The Incredible Shrinking Man

One of the most notable early sci-fi movies of all time.

Jack Arnold directed this classic from 1957 starring Grant Williams and Randy Stuart.

Williams is enveloped by a mysterious cloud which sets off a reaction causing him to shrink in size. Slowly but surely he gets smaller and smaller.

At first he becomes a media sensation but there perils of his new existence endanger his very survival. Great scenes include confrontations with his pet cat and a spider. Classic stuff. And it sets up an existential question of what will his existence be like as he reaches atomic and subatomic size.

Great special effects and engaging story make this a winner.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050539/

Black Hawk Down

This film should be required viewing for military leaders, hawkish politicians, or anyone else thinking of going to war. Whatever can go wrong usually does.

2001 film directed by Ridley Scott stars Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Sizemore.

Small U.S. force in Somalia tries to apprehend a small group of insugents in what is supposed to be a quick and easy foray. But all hell breaks loose when they are met by a large, organized group of Somalis.

Follows the courageous team of soldiers who are determined to not leave anyone behind.

Intense war flick with realistic effects. Unlike many war films the characters here seem real, not contrived. Great sound.

Scary, suspenseful, and long, but worth it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265086/

Earth Vs The Flying Saucers

Hugh Marlowe and Joan Taylor star in this Fred F. Sears film from 1956.

Remarkable special effects for its time created by Ray Harryhausen. Aliens invade our planet demanding our surrender, leading to war of the worlds.

Not your typical B-movie.

Fun and literate.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049169/

Forbidden Planet

Ok, maybe you HAVE seen this one, but if not, definitely check it out.

1956 film directed by Fred McLeod stars Leslie Nielson, Walter Pidgeon, Anne
Francis, Jack Kelly, and Robbie the Robot.

Based on Shakespeare's The Tempest, this is the story of an Earth ship that travels to another planet looking for survivors of a previous expedition. All they find are a scientist, his daughter, and the robot created to help make their lives easier as the only inhabitants.

Along the way, the crew discovers a secret: a former civilization called the Krell, whose mind expanding technology has dire effects.

GREAT effects created by Disney studios. I've always had the suspicion that this film strongly influenced the creation of Star Trek. And Robbie is the coolest robot ever.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049223/

This Island Earth

This movie scared the hell out of me when I was a kid.

Surprisingly good sci-fi flick from 1955 directed by Joseph Newman stars Jeff Morrow, Rex Reason, and Faith Domergue.

Earth scientists are recruited to work on a secret project. Unbeknownst to them, their employers are aliens who communicate with their planet through a device called an Interossiter. The scientists are eventually abducted to the aliens' home planet where they help their abductors fend off other maurading aliens.

Suspenseful and quite elaborate special effects considering when it was made.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047577/