I've scanned the movies I have saved offline for future viewing, while I'm in nowhere Nebraska with not a lot of internet, and Solaris is the only relevant movie I have. I always assumed it was a space movie, but if it doesn't take place in space... then I'm out this round! That, and I own the recent Prometheus, though I can already hear the groans if I suggest it.
Well, let's define "space" shall we? I think a "space movie" has to occur, for the most part, somewhere without air in which the majority of the action occurs in an environment not bounded by any planet. Otherwise we're just talking science fiction. "Star Wars" would likely count as a "space movie", as would any Star Trek other than Into Darkness. However, Prometheus happens mostly on another planet, as does Forbidden Planet, as does Robinson Crusoe on Mars. By this definition, "Outland" is shaky... but as the majority of the action is driven by remoteness (it's set in the near future on Ganymede), low gravity and an utter lack of atmosphere, it's closer to being a "space movie" than Eolomea or, say, Screamers.
This list seems like a good starting point: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_about_outer_space
"Silent Running" fits this definition pretty well. It's been a long time since I saw that one; not sure how well it holds up.
I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm indifferent, but I was just curious as to what kb and everyone else thinks about what role space needs to play to make a movie "about" space. I suppose everyone has their own idea. PotA is reliant on space travel to set up the plot, but that's as far as it goes. Space leaves the picture in about five minutes, and from then on it isn't a theme of the movie, even though Heston believes he's on some far flung planet for the duration. I would say Contact is far more of a space movie than PotA, as the mystery signal comes from space, and space itself is almost a character. Space represents a lot in Contact, whereas it's incidental in Apes, in my opinion.
Aye, I'm against picking either, just brought it up as a movie that could be interpreted as "spacey" but was primarily set on planet Earth. I'm still hoping for a ball out of left field that I haven't seen or heard of before. Barring that, I may just watch a movie starring this guy:
This is a good point. Planet of the Apes is definitely a space movie in my book.
Ha, wow. The juxtaposition between you and kb's answer goes to show, we need a definition of space movie.
He described his version a bit above but I still don't like it. What about Dune?
Haven't seen it, though I don't think I could get it this week or next (remote location, not a lot of internet). So I actually shouldn't be throwing any weight around this discussion. But I love watching movies and then coming back to these.
Well he's right I guess. At least as far as Planet of the Apes is concerned. To say why would ruin the ending.
It's a very interesting movie. I had pleasant experience, despite some of the plotholes that were endlessly "exposed" and beat to death on any reddit discussion. I found that the movie drew two opposite reactions, love or hate.