The White Mountains
by John Christopher (Simon & Schuster, 1967)
Almost half a century on, John Christopher’s Tripods trilogy remains a page-turning standout in young adult SF. The White Mountains depicts a society kept in post-invasion, pre-industrial subjugation, and embarks us on Christopher’s action-light yet well-paced, never less than compelling quest narrative.
Red Dwarf VIII
by Doug Naylor (BBC, 1999)
Returning to the eponymous mining ship, Red Dwarf became unabashedly silly and yet managed also to transmogrify into a creature of ephemeral comedic brilliance. ‘Cassandra’ is a classic episode, while elsewhere, amidst the rampant caricaturing, a long-suffering Captain Hollister steals the show.
Run Lola Run
dir. Tom Tykwer (1998)
Contemporaneous cousin to the parallel-universe-exploring UK/US film Sliding Doors, this high-energy action thriller out of Germany (subtitled) was particularly effective on the big screen, its pulsating soundtrack running variations alongside flame-haired protagonist Lola as her decisions give rise to drastically different outcomes.
Tron
dir. Steven Lisberger (1982)
Structured around cutting-edge visuals and a trippy adventure inside — literally — the nascent world of computer programs, Tron nowadays comes across as the Barbarella (sans titillation) of a pre-Microsoft digital age. Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner strive valiantly to combat the jargon-heavy muddle.
Malcolm
dir. Nadia Tass (1986)
A quirky landmark in Australian cinema and independent filmmaking, bittersweet heist-cum-friendship tale Malcolm sees the apparently slow-witted, tram-obsessed titular character (Colin Friels) apply his aptitude for gadgetry to helping recent ex-con Frank (John Hargreaves) and his girlfriend (Lindy Davies) rob a bank.
Red Dwarf VII
by Doug Naylor (BBC, 1997)
Danny John-Jules’ portrayal of the Cat remains tainted by cross-pollination from buck-toothed alter-ego Duane Dibbley, but the (re)introduction of Kochanski is enough to shake up what had become a staid crew dynamic and revitalise — at least somewhat — Dave Lister’s comically vagabond existence.
Jumanji
dir. Joe Johnston (1995)
Although not so magically captivating as The Never-Ending Story, this family adventure fantasy concocts a certain chaotic wonder out of a board game that brings the jungle to predatory life in suburbia. Stars Robin Williams and cutting-edge (at the time) special effects.
Return of the Jedi
dir. Richard Marquand (1983)
As the denouement to a full-fledged trilogy (not merely the second of two opportunistic sequels), Return of the Jedi first built on the foundations of its ground-breaking predecessors, then brought the Star Wars saga to a towering conclusion, dazzling in cinematic force.
Sherlock Holmes
BBC, 1968
Peter Cushing rises above the BBC’s stinginess and inept adaptations to embody a Sherlock Holmes at once cerebral yet exuberant, aloof but socially aware. Nigel Stock’s Watson is something of a retired teddy bear and only six of sixteen episodes survive un-junked.
The Great Escape
dir. John Sturges (1963)
Whereas old movies often seem ponderously dated to modern viewers, this World War II POW drama uses pacing to good advantage and — half a century on, no less — remains a genuine classic: an ensemble cast tour de force of British film actors.