It's taken a while to get here, we've gone through Spielberg, Nolan, the Wachowskis and even Emmerich but at last, the number one sci-fi movie, according to me, is revealed:
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
Irvin Kershner
Why I Like It So Much: This has everything most other science fictions movies aspire for, a sense of wonder, adventure, great special effects, costume and creature designs, a well crafted story and characters you can relate to. Ford is back as fan favourite Han Solo, Hamill manages to add layers to Luke Skywalker and Fisher is once again convincing as a Galactic Princess turned rebel fighter. The set pieces are bigger, the light saber duels longer and better choreographed and the space sequences truly thrilling, this is everything you want in a Star Wars movie. Still to this day, it's the pinnacle of he series, the movie all future sequels and prequels look upon in envy.
From the opening sequence on Hoth to the closing moments and quite possibly the most famous movie line in history, Empire is iconic, every frame, every shot and every battle. Lucas and Kershner have both spoken about how the sequel was meant to be darker and more adult than the original but unlike many modern sequels that look to do the same, it still manages to maintain it's sense of fun and cheese.
The stand out for me though, is how Darth Vader is developed further as a character, he is no longer the one dimensional movie villain, stalking his prey across the galaxy. He is a tragic figure, Shakespearian almost, a father who has lost his son and his humanity. It's not until the Return of the Jedi that we see his redemption but it's here, in the depth of battle that we see Vader's true motivations for hunting Luke...he just wants to spend a little quality time with his son. That might sound funny but the fact is, if Vader can convert Luke to "The Dark Side", maybe they can, "Rule the galaxy, as father and son".
Beyond all the character development and the special effects, this is a rip roaring action adventure, something Lucas was known for in the 80s. Everything moves along at the right pace, the action is slick and never meaningless, Peter Jackson could learn from it in his Hobbit trilogy. Nothing is ever drawn out and when the movie ends, it's like getting off a roller coaster, you just want to get back on.
Why It's Here: Well, it was a close call between the Terminator movies and Empire, in my opinion the two are almost interchangeable at 1 and 2 but Star Wars started it all, the trend of highly successful science fiction blockbusters that could be watched by both young and old. Still to this day, there are few movies that have managed to combine adventure, story, action and the wow factor in such a complete package.
...I am your father! The Battle of Hoth Oh Han Solo, you rascal