Top 20: films

[SPS]

I have wanted to do this for awhile. The idea of challenging myself to list off 20 films that I absolutely love more than anything else is so appealing for me, and considering we have done a best of the last decade and countless best of threads the time has come to truly challenge yourself. Come up with your top 20 films. It's that simple. You don't have to even rank them or anything just list your top 20, preferably with reasons. If this is supposed to be hard its meant to be. So good luck.

Here are mine in no particular order:

Dr. Strangelove: Or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb- I could do a paper on this film (and have actually, I got an A on it IIRC), it's just that deep. Filled with dark humor, great acting, and an overall absurd plot. Plus tons of little details make this a wonderful movie to watch and rewatch.

Planet of the Apes/Escape From the Planet of the Apes- I am including both here since they parallel each other so perfectly. Whenever I talk about good Sci-Fi I have to point out these films because even though they hit you over the head with the point sometimes there are quite a bit of subtleties with these films. Plus I have soft spots for the late Charlton Heston, Ricardo Montalbahn, and Roddy MacDowall. just excellent.

A Clockwork Orange- I remember seeing this film after I read the book and was amazed at how well it matched up. I don't like some of the changes Kubrick made (like changing how Alex murders the old bag), but overall it is a great film.

A Boy and His Dog- One of the best post-apocalyptic films I have ever seen. Pitch Black humor and it is genuinely creepy at times. I kind of love the end of the movie too. I don't care if its not what Harlan Ellison intended. He can go shove it.

The Day After- So what if it's a Made for TV movie, it is perhaps one of the best I remember. Here we have a human story about a small town after a nuclear attack wipes out most of America. If it sounds familiar it is. Jericho did it almost 25 years later, and it was very good also. Nicholas Meyer focuses on the people, and even makes Steve Guttenberg bearable.

Terminator 1- Introduced me to boobies...I mean the Terminator series. Arnold is on top form here, and it gets better in Terminator 2. Wonderful action and a simple plot scratches the surface of the themes the second film explores.

Empire Strikes Back- Figure I should include a Star Wars film on here, even though as I get older it gets kind of unbearable. Can you grow out of Star Wars? I think it may be possible.

Brazil- I saw this for the first time a few months ago and I was not impressed, but as it sunk in I kept on singing the theme to myself, and realized that I liked it, and am eagerly awaiting when I can purchase it on DVD. It's like 1984 on crack, wonderfully trippy yet maintaining the seriousness of 1984. Magnifique.

Do the Right Thing- Spike Lee's film on racism. Yes it gets over the top at times, particularly with some of the music and camera angles but it is a very simple story about a hot day in New York, and its effect on the people.

Terminator 2- I kind of had to seperate the two Terminator films as they are two pretty different films. Schwarzenegger actually shows some slight range here as he plays a very real and human Terminator. But it's Linda Hamilton who really steals the show here.

Schindler's List- Easily Steven Spielberg's best film, by far. But it's Liam Neeson who owns the role.

Gataca- Another example of a good sci-fi film. Uma Thurman, Jude Law, and Ethan Hawke are all pretty good in this film. A very interesting premise and quite a decent thriller overall.

Jackie Brown- Tarantino's best, and not all that typical for him. At least in his early years. Great performances all around again.

Iron Giant- One of the best and more adult animated movies I have ever seen. It's no wonder Brad Bird went over to Pixar after this movie bombed.

Election- This is exactly how elections go. High school or college. Need I say more? I love it more and more every time I watch it.

Fast and the Furious- My favorite guilty pleasure (as I've said before). Vin Diesel is the man!

28 Days Later- The film that made me fall in love with Zombies. Danny Boyle shows much promise here, and the script is wonderful and tightly paced.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind- Michel Gondry is my favorite director of the 2000's and this film is why. It's unique, funny and touching all at the same time. Add in Jim Carey, and Kate Winslet's best performances and you have a certified winner in my book.

Children of Men- One of the best thrillers out there, and never mind that it's a sci-fi film. It hits you over the head with the allegory aspect a little too much though.

Inglorious Basterds- Tarantino's war film is deep on so many levels, but the real star here is Hans Landa. He is the ultimate evil Nazi.

That was actually really tough, I spent nearly 2 hours on this, and a few movies missed the cut. So What are yours?

[Gray Lensman]

Tough one, and I'll probably forget something in a list like this, but here goes.

Casablanca: One of the classics, and deservedly so. A strong character-driven storyline, endlessly quotable dialogue, first-rate acting, and really great internal conflict. It's one of those rare movies that I'll periodically go back to.

North By Northwest: My personal favorite Hitchcock film, even if not necessarily Hitch as his most technically brilliant. But it has Cary Grant at the top of his game, some great villains as played by James Mason and Martin Landau, a cross-country thrill ride, and an assassination attempt by cropduster.

Strangers On A Train: My other favorite Hitchcock film, and one of his more underrated. Robert Walker plays a man who comes up with a plan for a "perfect" murder: swap murders with a total stranger. Walker is nothing short of brilliant in it, and the suspense holds tightly through to the end.

Raiders of the Lost Ark: Still my favorite Indy film after all these years, and one of the darn few stories that manages to get away with a deus ex machina ending. Just a great fun thrill ride.

The Prestige: This is one of those rare movies where I get something new out of it through repeat viewings. It's a great story about the cost of revenge and secrecy, played by some of the best in the business.

Terminator 2: Remember when James Cameron actually made movies that offered more than cool visual effects? Yeah, so do I. ;D

Inglourious Basterds: A little early to say if this one lasts the test of time, but right now this one's high in my list. Precise plotting, deep meaning, cool twists, and attention to small details that adds into major significance does a lot for me. And then there's Landa, who steals the entire movie.

Monty Python & The Holy Grail: One of the great comedy classics, delivered by a group at the top of their game. If not for the ending, this would have been a perfect film... but as is, it's still hilarious even with repeat viewings.

Lord of the Rings: I include these three together because with the exception of Two Towers it's darned hard to separate them. This trilogy aimed for the truly epic in scale and scope and achieved it... and all while maintaining a firm respect for the source material.

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly: Because I love Westerns, and this is one of the most enduring and iconic ones. Each of the three main leads is distinct, strong, and capable of driving the plot, and their conflict makes the story all the more compelling. And it has some of my favorite lines, which doesn't hurt.

The Maltese Falcon: The archetypal film noir, and one of those movies I like to come back to periodically.

Manos: The Hands of Fate: One of my guilty pleasures, and I recommend this to no one. This movie is so soul-crushingly bad that even the title makes no sense... and yet it's strangely fascinating at the same time. Mainly due to the character of Torgo, who is awesome and about the only redeeming virtue to this cinematic travesty. If you must watch this, see it with MST3K commentary... it's one of the funniest episodes they ever did.

Gunga Din: It takes a little while for this movie to get going, but once it gets there, it's pretty epic. It doesn't have much to do with the Kipling poem, but it makes up for that by being a great adventure film.

The Red Shoes: An old and very obscure film (by US standards), but it makes a compelling statement about art and obsession. A very deep and complex film, but it takes quite a while to build up. That it also has one of my favorite on-screen villains of all time doesn't hurt either, of course.

2001: A Space Odyssey: Because this is, without a doubt, one of the weirdest movies that I've ever seen. It's a deceptively simple movie at times, and at other times (especially the ending), it ventures directly into acid-trip territory. It's possible to watch this numerous times and still not completely figure it out.

Fists of Fury: One of my favorite Bruce Lee films, featuring some of my favorite fight scenes and good character-driven action.

More to come as I think of them...

[Elliot Kane]

Top twenty, eh? Well, why not! I need a new headache! ;D

Seriously - good idea. Not that I won't forget stuff. I'm sure I will...

In no particular order:

Elliot's Twenty Favourite Films

Die Hard - Very few films can honestly be said to have changed the entire nature of a genre, but Die Hard is one of the few. It may perhaps not be the absolutely best action film ever (though it may well be) but it's a terrific film that is also hugely influential, so deserves its place.

The Rock - great action film, notable in that the 'bad guy' really is not a bad guy at all, he's just looking for justice for his men. His methods are wrong, yes, but he's a sympathetic character regardless.

Total Recall - One of the best SF films ever made, a great action film AND with a lot going on at the deeper levels, too. Is it all in his head? Or is it real? We may never know...

The Little Mermaid - not my favourite Disney film, but certainly my most watched. I just love the songs.

Legally Blonde - possibly the best feelgood film ever, with an absolute tour-de-force performance by Reese Witherspoon. Sure, it's 'Clueless goes to college', but Clueless was a great film, too.

Terminator 2 - yes, another SF/Action film, and one I suspect will make most lists (Or at least the guy's lists! ;D). The original Terminator was a great film, but the second took the whole idea several steps further, really looking at what it means to be human, which is the mark of the best SF.

Highlander - perhaps betraying my obsessions (As if you didn't already know ;D), but this is yet another film about what it means to be human. Notable for the UK release being far different (And far superior) to the US release, as the two are virtually completely different films. So for the Americans wondering what the heck i am talking about - you are thinking of the wrong version!

The Myth - Jackie Chan's best film, IMO, which is really going some, considering. While many of his films are spectacular and hugely entertaining, they are mostly plot-light. This one is anything but. Spectacle, plot, and even a fair stab at acting. Just a terrific film.

Austin Powers, International Man Of Mystery - the first and arguably the best of the Austin Powers films, providing humour, plot and some very well observed social commentary. And some great music, too. A film people will love or hate, and I love it.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse of The Black Pearl - first and best of the trilogy. Funny and with some great action scenes, unconventional plotting and a... hero? who may just be the greatest character of the past twenty years. Or more.

The Magnificent Seven - I love Westerns and this has to be one of the best, despite - or possibly because - it is based on...

The Seven Samurai - Kurosawa's masterpiece. Great on every level.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - should have had the best picture Oscar for that year. Absolutely brilliant portrayal of honour, betrayal, death and redemption.

The Matrix - forget about the sequels. When this all action SF reworking of the legend of Sleeping Beauty hit the screens, it blew everyone away (Neo is the princess, if you're wondering). The most original and creative re-invention of fairytale since Star Wars.

High Noon - another Western. This one builds up the tension from start to finish. The sheriff must defend his town from an old enemy just released from jail and arriving on the noon train. He's just gotten married and his wife is a pacifist. Can he find help to take on the gang? And if he wins the fight, will he lose his wife? This film just ratchets up the tension from start to finish.

Pale Rider - is this a Western or a ghost story? Well, it's kinda both. A mining community is under siege and one one of their children prays for salvation. The next day, as he's reciting the line about 'I saw a pale rider on a pale horse...' in rides Clint. And yeah, his name is death, alright! ;D

Clueless - probably the best coming of age film I have seen, with the exception of...

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - I love the TV series, but I loved the film first.

Beauty & The Beast - my favourite Disney film, though not my most watched. Go figure.

The Lord of The Rings - extended edition, of course. It's all one long story, so I'm counting it as one film. Perhaps not the best book adaptation ever (That would be interview With the Vampire) but certainly the most spectacular and the most memorable.

And done! With SO many good films missed out that it was almost painful. but that's today's list. me being me, tomorrow would likely be different.

[Nero the Glorious]

Top 20 huh...this could be challenging...

I think Ill divide by genre:

Comedy:

Wayne's World - The only movie I have ever memorized beginning to end. Each line in the movie is quotable. (besides Tia Carrera was hot)

Stripes - Bill Murray at his finest

Hamlet 2 - A movie that has for the most part flown under the radar. Very crude while being very clever. The best part being the song "Rock Me Sexy Jesus"

Airheads - Early 1990's rock band can't get signed, end up accidentally taking a radio station and its employees hostage. I can't help it, I love Brenden Frasier...

Death to Smoochy - Very dark humor, story is about the corruption rampant in live action childrens entertainment (Think Barny with guns, blow, and the occasional mob hit.

Action/Epic:

Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Its already been said, a truly epic accomplishment. The music was particularly great. For me the best scene in the movies was Rohan's charge at Minas Tirith.

300 - It was great, gave me that tingle only a great action flick can. Add on top of that great acting and the direction style. Muey Beuno

The Hunt For Red October - Sean Connery doing his thing.

Raiders of the Lost Arc - Indiana Jones is a great character, the fusion of science and religion. Besides Nazi's always make good villains.

The Untouchables - Costner/De Niro, Costner plays Elliot Ness. The scene with the baby carriage in the train station should have won a best picture oscar all by itself. Here's the Scene Its about 5:30 long.




Ill have to finish up later.

[Glance A'Lot]

Not sorted to any particuar ranking or order - and with a focus of yet unnamed films - those were films that impressed me:

1. Once upon a time in the West... - Segio Leone's masterpiece redefining the 'Spaghetti Western'. An epic film with a superb Henri Fonda, who once got to play the bad guy.

2. A Beautiful Mind - what the human mind can do to you

3. The Sting - the only film where I left the theatre to turn around and watch it again.

4. Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid - a wonderful hommage on film noir

5. Murder by Death - a parody on the major detectives of film history.

6. Rashomon - since Elliot mentioned Akira Kurosawa, notwithstanding the Seven Samurai or Yojimbo, I think that's an even better one of his.

7. The Jungle Book - yes, Walt Disney's animated film, a highlight for generations of children (and their parents, admit it).

8. The Godfather - well, it was an offer I couldn't refuse...

9. When Harry met Sally... - one way to make a New York diner immortal...

10. Harold and Maude - black, very black, humour

11. 12 Angry Men - a very closed setting, nonetheless suspenseful drama by characterization and dialogue. A classic to show that suspense does not necessarily need action.

12. Judgement at Nuremberg - not the worst to learn something from history.

13. Lawrence of Arabia - simply epic

14. Blade Runner - While Philip K. Dick didn't like the adaption of his novel, I still think Ridley Scott made a good film.

15. The Living Desert - another Walt Disney Production, this documentary, while maybe an unlikely inclusion in such a list, it IS a film that impacted on me.

16. Psycho - I ultimately preferred this one over The Birds, but a Hitchcock needed to be in the list.

17. Rainman - Another film on the twistings of the human mind, Dustin Hoffman playing the autist brother.

18. Modern Times - Charlie Chaplin's possibly not outdated work.

19. Easy Rider - guys, this film simply is THE cult of my generation.

20. One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest - Jack Nicholson at his best