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. … continue reading

Earlier this month, Entertainment Weekly published its list of the top 25 science fiction films and TV series, and then it invited readers to tell them which shows/movies they missed. Apparently EW received over 1,200 comments via email and online comments (you weighed in on your faves on AfterEllen.com, too), and in the June 1 issue of Entertainment Weekly the readers' top 10 omissions are listed (including Stargate, Dune, Farscape and Babylon 5), along with EW's explanations for why they weren't selected. Here are some highlights from the new list:

4. EW says The Fifth Element didn't make it because "in the end, it's a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing. A being of pure love is needed to save the universe? Come on." I gotta say, I kind of agree with EW. The movie, in my opinion, was really pretty and had lots of interesting ideas ... until the ending came and it all fizzled out on wave of ridiculousness. Besides, I think EW's readers mostly voted for The Fifth Element based on Milla Jovovich's unique Band-Aid costume:

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5. Why did EW not include Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

The new issue of Entertainment Weekly, on newsstands today, includes a special pull-out list of the best (according to them) sci-fi movies and TV of the past 25 years. (Yes, that means Star Wars was ineligible, which is a nice move on the magazine's part — way to counterbalance all the hype.)

You can view the full list on the EW website. Here are some highlights of the top 25 (and by "highlights," I mean my rants and raves).

24. Galaxy Quest — I adore this movie. Not many parodies manage to be both smart-funny and stupid-funny at the same time, but this one strikes the perfect balance. Plus, how great did Sigourney Weaver look in that costume?

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