Comments on: Film Junk Poll: Who is the Best Action Sci-Fi Director?

By: bullet3

bullet3 — Sat, 23 May 2009 01:28:57 +0000

JR: The problem is that Raiders and Crusade aren’t sci-fi films, and close encounters isn’t really an action film. Spielberg’s only real sci-fi action is Jurassic Park, Minority Report, and War of the Worlds, which get beat out by T1/T2 and Aliens in my opinion. But again, it’s just a stupid technical poll, they’re both outstanding directors.

By: JR

JR — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:04:08 +0000

I gotta go with Speilberg on this one for Raiders, Crusade, Close Encounters, Jurassic Park and Minority Report.

James Cameron is a very close runner up for Aliens and T2.

By: patrik

patrik — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:41:24 +0000

voted Cameron but I also think Ridley Scott would be an obvious choice for the list

By: dunk

dunk — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:47:30 +0000

@bullet3: “he somehow manages to shoot things with a very clear geography that so few film-makers understand”.

that sums up perfectly what i like about old-school action directors like Cameron. You always know where you are. I managed to catch a bit of True Lies the otherday on TV, and i was shocked how easily i could follow the action and appreciate the tension and suspense within the action scenes. I guess i was starting to get used to that ‘hand-held shaky cam disorientation’ b.s. that is pervading the industry at the moment.

By: Pr1mal

Pr1mal — Fri, 22 May 2009 03:37:43 +0000

I didn’t forget. I deleted it because this is for SCI-FI ACTION. The Abyss was all sci-fi drama from what I saw. The scene where Harris revives the chick is the probably the most dramatic thing Cameron has ever done. Nothing in Titanic can touch that.

I should of deleted E.T. from Spielberg too since it wasn’t an action film either.

By: Deven Science

Deven Science — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:12:33 +0000

@ Pr1mal,

Don’t forget The Abyss for Cameron. That’s one of my favorites of his.

By: bullet3

bullet3 — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:07:27 +0000

Cameron all the way, he hasn’t done a single movie that hasn’t been great as far as I’m concerned. If True Lies is the worst movie in your portfolio, you’ve got to be one hell of a director, since even that’s an awesome kick-ass action movie. I think for T2 and Aliens alone, you’d have to give it to him. He somehow always manages to shoot things with a very clear geography that so few film-makers understand, while still keeping things exciting. Compare the bridge scene from True Lies with the one from MI-3, or just look at the Truck vs Helicopter chase in T2. That’s the other thing, he always pushes for practical effects as much as possible. For that helicopter chase in T2, you can tell they actually flew a helicopter inches above the freeway, and under underpasses. Nowadays, that shit would absolutley be CG’d. Hope Avatar keeps as much ass as his other films.

I will say Verhoven is up there though, followed closely by Spielberg. I think Minority Report and War of the Worlds were both very good, but action-wise, Robocop and Total Recall beats them out.

By: Pr1mal

Pr1mal — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:02:37 +0000

Jackie Chan hasn’t done or isnt known for his sci-fi action directing skills you nub.

By: TheAllKnowingGod

TheAllKnowingGod — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:49:29 +0000

You people should be kicked in the balls for putting Paul WS Anderson on that list and not Jackie Chan.

By: Derek

Derek — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:12:54 +0000

I’d have ta say that I like Verhoeven’s sci-fi films a lot. They always seem to have sort of a hardcore gritt to them, like the heavy metal magazines (lots of comic book violence and sci-fi sex fetishes)… Three brested hookers/ co-ed showers and locker rooms.
Paul seems to not have any limits to how far he goes when he makes his films. He never holds back.

I like the other directors too, but Paul has always touched a special place in my heart.

By: scoville

scoville — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:13:12 +0000

James Cameron is one of the most overrated directors in the history of film.

By: Pr1mal

Pr1mal — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:58:21 +0000

John McTiernan – Predator, Rollerball

George Lucas – Star Wars Ep. 1-4

Paul Verhoeven – Robocop, Total Recall, Starship Troopers, Hollow Man

Jon Favreau – Zathura, Iron Man

Michael Bay – Armageddon, The Island, Transformers

James Cameron – Terminator1&2, Aliens

Wachowski Bros – Matrix Trilogy

Paul W.S Anderson – Event Horizon, Soldier, Resident Evil, AVP, Death Race

Spielberg – E.T., Jurassic Park, A.I. Minority Report, War of the Worlds

Luc Besson – The Fifth Element

The ones who seem to only do sci-fi action really suck based on the list. Kinda funny that the directors that do 1 or 2 films in sci-fi action are totally remembered.

Verhoeven FTW imo.