I loved the discussion we had in the Total Recall Remake thread about what constitutes "good" sci-fi.
Does it provide any sci-fi intellect? Or is it a disguised sub-genre movie (run and gun, chase, generic action). If you remove the sci-fi elements, what movie would you end up with? How directors combine sci-fi with intelligence, or is it merely a backdrop that adds no value to the underlining story?
What do you think about this list of The 50 Best Sci-Fi Films Of The 21st Century (So Far)?
Listed here for convenience since they have them across several pages:
50. “Remainder” (2015)
49. “2046” (2004)
48. “Advantageous” (2015)
47. “The World’s End” (2013)
46. “Midnight Special” (2016)
45. “Another Earth” (2011)
44. “Serenity” (2005)
43. “Coherence” (2014)
42. “Cloverfield” (2008)
41. “The Martian” (2015)
40. “Never Let Me Go” (2010)
39. “Signs” (2002)
38. “Hard To Be A God” (2013)
37. “Star Trek” (2009)
36. “The Mist” (2007)
35. “The Prestige” (2006)
34. “Monsters” (2010)
33. “A.I: Artificial Intelligence” (2001)
32. “Interstellar” (2013)
31. “Edge Of Tomorrow” (2014)
30. “Battle Royale” (2000)
29. “Melancholia” (2011)
28. “Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes” (2014)
27. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
26. “Beyond The Black Rainbow” (2010)
25.”The Clone Returns Home” (2008)
24. “Sunshine” (2007)
23. “Wall-E” (2008)
22. “Donnie Darko” (2001)
21. “Ex Machina” (2015)
20. “A Scanner Darkly” (2006)
19. “Minority Report” (2002)
18. “Looper” (2012)
17. “Gravity” (2013)
16. “Attack The Block” (2011)
15. “Inception” (2010)
14. “Snowpiercer” (2014)
13. “Solaris” (2002)
12. “District 9” (2009)
11. “The Host” (2006)
10. “Holy Motors” (2012)
9. “Primer” (2004)
8. “Timecrimes” (2007)
7. “Moon” (2009)
6. “Her” (2013)
5. “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015)
4. “Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind” (2004)
3. “Upstream Color” (2013)
2. “Under The Skin” (2013)
1. “Children Of Men” (2006)
As far as I can tell, there's a few films on here that don't belong when you stick to the 'intelligent sci-fi' rule: Star Trek, Star Wars, Children of Men, District 9, The Martian, Mad Max: Fury Road,
Otherwise it's a pretty good list. A few movies in the 40 range that I haven't seen.
Anyone see Remainder? Advantageous? Timecrimes?