Friday, May 27, 2011

Nerdy Movies that Transend Nerdom

Since it is a holiday weekend you might have some downtime so here are some ideas!

I have tried to make a list of really good nerd movies that no one has seen. If you have not seen the following movies you really really should. Yes, they are nerd movies on the surface so most 'danes blow them off and misss a really good show for it. However they are soooo good you will be glad you did see them!

Bicentennial Man.  - Based on an Issac Asimov story. Asimov is considered one of the three grand deans of Science Fiction.

This is one of the best sci-fi movies ever made though there is very little "sci-fi" in it. Only something on the order of 12 people have ever seen it! Nine of them I held at gun point and forced them to watch until they were hooked on their own! (Average time required to put down fire arm; 12-18 minutes ;)  )

Robert Heinlein (another of the three grand deans) said that good Sci-fi is always about the the people, the characters. Oh certainly people who are impacted  in some way by the technology in their life but it's still about the people. This movie totally NAILS that concept. Even if some of them are not even technically people! :)

After you see this movie you WILL thank me for it. Ignore the rest of this post if you like, you MUST see this movie! Don't make me get my gun! :)

Please come back and comment after you see it. I really want to know what you thought.

October Sky - The true story of how the launch of Sputnik affected the lives of a group of high school kids in a poor mining town. Its is one of the best movies you have have never seen. Laura Dern's character is truly special and it may be the only Jake Gyllenhaal movie made where he does not make you feel vaguely uncomfortable. :)


I.Q. - Meg Ryan, Tim Robbins, Walter Mathou. That really should be enough for you to want to see it. BUT OH MAH DEAR GAWD! MEG RYAN AS A HUUUUUGE MATH NERD. Oh my heart! I could actually feel it melting and running down into my legs. Well maybe that was the popcorn butter but STILL! Wow!

Then other than his incredible good looks and the fact that I was an aircraft mechanic instead of auto, Tim Robbins character was written after me. Yup! (even if the writers did not know it!)

Real Genius - A very young Val Kilmer (Pre- Top Gun) stars in this flick about child geniuses in college. Not a serious flick by any means but it's a lot of good goofy nerdy fun. If you knew any nerds in college the "life in the dorms" parts of the film are pretty damned funny!

Nerd Guy - "I can't pee while your watching me"
Nerd Gal  - "That's weird. Why not"

It's a solid 9 on the nerd-o-meter!

Galaxy Quest Hmmmmm, I debate; I'm not sure if its obscure enough for this list. Among nerdom it is well known (unlike the most of the others listed here) but I am not sure how well known outside of nerddom! Either way, you can't go wrong in seeing it. Alan Rickman finally shook off the Klaus typecasting in this film freeing him up for "Marvin" (next review) and ultimately Snape.

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - Ah, originally written by one of the writers for "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (Douglas Admas) This is the first comedy sci-fi I know of. And its pretty darned good comedy too...

"I decided long ago I would rather be happy than rich."
"So, are you happy?"
"Well...Now, that is where the plan falls down now is'nt it?"

Alan Rickman as the voice of Marvin the depressed robot is pure art!

"Here I am, brain the size of a planet, and they ask me to take you to the bridge. Call that job satisfaction, 'cause I don't."

Marvin: I've been talking to the ship's computer.
Arthur: And?
Marvin: (Dripping with venom) It hates me.

Ok, to finish this lame post up - invest a measly 3 minutes of your life in this old animated song. The graphics were high tech at one time! I adore the campiness though and parts of the tune have just a bit of the old brain worm effect going. This may be the only rap song I have ever liked (even though the Yoda segment is the only really "rappy" part)

I know, you are hesititing now! Show some trust! You'll like it, I promise! It's only 3 minutes! what do you have to loose,



Darth Vader "Churning the butter!" Really? Does life get any better than that?

("Owwwww, why'd you slice off my hand?!")
Your welcome!

10 comments:

The Onion said...

Um..no. I am going to watch The Lifetime Channel all weekend long.
:-)

NerdyRedneck Rob said...

@OThe Onion- Man oh Man that is a LOT of crying! Be sure to stay hydrated!

BTW the first two movies I listed will dehydrate you as well! ;)

October Sky was on cable this weekend. Bless the DVR so I got to see it again! Whew! When Laura Dern is laying in that hospital bed terminal and that contrail climbs straight across the sky in the distance, you gotta be a robot not to loose it. :)

Justin said...

I.Q. and October Sky are both fantastic movies! I've seen each at least a half-dozen times.

I just caught Hitchhikers for the first time about a week ago. Very funny. Marvin was great!

I'm looking forward to catching the other ones soon.

NerdyRedneck Rob said...

@Justin - Aha! Vindication! Since your married I guess you are not free to discuss just how hot a nerdy Meg Ryan was. I am already a little nutty over her (Pre carp lips, was was THAT about?) but factor in that I am a total sucker for Nerd girls and Holy Quano batman! {shiver}

NerdyRedneck Rob said...

@Justin - Please check in with me once you see Bicentennial man.

Justin said...

Meg Ryan in I.Q. is VERY easy on the eyes! Definitely Wahoo!

You can bet I'll comment again after watching Bicentennial Man.

NerdyRedneck Rob said...

Justin - "Wahoo" Nice touch! lol {golf claps}

Justin said...

Hey Rob - I watched Bicentennial Man over the weekend. What a great movie! Thanks for the recommendation.

NerdyRedneck Rob said...

Justin - I am THRILLED that you A) saw it and B) LOVED it!

"One of the best movies no one ever has seen!"

I watched this with a Women a few weeks ago, I was trying to talk her into it, she said "I don't want to watch a stupid robot movie!" I finally got her to watch it

She LOVED it! She loved it so much she watched it again the same night!

Now "stupid robot movie" is our inside joke for anything really good.

Justin said...

"Stupid robot movie" indeed.

I got it from Netflix. When I asked my wife if she wanted to watch it with me, she readily agreed and said, "That's a good movie. I saw it in the theater when it first came out." So, apparently, she's one of the 12 who have seen it... and she didn't see it at gunpoint.

Thanks again for the recommendation.