Dad's Movie Lists

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.

Film ClipStarring: 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.

Film ClipStarring: 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!

Film ClipStarring: 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.

Film ClipStarring: 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...

Film ClipStarring: 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!

Film ClipStarring: 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

Film ClipStarring: 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!

Film ClipStarring: 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!

Film ClipStarring: 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

Film ClipStarring: 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!

Film ClipStarring: 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.

Film ClipStarring: 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.

Film ClipStarring: 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!

Film ClipStarring: 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!

Film ClipStarring: 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.

Film ClipStarring: Stephen Boyd, Raquel Welch, Edmond O’Brien, 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.

Film ClipStarring: 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.

Film ClipStarring: 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.

Film ClipStarring: 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

#1

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Director: James Whale, rated Approved

She breathes, sees, hears, walks -- but can she love?

Film ClipStarring: 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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