Loren Wiseman's Annotated Science Fiction Filmography

Loren Wiseman's Annotated SF Filmography

People often ask what movies and/or TV shows I watch, both for inspiration in my RPG writing as well as entertainment, so here they are (order them from Amazon using the links below, and I will get a kickback from Amazon, at no extra cost to you). These are presented in alphabetical order, by series title when relevant, and with my (sometimes rambling) comments. For those of you who are wondering, I haven't had cable since 1996, and this explains the absence of many popular SF series (including, but not limited to Farscape and Andromeda) from this listing -- I've never seen very many episodes of them. I'll try to avoid spoilers (major ones, anyway), and include just my comments on the movies in question. I have not separated out the "serious" films from the rest . . . some of the funniest films weren't intended to be that way.

[A] [B] [D] [F] [G] [H] [L] [M] [O] [Q] [S] [T]

- A -

The Alien Movies

Alien was more of a horror movie (kind of a "haunted house in space") than an SF movie, but I liked it (and the series of films it inspired) a great deal. A fifth film is rumored to be in the works.

The "look" of Alien -- that slightly grimy, "lived-in" look -- found its way into many of William H.
Keith's illustrations for Traveller.

The second film in the series had more SF/military elements, and inspired a number of visual
elements in GDW's 2300 AD, in addition to being the inspiration for the name "colonial
marines."

I disliked Aliens 3, for several reasons, partly because of the overall tone, but mostly
because of the way the characters of Newt and Hudson were casually killed off within the first
few minutes. When I am asked if there is anything I regret about my life, I often answer
jokingly: "The only thing I regret is paying full price to see Alien 3."

I haven't seen Alien Resurrection, but I'll probably see it eventually (I've heard good things).

If you want all four films in one package, this is the way to go. I'm not sure if the convenience
of having everything in one package and the extras they always put in things like this
outweighs the presence of Alien 3 in the bundle (which I'll get little use out of).

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- B -

Babylon 5

In my local market, this series was shown at (seemingly) random times and it took me a few episodes before I began seeking it out. I managed to catch the first and second seasons, but starting with the third, it came on in the wee hours, and (since I had a day job and needed sleep) I couldn't stay up and watch everything, so I ended up missing sections of subsequent seasons. Watching it on DVD, it's easier to see the connections, links, and foreshadowing. I like many of the actors in this series, the plot is interesting, and the characterization compelling. Traveller and Babylon 5 both drew from the same wellsprings, so similarities are inevitable. The fifth season came out on DVD not too long ago.

Back to the Future Trilogy

The main reason I like the Back to the Future trilogy is Christopher Lloyd's performance as
Dr. Emmett L. "Doc" Brown. The trilogy is entertaining, and if you don't waste too much
time and energy trying to make sense of the science, all three are worth watching.

Battlestar Galactica Miniseries

This is a remake of the 1980s TV series, and is vastly superior.

Bladerunner

Based on Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and a real delight, although
it did not influence my Traveller writing much.

Brazil

Brazil was originally a dark comedy that the studio tried to lighten up in an effort to make it
more commercial. I much prefer the original to the so-called "love conquers all" version. The
"1940s high-tech nightmare" visuals make either version a treat, however, even though it will
be of value to Traveller referees only in the strangest of campaigns. Still, it is worth watching.

Buckaroo Banzai

John Lithgow's performance steals this comedy, and I could not possibly describe it in a
thousand words . . . it is gut-wrenchingly funny. It seems that the 1939 "War of the Worlds"
broadcast chronicled an actual invasion, starting in Grover's Corners NJ, and . . . well, that
would be telling, wouldn't it? "No matter where you go, there you are."

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- D -

Dark Star

Dark Star is a cult favorite, and any self-respecting SF film fan should see it at least once.
"Teach it phenomenology . . ."

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Gort the Robot scared the bejabbers out of me when I was a kid, watching this on Saturday
Night at the Movies (I think on CBS, but I can't remember). This is one of those films where
the superior civilizations out there in the galaxy tell us to behave ourselves and eat our
vegetables . . . or else. I often wonder what Robert Heinlein thought of this film -- I can
make a guess, but I don't really know for certain. This film, in case you've been in a cave on
Pluto for the last 50 years, is the source of the joke: "Klaatu . . . Barada . . . er . . . uh . . . "

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- F -

Firefly

This was one of the best SF TV series ever created, and was cancelled before it really had
a chance. Many Traveller fans consider it the closest thing to a Traveller movie/TV series
ever created. There are dozens of things to lift and use in your Traveller (or other) campaign,
and some of the greatest lines in any medium. A movie (Serenity) is slated for release in
September 2005, and the complete series (14 episodes including three never broadcast in the US).
One can only hope that the movie will be such a success that the series will be started
up again.

Flash Gordon

Someone remarked to me once that some movies are better than they have any right to be,
and this, I guess is one of them. Everybody has their "guilty pleasure" movies, and this is
one of mine. Loosely based on the comic strips and the 1930s serials, this version stars
Melody Anderson as Dale, some quarterback-turned-actor whose name I've forgotten
as Flash, Brian Blessed chewing the scenery as Vultan, King of the Hawkmen, Topol as Dr.
Zarkov, and the inimitable Max Van Sydow playing Emperor Ming the Merciless (and
evidently enjoying every second of it -- the man was born to play evil overlords -- his best line:
"Are your men on the right pills?"). Add in a soundtrack by Queen, the sinfully gorgeous
Ornella Muti as Ming's treacherous daughter (as required by the Evil Overlord's union), and
a collection of sets and backdrops reminiscent of those "World of the Future" paintings from
the 1930s. You'll believe that space is sky blue and has fluffy white clouds . . .

Forbidden Planet

One of the classic SF films, the plot of this one is loosely taken from Shakespeare's The
Tempest. The DVD cover, of course, is based on the original movie poster, which has
nothing much to do with the movie, except the two characters depicted (a robot and a
gorgeous woman) do appear in the film. I guess the promotional people for the movie thought
the reality of the film needed jazzing up. Anyway, Robbie (the robot) became one of the
most famous robots in movies/TV, doing guest spots on numerous shows -- including a
couple of Twilight Zones and an episode of Columbo.

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- G -

Galaxy Quest

This is a sendup of SF TV, SF conventions, and SF fandom. The opening scenes (the
autograph table at an SF convention) filled me with a sense of deja vu, because I've been
there -- behind the table, signing autographs. This is a comedy, spoofing SF movies, and of
little direct relevance to Traveller (although there is an interesting SF campaign idea here),
but it is a very entertaining film and well worth watching.

Grand Tour - Disaster in Time

I think this one was originally called Timescape -- in any case, it features Jeff Daniels in one
of his less famous roles. The premise here is that tourists from the future visit famous
disasters in the past, and Daniels' character discovers their secret. The science is a little
clunky around the edges (try not to think about how they actually go about traveling through
time -- or the time machine itself), but there's nothing too outrageous since the plot centers
more on the characters than the technology. This is another one of those films that is better
than it has any right to be.

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- H -

Hardware Wars

One of the first spoofs of Star Wars, using household appliances (the star destroyers
are steam irons, etc.). The creator(s) of this also produced another film I wish I could lay my
hands on called Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind ("Gotta build a mountain . . . in your
living room.").

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- L -

Logan's Run

It's the future, and life is idyllic in a city one step short of paradise . . . provided your
definition of paradise includes being sacrificed on your 30th birthday. This is a bit of fluff,
but worth watching to see Jennifer Agutier at her prime (or Michael York, if you will) -- and
so you can understand all the "glowing gem in the palm of your hand" jokes. Farrah Fawcett
(anyone who remembers her poster raise your hand and wheeze) makes one of her first
film appearances as a bubble-headed blonde, but since most of the city is pretty bubble-
headed, she fits right in. Another guilty pleasure.

The Lord of the Rings films

OK, these aren't SF, but they are spectacular. There are many people who believe that Tolkein's trilogy revitalized the fantasy genre in the 1960s, which paved the way for role-playing games in the 1970s. I've seen all three of these, but I'm not going to get them in DVD until The Return of the King is out and I can get all three at once in the special super-duper Iridium edition with all the bells and whistles in one swell package.

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- M -

Metropolis

German director Fritz Lang produced this silent classic in 1927, and it was one of the first
dystopic visions of the future -- and one of the first SF films, period. A lot of SF movies are
cautionary tales about how the future will be messed up "If this goes on." I blame WWI and
the Lost Generation. All things considered, however, this is a great film and worth seeing. This
is the Kino Video DVD release, probably the best readily available version.

Millennium

I like this film, but for no good reason other than seeing Daniel J. Travanti (playing a
professor) explain the limitations of time travel: basically, time travelers have to go where
nobody will see them -- or at least where nobody will remember them. They can only do
things that won't be noticed. They can take things back with them, but only things that will not
be missed. And, if you want to find time travelers, you should start looking where nobody
should be. This is not one of Chris Kristofferson's best roles, but the film is nicely put
together, and has a robot named Sherman (but no Mr. Peabody).

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- O -

Outland

Detractor's of Firefly claimed it was a "western in space" -- as if that were a bad thing.
Outland essentially lifted its plot from the western movie High Noon, but it worked, largely
due to the ability of Sean Connery to make just about any role interesting. The sets and props
are a partial inspiration for my "mind's eye" vision of Traveller.

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- Q -

Quantum Leap

"Oh boy!" A television series where multi-talented genius Dr. Sam Beckett is shuffled around in time by a higher power, evidently to make some minor editorial corrections to history -- try not to think about that part too much. Enjoy the plots, the characterization, and the dialogue.

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- S -

Silent Running

It's the future, and all the remaining trees are in a space station in orbit around Earth, but the
bad guys want to destroy the forests for reasons that are a little unclear. Bruce Dern tries
to save the last of the trees (and evidently boatloads of cute furry critters in the bargain), and
in the process we get a film with a lot of cool visuals (given the time when it was made) and a
cautionary "If this goes on . . . " message.

Soylent Green

Charlton Heston as a future cop and Edward G. Robinson (in his last performance) as
Heston's research assistant. Allegedly based on Harrison's Make Room, Make Room! this
is another of those dystopias with a cautionary message that we should clean up our act or
bad things will happen. Is there anybody who hasn't seen this one yet? "Soylent Green
is people!" is too widespread for me to believe it can possibly be a spoiler.

Stargate & Stargate: SG-1

I had trouble finding a station that ran this series, so I missed most of the first several seasons, but I am rapidly remedying that through video rentals. The background does not fit in well with the official Traveller Third Imperium background, but referees who don't run campaigns set in the official universe could use them directly. Of primary interest to the Traveller referee: this series is a wellspring of ideas for first contact situations, and inspiration for characters and subplots.

Star Trek

Star Trek has become a franchise, and has expanded considerably beyond the original TV series. Those of us old enough to remember the original series know what a true step forward it was. Star Trek wasn't the first SF on television, but it became the standard against which all others were judged. Star Trek paved the way for Star Wars, Andromeda, Farscape, Firefly, and many others. I've included links to the original three seasons -- Amazon's search feature will help you find the Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, and Enterprise.

Star Wars

The film that started it all -- Star Wars: A New Hope -- seems a little trite 25+ years down the road, but it was a watershed in many ways. Traveller and Star Wars (1977) are permanently linked in my mind. I don't know how many of you have ever seen Star Wars on a big screen, but seeing it on a normal television screen doesn't do it justice. For a description of when Marc Miller and I saw it for the first time, go to my Traveller page. Star Wars was a watershed, it was history-making. The Empire Strikes Back was better in many ways, but it was not the ground-breaker the first movie was. Whenever I think of Traveller, I inevitably think of Star Wars -- and vice versa. Purists will complain that the only version of the film readily available is the revised, re-worked, "Han shot second" version. You'll have to search for the earlier versions on the used video market -- I have all three on VHS and I'm not giving them up.

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- T -

The Terminator Series

All of the constituent parts Terminator series are uniformly good. Unlike a lot of sequels, the second movie is equally as good as the first (and the first was surprisingly good).

H. G. Wells' Things to Come

Based on the story by H. G. Wells, this film premiered in 1936, and the scene of hundreds
of enemy bombers crossing the channel to bomb London was greeted with jeers by the
critics -- one can only hope they enjoyed eating crow a few years later. This is one of the
classic early SF films, and seems a little silly to the modern eye ("the gas of peace"), but
it's worth seeing. Some of Wells' pessimism came through, despite the director's best effort
to arrive at a happy ending.

Time After Time

H. G. Wells (Malcolm MacDowell) invents a time machine, and Jack the Ripper (David
Warner, again playing the bad guy to perfection) uses it to escape to the future, with Wells
in hot pursuit. I like David Warner as just about any villain, and MacDowell does a good job as
a "fish out of water" in 1980s America.

Time Bandits

This one is great (another triumph by director Terry Gilliam), and includes a stellar
cast, including David Warner as the personification of Evil (a role he carries off immensely
well), Ralph Richardson as the Supreme Being, and cameos by Sean Connery, John Cleese,
Shelley Duvall, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Michael Palin, Kenny Baker,
and many others. The plot is a little complex, so I won't try to summarize it, other than to say
that it hinges on a map of the totality of history -- something I'd love to get my hands on.

Timecop

This is another one of those films that's better than it has any right to be. This one deals with
the usual paradoxes in a unique (and not unpleasant way).

Tremors

The first Tremors movie is such a treat that the goodness slops over into the second film and makes it possible to recapture some of the vibes. I haven't seen the subsequent films, or the TV series. Technically speaking, this is a monster movie rather than an SF movie, but Finn Carter's performance convinces me that this is a science fiction movie and the science is geology.

12 Monkeys

This is a time travel mystery/thriller, where a not-too-bright prisoner is forced to travel back in
time to prevent a hideous plague from killing billions and driving civilization to the brink.

2001 & 2010

Stunning visuals make 2001 a ground-breaking movie, and one of the classics of the SF genre. Some people may find the special effects simplistic, but it helps to remember that these were accomplished before computer generated images made it cheap and simple. 2010 is a later film, and I find it slightly less impressive, but satisfying nevertheless.

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