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Best geeky movies ever

The perpetual list-makers over at listverse.com have posted a new list I found appealing to my geekish tendencies: the Top 20 Geek Movies of All Time. I was relieved to see that these were movies for geeks, among whom I count myself, and not about so-called geeks, which is a totally different beast. (And the appeal of which I just don’t get. I was in a house this weekend where Superbad was playing, and I still feel like the inside of my head needs scrubbed.)

The criteria for the list are a little hard to gauge, but there are a few things in common: space, or computers, or other sci-fi themes, or a combination of the above. Also, the 1980s spawned most of the geeky classics. One of my favorites made it: Short Circuit. Ah, Ally Sheedy circa 1986. My girlfriend says you look like somebody’s mother here, but I say what’s wrong with that? (Also, she was crushing on Sally Field in Places in the Heart, so I say her judgment may be questionable.)

A more recent film that made it was The Matrix. Again, I agree. The sequels were unwatchable, but I’ll never forget seeing the fight sequences at the theater; this was a movie that changed the way movies are filmed. (Er, does saying that make me a geek?) Oh, and there was Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss).

Another good call: Serenity. I sort of think anything written by Joss Whedon qualifies for geekdom on that basis alone, and this one also has Jewel Staite,

Summer Glau, Morena Baccarin, and Gina Torres fighting the good fight on the big screen. Enough said.

But the No. 1 film I just can’t stomach: 2001: A Space Odyssey. I can’t be the only geek who can’t sit through that movie. And they’ve missed a few of my faves, so I’m opening the floor for nominations here.

First, I’ll put forward The Fifth Element. I don’t think I’ve ever really figured out what’s going on, but it’s pretty, and it belongs on the list. Here’s a geeky touch: a storyboard of Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) .

And another nomination, because surely any film belongs that inspires people to dress, cross-dress and otherwise burst into spontaneous song in public venues: The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

What’s your favorite geeky guilty pleasure?

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