Who is Your Favorite Captain?

Where would science fiction be without a bold commander leading the charge? Lost in Space, that's where. Captains are the stalwarts of courage, morality, bravery and yes, sometimes even theatricality (I'm looking at you, Jean-Luc Picard). But as they say, the worst crew is a boatful of captains. So in a galaxy of capable commanders, who takes charge?

Who is your favorite Sci-Fi Captain? Are you a Kirk devotee, or is Picard more your warp speed? Is Han Solo a better smuggler than Mal Reynolds? Is David Bowman's Space Odyssey better than Admiral Adama's? Tell us what you think.

I have to go with the Shakespearian Picard, who manages to make any speech, no matter how filled with Treknobabble, a lesson in poetry.

SciFi Quotes

Here's a memorable quote from a Science Fiction film. The first commenter to guess the correct film posts the next quote.

"As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy, than to create."

Who said it, and in what film? Let the games begin!

Ten Best Science Fiction Films

My friends and I were trying to come up with a list of the top ten Sci-Fi films, and we couldn't seem to agree. Granted, the majority of the films on my list are relegated to the era in which I was alive to see them in the theaters. So I thought I would share my thoughts with my fellow Sci-Fi lovers and see what you all think.

10. The Day the Earth Stood Still -- An all-time classic, and a parable about mankind's potential savagery that maintains to this day
9. Star Trek: First Contact -- By far the best of the ten, First Contact could be enjoyed by Trekkies and non-fans alike
8. Twelve Monkeys -- Time traveling mind trip with Brad Pitt playing a nutcake? What's not to love?
7. Terminator 2 -- One of two instances of the sequel being better than the original, Terminator 2 was actually the first R-rated movie I ever saw. So it will always hold a special place in my heart.
6. Blade Runner -- The best Philip K. Dick adaptation (and there have been plenty). I am still disappointed the big reveal in the book is different from the movie -- typically for me it's the other way around.
5. Aliens -- The second instance of a sequel being better than the original. Bill Paxton deserves an Oscar for his role.
4. Back to the Future -- Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads!
3. Star Wars -- I think it's required by law to include Star Wars in every Science Fiction list
2. The Matrix -- I don't care if it totally rips of Neuromancer, The Matrix made cyberpunk palatable to the masses, and also redefined the level of artistry and storytelling that we should expect from modern cinema.
1. Children of Men -- One of the most beautifully shot and poignant movies I've ever seen. The best Science Fiction doesn't need to remind you it's taking place in the future -- it hits so hard, it doesn't matter.

What do you guys think? What's on your list?

Star Trek Vs. Star Wars

Since I was a little kid, I've always been more of a Star Trek guy. I had practically memorized every episode of The Next Generation, owned all the action figures and playsets, and even had a Halloween costume or two. But no matter how hard I tried, I could never convince my friend Jon that Star Trek was any good. For him it was Star Wars or bust. He must have seen each of the movies over a hundred times, and when the original three were re-released he made sure we were all first in line at the theater.

I would say forcefields, he would say the Force. I would say phasers, he would say sabers. I would say warp speed, he would say hyperspace. I couldn't figure out why until I realized that for almost every aspect of Star Trek there exists a counterpoint in Star Wars, and vice versa.

I tell this story because the teaser for J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek has come out just as George Lucas has been tantalizing fans with images from his new CGI Clone Wars. Rumors of a pending live action television series could send the competition into another dimension! Are we heading into a SciFi showdown between the two franchises?

Could Star Wars ever trump Star Trek on the small screen? Could Captain Kirk beat Han Solo in a battle of brain and braun? Is the Prime Directive a better motivating force than, well, the Force? Is there really a difference between the two? Or are these just two parallel universes?