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Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Sci-Fi Movie Tier List

StarTalk Plus・27 minutes read

Disney's "The Black Hole" is rated poorly due to its inaccurate physics, while "The Matrix" is highly praised for its complex storyline. "Contact" impresses with its sensitive portrayal of extraterrestrial discovery, earning high ratings.

Insights

  • "Arrival" is lauded for its unique portrayal of non-humanoid aliens communicating through intricate patterns, sparking philosophical discussions on time loops and the challenges of interstellar communication.
  • "2001: A Space Odyssey" is hailed as a groundbreaking film for its meticulous attention to scientific accuracy and detail, setting a high standard for the genre and influencing a multitude of subsequent works in the realm of science fiction.

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  • What is the rating of "The Martian"?

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Summary

00:00

Sci-Fi Movies: Ratings and Critiques

  • "The Black Hole" by Disney is considered one of the worst movies ever made due to its lack of accurate physics, earning an F rating.
  • "The Matrix" is praised for its intricate plot lines, despite a flaw in the energy source concept, receiving an S rating.
  • "The Martian" is lauded for its scientific accuracy, with minor plot flaws acknowledged, earning an A rating.
  • "The Blob" from 1958 stands out for its unique portrayal of an alien, receiving a B rating for creativity.
  • "Contact" explores the impact of discovering extraterrestrial intelligence, earning a high rating for its sensitive portrayal of human reactions.
  • "Interstellar" is commended for its authentic physics, with a notable flaw in the plot regarding crop blight, receiving a B rating.
  • "Gravity" is praised for its realistic depiction of space scenarios, with minor physics inaccuracies noted, earning a B rating.
  • "Back to the Future" is hailed as the best time travel movie, with sequels rated differently: the first film receives an S rating, the second a C, and the third an E.
  • "The Quiet Earth," a lesser-known sci-fi film from New Zealand, is lauded for its portrayal of the last man on Earth, earning an A rating for its inventive storyline.
  • "Arrival" is praised for its unique portrayal of aliens living in pods, with a mention of the behind-the-scenes involvement of the speaker in the film's extras.

17:08

Alien Communication: Ink, Patterns, and Analysis

  • An octopus-like alien with six or seven legs communicates through ink drawings on glass, intriguing the government.
  • The government selects a linguist and a physicist to interact with the alien, but the narrator suggests an astrobiologist and a cryptographer would be more suitable.
  • The film portrays the alien communication attempts with circular patterns and squiggles, prompting analysis.
  • The military gets involved, bringing weapons, despite the alien's non-threatening actions.
  • "Arrival" is praised for its non-humanoid alien depiction and philosophical exploration of time loops.
  • "Europa Report" is a low-budget sci-fi film about a mission to Jupiter's moon Europa, where liquid water suggests potential life.
  • "Armageddon" is entertaining but criticized for violating numerous laws of physics, though it doesn't detract from the enjoyment.
  • "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is a suspenseful drama about human reactions to alien visitation, with a focus on government secrecy and societal representation.
  • "Deep Impact" is commended for accurate physics in its portrayal of an asteroid impact, contrasting with the unrealistic destruction in "Armageddon."
  • "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is lauded for its thoughtful portrayal of human-alien interactions without violence or bloodshed, offering a classic sci-fi experience.
  • "Independence Day" is entertaining but criticized for borrowing heavily from H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds," with a lack of originality in its alien defeat plot.
  • "The Terminator" is praised for its execution and physics accuracy, though the narrator questions the logic of the time travel plot and the alien's appearance.
  • "2001: A Space Odyssey" is hailed as a groundbreaking film with meticulous attention to detail and scientific accuracy, influencing numerous works in the genre.
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