WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 5 SCI-FI MOMENTS?

[wraith1701]

So; what are they?

I'm talking about those moments in film or TV that have stuck with you through the years. The moments that even now still manage to give you a little shiver of geek-glee? And what about them sticks with you?

Here are mine:

1- BSG: The "Adama-Maneuver".  If you've watched the series, I think you know what I'm talking about.  The moment when Galactica jumps INTO A PLANET'S ATMOSPHERE to launch vipers as it plummets like a meteor, then jumps away at the last moment, creating a huge thunder-clap & vacuum. Pure Awesome.

2- Empire Strikes Back:  "...I am your father."   Back in 1980, that revelation had my 10 year old mind reeling for the next three years.

3- Firefly: Jayne's Town.  I'm talking about the moment the crew stumble upon the huge statue of Jayne.  The stupified expressions on the groups faces, especially the doctor's, are freaking hilarious.  It's like they just discovered that the galaxy is really made of candy or something... black is white, up is down... funny stuff.  Still makes me chuckle. :)

4- Wrath Of Khan: "Needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."  Spock's sacrifice, and the final moments between him and Kirk still choke me up.  The elation everyone feels at escaping certain destruction in the nick of time, coupled with the price that had to be paid for that escape, was executed perfectly.  Courage, dedication to one's duty and friends, and the promise of hope, even when things look darkest.. These are some of the things that Star Trek means to me. This is why the film remains my favorite of all Star Trek films.

5- Return Of The Jedi:  Vader comes to the light. The final moments of the confrontation between Luke, Vader, and Palpatine, when Vader sees the light & tosses Palpatine down the shaft.  To me, it's one of sci-fi's finest demonstrations of the power of good over evil.  And even though Vader is wearing an expressionless mask, you can still see his internal struggle and final decision through the camera shots and body language of the actor. Really cool stuff.

Those are my top 5 (for now.)

What are yours?

[Bryancd]

Cool topic, Eric! I like your list a lot and some other pop to mind.

1. STWOK- yep, everytime I watch Spock's sacrafice, his goodbye to Kirk and then Kirk's eulogy, I tear up, especially when Shat delivers the line "Of all the souls I have encountered in my voayges, his was the most...human." Gets me everytime.

2. STAR WARS. For all 6 films, following the silence and small blue words spelling out "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..." these two words blast on to the screen accompanied by the John William flourish I get goosebumps...just writting this I do!

3. ALIEN chestburster. I don't think anything haunted my imagination but fascinated me so much as the orginal ALIEN craeture and the chestbursetr scene was so horrifying to film goers back in 1979, it still shocks me to this day.

4. LOTR- Return of the King, when Aragorn at the end kneels before the hobbits bring tears to my eyes.

5. ST- The Voyage Home probably gives me the most laughs in any sci-film ever. I love the interactions between Kirk and Spock and all the "fish out of water" jokes with the crew in San Fransico really work great.

[Rico]

Very cool idea and a tough one too.  Hard to come up with just five for me.  But let me put down a few and give it a try.  Not necessarily in order....

- Wrath of Khan - the entire film was just so awesome after the fairly sedate TMP.  Spock's death was so powerful and so well done.  Tear up every time still.

- The Empire Strikes Back - after waiting three long years, the sequel just blew me away.  So deep, great story, awesome look, music, just everything.  Will always remember seeing it late on opening night with a bad head cold.

- TNG premiere's - for years watching TOS reruns, the idea of a new Trek series on every week was hard to believe.  Seeing that premiere episode with some of my Trek buddies was just great.  Trek was back!

- New BSG - so many great moments.  The Adama maneuver, Starbuck's death, Tigh killing Ellen, Adama getting shot, etc.  The list goes on and on.  And seeing Katee each week wasn't bad either.

- Starting the TSF Podcast - little did I know that I still would be doing this still years later and formed such great friendships along the way.

I have others, but that will do for now.

[Bromptonboy]

Great idea!  Here are mine - see if you can name them:

"Get your hands off me you damned, dirty ape!"

"My God, it is full of stars!"

"It's made of people!  ############ is made of people!"

"It is called Ankh"

"You shall not pass!!!"

[Bryancd]

Great idea!  Here are mine - see if you can name them:

"Get your hands off me you damned, dirty ape!"

"My God, it is full of stars!"

"It's made of people!  ############ is made of people!"

"It is called Ankh"

"You shall not pass!!!"

1. Planet of the Apes
2. 2001
3. Soylent Green, which I have never actually seen the whole thing.
4. Logan's Run
5. LOTR- Fellowship of the Ring

[Bromptonboy]

Great idea!  Here are mine - see if you can name them:

"Get your hands off me you damned, dirty ape!"

"My God, it is full of stars!"

"It's made of people!  ############ is made of people!"

"It is called Ankh"

"You shall not pass!!!"

1. Planet of the Apes
2. 2001
3. Soylent Green, which I have never actually seen the whole thing.
4. Logan's Run
5. LOTR- Fellowship of the Ring

(Bromptonboy removes his hat to Brother Bryan)

I couldn't think of a good qoute from 'Omega Man' - so blew my chance at a more Heston-esque list.  ;)

[wraith1701]

Great idea!  Here are mine - see if you can name them:

"Get your hands off me you damned, dirty ape!"

"My God, it is full of stars!"

"It's made of people!  ############ is made of people!"

"It is called Ankh"

"You shall not pass!!!"

1. Planet of the Apes
2. 2001
3. Soylent Green, which I have never actually seen the whole thing.
4. Logan's Run
5. LOTR- Fellowship of the Ring

(Bromptonboy removes his hat to Brother Bryan)

Bryan is a Sci-Fi Ninja!

Really cool responses, dudes.  :)  Reading the lists, I'm suddenly reminded of other cool moments.

I look forward to seeing some more Top Fives.  ;D

[Bryancd]

Number 4 was the hardest but I am a HUGE Logan's Run fan. Loved the movie and book as a kid. :) We should do a separate "Guess the sci-fi movie quote" thread.  :thumbsup

[davekill]

There are so many classic moments that all know and share

These are a few my favs

DS9: "Far Beyond The Stars."
Sisko's final scenes 

Enterprise:  "Silent Enemy"
First battle won with phase cannons

Babylon 5: "Severed Dreams"
Delenn's scene "If you value your lives - Be somewhere Else".

Babylon 5 Movie: "In The Beginning"
The final scene of the battle of the line and sudden end of the war.

Farscape: The Premier
When John meets Aeryn

[Jobydrone]

Love these topics that really make you think about yourself:

Star Wars:  "YEEEHAW, all clear kid, now let's blow this thing and go home!"  What an amazing moment that was, the tension so high with Vader bearing down on Luke's ship and locking his lasers on target...I was so young but I'll never forget jumping out of my seat when Han Solo redeemed himself, sent Vader spinning into space and the very next second Luke blows the death star to kingdom come.  Nothing could top it as good as the next two movies were I still think that moment is the highlight of all the films.

TWOK:  Amazing perfomances by Shat and Nimoy in the seminal scene, but really it's Shatner that makes this so great.  The emotion in Shatner's voice and all over his face as he helplessly watches his friend die was way beyond anything Shat had ever done and probably will ever do.  I still remember the stunned silence in the theater during that moment, you could hear a pin drop.

Contact:  I'm really not sure what it is about this movie, but no matter how many times I see it, it makes me cry every time at the end, when for just a moment Jodie Foster thinks she's in Heaven and her father has come for her.  This is such a great story and a wonderful, winning performance by Jodie Foster.  I really want to read the book and never have.

Rankin/Bass The Hobbit:  For some reason, my sixth grade history teacher showed us this movie in class, I guess he was a huge Tolkein fan or something.  I was totally hooked, later that year Iread the book and have read it once a year ever since.  I still have the original paperback copy I bought that year and that is usually the one I read.  It was later that I read the other books but they and the PJ movies are part of that annual tradition now as well.  As much as I love the LOTR trilogy, the Hobbit will always have the number one spot in my heart.

Discovering Treks in Sci Fi:  This has to rank, simply because I've found so much so much cool Sci Fi stuff that I probably never would have seen, by reading all the discussions and recommendations in these forums and listening to the podcast.  Just a couple examples:  my love for all things Joss Whedon, especially Buffy and Firefly, I attribute directly to Kenny.  Never would have watched those shows if it wasn't for him.  Rico got me hooked on Smallville.  

There's plenty of more examples.