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

My friend J told me a story recently that left me nonplussed. Her teenage daughter wanted to see Pretty in Pink, after watching a Veronica Mars episode in which Meg and Duncan dressed up as characters from the movie. So J rented it, along with one of her own '80s favorites, St. Elmo’s Fire.

Daughter and friends liked Pretty in Pink, so they popped in Fire. J was in the kitchen as they watched, enjoying their noisy laughter. Until she remembered that St. Elmo’s Fire wasn’t all that funny. So she went into the den to find her daughter in tears from laughing so hard. “Oh, Mom, this is SO lame!”

Lame? St. Elmo’s Fire? It’s a classic. A classic! … continue reading

Tonight on IFC, the Indie Sex series debuts. It comprises four parts, titled "Censored," "Taboos," "Teens" and "Extremes." Each episode explores a different aspect of sexuality on TV and film, asking what's appropriate and who gets to answer that question.

The series features interviews with Jamie Babbit, Dita Von Teese, Rosanna Arquette, Martha Coolidge, Ally Sheedy, Guinevere Turner, Piper Perabo and more. Out producer and director Lesli Klainberg directed the "Censored" and "Taboos" episodes and produced the series. Watch for more info on AfterEllen.com, including this week's Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever. column.

Indie Sex airs Aug. 1–4 at midnight on IFC.