QUINTIX:
The Dark Crystal... David Bowie in Labyrinth simply creeped me out.

Thaaaaank you... about time someone brought this up, and surprised he hasn't listed it. This movie is about the most awesome thing done with puppets, ever. Hell, personally I'd replace E.T. with it, but maybe I'm just odd like that...

Very good list, Bob, but some titles could have been swapped-out...

The Terminator- Casting another vote for this one. As others have said, it pretty much defined the robot/apocalyptic Sci-Fi movie for decades to come.

Altered States- Presaged the paranoid/conspiracy sci-fi stories as evidenced by shows like The X-Files and more recently Fringe, as well as video games like Deus Ex.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind- More significant I think than E.T., which was really more of a thematic extension of CE3K when you think about it.

The Thing (1982)- Another vote for this John Carpenter classic.

Akira- Along with Robotech, it pretty much opened the floodgates for the popularity of Anime in the U.S. That alone makes it worth a mention.

The Dark Crystal- My girlfriend suggested this one, and I agree she has a point. It was a pretty big gamble for Jim Henson; none of the characters were really like the cute and cuddly Muppets he had been associated with, there were no human leads for the audience to relate to, and the whole setting was as weird and alien and original as anything seen on the screen at that time. Yet somehow it connected with those who saw it, which is why it's so fondly remembered today.

As for Part I, I was disappointed that George Pal's The War of the Worlds didn't get a mention, as it pretty much set the template for every other alien invasion blockbuster made since...including Steven Spielberg's and Tom Cruise's lame remake.

Blue-State:
I'm Surprised that I have actually seen most of these movies.
I LOVE Patrick Stewart but...

I liked the Scifi Channel's Dune Saga better Okay!?

*flame shield activated*

Onyx Oblivion:

I will now rectify all of these things by filling my Netflix queue for the next few months with all of the movies in your 2 part series.

Me to.
And If you're doing a part 3 Bob, might I recommend The Color of Magic directed Vadim Jean. I seriously think EVERYONE should see that movie. It's my Second Hand Lions of Scifi fantasy

I also preferred the SciFi dune saga. Possibly because, despite the obvious lack of cash involved, the narrative hewed reasonably closely to the books. I found the original film unwatchable. I would have put Highlander in this list in it's place, but then again Dune is referenced fairly often as a famous example of 'what not to do'.

I have seen a lot more of these then I thought

Onyx Oblivion:
Would you believe that I actually have seen the ultra obscure "Big Trouble in Little China", but somehow have NEVER seen the Star Wars trilogy?

Ultra obscure? Eh? Where do you get that from.

And I like JJ Abram's Star Trek :P
Yeah, I've seen and liked all the original movies too. Multiple times. But it's nice to see a big budget Trek movie for once. When the Enterprise lifts out of Titan's atmosphere, totally awesome.

I Approve!!! Good picks Movie Bob. And I've always wanted to see the movie Dune, so maybe now's a good time...

I've seen every single film you listed; most of them multiple times. I don't know what that says about me or you.

Kavonde:

the December King:

There exists an episode where Cthulhu attacks earth, that should be enough for all of you.

If it isn't, let me add: he's ultimately defeated by a zombie punching him in the brain.

Well, I actually think that's ridiculous, myself- cosmic horror should not be mixed with metahuman hero action, in my opinion- but when you're misquoted, I suppose one should roll with it.

Hehe, Oh Bob... You little nostalgia junkie.

It doesn't really surprise me the list doesn't go beyond 1992 (YOU may talk about the 2009 Indiana movie, but I sure as heck won't, the thing just doesn't exist). I mean, in your other show - the Game Overthinker, was it? - you pretty much admitted that you're a Nintendo fanboy solely because of the nostalgic fix it provides.

Probably like every 20+ still enjoying Nintendo, you've got to admit: apart from milking the cow, those guys sure know marketing. (that's a compliment, so no flaming)

Anyway, I would have put an anime or two in there, maybe some Asiamania stuff and some of the more recent Hollywood sci-fi flicks. Maybe Dark City, eXistenZ and/or Avalon; if you're looking for more 'influential' material.

But all an' all, a VERY interesting read, like always.

I find it interesting that he chose "Big Trouble in Little China", "Escape from New York" (both John Carpenter films and both starring the most awesome human being in existence), but left "The Thing" off of his list. Perhaps it's just because not everyone can get behind the film since it doesn't really appeal to EVERYBODY, but there is a solid reason it should have been on the list...it's the most important and impressive film in regards to how real pre-CGI can actually be. Sure, other films have used puppeteer work and the like with great success (the Alien series comes to mind, especially the end of Aliens) but there is always something about them that negates the effort. Lighting in Aliens is terrible (not the use of lighting, that's fine) so you can't SEE anything. In "The Thing", every aspect of the effects are right up front against a MOSTLY WHITE backdrop, and there is usually fire to illuminate EVERYTHING. No lighting tricks, no camera tricks, nothing blocked by set-pieces...it's just in-your-face, "look at how goddamned real and cool this looks".

I haven't read the rest of the posts in this forum, but surely SOMEONE else agrees...?

Adventurer2626:
I Approve!!! Good picks Movie Bob. And I've always wanted to see the movie Dune, so maybe now's a good time...

It's NEVER a good time to see Dune. NEVER. Unless you're reeeeeeeeeaaaaaally keen on seeing Sting in a banana-hammock.

person427:
That's a total of 78 movies mentioned there. Out of those, the ones I've seen at an age that I could remember them are...Tron. So, which of the other 77 should I start with?

You should skip all of them and start with "Cannibal Holocaust".

I thought movie nerds are identified by their ability to watch movies create outisde the Americas. Ever heard of Europe? Japan?

Plus, how can anyone omit The Godfather I+II or Dark City on any list of 'must see' and include Soylent Green on the same list, is beyond me.

i forget the name of the movie but its was insurmountable in supercharging my imagination.

it was about 3 boys who built a small craft that was held inside a small bubble that was created from a computer program that was transmitted from space. they then were brought to the space ship and explored it, only to find out the same aliens they were scared of were also terrified of them. its very reminiscent of 'the abyss' and for the life of me i cant remember which came first.

Yup Princess Bride should have been in there

I have to say, lists like this, to me, are just the critic/authour/whoever ramming their tastes down the throats of the reader. There isn't any real need to see any of these and lose your movie nerd cred if you haven't, because in the end, as long as you know more about your favourite movies then the average Joe would, chances are you're already a movie nerd.

In short

ahpuch:
I take this as a list of movies that Bob liked. Cool story bro.

Great list. But he missed WarGames. That movie was just amazing. It was the perfect mesh of the Cold War atmosphere, the early days of computer hacking, and simple teenage fun. It also had, in my mind, one of the greatest villains ever to hit the screen: the WOPR (or Joshua as it is also known). This is a master computer that has simulated World War III many, many times but doesn't understand that you cannot win a nuclear war. So when NORAD decides to hook up the entire American nuclear arsenal up to Joshua so that it can make decisions promptly, it sets up a terrifying scenario. When Matther Broderick hacks into the war games simulator on Joshua, the computer thinks that it is playing a game even it really holds the greatest nuclear arsenal in the world at its will. The HAL 9000 only wanted to kill the space crew of 2001. Joshua nearly destroyed civilization and mankind itself! I hope that I have made a good point here.

Yeah, I'd add The Thing to this list. And Return of the Living Dead (but mostly just because I love that one).

The only movies on both lists I've never seen: Metropolis (how I have never seen it is beyond me) and Labyrinth (which I have no good excuse for since my wife has it on DVD and swears by it). I've seen all the rest and own most of them!

Onyx Oblivion:
Would you believe that I actually have seen the ultra obscure "Big Trouble in Little China", but somehow have NEVER seen the Star Wars trilogy?

Well, actually, I saw them when I was 6-8, but it's hard to appreciate a movie at that age. So, basically, I've never seen them.

I will now rectify all of these things by filling my Netflix queue for the next few months with all of the movies in your 2 part series.

I'm with you all the way until the Netflix queue. I just... never got into Star Wars as others did.

I would've put Terminator, Robocop and Predator on this list, but oh well.

So I was gonna go through the entire thing and check off all the ones that I've seen (both of them) but I think this would be more efficient:
About all those movies, in both articles? Seen it.

Hearty applause, Bob! For both parts 1&2. Everyone will have their own additions/subtractions but I think you did a good job putting together a very good group representation from a very tough group of choices available.

Definite kudos on Big Trouble and Logan's Run.

I'll never forget the magic of being a 6th grader watching The 7th Voyage of Sinbad in the family car at the last drive-in on Oahu. With Hawaii's stars overhead, glorious.

Fifth Element is required. I love that movie.

Scobie:
I don't set much store by these lists (or at least I tell myself that because I've only seen a few of these), but you have at least persuaded me to rent Blade Runner again to see if I like it better this time.

Watch the Director's Cut, it's much better.

Alot of favorites on there, but the mention of The Goonies made me raise a fist in celebration. I don't know If i even knew what a sense of adventure was before that movie.

Funny how you said Batman looks messier and more dated each day, while other people, like James Rolfe for example, claims it gets better with each viewing.

Ah well, unlike the last list, I HAVE seen most of these movies, but not nearly enough of them.

Glad to see that the Evil Dead Trilogy made the cut, their some of my favourite movies and I don't think the list would be the same without it. On the new Star Trek movie, I've been thinking for quite some time for why it wasn't as good as the originals (I actually enjoyed the movie) and I figured it out. There were two problems with the movies which were:
1 - The new Star Trek didn't have the deep philosophical meaning that the other movies had (i.e. Wrath of Khan had revenge etc). 2 - The cast, no matter how well they got on, were not the original Kirk, Spock, Mccoy. By this I mean they haven't had the years to for a strong relation ship as the original cast had, that would shine through on the movies. Rant over :)

After I read this list, I was offended because some of my favorite movies of all time wasn't there; but, then I read the description (it hadn't occurred to me that movie nerds were fans of nerd movies)<--(duh.) Although the exclusion of princess bride, willow, dark city, akira and terminator (the first two, anyways) is inexcusable (unless there is a part 3 to address this mistake.

Cut the elitist crap that the new Star Trek movie is so horrible. Same goed for the Star Wars sequels. No, they don't even come close to the classics, but they definitely do serve the purpose of getting people interested in the franchise, without scaring them off with a flood of nerdstuff. The old films and episodes are just not easy to get into, when watched by a young person who is only familiar with today's blockbusters.

Wow i've seen all of these (part II)

So glad Conan was on this list. One of my favourites :) Good choice Bob.

Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Harry Potter series (just because even after 6 movies and with 2 more on the way, it's still on an upward climb)

Rocky

12 Angry Men (the play si better, but the movie is a great supplement)

The Godfather Parts 1 and 2

Good Will hunting

Moulin Rouge!

What Dreams May Come