BAD ASS SCI FI 1986-89 - ALIENS FLY ROBOCOP INTO THE ABYSS AND THEY LIVE

The 80's finished off with a Bad Ass bang!  While I was graduating high school and attending a prestigious university in Des Moines, Iowa, some of the finest science fiction films ever fell to earth.

Well, let's pull the pin on it already!  At the end, I'll pleasure you with my official (but ever fluxing) top...umm...10...yeah...for now.

• 1986- Aliens- James Cameron- Released July 18, 1986- The greatest sequel of all time.  The greatest sci fi/action movie of all time.  Beginning to end, the most exhilarating film experience I've ever had.  I remember watching this movie for the first time in the balcony of a huge, single screen movie theater in Chicago.  Aliens blew me out the friggin door!  I couldn't catch my breath or stop talking about it for months afterwards.  I still can't stop talking about it!  Incredible effects for the time (Okay, some cheesy bluescreen, but still...), one of the best scores ever, and THE BEST dialogue in an action film, bar none.  Everyone in the film plays their characters to perfection; from Weaver, to Paxton, to Biehn, to Henriksen, to Henn.  The performance that rounds out the ensemble and takes slimy backstabbers to another level is Paul Reiser as Burke.  What an adorably vile POS!  Is this my number one?  You'll have to wait and find out!

• 1986- The Fly- David Cronenberg- Released Aug. 15, 1986- There he is!  This is Cronenberg's most commercially successful and arguably best movie.  I love the gore (sorry, I'm sick like that!).  Jeff Golblum is amazing in this film, and John Getz gives a very William Atherton-like (see Ghostbusters and Real Genius) as Stathis Borans, the scumbag boss of Gena Davis' reporter/love interest character.  He gets his hand and foot melted off by Brundlefly barf.  Awesome.  Hey, I even like the Eric Stoltz/Daphne Zuniga (The Sure Thing, Spaceballs) 1989 sequel!

• 1987- Robocop- Paul Verhoeven- Released July 17, 1987- NC-17 level violence, biting social commentary, one of the best movie scores ever, super hot mechanical engineers, and the incredible melting Emil!  Dialogue that rivals Aliens.  Characters that rival Aliens.  Humor that surpasses Aliens.  This movie was also poorly marketed.  Robocop?  That sounds stupid.  I was stupid.  This movie, probably more than any other on the list, defines Bad Ass Sci Fi.  Unrated, unhindered, unbelievable Bad Assness!  The three-headed boner of baddies bounces this flick beyond the competition.  You got Dick Jones (Ronny Cox) sticking it everyone in sight.  You got the late Miguel Ferrer as Bob Morton, the coke snorting, hooker snorting, cutthroat corporate climber from hell.  And, of course, Clarence Boddicker (Kurtwood Smith), the Baddest Baddie in Bad Ass Sci Fi history!  For those who doubt me, we have but one thing to say, 'Bitches leave!'

• 1987- Bad Taste- Peter Jackson- Released Dec. 11, 1987 (New Zealand)- Yes, that Peter Jackson.  His first live action movie.  An utterly disgusting, utterly hilarious little yarn about aliens who come to Earth, turn humans into fast food, share each other's regurgitated, green cottage cheese soup, and blow up sheep.  It's a must see.

• 1988- They Live- John Carpenter- Released Nov. 4, 1988- OBEY.  Highly underrated flick.  Plus, it boasts one of the longest fight scenes in movie history (member the South Park parody?).  Come on, it's John friggin Carpenter!

• 1989- The Abyss- James Cameron- Released Aug. 9, 1989- Yeah, it disappointed many, but I love this movie.  i saw this one at the Continental when the theater had one (yes, only one screen!).  The scene where the crane crashes down from the surface is one of the most tense I've ever experienced.  Ed Harris is outstanding in this movie.  The Abyss took a lot of chances, as was J.C.'s wont.  It hit some, missed others, but overall, I consider it a classic.  Plus, plus, the first fully realized water digital effect in movie history.

Whew!  There you have it!  So, how do the Bad Ass Sci Fi films in my last three post rank?  Alright, let's do it.  Top 10, starting at 12.

NUMBER 12...

NUMBER 11...
 

NUMBER 10...

NUMBER 9...

 

NUMBER 8...

 

NUMBER 7...

 

NUMBER 6...

 

NUMBER 5...

NUMBER 4...

NUMBER 3...

 

NUMBER 2...

AND THE NUMBER ONE BAD ASS SCI FI FLICK OF ALL TIME...  !  ...

Well, let me know what you think, no matter how wrong you are.

Until next decade, don't bother me, I'm on the freight elevator to a book! Going down!

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