AFI's Top 100 Heart-Pounding Movies ... Star Trek not in it

If you happened to catch Tuesday night's special on a CBS affiliate station, they ranked the top 100 heart-pounding movies of all time. Unfortunately, Star Trek did not make the list.

I went to the American Film Institute's website ( http://www.afionline.org ) and find that Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was actually among the 400 nominated films for the list.

*bangs head on brick wall* http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/confused.gif

I wish I could turn back time so I could at least put in my vote. I know that Star Wars is a given, and so's Jurassic Park, but dammit I don't want people to forget Roddenberry's contribution to entertainment.

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

[This message has been edited by REG (edited 06-13-2001).]

I believe that Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was on the all time gratest list from AFI

Star Trek is more noted for its long contribution to television than the silver screen. Also the films suffer by the reputation of the odd number let downs. I was surprised that "Terminator 2" beat out another popular sequel "The Empire Strikes Back" considering the famous "Luke I am your father" line and that lightsaber duel had more shock value to American audiences.

We all know Star Trek's contribution to the TV medium, but it has also contributed in the theater medium with a total of 9 movies.

Now according to the AFI special on CBS, it was listing the top 100 Heart-Pounding movies. Now who here does not think that the scene involving the wounded Enterprise training vessel and the damaged Reliant in the Mutara Nebula is heart-pounding? I can tell you right now, when I first watched that scene my heart could have exploded off my chest and run right out of the theater's lobby. I was so hanging on the edge of my seat I could kiss the screen. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif

I think I am living in the wrong country, this is not my kind of people. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/eek.gif

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

[This message has been edited by REG (edited 06-16-2001).]

This message has been removed on request by the
poster

Let's not forget American cinema's prejudice towards Science Fiction in general. When has a science fiction film ever been nomiated for best picture, or recieved any sort of award for best special effects?

Exactly how many times have George Lucas' Star Wars movies (four so far) have won in the special effects category? I did recall them picking up an award for the Phantom Menace.

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

[This message has been edited by REG (edited 06-16-2001).]

Let's not forget American cinema's prejudice towards Science Fiction in general. When has a science fiction film ever been nomiated for best picture, or recieved any sort of award for best special effects?

Contact was clearly one of the top films of '97, but it didn't even get nominated.

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Even in this age of technological wonders, the human mind is still the most powerful weapon in the universe.

Here are some selections from the list that I do not thing belong on a list of "Heart Pounding Movies";

11: The Godfather...okay this is an amazing film and full of drama and suspense, but it is never, ever heart pounding. Sigh.

17: The Manchurian Candidate...See above, times 2.

25: Titanic. Why is this on a list of best anythings? Anyone can make a 3 hour movei about a boat and sink it at the end http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif (Free Enterprise anyone?) But I watched it, and it was never, ever heart pounding...how could it be? You knew the boat was going to hit the iceberg....groan...

26 The Maltese Falcon & 37 Casablanca - Again great movies, really well made (two of my all time favs actually) but never, ever heart pounding, unless you are a skitish creature who gets fear out of seeing your won shadow. Man...

Okay the rest I can make cases for, but those just stand out as being ones that could have been replaced by Star Trek II or even Star Trek III (Come one, old school gang, who didn't have their heart stop when the saw the 1701 go up like a tinder box? One of my players still cannot watch that scene.)

But alas, the majority has spoken and Cameron's Titanic will forever be considered more "Heart Pounding" than the much later ranked "Posidon Adventure".

Just don't ask me which is the better film http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif



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Aslan Collas
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RPG_Trek; http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rpg-trek
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Ferengi Rule Of Acquisition #76: Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.

Just to clarify the criteria, I quote AFI's criteria:

Quote:

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CRITERIA:

Recognizing the subjective and historical nature of "thrills" and the cinematic techniques used to create them, AFI has compiled this ballot with the goal of being as inclusive as possible. The following criteria should be considered in all selections, including write-in candidates:

FEATURE-LENGTH FICTION FILM

Narrative format, typically over 60 minutes in length.

AMERICAN FILM

English language film with significant creative and/or financial production elements from the United States.

THRILLS

Regardless of genre, the total adrenaline-inducing impact of a film’s artistry and craft, creating an experience that engages our bodies as well as our minds.

LEGACY

Films whose "thrills" stand the test of time — enlivening and enriching America’s film heritage, while inspiring contemporary artists and audiences.

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In fairness to Mr. Lucas when the original Star Wars hit theatres in May of 1977 it generated a huge phenomena that still persists to this day. Sci-fi apart from 2001 and Planet of the Apes during the time before it was not a popular prospect for a studio to invest in. With the Star Wars no had seen anything like with its robots, aliens in a catina...lol!, a huge Death Star that could blow entire planets to kingdom come, ships that filled the screen racing about shooting laser bolts, the incidious Darth Vader,the sounds, dogfighting, and the intense sequence at the very end during the trench run with the starfighters. That was heart pouding and with John Williams music...I get goosebumps remembering the impression I got as a five year old munchkin seeing it for the first time. The crowd got into it cheering and stuff. Hell remember the days of waiting in very long lines for hours cause everyone wanted to see it? Star Wars had such a big impression that it won a majority of awards and made new ones that year I think it took home seven Academy Awards...and was nominated for Best Picture. Trek was not a new thing by 1979 when its motion picture came out. By then audiences had seen Star Wars several times and most already knew who Spock, Kirk, Scotty and the others were. The motion picture really didn't have a bad guy either something they fixed in Wrath of Khan, First Contact and now apparently Trek X. It may have been timing. If Trek a movie with a good storyline and effects came out before Star Wars who knows, Trek may have reaped up the awards. Trek does have a legacy though as it pioneered other things in television...but not the silver screen.
These days however the Star Wars franchise has competition in the CGI department and even though it was nominated for special effects last year the Matrix which won with its new effects technology was definetly the better movie.

The F/X portion of the Academy Awards is generally one of the few places that sci-fi has a chance. But I have yet to see it in the televised Awards. At best its shown in the "quickie" recaps before or after commercials.

Not that I concider the Academy Awards as true recognition. They may have the reputation but I choose the fan-based awards over the political back-patting awards any day.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture should definately be on the list. I mean, cmon, everyone was on the edge of their seats in the hope that they would actually make it aboard the Enterprise instead of flying in circles around it. If that didnt get your heart pumpin, you must be dead.