This past Tuesday, ABC unveiled its long awaited remake of the 1983 mini-series "V." Today, "The Fourth Kind," a film about alien abductions in an Alaskan town, opens in theaters. As the popular film line goes, they're heeeeeere.
And since the time is ripe for an alien takeover, let's take a look at Fanboy's top 15 extraterrestrial invasions both hostile and friendly:
15. "Starman": Between horror classics like "The Thing" and "Christine," director John Carpenter gave us Jeff Bridges as an alien that takes the form of a young widow's husband.
14. "Rocky Horror Picture Show": While most people don't think of this cult classic as an alien invasion film, let's not forget that Riff Raff, Magenta and Dr. Frank-N-Furter are from the planet Transexual in the galaxy of Transylvania.
13. "E.T.": Never thought I'd ever get the chance to use the word alien and tearjerker in the same sentence, but if this story of a boy and his intergalactic friend doesn't touch your heart, you probably don't have one.
12. "Fire In the Sky": Based on a true story, this 1993 film chronicles the story of Travis Walton, a reported victim of alien abduction in 1975.
11. "3rd Rock From the Sun": John Lithgow as an alien? I can buy it.
10. "ALF": The cuddly visitor from Melmac was a friend to all in the classic '80s sitcom. (Except for cats. Yum!)
9. "War of the Worlds": I'd venture to say that the 2005 remake of the H.G. Welles classic was more unsettling and an overall better film than the 1953 original. And Tim Robbins as a crackpot with a gun was downright creepy.
8. "Starship Troopers": The most underrated film on the list, "Troopers" has humans of a fascist, militaristic future battling with giant alien bugs.
7. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers": While there have been many attempts to remake this one, (most recently 2007's "The Invasion" with Nicole Kidman) the 1956 original remains the best of the bunch.
6. "The X-Files": Yes, Mr. Mulder, trust no one. Especially those aliens that took your sister.
5. "Mars Attacks": Possibly, the funniest alien attack ever filmed, Tim Burton's film featured everyone from Danny DeVito and Jim Brown to Jack Nicholson and Tom Jones.
4. "Signs": M. Night Shyamalan's film starred Mel Gibson (before he went crazy) and Joaquin Phoenix (before he went crazy) as well as a young Abigail Breslin (before she went "Little Miss Sunshine").
3. "Men In Black": While a third film is currently in the works, the original pairing of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith knocked us off our feet.
2. "District 9": The newest film on the list, "District 9" really struck a chord with filmgoers this year.
1. "Independence Day": Some of you will probably disagree with this as the top selection but there's one thing "ID4" has that all the others don't: Jeff Goldblum.
Here's what else is happening ...
Spoiler alert, "Heroes" fans.
The only reason I had left to watch the fading NBC superhero drama is leaving the show. The whole Nathan/Sylar debacle couldn't last forever and Adrian Pasdar, who plays the killed-last-season-and-reborn-through-Sylar Nathan, is leaving the show.
Rumor has it though that this was not a mutual separation.
According to Michael Ausiello over at Entertainment Weekly, the actor didn't learn of his upcoming demise until reading the script. What do you think, Fanboy readers? Did Nathan Petrelli deserve better?
The United States speedskating team has found a new sponsor after its current one, DSB Bank NV, went bankrupt. Stepping in for the now defunct bank is, you guessed it, the Colbert Nation.
According to the BBC, "the sponsorship will rely on the show's viewers to donate to the team as they have in the past to get NASA treadmills and bald eagles named in their hero's honor."
If you're a fan of Hulu, the online TV mecca, there's one thing you may have been missing: cartoons.
But now thanks to the recently unveiled Jaroo.com, you can finally get your fix. Greats like "Inspector Gadget," "Paddington," "The Littles" and "Pole Position" are among the toons available for free on the site with tons more being added.
And since the time is ripe for an alien takeover, let's take a look at Fanboy's top 15 extraterrestrial invasions both hostile and friendly:
15. "Starman": Between horror classics like "The Thing" and "Christine," director John Carpenter gave us Jeff Bridges as an alien that takes the form of a young widow's husband.
14. "Rocky Horror Picture Show": While most people don't think of this cult classic as an alien invasion film, let's not forget that Riff Raff, Magenta and Dr. Frank-N-Furter are from the planet Transexual in the galaxy of Transylvania.13. "E.T.": Never thought I'd ever get the chance to use the word alien and tearjerker in the same sentence, but if this story of a boy and his intergalactic friend doesn't touch your heart, you probably don't have one.
12. "Fire In the Sky": Based on a true story, this 1993 film chronicles the story of Travis Walton, a reported victim of alien abduction in 1975.
11. "3rd Rock From the Sun": John Lithgow as an alien? I can buy it.
10. "ALF": The cuddly visitor from Melmac was a friend to all in the classic '80s sitcom. (Except for cats. Yum!)
9. "War of the Worlds": I'd venture to say that the 2005 remake of the H.G. Welles classic was more unsettling and an overall better film than the 1953 original. And Tim Robbins as a crackpot with a gun was downright creepy.
8. "Starship Troopers": The most underrated film on the list, "Troopers" has humans of a fascist, militaristic future battling with giant alien bugs.
7. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers": While there have been many attempts to remake this one, (most recently 2007's "The Invasion" with Nicole Kidman) the 1956 original remains the best of the bunch.
6. "The X-Files": Yes, Mr. Mulder, trust no one. Especially those aliens that took your sister.
5. "Mars Attacks": Possibly, the funniest alien attack ever filmed, Tim Burton's film featured everyone from Danny DeVito and Jim Brown to Jack Nicholson and Tom Jones.
4. "Signs": M. Night Shyamalan's film starred Mel Gibson (before he went crazy) and Joaquin Phoenix (before he went crazy) as well as a young Abigail Breslin (before she went "Little Miss Sunshine").3. "Men In Black": While a third film is currently in the works, the original pairing of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith knocked us off our feet.
2. "District 9": The newest film on the list, "District 9" really struck a chord with filmgoers this year.
1. "Independence Day": Some of you will probably disagree with this as the top selection but there's one thing "ID4" has that all the others don't: Jeff Goldblum.
Here's what else is happening ...
Spoiler alert, "Heroes" fans.
The only reason I had left to watch the fading NBC superhero drama is leaving the show. The whole Nathan/Sylar debacle couldn't last forever and Adrian Pasdar, who plays the killed-last-season-and-reborn-through-Sylar Nathan, is leaving the show. Rumor has it though that this was not a mutual separation.
According to Michael Ausiello over at Entertainment Weekly, the actor didn't learn of his upcoming demise until reading the script. What do you think, Fanboy readers? Did Nathan Petrelli deserve better?
The United States speedskating team has found a new sponsor after its current one, DSB Bank NV, went bankrupt. Stepping in for the now defunct bank is, you guessed it, the Colbert Nation.
According to the BBC, "the sponsorship will rely on the show's viewers to donate to the team as they have in the past to get NASA treadmills and bald eagles named in their hero's honor."
If you're a fan of Hulu, the online TV mecca, there's one thing you may have been missing: cartoons.
But now thanks to the recently unveiled Jaroo.com, you can finally get your fix. Greats like "Inspector Gadget," "Paddington," "The Littles" and "Pole Position" are among the toons available for free on the site with tons more being added.
It would appear that the person who made this list missed seeing the first "Alien" movie, the one starring Sigourney Weaver and directed by Ridley Scott.