1. Bowman's Trip Through The Stargate - 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Is it any coincidence that what is perhaps the most mind-bending movie in history contains the most mind-bending scene in science fiction? You bet your black monolith it isnt! Stanley Kubricks cinematic Rubix cube has maybe the most questions asked about it than any other movie. What does it all mean? What was Kubrick saying? What the hell actually happens at the end?! But those questions arent the point of this article. Were here to focus on mind-benders, and this movie has the biggest one yet. After astronaut Bowmans battle with supercomputer HAL, he drifts off into space and sees another black monolith. He is then sent through a terrifying but spellbinding and visually awesome star-gate. We see various shapes and colors fill the screen. We see alien landscapes that look like Earths oceans and lakes that have their colors inverted. Basically, we see everything akin to what one might experience while looking at a papaya on ecstasy (not that I know anything about that.) But in all seriousness, this trip symbolizes Bowmans journey to a higher consciousness, as well as mankinds. Perhaps the next stage in human evolution. Kubrick is telling us that it is possible for us as a species to look beyond ourselves. To look beyond our world and see what the universe has to offer. It isnt easy to do, but it can be done. Of course, thats my interpretation. Whats yours?
Like this list? Which mind-bending sci-fi moments have we missed? Let us know in the comments section below.