Top 20 Iconic Moments in Sci-Fi Films

5. HAL Doesn€™t Open The doors (2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W5Am-a_xWw Ok, I€™ll be honest. I didn€™t like this movie. I saw it for the first time only a few years ago (and described it to a friend as, €œa movie about the future that€™s set in the past.€). While I liked the production values and the use of music, I found the film overall to be a little too much €œweird for the sake of weird€. That said, the moment when HAL refuses to open the pod bay doors, thus making it clear that he€™s totally off the rails, is one of those great moments in cinema, at least in part because he sounds genuinely apologetic when he said, €œI€™m sorry, Dave. I€™m afraid I can€™t do that.€

4. The Statue of Liberty (Planet of the Apes, 1968)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb4eZ7Z5yk8 This is another one of those scenes that€™s so iconic, even people who haven€™t ever seen the movie know what it is. In many ways, it€™s a pity that it is so well-known. I can only imagine the impact that this had on audiences back in the day, when they had no idea what was coming. Even now, it stands up as a solid moment in a very solid film, and if Charlton Heston€™s acting is a bit over the top, well, who can blame him? It€™s a hell of a scene. Click "next" below to read the next entry...
 
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Chris Swanson is a freelance writer and blogger based in Phoenix, Arizona, where winter happens to other people. His blog is at wilybadger.wordpress.com