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I grew up reading science fiction, thinking my beloved genre was all about the possibilities of the infinite: advanced civilizations inhabiting distant star systems; men with brains so large and hearts so beneficent they could barely be contained within their bodies; women with beauty so magnificent and intellect so stunning they would leave bystanders breathless.

And they I started watching movies and eventually realized it's all about death, destruction ... and more death.

This week's release of The Final Destination, which is obsessed with staging elaborate 'kill scenes,' got me thinking about memorable scenes of demise in science fiction films. Sci-fi is notably short of serial killers, but offers a wider range of death scenes, beyond simple murder and mayhem. Here's my list of the top 10 sci-fi deaths. (Of necessity, this list is nothing but spoilers, so you have been warned.)

1. The Emperor (Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi)

Everyone knows where they were when they saw the Emperor get what was coming to him. Me, I was in the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles, opening night, second showing, near 5:00 a.m., shouting (and ultimately cheering and applauding) along with the rest of the sold-out auditorium as Luke looked between his father and the Emperor, in pain, agonizing, understanding that the man he had hated was being tortured by the man who should be hated. And then he made the right call. Goosebumps still raise up in the glory of the memory.

Read the rest over at Sci-Fi Squad

He's always a great actor, but Ben Kingsley has a habit lately of working with undeserving directors (e.g. Uwe Boll) and appearing in undeserving movies (e.g. A Sound of Thunder). Give him a great director (Spielberg, Glazer) or even a good one (Attenborough, Levinson) and he shines. So, it's an enormous treat to learn he's finally working with Martin Scorsese, appearing in the newly Oscar-winning director's next film, Shutter Island. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Kingsley (or Sir Ben, as he's typically referred to on set) will play Dr. Cawley, the chief physician at a Massachusetts hospital for the criminally insane who must play host to two U.S. marshals played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo. Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone), the plot follows the marshals as they investigate the disappearance of a mental patient/inmate. While on the case, they experience a hurricane, get stuck on the eponymous island thanks to a riot and of course, "encounter a web of deceit."

Best known for being the fourth collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio, Shutter Island will also hopefully be known as the movie in which Sir Ben has a Massachusetts accent. As a cranky "enigmatic" doctor, though, he could be from anywhere (and with Kingsley, I truly mean that literally). Actually, this could be a rare Lehane adaptation where none of the main characters have that Boston-area intonation. Regardless, it should be entertaining to watch Kingsley as a slightly villainous physician who performs illegal brain surgery. Picture a cross between Don Logan, his character from Sexy Beast, Cosmo, his character from Sneakers, and Xavier Fitch, from Species. I would add in his loony psychiatrist character from the upcoming The Wackness, but I've only seen one scene and you likely aren't familiar with any of it. Of course, under the masterful direction of Scorsese, Kingsley will probably give us something fresh, like no character of his we've encountered before. I see a fifth Oscar nomination on the horizon.

I pray you'll forgive me for bringing you up-to-date on some colorful DVD news that's (at least) three weeks old, but it just amuses me when a genre series keeps chugging along well after it probably should have been tossed into mothballs. (That doesn't include the new American Pie video sequels. There's nothing even remotely amusing about those things.) We've shared a few tidbits on the third Species sequel (the second one to go straight to DVD), but Fangoria has a bunch of new info that just might amuse people who love silly sci-fi and blatant jiggle-factor. Yep, the series that brought together sci-fi, horror, Ben Kinglsey and Natasha Henstridge's (frequently) naked breasts is back! On October 2 you and your horny gorehound pals can gather 'round for MGM's Species 4: The Awakening!

Apparently this one's about a sexy college professor who is justifiably concerned after discovering that she's not human at all, but instead a human-alien hybrid that's about to go into heat and slaughter a bunch of men who *just* got to see her boobies. The flick stars (the stunning) Helena Mattsson as the inevitably undressed alien babe and Ben Cross as the uncle who tries to keep her one step ahead of some other freaky-murderous alien monsters. Sounds like a half-decent way to spend 80-some minutes, I suppose. Indie-maker and music video director Nick Lyon makes his studio debut on the project. Screenplay courtesy of Species 3 writer Ben Ripley, and Species 3 is a pretty solid chunk of fun trash.

In addition to the unrated version of Species 4, October 2 will also see the release of a 2-disc Species Special Edition -- which is kind of weird because I could have sworn there was a Species Special Edition released alongside Species 3. (There was.) This new set will include audio commentary with Ms. Henstridge, Michael Madsen and director Roger Donaldson, plus a whole second disc jam-packed with Species stuff. And you'll notice how I never once mentioned Species 2 during this entire article. That's because even I have some taste. (For a specs breakdown on the new Species SE -and- a bunch of gory pics from Species 4, hit up Fango for a few minutes.)

I bet that, until Scott's disturbing/enlightening sequel post a few weeks ago, you didn't even know there was a Species III -- shame on you! Sure, the thing went straight to DVD, but how do you think poor Brad Turner, who directed the thing, feels about your lack of respect? (Actually, since he directed basically every 24 episode this year -- not to mention a ton of Stargate stuff -- he's probably not too bothered. Never mind.)

Well, your (and my) ignorance of the project notwithstanding, the DVD made over $11 million in the US alone, so it's really no surprise that, yes, there's another one on the way. Written by Ben Ripley -- the brilliant mind behind installment three -- and directed by Nick Lyon, Species IV will start filming in October in Mexico City. You probably won't believe this, but the plot revolves around a hot woman who's part alien getting angry, and wreaking blood havoc on all the asses she can find. Sweet, right? Hey, at least you know what you're getting into with these -- there's no risk you'll see a Species movie with, like, lots of healthy puppies, and government agents who live to see old age.