Dad's Top
20 Mad Science Films - Ranked!
Countdown from #20 to #1. This
includes Dad's spoiler-free Mini-Preview!
#20 |
 |
Prophecy (1979), Director: John Frankenheimer,
rated PG for violence, scares, gore
She Lives.
Don't Move. Don't Breathe. There's Nowhere To Run. She Will Find
You.
 Starring: Robert
Foxworth, Talia Shire, Armand Assante, Richard Dysart, Victoria
Racimo, Charles H. Gray
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
- good
"The size of a dragon... And
something about eyes, cat's eyes. And the old man, the Indian.
Didn't he describe that creature as being a part of everything
in God's creation?"
- Dr. Robert Verne
Why watch this? ...
to see if you are brave enough to endure the creature...
Plot Summary:
This horror film follows an environmental agent and his wife to
a logging operation in Maine where a dispute has arisen between
the company and a local Native American tribe. They investigate
accusations that the paper mill is poisoning the environment and
discover a horrifying truth lurking in the wilderness. Soon,
they become entangled in a terrifying fight for survival against
something terribly dangerous.
Dad's Preview:
This film is special to me because my best friend, David,
narrated the entire plot to me late one night when sleeping
over. I was terrified and could not wait to see it. He was
right, because this film is really scary, especially the night
scenes, where the monster is lurking in the forest, just out of
sight. It may seem campy now, but I still can't watch it at
night alone without all the lights on!

Robert L. Rosen;
Paramount Pictures |
|
#19 |
 |
The Man With Two Brains
(1983),
Director: Carl Reiner, rated R for language, sex,
brief nudity
Steve Martin
is a world famous surgeon. He invented screw top, zip lock brain
surgery. Trust him.
 Starring: Steve
Martin, Kathleen Turner, David Warner, Paul Benedict, George
Furth, James Cromwell, Merv Griffin
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★☆
- near perfect
"The only time we doctors
should accept death is when it's caused by
our own
incompetence!" Dr. Hfuhruhurr
Why watch this?
This is Steve Martin at the pinnacle of his "wild and crazy" era.
Plot Summary:
World-renowned brain surgeon, Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr, has his
life takes a bizarre turn after marrying a conniving femme
fatale whose life he saved. Driven to distraction by his wife's
antics, he falls in love with the disembodied, telepathic brain
of another woman, Anne Uumellmahaye, stored in a jar at a Vienna
laboratory. Amidst a series of murders in the city, the doctor
finds himself entangled in a comedic search for a body for his
new jar-enclosed sweetheart.
Dad's Preview:
As a Martin fan, I instantly loved this off-the-wall comedy. You'll have to suspend
all
logic and believability, which is really the point. The
collaboration of director Reiner and comedian Martin proves to
be a
comedic gold mine. The film, with all its absurdity, is
hilarious. And remember: don't drink and drive in Austria.
Their drunk driving test is impossible!

Aspen Film
Society; Warner Bros. |
|
#18 |
 |
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989),
Director: Joe Johnston, rated PG
The most
astonishing, innovative, backyard adventure of all time!
 Starring: Rick
Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman, Kristine Sutherland, Amy
O'Neill, Thomas Wilson Brown, Jared Rushton
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
- great
"Look, my dad's machine
works. When we get home and he fixes us all,
we're gonna be so
rich. You'll regret this."
Amy Szalinski
Why watch this? Four
teens are minimized to the size of ants. Now, that's a problem.
Plot Summary:
An absent-minded inventor, Wayne Szalinski, accidentally shrinks
his and his neighbor's children to a minuscule size with his new
experimental ray machine. Accidentally swept into the trash, the
four children must brave the now-enormous and dangerous
backyard, filled with towering grass and menacing insects, to
find their way back home. While the miniaturized kids face
perilous challenges, Wayne and his wife search frantically for
their missing children, eventually realizing the incredible
truth and working to reverse the shrinking process.
Dad's Preview:
The real genius at play here is the creative perils that befall
the miniaturized kids. The yard's grass is now a forest, simple water drops are a flood, and a tiny
insect
is a hungry monster! The actors portraying the children did
a fine job, as it mostly felt very real. There are many memorable, tender and scary
moments. This huge Disney hit, will grow on you.

Walt Disney
Pictures, Silver Screen Partners III, Buena Vista Pictures Dist. |
|
#17 |
 |
The Terminator (1984),
Director: James Cameron, rated R for language,
brief nudity, violence
The thing that
won't die, in the nightmare that won't end.
 Starring: Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, Paul Winfield,
Lance Henriksen, Earl Boen
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★★
- perfect
"Listen, and understand!
That terminator is out there! It can't be bargained with. It
can't be reasoned with.
It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or
fear! And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are
dead!" Kyle Reese
Why watch this? ...
it's a sci-fi action flick that features Mr. Universe as a relentless
cyborg.
Plot Summary:
In a future ravaged by a war between humans and intelligent
machines, a cyborg assassin is sent back in time to 1984 Los
Angeles to kill a woman named Sarah Connor. A soldier, Reece,
from the future is also sent back to protect Sarah, as she is
destined to give birth to the leader of the human resistance.
Dad's Preview:
This is the futuristic juggernaut that started the Terminator
franchise. It is ground-breaking and intense, a staple of
Cameron's direction. In the future
machines become sentient. In the battle to wipe out humans, the
machines calculate they cannot win. Their solution is to send a robot, called a Terminator,
back in time to exterminate Sarah Connor, the mother of
the man who will lead humanity to victory. The human resistance
learns of the plot and also sends a time traveler - a man, Reese, charged with keeping Sarah safe
by stopping the Terminator at all costs. Is your mind blown yet?

Hemdale, Pacific
Western Prod., Euro Film Funding, Cinema '84, Orion Pictures |
|
#16 |
 |
Forbidden Planet
(1956),
Director: Fred M. Wilcox, rated G
M-G-M
Takes You On An Amazing Adventure Into Outer Space...
 Starring: Walter
Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen, Warren Stevens, Jack Kelly,
Richard Anderson, Earl Holliman, Marvin Miller
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★☆
- near perfect
"Guilty!
Guilty! My evil self is at that door, and I have no power to
stop it!" Dr. Morbius
Why watch this?
It really is a great all-around sci-fi film; certainly for 1956.
Plot Summary:
A 23rd-century starship crew travels to a distant planet, Altair
IV, to investigate a colony that has gone silent. They discover
two survivors, Dr. Morbius and his daughter Altaira, along with
a powerful robot named Robbie. The crew soon encounters a
mysterious and deadly invisible force threatening everyone on
the planet, prompting Commander Adams to investigate Morbius and
the secrets surrounding a lost civilization that once inhabited
Altair IV.
Dad's Preview:
This flick is one of the most well-done of the early science fiction films. For its
time, this film was an incredible science fiction cinematic
feat. You may notice Leslie Nielsen in a serious role - hard to
imagine, since he'd later play such a goofball in the
Naked Gun films.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
|
#15 |
 |
The Mummy (1932),
Director: Karl Freund, Rated Approved (Dad's guess
PG)
IT COMES TO LIFE!
 Starring:
Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Arthur Byron, Edward
Van Sloan, Bramwell Fletcher, Noble Johnson
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
- good
"I destroy this
lifeless thing! Thou shall take its place but for a few moments
and then... RISE again, even as I have risen!"
- Imhotep
Why watch this?
... because your Mummy told you to! Besides, it's a horror classic.
Plot Summary:
A team of British archaeologists, while excavating in Egypt,
accidentally resurrect the ancient priest Imhotep. After his
unexpected revival, Imhotep disguises himself as a modern
Egyptian scholar and embarks on a quest to find the
reincarnation of his long-lost love, Princess Anck-es-en-Amon.
His efforts involve a young woman whom he believes is the
reincarnation of the princess, leading to a suspenseful
confrontation.
Dad's Preview:
The great Boris Karloff, as
with
Frankenstein
(1931), gives the
terrifying Imhotep/Bey an eerie personality and believability.
It is that deep, gothic voice and those hollow, sunken eyes.
Yikes!
Universal made five more Mummy films starring Lon Chaney Jr. in
the title role.

Universal Studios
|
|
#14 |
 |
Frankenstein
(1931),
Director: John Landis, rated Approved
The Man
Who Made A Monster
 Starring:
Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles, Boris Karloff, Dwight Frye,
Edward van Sloan, Frederick Kerr, Lionel Belmore
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★☆
- near perfect
"You
have created a monster, and it will destroy you!" -
Dr. Waldman
Why watch this?
It is a landmark in horror cinema history.
Plot Summary:
Dr. Henry Frankenstein, obsessed with creating life, pieces
together a human body from various sources and successfully
brings it to life through electricity. However, the creature,
despite its initial innocence, faces fear and rejection from
society, leading to tragic consequences. The film explores
themes of ambition, the dangers of unchecked scientific
advancement, and the impact of isolation and prejudice on both
the creator and his creation.
Dad's Preview:
Hot on heels of
Dracula
(1931), Universal
Studios created its second iconic monster film. Though only loosely
based on the original Mary Shelly novel, we do see Baron
Frankenstein create life. All goes wrong as that life becomes
too dangerous to contain. Boris Karloff, wearing an incredible
makeup application, gives the monster an unexpected level of
humanity. However, he will kill when provoked. This helped to
kick off many more Universal monster films and spawned a
slew of B-movie sequels.

Universal Pictures
|
|
#13 |
 |
The Time Machine
(1960),
Director: George Pal, rated G
You Will Orbit
into the Fantastic Future!
 Starring: Rod
Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux, Sebastian Cabot, Whit
Bissell, Tom Helmore, Doris Lloyd, Paul Frees
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★★
- perfect
"George... I speak to you
as a friend more as a brother... if that machine can do what
you say it can,
destroy it. Destroy it, George, before it
destroys you!" David Filby
Why watch this?
It's a thought-provoking rendition of H. G. Wells' classic novel.
Plot Summary:
Set in Victorian England, the film follows an inventor who
builds a machine to travel through time. His journey takes him
into a distant future where humanity has split into two distinct
groups: the peaceful, surface-dwelling Eloi and the monstrous,
subterranean Morlocks. He becomes entangled in their struggle
and works to understand the secrets behind their existence and
the decline of mankind.
Dad's Quick Review:
The concept of traveling through time is a fantasy of which most of us
have dreamt. It's also ideal fodder for science fiction. What
makes this story so mind-boggling is the glance we see of our future. We all
expect that mankind will reach a peaceful nirvana, but there is
an equal likelihood of something far darker. This film, though
made in 1960, showcases from ground-breaking special effects and
make-up. Its influence can be seen in subsequent
films such as
Planet of the Apes
(1968) and
Logan's Run
(1976). The goal of these cautionary tales is to show us
humans that what we do now may impact our planet's future.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Galaxy Films; Loew's Ltd. |
|
#12 |
 |
Eight Legged Freaks (2002),
Director: Ellory Elkayem, rated PG-13 for scary
scenes
Let the squashing begin!
 Starring: David
Arquette, Kari Wuhrer, Scott Terra, Scarlett Johansson, Leon
Rippy, Rick Overton, Doug E. Doug, Matt Czuchry, Eileen Ryan
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
- good
"No
one's going to believe me, cause I'm a kid, and they never
listen to kids." -
Mike
Why watch this?
The idea of giant spiders is horrifying, yet, it's also really cool!
Plot Summary: A
small Arizona mining town faces a horrifying threat after a
chemical spill leads to an infestation of mutated, gigantic
spiders. Returning home after a decade, ordinary guy Chris
McCormick joins forces with the town's foxy sheriff, Sam Parker,
to rally the eccentric townsfolk against the monstrous
arachnids. The residents must overcome their differences and
battle the eight-legged beasts to keep from being devoured.
Dad's Preview:
Don't let your spider phobia keep you away from this treasure. It's
the
perfect blend of old-school sci-fi campiness, humor and
ground-breaking CGI. The film really does not take itself too
seriously and that makes it work. Did I say there are giant
spiders everywhere? Well, there are. All shapes, categories and
sizes, just doing what spiders do, except now, humans are on
the menu. This monster/comedy/action/horror/thriller is a lot
of fun, and it's the film that launched Scarlett
Johansson's career!

Village
Roadshow Pictures, NPV Ent., Electric Ent.; Warner Bros. |
|
#11 |
 |
Ex Machina
(2014),
Director: Alex Garland, rated R for language, some
violence
To erase the line between man and machine is to
obscure the line between men and gods
 Starring:
Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Sonoya Mizuno,
Corey Johnson, Claire Selby, Gana Bayarsaikhan
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
- great
"Isn't it strange, to
create something that hates you?"
Ava
Why watch this? This
is a superb story about artificial intelligence and the risk it
may pose.
Plot Summary:
Caleb Smith is a young programmer who wins a competition to
spend a week at the remote estate of Nathan Bateman, the
reclusive CEO of his company. Upon arrival, Caleb discovers he's
been chosen to participate in a groundbreaking experiment:
administering a
Turing test to Ava, an advanced humanoid AI created by
Nathan. Caleb's task is to evaluate Ava's consciousness and
determine if her intelligence is indistinguishable from that of
a human. This leads to unforeseen revelations and a complex
examination of artificial intelligence and humanity.
Dad's Preview:
Sci-fi often asks its audience about the meaning of being
"human". Today, modern computing is asking a new question: What
role do humans have if AI can run things better. Then it's about
two clicks away from SkyNet and Terminators wiping out the human
race. But I digress. This smart, tense, engrossing film is
eye-candy for us nerds because it is futuristically beautiful.
As expected, it certainly calls into
question what it means to be human, and whether it's wise to
create sentience within a machine.

Film4, DNA
Films; A24 |
|
#10 |
 |
Westworld
(1973),
Director: Michael Crichton, rated
PG
Boy, have we got
a vacation for you... Where nothing can possibly go worng!
 Starring: Yul
Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin, Alan Oppenheimer, Dick
Van Patten, Alan Oppenheimer, Victoria Shaw, Steven Franken
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★★
- perfect
"There's no way to get hurt
in here, just enjoy yourself." John Blane
Why watch this? ...
it is one of the best sci-fi films from the 70's.
Plot Summary: In a
futuristic amusement park called Delos, wealthy guests can
indulge in their fantasies in lifelike, robot-inhabited worlds,
including the Wild West-themed Westworld. When a
programming error causes the androids to malfunction, these
vacationers find themselves in a terrifying struggle for
survival against the park's attractions.
Dad's Preview:
When you are an 11-year-old boy, who loves weird movies, this is
your kind of film. I begged Mom to take me to the theater and
she agreed. Holy Cow! It is a real sci-fi mind-bender. Its theme is classic: humans invent
artificial intelligence, it goes horribly wrong, and everyone
pays the price. It was pure genius to cast Yul Brynner as the
robotic "gun-slinger", a character similar to his role
in
The Magnificent Seven
(1960). The real horror
begins when robots populating futuristic theme park, Westworld,
start to malfunction. The gunslinger becomes a ruthless
killer, one that
knows no pity, and will not stop until he's eliminated his human prey.

Paul N. Lazarus
III; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
|
#9 |
 |
RoboCop
(1987),
Director: Paul Verhoeven, rated R for language, gory
violence
Part man. Part machine. All cop.
 Starring: Peter
Weller, Karen Allen, Daniel O'Herlihy, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood
Smith, Miguel Ferrer, Robert DoQui, Ray Wise, Paul McCrane, Lee
de Broux
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★★
- perfect
"Let me make something
clear to you. He doesn't have a name. He has a program. He's
product." - Bob Morton
Why watch this?
It's an excellent sci-fi film about a possible future of law
enforcement.
Plot Summary:
In a crime-ridden future Detroit, the Omni Consumer Products (OCP)
corporation privatizes the police force, seeking to implement
their advanced robotic officers to control the city's rampant
criminal activity. When police officer Alex Murphy is brutally
murdered by a gang, OCP uses his body to create RoboCop, a
cyborg law enforcer programmed to serve the public trust. As
RoboCop patrols the city and fights crime, memory fragments of
his past life as Alex Murphy begin to resurface, leading him on
a path to investigate his own death and the corruption within
OCP.
Dad's Preview:
In this shockingly violent film there are two competing
companies striving to secure financial backing to create a
"robotic policeman". One company creates a full robot. The other
creates a cyborg - part machine, part man. When the Robocop
experiences lingering memories, it causes a conflict between his
company's implanted directives and a desire to protect humanity. Peter Weller is
compelling as the RoboCop. Another strength of the film
is its villains, played delightfully by Ronny Cox, Kurtwood
Smith and Miguel Ferrer.

Orion Pictures |
|
#8 |
 |
Flatliners (1990),
Director: Joel Schumacher Rated R for language,
intense, scary scenes
Some lines shouldn't be crossed.
 Starring:
Keifer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, William Baldwin,
Oliver Platt, Kimberly Scott
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
- good
"I did not come to
medical school to murder my classmates,
no matter how deranged
they might be." -
Randy Steckle
Why watch this?
You'll love this electrifying thriller about the death
experience.
Plot Summary: Five
ambitious medical students engage in a dangerous experiment:
they temporarily stop their hearts to experience near-death
states, hoping to glimpse the afterlife. However, their
unauthorized journeys into the unknown bring back unsettling
consequences that threaten their lives in the waking world. The
students must then confront the frightening repercussions of
their forbidden foray into the realm between life and death.
Dad's Preview:
Sure, it's a silly premise concocted to simply enable
Hollywood's prettiest faces to star together and enthrall its
audience. That is what all movies are, right? Here our
young actors 'kill' a classmate, then count
the seconds before reviving them. As they push the dead time longer,
the mental toll taken is more extreme and horribly more
mind-altering.

Stonebridge Entertainment; Columbia Pictures |
|
#7 |
 |
The Fly (1958),
Director: Kurt Neumann, Not Rated (Dad's
guess: PG)
Once it was
human, even as you and I!
 Starring:
Al Hedison, Patricia Owens, Vincent Price, Herbert Marshall,
Kathleen Freeman, Betty Lou Gerson, Charles Herbert
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
- good
"Help me! Please, help
meeeeeee! No! Go away! No! Please! Help me!
Please, go away! Go
away! No! No! No! No!" Andre Delambre
Why watch this? It's
singularly terrifying premise will have you questioning the
dangers of unchecked science.
Plot Summary: A
scientist invents a device capable of teleportation. While
experimenting on himself, a housefly accidentally enters the
transportation chamber with him, leading to a horrifying
accident. His devoted wife and concerned brother desperately
search for a way to reverse the unimaginable consequences of the
experiment.
Dad's Preview:
Of all the '50's horror films, this one
stands out. Be it the moment that his concerned wife removes his
black head-cover, or the final confrontation at the garden's
spider-web. These are truly moments in cinema that will haunt your
nightmares.

20th
Century Fox |
|
#6 |
 |
The Island of Lost Souls (1932),
Director: Erle C. Kenton, Rated Passed
THE PANTHER
WOMAN lured men on - only to destroy them body and soul!
 Starring:
Charles Laughton, Bela Lugosi, Richard Arlen, Leila Hyams,
Kathleen Burke, Arthur Hohl, Stanley Fields, Paul Hurst
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
- great
"You! You made us in
the house of pain! You made us... things! Not men! Not beasts!
Part man... part beast! Things!"
Sayer of the Law
Why watch this? When
you create unholy life, there's always a chance it will turn on you.
Plot Summary:
Shipwrecked traveler Edward Parker is rescued and subsequently
stranded on a remote South Pacific island belonging to the
reclusive Dr. Moreau. Parker discovers Moreau is conducting
grotesque experiments, using vivisection to transform animals
into human-like creatures, which he controls with a whip and a
strict set of rules known as "The Law". Among Moreau's creations
is Lota, a beautiful "Panther Woman" he attempts to mate with
Parker.
Dad's Preview:
There's just something eternally creepy about this story,
originally penned as The Island of Doctor Moreau, by the
great H. G. Wells in 1896. The film is thought-provoking, and I
detect the Dr. Frankenstein theme throughout - when man
creates new life, there is always the risk that those creations
will destroy their maker. I personally find this concept very
disturbing, and I am not the only one. The film was banned upon release in many countries.
It asks all humanity to ponder, "What does it really mean to be human?"

Paramount Pictures
Inc. |
|
#5 |
 |
Fantastic Voyage
(1966),
Director: Richard Fleischer, rated PG
A
Fantastic And Spectacular Voyage... Through The Human
Body... Into The Brain.
 Starring: Stephen
Boyd, Raquel Welch, Edmond OBrien, Donald Pleasence, Arthur
O'Connell, William Redfield
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★☆
- near perfect
"The medieval philosophers
were right. Man is the center of the universe. We stand in the
middle of
infinity between outer and inner space, and there's no
limit to either." Dr. Peter Duval
Why watch this?
The special effects... and its creative plot.
Plot Summary: When a
defecting scientist falls into a coma due to a brain clot, a
team of specialists embarks on a mission to save him. A
submarine carrying the team and their specialized equipment is
miniaturized and injected into the scientist's bloodstream. They
must navigate the complexities of the human body and perform
delicate surgery to remove the clot within a limited time before
returning to their normal size.
Dad's Preview:
This is the COOLEST concept for a Sci-Fi film. I just learned
that it's being remade by Guillermo del Toro, and that is awesome
news! This became an instant classic for me the first time I saw
it. It blew me away and served to fan my flaming pre-teen crush
on the buxom Raquel
Welch. As the miniaturized ship ventures through "inner space" (aka the
human body), we witness things we've only seen in science books:
red blood cells, lung tissue, a beating heart. The Oscar-winning special effects
are breath-taking even by today's standards.

Saul
David; 20th Century Fox |
|
#4 |
 |
The Curse of Frankenstein
(1957),
Director: Terence Fisher, rated Approved
PLEASE
TRY NOT TO FAINT. Not recommended for people of nervous
disposition.
 Starring: Peter
Cushing, Christopher Lee, Robert Urquhart, Hazel Court, Melvyn
Hayes, Valerie Gaunt, Noel Hood, Paul Hardtmuth
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
- good
"I've harmed nobody,
just robbed a few graves!" - Baron Frankenstein
Why watch this?
It's rewarding to watch Hammer Films' alternative take on the Frankenstein
story.
Plot Summary: Baron
Victor Frankenstein recounts his life story to a priest while
awaiting execution for murder. He describes how, as a young man,
he hired a tutor and quickly surpassed him, becoming obsessed
with recreating life through scientific experiments. Despite the
moral objections of his friend, Frankenstein successfully
assembles and animates a creature. However, his creation brings
about tragic consequences for those involved.
Dad's Preview:
England's Hammer Studios began remaking the old Universal
monster movies in the late 50's. Added was a new style, flair and amped-up sexuality. Next,
two incredible English actors, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, were brought on board. This duo would
redefine Hammer's Universal remakes for over 20 years! These colorized
films were creepier, edgier and bloodier. This Frankenstein origin story is serious,
disturbing and very
scary.

Hammer
Film Productions; Warner Bros. |
|
#3 |
 |
Terminator
2: Judgment Day
(1991),
Director: James Cameron, rated R for language, sci-fi
violence
Same Make.
Same Model. New Mission.
 Starring: Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, Edward Furlong,
Joe Morton, Earl Boen
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★★
- perfect
"It is in your nature to
destroy yourselves." The T-800 Terminator
Why watch this? Cameron delivers an incredible sequel using
ground-breaking
effects, a buffed-up Linda Hamilton, and a flipped narrative.
Plot Summary:
The future leader of humanity, John Connor, faces a new threat
when a more advanced Terminator model is sent back in time to
eliminate him as a child. To counter this, a reprogrammed, older
model Terminator is also sent back, this time, to protect John.
Dad's Preview:
This sequel is bigger and bolder than the original. Still desperate to
win the battle, the future's
machines send another Terminator - this one more lethal and
advanced than the original. Humankind sends back a T-800 Terminator (similar
to the original
film's cyborg), only it has been re-programmed to protect Sarah
and John
at all costs. This has all
the cool ass elements of the original film, yet it's characters are
more fully explored, and it's message is more poignant. Teenager Edward
Furlong shines as a young John Connor.

Carolco Pictures,
Pacific Western Prod., Lightstorm Ent., Le Studio Canal+;
Tri-Star Pictures |
|
#2 |
 |
Jurassic Park
(1993),
Director: Steven Spielberg, rated PG-13 for sci-fi
terror/violence
An Adventure
65 Million Years In The Making.
 Starring: Sam Neill,
Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck,
Samuel L. Jackson, Wayne Knight
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★★
- perfect "
your scientists were
so preoccupied with whether or not they could,
they didn't stop
to think if they should." Ian Malcolm
Why watch this?
... it's ground-breaking, based on a superb novel, and DINOSAURS!
Plot Summary:
Wealthy entrepreneur John Hammond creates a theme park on a
remote island, populated by genetically engineered dinosaurs.
Before opening, a group of scientists, including a
paleontologist, a paleobotanist, and a mathematician, are
invited to assess the park's safety. However, a power failure
caused by industrial sabotage leads to the dinosaurs escaping
their enclosures. The visitors and park staff must then struggle
to survive and escape the now-perilous island.
Dad's Preview:
I read Michael Crichton's novel, about bio-engineered dinosaurs, and immediately thought,
"Spielberg has to do this film!" Not long after,
Spielberg announced JP as his next project. I wept. The original plan was to use
only life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, however, the special effects team won over the director
with their amazing CGI skills. The digital dinosaurs were jaw-dropping.
The rest is history. The film became another Spielberg smash hit.

Amblin
Entertainment; Universal Pictures |
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#1 |
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The Bride of Frankenstein
(1935),
Director: James Whale, rated Approved
She
breathes, sees, hears, walks -- but can she love?
 Starring: Boris
Karloff, Elsa Manchester, Colin Clive, Ernest Thesiger, Valerie
Hobson, Gavin Gordon, Douglas Walton, E. E. Clive
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★★
- perfect
"Yes,
I know. Made me from dead. I love dead... hate living." -
The Monster
Why watch this?
This Universal monster film dared to have a sense of humor.
Bravo!
Plot Summary: This
sequel
Frankenstein
(1931) follows Dr. Henry Frankenstein as he attempts to
abandon his life-creating experiments. However, he is pressured
by his eccentric mentor, Dr. Pretorius, and threatened by his
creation, the Monster, into constructing a female companion for
the Monster. Frankenstein eventually agrees and embarks on the
task of creating the Bride, facing the consequences of his
ambition and the Monster's desire for companionship.
Dad's Preview:
With the original film,
director James Whale gave us a monster unlike any other. With
the sequel, he offers a better blend of horror and cynical
humor. The result is one of the best Universal monster
productions ever made. It's scary, funny, outrageous, and
exciting. It also appealed to a much larger audience. Karloff
returns as the monster, and the wonderful Elsa Manchester makes
her brief appearance as his wide-eyed, terrified bride.

Universal
Pictures |
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