Speaking of Star Trek movies, I think The Wrath of Khan was the best one all-round. It also seemed to make the 23rd Century a really exciting and upbeat time to be alive (just the way human life and society was portrayed). I didn’t really get that feeling with most of the later films and definitely not with any of the spin-off series, from TNG onwards.

I wouldn’t put Solaris (72) so high and frankly 2001 neither. I find it annoying that article interviewed two people I know and they didn’t think to consult me once. So what that the other two are PhDs and people who’ve gone into orbit, I bet they don’t know their Clingon from their Klingon.

I think Bladerunner no. 1 is a choice I can agree with. No Planet of the Apes? No Star Trek?! (joking!) No Metropolis? Would Brazil be sci fi? Twelve Monkeys (not top ten I don’t think)?

Akira etc – opening it to manga may change a lot. Hmm, having said that Akira is still probably the only one I’d single out to be in an overall top 10 sci fi. Definite possibility, ten times more iconic than the Matrix.

You’re clearly more of a classic fan than me.

10/. Close Encounter’s of the Third Kind:

Mostly, this is actually a mind-numbingly boring saga of a mentally deranged guy searching for aliens. The last 15 minutes is incredible, yes (who can forget the ‘musical’ scene) but the overall film is patchy.

9/ The Matrix (1999)

LOL LMAO ROFLMAO This is the biggest pile of shit ever. Laughable ‘philosophy’, weak martial arts, gunplay a very poor fascimile of a John Woo movie, not saved by the ‘bullet time’ conceit (see Ringo Lam’s Full Contact for a much earlier and much better use of bullet cam).. Seriously overrated film

8/ War of the Worlds (1953)

Now this is a good film, one of my favourites from childhood. Groundbreaking SFX for the time (OK we can see the wires today) Yes the script is hokey, but it has a real charm. The bit with the priest .going up to the Martian war machine followed up by all hell breaking loose with the military vs aliens was seriously awesome. Other memorable setpieces include Martian stalking the couple in the house and the H-bomb scene. Definitely a classic.

7/. The Day the Earth Stood Still

Classic. Nothing more to be said. Gort was a BAD motherfucker. “Klaatu barada nikto!” Should be higher.

6/. Terminator (1984)/T2(1991)

I’m not a huge fan of these movies but they are good. Second is more of an action film than the first, rather like Aliens compared to Alien.. Predator is my favourite Arnold movie.

5/. Solaris (1972)

This movie was obviously too intellectual for me to understand. Or maybe I’ve never taken drugs. I’m sure it means something.

4/ Alien (1979)

Great film, can drag a little on repeat watchings though. Chestburster scene – classic (I wish I had seen that in the cinema when it came out). Alien design – classic. Gieger earned his paycheck here.

3/ Star Wars (1977)/Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Not really a huge Star Wars geek, but I can see why these are a popular choice. Interesting fact, the death star attack in the first film is heavily inspired by the old WWII movie 633 squadron.

2/ 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Iconic imagery, great sfx for the time, a memorable character in HAL, and that whole ‘Thus Spake Zarathustra’/'Blue Danube’ business. I don’t know what it all means though. I’m sure lots of drugs were involved in the creation of this as well. Guess I’m missing out.

1/ Blade Runner.

Again, some memorable imagery, the whole ‘futuristic cityscape’ thing, and some weighty subject matter courtesy of Philip K Dick. Not sure if it’s the best of all time though, but I tend to be biased towards older stuff.

Some good films on there, and some bizarre ones (The Matrix LOL). Other films that could have been considered, off the top of my head:

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Quatermass and the Pit (1967)
Invaders from Mars (1953)
The Thing from Another World (1951)
The Thing (1982)
Things to Come (1936)
The Beast from the 20,000 fathoms (1953)
Godzilla (1954)
Akira (1988)
Forbidden Planet (1956)

Ah, I better stop, So many more films I can think of. Picking a Top 10 would be impossible

Not odd choices per se, just a few surprises considering it was a public vote. Look Raz, we can pitch our film and win the top 10 on DVD!

I can see why the Warrior didn’t receive everyone’s acclaim – but it won awards and critical acclaim around the world. So the director says he wants to make movies about modern British Asian life – he’s got the talent – does he get the funding? Does he hell – the same old tripe by the same old mediocrities gets the funding. Work as a GP in Slough to fund your first movie! Whatever it is good luck.

Did you see the top ten sci fi in the Grauniad yesterday? Hmm…strange selection.

It’s worse for film in a way, as the outlay is so much more than for a book. Actually even my old friend Gurinder Chadha said getting Film Council money was much easier when she wrote Bend It, which she admits is a stereotypical feel-good film, in comparison to more offbeat prior scripts. However now she’s big (no pun intended) I feel she should try to redress the balance. Well she has other fish to fry, fine.

Thanks for the encouragement Jay, I will do my best! But making a film is so tough. As in a proper film. I can do a Blair Witch – in fact I have that same camera – but a film (not digital) production is a big undertaking. As of late I’ve decided I will try writing first. I’ll fail at that, spend my savings on a film, fail at that and become a GP in Slough. Whatever, watch this space!

Kapadia’s point is one of the main ones:

“For people like myself there is a much wider experience in Britain then just going on about arranged marriages. The danger is that it will breed tedium and films representing Asians will stop getting made.”

Sunny do you know this Kaleem Aftab?

BTW I find it laughable that yet another Romeo & Juliet clone, this time called Love + Hate, has even stolen the ‘+’ from Baz Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet! How do these filmmakers think what they’re doing is original? Jeez, can’t they use their eyes and see there’s enough junk out there?

I just read this article in the Independent and thought you may like it – all about the crap and cliche of British Asian cinema:

http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/film/features/article361930.ece

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head Johnny Singh.

This is fucking funny. The whole comment is. Stick around Johnny Singh, I like your style!

Did Dhaliwal get 4 As? He always struck me as thick. Still…not FIVE As is it? *polishes nails on T-shirt*