Top 10 Space Movies

Not one space movie has never earned a top Academy Award, only awards for technical awards for special effects or make up. But is there any one of us that don't hold a special place in our childhood memories for our favorite sci-fi thrillers, like Star Wars or Lost in Space. They have warped us through space to visit strange, alien worlds and into high-speed, laser battles.

As the Academy rolls out the red carpets and starts awarding golden statues, I thought it would be appropriate to name some of the best space movies ever produced. The films on this list are not based on box office receipts, they are my personal selections because they inspire imagination, laughter, fear, hope or they are just pure fun. As a side note, I purposely did not include any alien or horror movies about space, we'll save that list for another day.

10. Lost in Space
Based on the 1960s television series, this is a fun film with an updated, good-looking cast that delivers moments of laughter and action.

[deep] 9. Deep Impact
Down playing the special effects, this film concentrated more on the interaction of normal people dealing with the end of the world. The part with the shuttle team working on the asteroid's surface offered some tense and great drama.

8. Mission to Mars
The mysterious face on Mars has puzzled NASA scientists for years, and it has given fire to many theories about life on other worlds. This fairly recent film gave a realistic look at space travel to the red planet, along with some good special effects and an interacting cast.

[forbidden] 7. Forbidden Planet
One of the best science fiction films to come out of the 1950s, the film features a serious acting performance by funny man Leslie Nielsen. There are some familiar faces with a good storyline filled with suspense, mystery and a killer robot.

[arma] 6. Armageddon
A summer-blockbuster film that features big stars and explosive special effects, with a good sense of humor and honor that might bring a tear to your eye.

[rightstuff] 5. The Right Stuff
An oldie but goodie - almost 20 years old, this film tells a great story about the men who risked their lives for the honor of flying in space. Starting out with Chuck Yeager, it progresses through the Mercury space program with a fun script and a quality cast.

[2001] 4. 2001: A Space Odyssey
The classic film about space travel in the next century with a degree of mystery that was not later understood until the sequel 2010. It features a controlling computer, a mysterious black monolith and disappearing astronauts.

[apollo] 3. Apollo 13
Tom Hanks commands a three-man mission that turns bad after an explosion nearly cripples the spacecraft between the Earth and the Moon.

[startrek] 2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
The best Star Trek movie with a stellar performance by Ricardo Montalban as the quintessential bad guy in space. It also featured the first digital special effects in a major film, when they illustrated the creation of the new world.

[Starwars] 1. Star Wars trilogy
George Lucas has given us a classic story about good versus evil. With the aid of a giant Wookie and smuggler, Luke and Princess Leia face overwhelming odds and Darth Vader.

I hope you enjoy my choices, let me know what you think in my opinion poll or in the latest discussion.