Recommendations?

POSTED BY: Lindale
UPDATED: Monday, June 29, 2026 07:49
VIEWED: 18845
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LINDALE

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 3:49 AM

I'm in the scifi club at U of IL. What we do, or at least, what we did last year and will probably do this coming year, is to have random discussions as well as sitting around and watching tv shows and movies. Oh, and eating pizza. The pizza is key. :) Last year we watched FF, lots of Star Trek (all the incarnations, with an emphasis on TNG and DS9), Babylon 5, as well as almost all of Futurama and Family Guy (so it's not scifi, meh. it's good times :) ). We also dabbled in Dr. Who, Farscape, Stargate SG1, Red Dwarf, Brimstone, Clerks, Undergrads, MST3K, random 80s classics (lol, like Captain N) and prob a few others I can't think of right now. The thing is, I'm trying to put together a list of shows we can watch next semester, and I'm having trouble coming up with good either scifi/fantasy or cult shows. They don't wanna re-watch, so I feel like I'm running outta good material to draw from. (and we don't get the sci-fi channel, so we basically subsist on DVDs, downloads, and rentals) To get to the point of this post- could you guys recommend just good shows? Doesn't have to be strictly scifi/cult, tho that helps. I know a big one we haven't tried is X-Files, and I was also thinking of trying Cupid and maybe Alias (the Rembaldi thing's practically fantasy). Suggestions?

BELLOVESUS

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 4:07 AM

Well, the original Battlestar Galactica is not too bad. There was also a really stellar series called Blakes 7, a British series, that's reminiscent of Firefly in some ways. Look past the cheesey sets and effects to the wonderful characters. Past that, you could always watch Farscape, because I'm told it's actually quite good. There are some tolerable episodes of Andromeda out there, too, but they're tolerable at best. One show which would be difficult to get your hands on but well worth it is another short-lived Fox series (surprise, surprise) called Space Above and Beyond. Think Robert Heinlein meets television. Really good stuff. It used to come on Sci-Fi, so you might be able to wrangle some episodes on cassette. I'm not sure if they still show it or not. If not, the only way is bootlegs and they're typically kind of pricey. Oh, and speaking of Sci-Fi, you can always watch the Dune miniseries.

Anyway, hope this helps.

"The only fluid I see here is the puddle of piss refusin' to pay us our wage."

BELLOVESUS

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 4:12 AM

Nevermind, you said Farscape already, but all the other shows still stand. Oh, and though I was never a fan, there was a long running Highlander TV series as well, that would probably work. And, I'm not sure if you want to delve into Anime, but I'm sure there are some Anime shows out there that would work as well. I'm not a big fan, so I couldn't tell you which ones. You could of course always watch the Justice League cartoon, or Samurai Jack as well. Oh, and while we're on the subject of cartoons, you should throw in a few episodes of Johnen Vasquez's Invader Zim.

"The only fluid I see here is the puddle of piss refusin' to pay us our wage."

DEWSHINE

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 5:43 AM

Are you doing movies?
Pitch Black is a good film.
Umm, try Lexx, the older shows not the series.
Aliens movies would be good too.
Oh, and Ghost Busters if you haven't shown it yet.

ECGORDON

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 12:12 PM

Here's a few fairly recent series that were also yanked prematurely, but that I recommend.

American Gothic
Dark Skies
Nowhere Man
Prey

None are on dvd yet, but should be available as downloads.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

SHINYSEVEN

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 12:51 PM

Yay for the Blakes7 recommendation--I agree that the two series have a lot in common, although the B7 characters dislike each other much more than the Firefly characters do, which adds extra point to the constant squabbling.

Do you guys have a VHS player, though? Because B7 is not available on US-format DVDs. Season 1 (out of 4) is available on a British DVD, but if you buy it for your multiregion player, make sure you get the later-issue disks that DON'T have extensive skipping because of a manufacturing problem.

EST120

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 2:05 PM

Quote:
Suggestions?

definitely pick up the sci-fi channel version of dune. that is quite good (and long, it will eat up more than one sitting). i think dewshine is right. go for some movies.

"i can't comprehend the ways that i miss you, they come to light in my mistakes."
-neko case

HIGHIRON02

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 6:29 PM

There was a thread posted here not too long ago about essential Sci-Fi. There is a tremendous list of good stuff. Here is a list of some of my favorites:

Dark Star (cult classic)
Gattica (Must see)
Fifth Element (hi-larious)
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (BBC)

Anime has a tremendous impact in Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Here are a few recommendations:

LAST EXILE-Two vanship pilots (couriers), while delivering a package find themselves swept up in a grand epic. Excellent use of 2D and 3D GCI. Complex character motivations. Presented in 26 25 minute episodes. When viewed, it is more like a continuous movie 11 hours long. (Highly Recommended)
.HACK//SIGN-While playing an online adventure game, one player can't log off and return to reality. Interesting concept.
TENCHI MUYO-17 year old Tenchi, suddenly finds himself living with 5 alien women. Chaos ensues.
(hiliarious)
ARMITAGE OVA-Naomi Armitage, a living, breathing, thinking, feeling android cop, caught in the middle of human riots against androids and uncovers a conspiracy to murder third type androids.

Other acclaimed series but not seen:
Mobile Unit Gundam Wing
Neon Genesis Evangelion

Hope this helps

We got you partially surrounded.

WREN

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 6:41 PM

John Doe and Witchblade have established cult followings. John Doe was cut after one season, Witchblade made it to season two. They are both rather dark though.

HJERMSTED

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 6:52 PM

Track down the DVD set of The Prisoner immediately.... a surreal hippy-era sci-fi/psycho drama from Britain that is not to be missed.

The 80s BBC version of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is low budget but fun.

Also, don't forget about Twin Peaks (sadly, the second season of which is not yet available on DVD in the States )

Cowboy Bebop is worthwhile and entertaining, though the movie may not make as much sense if you haven't seen the episodes.

mattro

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