2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)

This Arthur C. Clarke vehicle portrays the hard science of the story realistically and largely believably. The mystery slowly unravels to a climactic event that is (as predicted) "something wonderful." Panoramic space scenes and the political, interpersonal, and logistical challenges of the Russian and American crews (plus the revived HAL-9000 computer) make for a taut sci-fi tale that is monumental in the genre. This sequel to the granddaddy of all sci-fi films is a cerebral Aliens without the monsters and mayhem. A true classic. 5 stars.