a utopia therafter. Screenplay by H.G. Wells

^^
Joel getting nitpicky:

Actually, the 1936 film is 'Things to Come;' the 1979 film is 'The Shape of Things to Come.'

*
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Some other classic sci-fi:

*I Married a Monster from Outer Space
Been a long time since I've seen this, but not as campy as it's title....IIRC...

*Sleeper
Just watched this a couple of days ago; pretty funny.

*Westworld
I haven't seen this in a long time...

*It Conquered the World
Only mentioned because Beverly Garland is kinda hot and tough in this film...

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

The Shape of Things To Come (1936)

British film that envisaged the future unfolding over 100 years, with a prescient, and dark vision of a WWII that last 30 years, and future society re-building a utopia therafter. Screenplay by H.G. Wells

^^
Joel getting nitpicky:

Actually, the 1936 film is 'Things to Come;' the 1979 film is 'The Shape of Things to Come.'

*
​

You're right of course.

It's just the way I remember it in the TV listings when I last watched it.

 

[Kirkman1987]

I saw on your list a page back or so The Thing (1982). If you like it, check out the original version. I prefer the remake, but the original is very good.

 

[Warped9]

I saw on your list a page back or so The Thing (1982). If you like it, check out the original version. I prefer the remake, but the original is very good.

Actually I have seen the original a couple of years ago late at night on TCM. But I barely remember it since I was drifting off and couldn't keep my eyes open. In fairness I'd like to give it another chance when I'm wide awake.

 

[Python Trek]

Destination: Moon (1950)
When Worlds Collide (1951)
Them (1954)
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea (1954)
Conquest Of Space (1955)
This Island Earth (1955)
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956)
The Time Machine (1960)
Silent Running (1972)

I've seen about half of those (probably more, but I can't clearly recall those others). Of them Silent Running is the best. One of a small handful of films I've cried at. And I'm not an emotional person, normally. No joke; get it.

The "protagonist" is a terrorist---a murderer. You really enjoyed this film?

 

[Deckerd]

You obviously didn't like Silent Running. You're in the minority here.

 

[Kirkman1987]

Silent Running is worth seeing once. It's not even close to my top ten, but it's an enjoyable movie.

 

[Holdfast]

Destination: Moon (1950)
When Worlds Collide (1951)
Them (1954)
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea (1954)
Conquest Of Space (1955)
This Island Earth (1955)
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956)
The Time Machine (1960)
Silent Running (1972)

I've seen about half of those (probably more, but I can't clearly recall those others). Of them Silent Running is the best. One of a small handful of films I've cried at. And I'm not an emotional person, normally. No joke; get it.

The "protagonist" is a terrorist---a murderer. You really enjoyed this film?

Absolutely. It is possible to enjoy a film while disagreeing with a character's motives/actions.

Besides, everyone knows the real protagonists are the droids.