the ones in bold i have seen some of them i really enjoyed and a few would make my top 100, maybe one or two i really loved but don't know if i could call it a favorite (Blue Valentine due to how dark and real it feels), and a few i have no interest in seeing again (TCCOBB for sure is in this category). thanks for the recommendations on the others, i'll have to look into those
IDirector Ron Fricke and producer Mark Magidson were present and did a Q&A after the show. I also brought along my Baraka blu-ray and managed to have both of them sign it.
Let's see - I've seen 45 of those and own 35 of them. Which version of The Italian Job do you mean?
Those that would have any chance of making my Top 50 are (in the order you listed them):
Psycho (in for sure)
Spirited Away (in for sure)
The King's Speech (probably in)
The Shining (possibly)
Jaws (possibly)
12 Angry Men (in for sure)
Up (not sure as I like it less each time I see it)
Memento (in for sure)
No Country For Old Men (Top 10)
2001: A Space Odyssey (I admire it, so it would be in from a technical standpoint, although not a film I love to watch)
Many of my favorite directors are totally omitted.
My list would feature a lot more foreign language films.
I mean the newer version of the Italian Job (2003). I know it isn't extremely popular, especially for Top lists, but there's something about that movie that appeals to me, I could watch it over and over and not get bored of it.
Which of your favorite directors have I omitted? I've been looking for some really good movies to watch, so maybe I'll check out some of their stuff.
I mean the newer version of the Italian Job (2003). I know it isn't extremely popular, especially for Top lists, but there's something about that movie that appeals to me, I could watch it over and over and not get bored of it.
Which of your favorite directors have I omitted? I've been looking for some really good movies to watch, so maybe I'll check out some of their stuff.
No need to defend a single choice. It's your list and you love those movies
I did a 100 movies list on my site (alphabetical). It's not strictly a top 100 (scroll down in the thread to see why I chose them).
Favorite directors not on your list include Tarantino, Lynch, Darabont, Anderson, Eastwood, Jason Reitman, and a bunch of foreign language guys like Kieslowski and Jeunet.
below are my top 50 favorite films "of all time" as of September 2, 2012...
50.
[Show spoiler]Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
49.
[Show spoiler]Elite Squad
48.
[Show spoiler]Moon
47.
[Show spoiler]Apocalypse Now
46.
[Show spoiler]I Heart Huckabees
45.
[Show spoiler]Vanilla Sky
44.
[Show spoiler]Closer
43.
[Show spoiler]High Fidelity
42.
[Show spoiler]Summer Hours
41.
[Show spoiler]Amelie
40.
[Show spoiler]Solaris (2002)
39.
[Show spoiler]The American
38.
[Show spoiler]The Wrestler
37.
[Show spoiler]Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
36.
[Show spoiler]Eraserhead
35.
[Show spoiler]The Butterfly Effect
34.
[Show spoiler]Toy Story
33.
[Show spoiler]The Hot Chick
32.
[Show spoiler]The Breakfast Club
31.
[Show spoiler]Superbad
30.
[Show spoiler]Lars and the Real Girl
29.
[Show spoiler]Punch Drunk Love
28.
[Show spoiler]Scream
27.
[Show spoiler]Revanche
26.
[Show spoiler]The Last Kiss
25.
[Show spoiler]Sex Drive
24.
[Show spoiler]The Social Network
23.
[Show spoiler]Burn After Reading
22.
[Show spoiler]The Royal Tenenbaums
21.
[Show spoiler]Garden State
20.
[Show spoiler]The Box
19.
[Show spoiler]There Will Be Blood
18.
[Show spoiler]Blow
17.
[Show spoiler]Donnie Darko
16.
[Show spoiler]Adventureland
15.
[Show spoiler]Boogie Nights
14.
[Show spoiler]Zodiac
13.
[Show spoiler]Fantastic Mr. Fox
12.
[Show spoiler]Lost in Translation
11.
[Show spoiler]Into the Wild
10.
[Show spoiler]The Lives of Others
09.
[Show spoiler]Forgetting Sarah Marshall
08.
[Show spoiler]Fight Club
07.
[Show spoiler]The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
06.
[Show spoiler]The Blair Witch Project
05.
[Show spoiler]Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
04.
[Show spoiler](500) Days of Summer
03.
[Show spoiler]Magnolia
02.
[Show spoiler]Michael Clayton
01.
[Show spoiler]The Rules of Attraction
Seen 33 and own 23.
Those that have a chance of making my Top 50 (in the order you listed them):
Moon (probably not)
Closer (probably not)
Amelie (Top 20)
Revanche (possibly)
Burn After Reading (probably not)
There Will Be Blood (in the lower reaches)
Zodiac (probably just misses)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (possibly)
The Lives of Others (definitely in there somewhere)
Fight Club (probably not)
And many of those would be in my Top 50 were I able to make such a list (several that you have featured already were on my Top 20 list that I made)
Right on!
Quote:
Originally Posted by jvince
[Show spoiler]
Escape from New York (1981)
dir. John Carpenter
The Good:Kurt Russell is perfect as the one-eyed, wise-ass anti-hero, Snake Plissken; he was born to play this role. Escape is also populated by a great supporting cast of characters. For a film shot on a shoestring budget, it features a pretty impressive atmosphere that's dark and gritty.
The Bad:While still entertaining to this day, it is already a bit dated. It also lacks that extra oomph that Carpenter's Halloween and The Thing have.
The Bottom Line:Escape from New York is solid B-movie fun. Recommended for fans of such films, and worth a look if you like Carpenter's other works.
Agreed. Is pending a re-watch at some point though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iam1bearcat
thanks Al
yeah, when putting together my list i thought, "you know, there are a few comedies that i really enjoy that really are high on my list... " so i knew i had to add them in. very different in style and substance, but sometimes we all need a break from the serious or intelligent
I used to have a bunch of comedies on my top 100 list (films like "Animal House," "Dumb and Dumber," those Monty Python films, etc). As fun as they are, they just didn't have that certain something that made me want to revisit them as much as the others.
It's true though, we all need an occasional break from the serious stuff.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iam1bearcat
variety is the spice of life!
Indeed. I wanted to put variety into my list, but I gotta admit, it's mostly sci-fi, fantasy, action, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jvince
I like/love these. That's 26 so far. I haven't seen Sleeping Beauty since I was a kid, but I think I remember liking it.
Might be the perfect time to revisit it...on Blu-Ray.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jhiggy23
The Game
2 (out of 4)
I saw this film several years ago, before my distaste for David Fincher truly developed, and I didn't like it then. So, I decided to give it another shot. Yup, it's still a poor film with no point to it. Again Fincher shows that he does have a good eye as a director, but the end product isn't very good. Criterion really wasted a selection on this film.
Sure, it’s a rip-off of “Dances with Wolves,” “Pocahontas,” “The Last Samurai,” “Princess Mononoke,” and perhaps a jillion other stories. But, you know, if I let this type of thing get in the way, my #2 favorite movie of all time would have to be ranked way further down. Where “Avatar” lacks in originality, it makes up for tremendously with its fantastic visuals, its epic action scenes, and its immersive world. With state-of-the-art CGI technology, the film brings the world of Pandora to vivid life, so full of color, variety, imagination, and depth. Even though the story comes off as formulaic, it does present a timeless story with a cast of likable characters. It carries some strong (if not somewhat pushy) themes concerning the environment. Ultimately, the film offers everything I enjoy: the seamless combination of spectacle and storytelling.
On disc, there is an extended version of the film available, which offers a very cool and insightful alternate opening sequence. It comes recommended.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
59:
[Show spoiler]"The Shining"
Stanley Kubrick never did believe in the supernatural, so his adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is not quite perfect (they made a “Shining” miniseries that follows the book more closely, but it is rather cheesy). If its one thing Kubrick did right, it was in capturing the perfect atmosphere, tone, and visuals to make this film a creepy and intense experience. Even though the film focuses so much on Jack Torrance going nuts, it is still a solid and gripping story with strong characters. For its style and visual acuity, the film remains one of the creepiest I’ve seen, and still stands as one of my top favorite horror films.
On Blu-Ray, the film runs for about two-and-a-half hours long, seamlessly incorporating a number of new scenes and dialogue. It comes recommended.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
58:
[Show spoiler]"Planet of the Apes"
The premise of this film may seem ridiculous, but it is a brilliantly-crafted piece of science fiction. It is a strange tale about a planet where everything is backwards: apes are the sentient species and people are dumb. It is a thrilling experience to watch the main character struggle against this simian captors, and ultimately fight for his freedom (in a manner that could parallel the civil rights issues of the 60s). Even though the apes’ makeup effects haven’t aged well (at least when compared to the (rather dull) 2001 remake, or the latest “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”), the film still shows impeccable craftsmanship and composition, and remains a classic in the genre.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
57:
[Show spoiler]"The Thing" (1982)
John Carpenter retooled the classic sci-fi flick “The Thing From Another World” with extremely chilling results. In this rendition, the Thing is a shapeless, merciless, Lovecraftian monster that erupts out of flesh and bone and consumes everything around it in a crazy bloody rampage. There are quite a few sequences in this film where something insane and unnatural happens, and the results are as jarring as they are gruesome. In spite of this, the film maintains excellent tension, especially as characters start doubting and fighting among one another. With decent acting, solid cameramanship, and an interesting production value, John Carpenter’s remake is still one of the scariest sci-fi movies ever made.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
56:
[Show spoiler]"The Ring"
A remake of the Japanese horror film “Ringu,” Gore Verbinski takes this simple tale and wraps an intriguing mystery around it. Filled with vivid imagery and strange supernatural phenomenon, the film is as gripping as it is stylish. With quality performances and a strong production value, this is one Americanized remake that I believe far surpasses its predecessor. And the results are pretty darn freaky.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
55:
[Show spoiler]"Sleeping Beauty"
A classic and endearing fairy tale, filled with really funky imagery, impressive designs, and catchy tunes. Like most other Disney films, it is a simple story that’s well-told and populated by decent characters. Of course, it’s brought to life with quality craftsmanship. It’s also a nice touch that they’ve incorporated Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty waltz into the music.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
54:
[Show spoiler]"The Prestige"
This interesting period drama pits magician against magician, and it proves to be a strange and interesting venture. The film is brilliantly-told and has a slick cinematic style. The production has top-notch craftsmanship and superb performances from the cast. The film overall is one fascinating magic trick.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
53:
[Show spoiler]"El Espinazo Del Diablo" ("The Devil's Backbone")
Before establishing himself with both “Hellboy” films and the universally acclaimed “Pan’s Labyrinth,” Guillermo Del Toro exercised his dark imagination and his storytelling prowess in this endearing ghost story. It shares much in common with “Pan’s Labyrinth,” as both stories revolve around children in orphanages confronting strange and dark forces. In the case of “The Devil’s Backbone,” the story’s set in an orphanage with an unexploded bomb in its courtyard, establishing a rather interesting dynamic for the story that unfolds. The film overall has a nice boyish charm to it. It’s got quality performances, it’s well-filmed, and overall it’s a film well worth watching.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
52:
[Show spoiler]"Memento"
In a bizarre twist, this neo-noir thriller gives you the final scene first, and then works its way backwards to show you its genesis. The film does a brilliant job of drip-feeding the audience information in a way that’ll keep you guessing all the way to its revealing ending. With strong performances, quality writing, and an impressive visual style, Christopher Nolan’s thriller is an amazing trip down memory lane.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
51:
[Show spoiler]"The Matrix Reloaded"
I remember the summer of 2003, I was enthralled to witness the coming of the “Matrix” sequels. With a rip-roaring, gravity-defying highway chase scene, and an epic brawl between Neo and one hundred Agent Smith clones, the action and special effects are extraordinary technical achievements. Not to mention, it makes for one Hell of an amazing spectacle. As far as the story goes, it still has excellent focus on philosophical insight, it still explores the “Matrix” universe pretty deeply, and it still has quality characters. The one weakness that makes this sequel weak, ironically, is the scene that’s meant to put the whole series into perspective: the Architect’s speech, which is so bogged with big words and terminology that it comes off as convoluted. It took me a few viewings to understand what the man was saying, and once I understood it, it was like a revelation. With that insight, this film serves as the cohesive glue that binds the “Matrix” saga into one cohesive trilogy; it answers some questions that remained unanswered from the first film, while making way for the grand finale in “The Matrix Revolutions.”
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
50:
[Show spoiler]"North By Northwest"
Like many other Alfred Hitchcock films, this one starts off with a simple premise: a man is mistaken for another man, and people try to kill him. This kicks off a thrilling adventure, full of wit, romance, and peril, the likes of which can only be topped by a James Bond film. The story has enough mystery to keep it interesting, and enough twists to keep it fresh with every viewing. With quality acting and production value, “North By Northwest” remains my favorite Hitchcock feature.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
49:
[Show spoiler]"Inception"
Christopher Nolan’s dreamscape epic comes off as a rather dull “slideshow” to some folks. But what keeps me enthralled about it will be the phenomenal action setpieces, the MC Escher style special effects, and the complex narrative structure; the latter of which does an excellent job of slowly revealing information that adds background to the characters. It is arguably a fantastic mixture of style and substance.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
48:
[Show spoiler]"Jûbê Ninpûchô" ("The Ninja Scroll")
This quintessential anime feature was (and likely still is) notorious for its abundance of sexuality and excessively graphic bloodshed. While this makes for a rather gnarly (and entertaining) experience, it wouldn’t mean much without a quality story; it’s not a terribly complex story, but it does have quality characters (I have a particular soft spot for Kangero, the woman with poison in her blood, who is tragically doomed to never love anyone intimately). The animation quality holds up extremely well, and the film overall does an excellent job of using strong visuals to accentuate the story.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
47:
[Show spoiler]"Finding Nemo"
Pixar’s underwater adventure offers a highly entertaining and hilarious mix of comedy, peril, colorful visuals, and some educational insight on marine biology. For the most part, it’s very heartfelt and filled with endearing characters. Using superb animation quality and voice-acting, the film makes a big splash among CGI-animated features.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
46:
[Show spoiler]"Iron Man"
With plentiful amounts of impressive action scenes, and a lot of witty attitude, “Iron Man” is one of the most popular and successful superhero films of the decade. This film chronicles the character’s genesis and evolution very effectively; the film has as much heart as it has action. With top-grade production value and a perfect performance by Robert Downey Jr, this is one of the best that Marvel has to offer.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
45:
[Show spoiler]"Minority Report"
Stephen Spielberg’s sci-fi thriller explores the fascinating possibility where crimes are predicted and stopped before they happen. What follows is a fun and insightful exploration of the future, loaded with action, quality special effects, and amusing comedy. The film shows impeccable direction, surprisingly strong performances, and excellent craftsmanship.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
44:
[Show spoiler]"300"
A close adaptation to Frank Miller’s graphic novel, “300” is a stylish, fantastic telling of the historic battle of Thermopylae. While the film has been ridiculed for some of its artistic choices (such as having Spartans fight with hardly any armor on), the story and certain elements in it do have a solid basis in history. A combination of strong performances by the cast and fantastic CGI environments help present the story as a mythic spectacle.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
43:
[Show spoiler]"The Fifth Element"
Luc Besson’s futuristic epic is weird at times, stylish throughout, action-packed, comedic, and all around a satisfying adventure. It presents a cast of quality (if not eccentric) characters going through an interesting original story. With strong production value, impressive special effects, and quirky music, the film is easily one of the most enjoyable sci-fi features ever made.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
42:
[Show spoiler]"Total Recall" (1990)
This pulpy sci-fi film toys around with the novel concept of implanting memories into people’s heads, kicking off an adventure that eventually leads the main character to Mars. There are plenty of fun and memorable scenes (including, of course, the woman with triple mammary glands) and lots of action. It is still an interesting story, especially with the film’s last lines, which could put a new spin on the whole movie (even though it wasn’t the director’s intention).
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
41:
[Show spoiler]"True Lies"
James Cameron’s spy adventure has it all: explosive action, steamy sex appeal, hilarious comedy, inspiring special effects, and a quality story. It may come off as a little too insensitive in this day and age, but it’s hard not to enjoy in this adventurous thrill ride that pits an entire family against terrorists.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
[Show spoiler]Amadeus (seen and own, was once eligible for my own top 100, but it just didn't have enough resonance)
49. Psycho (seen and own, top 100 material)
48. Patton (seen and own)
47. Pan's Labyrinth (seen and own, but I still prefer "The Devil's Backbone")
46. National Treasure (seen and own)
45. The Italian Job (2003) (seen and own)
44. Spirited Away (seen and own, top 100 material)
43. Bella (haven't seen)
42. The Avengers (assuming the Marvel film? Then Hell yeah!)
41. Coraline (seen and own)
40.
[Show spoiler]The Bourne Ultimatum (seen it)
39. X-men: First Class (seen and own)
38. The Bourne Supremacy (seen it)
37. Raiders of the Lost Ark (seen and own, top 5 material)
36. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (seen and own, used to be on my list)
35. The Grey (haven't seen)
34. Hot Fuzz (seen and own)
33. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (seen and own, top 20 material)
32. The King's Speech (seen it, thought it was okay)
31. The Shining (seen and own, top 100 material)
30.
[Show spoiler]Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (seen and own, top 3 material)
29. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (seen and own, top 100 material)
28. Jaws (seen, will own soon as a beautiful new steelbook... )
27. Prometheus (seen it, I will own it)
26. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (seen and own, top 100 material)
25. Gladiator (seen and own, top 100 material)
24. Saving Private Ryan (seen and own)
23. 12 Angry Men (seen and own)
22. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (seen and own, top 100 material)
21. Ben-Hur(seen and own)
20.
[Show spoiler]Up (seen it, thought it was good but not buy-worthy)
19. Memento (seen and own, top 100 stuff)
18. The Dark Knight Rises (seen it, want it, forgot to put it on my list )
17. Rear Window (seen it)
16. The Princess Bride (seen it)
15. The Artist (seen it)
14. No Country for Old Me (seen and own (Old Me? ))
13. Batman Begins (seen and own)
12. The Thing (1982) (seen and own, top 100 stuff)
11. True Grit (2010) (seen and own)
10.
[Show spoiler]Jurassic Park (seen and own)
9. Dr. Strangelove (seen and own)
8. The Godfather (seen and own)
7. The Fugitive (seen, own, waiting for good Blu-Ray)
6. Inception (seen and own, top 100 stuff)
5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (seen and own, used to be on my list)
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey (seen and own)
3. The Dark Knight (seen and own, top 5 material)
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (seen and own, top 1 material )
1. 127 Hours (seen and own, top 100 material)
Comments are above.
Seen: 48
Own: 36
Disliked: None that I outright hated, just a few that I'd never own.
Of these, 17 are on my top 100 list as well. Looks like we have fairly similar tastes.
Favorite directors not on your list include Tarantino, Lynch, Darabont, Anderson, Eastwood, Jason Reitman, and a bunch of foreign language guys like Kieslowski and Jeunet.
Great Top 100 As for the directors, I would probably include Kill Bill Vol. 1 from Tarantino in my top 100, as well as Fantastic Mr. Fox from Anderson. It's funny you should mention David Lynch because my uncle and I are actually going to watch The Elephant Man this week.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange
Comments are above.
Seen: 48
Own: 36
Disliked: None that I outright hated, just a few that I'd never own.
Of these, 17 are on my top 100 list as well. Looks like we have fairly similar tastes.
Great Top 100 As for the directors, I would probably include Kill Bill Vol. 1 from Tarantino in my top 100, as well as Fantastic Mr. Fox from Anderson. It's funny you should mention David Lynch because my uncle and I are actually going to watch The Elephant Man this week.
The Elephant Man is a good film. Mulholland Dr. is my favorite Lynch, but it's not for everyone and demands to be seen several times if you like it at all.
Sure, it’s a rip-off of “Dances with Wolves,” “Pocahontas,” “The Last Samurai,” “Princess Mononoke,” and perhaps a jillion other stories. But, you know, if I let this type of thing get in the way, my #2 favorite movie of all time would have to be ranked way further down. Where “Avatar” lacks in originality, it makes up for tremendously with its fantastic visuals, its epic action scenes, and its immersive world. With state-of-the-art CGI technology, the film brings the world of Pandora to vivid life, so full of color, variety, imagination, and depth. Even though the story comes off as formulaic, it does present a timeless story with a cast of likable characters. It carries some strong (if not somewhat pushy) themes concerning the environment. Ultimately, the film offers everything I enjoy: the seamless combination of spectacle and storytelling.
On disc, there is an extended version of the film available, which offers a very cool and insightful alternate opening sequence. It comes recommended.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
59:
[Show spoiler]"The Shining"
Stanley Kubrick never did believe in the supernatural, so his adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is not quite perfect (they made a “Shining” miniseries that follows the book more closely, but it is rather cheesy). If its one thing Kubrick did right, it was in capturing the perfect atmosphere, tone, and visuals to make this film a creepy and intense experience. Even though the film focuses so much on Jack Torrance going nuts, it is still a solid and gripping story with strong characters. For its style and visual acuity, the film remains one of the creepiest I’ve seen, and still stands as one of my top favorite horror films.
On Blu-Ray, the film runs for about two-and-a-half hours long, seamlessly incorporating a number of new scenes and dialogue. It comes recommended.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
58:
[Show spoiler]"Planet of the Apes"
The premise of this film may seem ridiculous, but it is a brilliantly-crafted piece of science fiction. It is a strange tale about a planet where everything is backwards: apes are the sentient species and people are dumb. It is a thrilling experience to watch the main character struggle against this simian captors, and ultimately fight for his freedom (in a manner that could parallel the civil rights issues of the 60s). Even though the apes’ makeup effects haven’t aged well (at least when compared to the (rather dull) 2001 remake, or the latest “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”), the film still shows impeccable craftsmanship and composition, and remains a classic in the genre.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
57:
[Show spoiler]"The Thing" (1982)
John Carpenter retooled the classic sci-fi flick “The Thing From Another World” with extremely chilling results. In this rendition, the Thing is a shapeless, merciless, Lovecraftian monster that erupts out of flesh and bone and consumes everything around it in a crazy bloody rampage. There are quite a few sequences in this film where something insane and unnatural happens, and the results are as jarring as they are gruesome. In spite of this, the film maintains excellent tension, especially as characters start doubting and fighting among one another. With decent acting, solid cameramanship, and an interesting production value, John Carpenter’s remake is still one of the scariest sci-fi movies ever made.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
56:
[Show spoiler]"The Ring"
A remake of the Japanese horror film “Ringu,” Gore Verbinski takes this simple tale and wraps an intriguing mystery around it. Filled with vivid imagery and strange supernatural phenomenon, the film is as gripping as it is stylish. With quality performances and a strong production value, this is one Americanized remake that I believe far surpasses its predecessor. And the results are pretty darn freaky.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
55:
[Show spoiler]"Sleeping Beauty"
A classic and endearing fairy tale, filled with really funky imagery, impressive designs, and catchy tunes. Like most other Disney films, it is a simple story that’s well-told and populated by decent characters. Of course, it’s brought to life with quality craftsmanship. It’s also a nice touch that they’ve incorporated Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty waltz into the music.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
54:
[Show spoiler]"The Prestige"
This interesting period drama pits magician against magician, and it proves to be a strange and interesting venture. The film is brilliantly-told and has a slick cinematic style. The production has top-notch craftsmanship and superb performances from the cast. The film overall is one fascinating magic trick.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
53:
[Show spoiler]"El Espinazo Del Diablo" ("The Devil's Backbone")
Before establishing himself with both “Hellboy” films and the universally acclaimed “Pan’s Labyrinth,” Guillermo Del Toro exercised his dark imagination and his storytelling prowess in this endearing ghost story. It shares much in common with “Pan’s Labyrinth,” as both stories revolve around children in orphanages confronting strange and dark forces. In the case of “The Devil’s Backbone,” the story’s set in an orphanage with an unexploded bomb in its courtyard, establishing a rather interesting dynamic for the story that unfolds. The film overall has a nice boyish charm to it. It’s got quality performances, it’s well-filmed, and overall it’s a film well worth watching.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
52:
[Show spoiler]"Memento"
In a bizarre twist, this neo-noir thriller gives you the final scene first, and then works its way backwards to show you its genesis. The film does a brilliant job of drip-feeding the audience information in a way that’ll keep you guessing all the way to its revealing ending. With strong performances, quality writing, and an impressive visual style, Christopher Nolan’s thriller is an amazing trip down memory lane.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
51:
[Show spoiler]"The Matrix Reloaded"
I remember the summer of 2003, I was enthralled to witness the coming of the “Matrix” sequels. With a rip-roaring, gravity-defying highway chase scene, and an epic brawl between Neo and one hundred Agent Smith clones, the action and special effects are extraordinary technical achievements. Not to mention, it makes for one Hell of an amazing spectacle. As far as the story goes, it still has excellent focus on philosophical insight, it still explores the “Matrix” universe pretty deeply, and it still has quality characters. The one weakness that makes this sequel weak, ironically, is the scene that’s meant to put the whole series into perspective: the Architect’s speech, which is so bogged with big words and terminology that it comes off as convoluted. It took me a few viewings to understand what the man was saying, and once I understood it, it was like a revelation. With that insight, this film serves as the cohesive glue that binds the “Matrix” saga into one cohesive trilogy; it answers some questions that remained unanswered from the first film, while making way for the grand finale in “The Matrix Revolutions.”
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
50:
[Show spoiler]"North By Northwest"
Like many other Alfred Hitchcock films, this one starts off with a simple premise: a man is mistaken for another man, and people try to kill him. This kicks off a thrilling adventure, full of wit, romance, and peril, the likes of which can only be topped by a James Bond film. The story has enough mystery to keep it interesting, and enough twists to keep it fresh with every viewing. With quality acting and production value, “North By Northwest” remains my favorite Hitchcock feature.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
49:
[Show spoiler]"Inception"
Christopher Nolan’s dreamscape epic comes off as a rather dull “slideshow” to some folks. But what keeps me enthralled about it will be the phenomenal action setpieces, the MC Escher style special effects, and the complex narrative structure; the latter of which does an excellent job of slowly revealing information that adds background to the characters. It is arguably a fantastic mixture of style and substance.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
48:
[Show spoiler]"Jûbê Ninpûchô" ("The Ninja Scroll")
This quintessential anime feature was (and likely still is) notorious for its abundance of sexuality and excessively graphic bloodshed. While this makes for a rather gnarly (and entertaining) experience, it wouldn’t mean much without a quality story; it’s not a terribly complex story, but it does have quality characters (I have a particular soft spot for Kangero, the woman with poison in her blood, who is tragically doomed to never love anyone intimately). The animation quality holds up extremely well, and the film overall does an excellent job of using strong visuals to accentuate the story.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
47:
[Show spoiler]"Finding Nemo"
Pixar’s underwater adventure offers a highly entertaining and hilarious mix of comedy, peril, colorful visuals, and some educational insight on marine biology. For the most part, it’s very heartfelt and filled with endearing characters. Using superb animation quality and voice-acting, the film makes a big splash among CGI-animated features.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
46:
[Show spoiler]"Iron Man"
With plentiful amounts of impressive action scenes, and a lot of witty attitude, “Iron Man” is one of the most popular and successful superhero films of the decade. This film chronicles the character’s genesis and evolution very effectively; the film has as much heart as it has action. With top-grade production value and a perfect performance by Robert Downey Jr, this is one of the best that Marvel has to offer.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
45:
[Show spoiler]"Minority Report"
Stephen Spielberg’s sci-fi thriller explores the fascinating possibility where crimes are predicted and stopped before they happen. What follows is a fun and insightful exploration of the future, loaded with action, quality special effects, and amusing comedy. The film shows impeccable direction, surprisingly strong performances, and excellent craftsmanship.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good| Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
44:
[Show spoiler]"300"
A close adaptation to Frank Miller’s graphic novel, “300” is a stylish, fantastic telling of the historic battle of Thermopylae. While the film has been ridiculed for some of its artistic choices (such as having Spartans fight with hardly any armor on), the story and certain elements in it do have a solid basis in history. A combination of strong performances by the cast and fantastic CGI environments help present the story as a mythic spectacle.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
43:
[Show spoiler]"The Fifth Element"
Luc Besson’s futuristic epic is weird at times, stylish throughout, action-packed, comedic, and all around a satisfying adventure. It presents a cast of quality (if not eccentric) characters going through an interesting original story. With strong production value, impressive special effects, and quirky music, the film is easily one of the most enjoyable sci-fi features ever made.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
42:
[Show spoiler]"Total Recall" (1990)
This pulpy sci-fi film toys around with the novel concept of implanting memories into people’s heads, kicking off an adventure that eventually leads the main character to Mars. There are plenty of fun and memorable scenes (including, of course, the woman with triple mammary glands) and lots of action. It is still an interesting story, especially with the film’s last lines, which could put a new spin on the whole movie (even though it wasn’t the director’s intention).
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
41:
[Show spoiler]"True Lies"
James Cameron’s spy adventure has it all: explosive action, steamy sex appeal, hilarious comedy, inspiring special effects, and a quality story. It may come off as a little too insensitive in this day and age, but it’s hard not to enjoy in this adventurous thrill ride that pits an entire family against terrorists.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
--------------------
To be continued...
11 more to bring your total with me up to 32.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iam1bearcat
now it's my turn to start with the list!
below are my top 50 favorite films "of all time" as of September 2, 2012...
[Show spoiler]50.
[Show spoiler]Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
49.
[Show spoiler]Elite Squad
48.
[Show spoiler]Moon
47.
[Show spoiler]Apocalypse Now
46.
[Show spoiler]I Heart Huckabees
45.
[Show spoiler]Vanilla Sky
44.
[Show spoiler]Closer
43.
[Show spoiler]High Fidelity
42.
[Show spoiler]Summer Hours
41.
[Show spoiler]Amelie
40.
[Show spoiler]Solaris (2002)
39.
[Show spoiler]The American
38.
[Show spoiler]The Wrestler
37.
[Show spoiler]Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
36.
[Show spoiler]Eraserhead
35.
[Show spoiler]The Butterfly Effect
34.
[Show spoiler]Toy Story
33.
[Show spoiler]The Hot Chick
32.
[Show spoiler]The Breakfast Club
31.
[Show spoiler]Superbad
30.
[Show spoiler]Lars and the Real Girl
29.
[Show spoiler]Punch Drunk Love
28.
[Show spoiler]Scream
27.
[Show spoiler]Revanche
26.
[Show spoiler]The Last Kiss
25.
[Show spoiler]Sex Drive
24.
[Show spoiler]The Social Network
23.
[Show spoiler]Burn After Reading
22.
[Show spoiler]The Royal Tenenbaums
21.
[Show spoiler]Garden State
20.
[Show spoiler]The Box
19.
[Show spoiler]There Will Be Blood
18.
[Show spoiler]Blow
17.
[Show spoiler]Donnie Darko
16.
[Show spoiler]Adventureland
15.
[Show spoiler]Boogie Nights
14.
[Show spoiler]Zodiac
13.
[Show spoiler]Fantastic Mr. Fox
12.
[Show spoiler]Lost in Translation
11.
[Show spoiler]Into the Wild
10.
[Show spoiler]The Lives of Others
09.
[Show spoiler]Forgetting Sarah Marshall
08.
[Show spoiler]Fight Club
07.
[Show spoiler]The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
06.
[Show spoiler]The Blair Witch Project
05.
[Show spoiler]Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
the ones in bold i have seen some of them i really enjoyed and a few would make my top 100, maybe one or two i really loved but don't know if i could call it a favorite (Blue Valentine due to how dark and real it feels), and a few i have no interest in seeing again (TCCOBB for sure is in this category). thanks for the recommendations on the others, i'll have to look into those
Looking at your top 50, I think these are the ones you'd most likely enjoy:
Annie Hall (1977)
Badlands (1973)
Before Sunrise (1995)
Before Sunset (2004)
Beginners (2010)
The Graduate (1967)
Let The Right One In (2008)
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Mon Oncle d'Amérique (1980)
Once (2006)
Roman Holiday (1953)
Ruby Sparks (2012)
Rushmore (1998)
A Short Film About Love (1988)
But you should definitely check the others out. They're all absolute must-sees.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Foggy
Dude, watch Love Exposure, it's
Haha... yeah. Probably the most epic and the most bonkers love story ever filmed.
You guys are lucky. I saw on the main page that they just released it there on blu-ray. Wth, what about here?
variety is the spice of life!
really? 35? holy smokes! that's quite a bit i'm sure if i would be able to make 51-100 there would be many more you would enjoy or at least have seen
There would need to be some Vin Diesel on that list some were
[Show spoiler]
You are probably right, as over the thousands of years that this thread has been going on () we have liked a lot of the same films to varying degrees but we tend to differ quite a bit on the films we love for the most part.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange
Right on!
I'm wondering if my percentage will be higher or lower as you make your way up the rankings
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoolRanch
My turn:
50.
[Show spoiler]Amadeus
49. Psycho
48. Patton
47. Pan's Labyrinth
46. National Treasure
45. The Italian Job (2003)
44. Spirited Away
43. Bella
42. The Avengers
41. Coraline
40.
[Show spoiler]The Bourne Ultimatum
39. X-men: First Class
38. The Bourne Supremacy
37. Raiders of the Lost Ark
36. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
35. The Grey
34. Hot Fuzz
33. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
32. The King's Speech
31. The Shining
30.
[Show spoiler]Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
29. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
28. Jaws
27. Prometheus
26. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
25. Gladiator
24. Saving Private Ryan
23. 12 Angry Men
22. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
21. Ben-Hur
20.
[Show spoiler]Up
19. Memento
18. The Dark Knight Rises
17. Rear Window
16. The Princess Bride
15. The Artist
14. No Country for Old Me
13. Batman Begins
12. The Thing (1982)
11. True Grit (2010)
10.
[Show spoiler]Jurassic Park
9. Dr. Strangelove
8. The Godfather
7. The Fugitive
6. Inception
5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey
3. The Dark Knight
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
1. 127 Hours
I range from enjoy to love on 19 of the 33 that I've seen. Interesting list
Quote:
Originally Posted by KilloWertz
Only 10 out of 50. Sorry...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel
And as expected, 10 out of 50 of your films...
After all these years, we still like mostly the same crap
below are my top 50 favorite films "of all time" as of September 2, 2012...
48.
[Show spoiler]Moon
47.
[Show spoiler]Apocalypse Now
38.
[Show spoiler]The Wrestler
37.
[Show spoiler]Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
34.
[Show spoiler]Toy Story
31.
[Show spoiler]Superbad
24.
[Show spoiler]The Social Network
23.
[Show spoiler]Burn After Reading
22.
[Show spoiler]The Royal Tenenbaums
21.
[Show spoiler]Garden State
17.
[Show spoiler]Donnie Darko
14.
[Show spoiler]Zodiac
13.
[Show spoiler]Fantastic Mr. Fox
10.
[Show spoiler]The Lives of Others
08.
[Show spoiler]Fight Club
05.
[Show spoiler]Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
04.
[Show spoiler](500) Days of Summer
Everyone of those I've seen and loved (except Sarah Marshall, wasn't big on that one). And quite a few on there I need to watch like Amalie and Eraserhead. (Ironically enough I watched Dodgeball the other day, it's still decent, but didn't feel like reviewing).
Quote:
Originally Posted by dag
This morning, I bought my tickets for the following films at the Toronto International Film Festival, which starts this Thursday:
Argo (getting very good buzz) Cloud Atlas (I read the novel early this year) Dredd 3D (guilty pleasure?) End of Watch (not really expecting much) Great Expectations (all-star cast) The Impossible (the Boxing Day tsunami deeply affected me) The Master (getting huge buzz) On the Road (I read the novel many years ago) Pusher (don't know anything about, but why not check it out) A Royal Affair (I should be seeing more foreign films at the Festival) Spring Breakers (guilty pleasure?) The Thieves (I always like to see Asian films at the Festival) To the Wonder (Malick)
You lucky begger All pretty great films, are you not trying to check out Looper though? It's getting a lot of hype.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jhiggy23
The Game
2 (out of 4)
I saw this film several years ago, before my distaste for David Fincher truly developed, and I didn't like it then. So, I decided to give it another shot. Yup, it's still a poor film with no point to it. Again Fincher shows that he does have a good eye as a director, but the end product isn't very good. Criterion really wasted a selection on this film.
Pretty spot on with the film, it's never bad, it's just sort of there and not doing a lot
Quote:
Originally Posted by jvince
Haha... yeah. Probably the most epic and the most bonkers love story ever filmed.
You guys are lucky. I saw on the main page that they just released it there on blu-ray. Wth, what about here?
Yeah, it seems to be really limited supply though since I haven't been able to find it selling anywhere
The Good:Anna Paquin is amazing as the 13-year-old girl who decides to lead a flock of geese south by flying an ultralight plane. The baby geese also steal the show; they're irresistibly adorable. There are some pretty nice-looking shots in the film, most notably the aerial scenes and the final flight sequence. The ending will leave you misty-eyed.
The Bad:The supporting actors aren't given much to do. The film starts and ends great, but it meanders in the middle. It also tends to get formulaic and sentimental at times.
The Bottom Line:Fly Away Home is an uplifting family film for all ages. Not a bad choice for family movie night.
[Show spoiler]"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"
For the longest time, I would have called this my favorite “Trek” film, and with good reason. While “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” offered its fair share of spectacle, this sequel proved far more successful at tying up quality visuals, explosive action, powerful drama, and a gripping story into one franchise-defining package. Taking after the classic “Trek” episode “Space Seed,” the film brings Khan Noonien Singh to vivid life, thanks to a powerful performance by Ricardo Montalbán. The film rakes up the stakes very highly, pitting the Enterprise crew against this classic villain, while simultaneously hinting at themes of mortality, death, and rebirth. It is as exciting of a story as it is deep. Even after all these years, it remains one of the most endearing “Trek” movies of the lot.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
39:
[Show spoiler]"RoboCop"
Paul Verhoeven’s first Hollywood picture is a real doozy. It has an extreme amount of over-the-top blood and guts. It makes for an entertainingly hard-hitting piece of pulp sci-fi (which, in my opinion, is something of a rarity). But what makes the film stand out is its story; it’s a short and simple affair, but it’s a story well-told. Aside from having numerous satires and statements concerning human society, the film’s premise inherently carries some strong themes concerning death and rebirth.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
38:
[Show spoiler]"The Fountain"
As it is with most other folks, I didn’t like this film on the first viewing. I think I was thrown off by the three-way split in the story, and it took multiple viewings to appreciate what each split represented. Basically, it’s all about a doctor who’s obsessed with finding a cure for death (the present). In another tangent of reality, presented as a piece of fiction the characters are writing, there is a Spanish conquistador battling Mayans and searching for the fountain of youth (the past). In another, stranger, and more fantastic tangent, the man is in a glass bubble with a tree inside floating through a nebula (the future). It gets a little convoluted as all three timelines become entwined; it’s a visually fantastic piece of art that requires some interpretation to appreciate. Ultimately, Darren Aronofsky’s film is a sobering and awe-inspiring expression of remorse.
Adapted from Philip K Dick’s “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”, this film takes the basic story of a bounty hunter chasing after androids, and paints a grim depiction of the future around it. The film’s visuals are fantastic, with its dark, bleak cityscapes and crowded streets; it’s a future that’s very much plausible. The film is pretty slow, but the fantastic art design, the quality direction, the storytelling, and the thought-provoking themes of artificiality help make it engaging. Even though it received a mixed reception at the time of its release, it has proven to be a quality piece of science fiction.
Many cuts are available for this film. I find myself favoring the Final Cut above the others; it doesn’t have Harrison Ford’s narration, but I feel the film is more somber and moving that way. It also features some new shots that have been seamlessly incorporated into the film. Whether or not you’ll enjoy this version more will depend on personal taste.
It’s pretty ironic that David Lynch’s biggest flop (a film that even he admits is his biggest failure) winds up so high on my list. What can I say; I totally dig this strange, adventurous sci-fi epic. It takes some liberties from Frank Herbert’s novel (for better or for worse), but it does an impeccable job of bringing the Dune universe to life with lots of crazy detail. The baroque art design does the film great justice. The story is pretty intuitive, even if it does suffer a little. Characters are quite memorable, and feature very strong performances from the cast. For the most part though, it’s a film with a deep and invigorating style; it has a power that very few other films manage to match.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
35:
[Show spoiler]"Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi"
For the longest time, I considered this my favorite “Star Wars” picture (thus, my favorite all-time picture, or else my second-favorite…it’s fluctuated a lot). I can’t deny any more that the film has its flaws; most folks don’t take kindly to the Ewoks’ role in defeating the evil Galactic Empire. I still believe that this film boasts some of the best space battle scenes of all time; I’ve also always been enthralled by the opening act concerning Jabba the Hutt. But what really makes this grand finale stand out is the final duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker; it’s a powerful, heartbreaking climax that ties up the entire saga in the best way possible.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
34:
[Show spoiler]"Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith"
The more I see this film, the more striking it seems to get. It does boast some incredible action sequences, including an epic space battle over planet Coruscant, and the climactic duel between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. But what really makes the film stand out will be its characters and story; it is a bleak story filled with profound twists and turns that will not only connect the series’ prequels with the sequels, but also define the characters and bring certain themes to light. While the film’s craftsmanship may be put into question, it does go to prove that the “Star Wars” prequels have redeeming value.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
33:
[Show spoiler]"The Lion King"
Pretty much the exact same story as Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” only with Lions in an African setting. Disney’s feature film takes ever advantage of its unique setting to present a unique and memorable array of characters and environments. More importantly, it takes every advantage of the story to underscore key themes concerning personal growth, destiny, vengeance, and redemption. I’m not too keen on the music, but with the film’s editing style and fantastic animation quality, it is pretty darn powerful.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
32:
[Show spoiler]"American History X"
This film pretty much covers all angles concerning racial prejudice; the film explores its genesis, its progression, and its sobering conclusion. It simultaneously underscores potent themes of tolerance. The story and characters are captured in a style that is as invoking as it is striking and memorable. Even though the film is a little rough with its violence, it tackles some important issues head-on; this is one film that I’d gladly recommend to all.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
31:
[Show spoiler]"Shichinin no Samurai" ("Seven Samurai")
For a film that runs over four hours long, “Seven Samurai” never really feels all that long, and certainly not dull. It is a fantastic adventure, offering plenty of action to satisfy. The story is simple, but it boasts an excellent group of characters; the film overall makes the most out of a small-scale plot to make it really epic. While most of Akira Kurosawa’s films have pleased me, this has got to be his crowning achievement, and it comes recommended to all!
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
30:
[Show spoiler]"Beauty and the Beast"
Disney’s adaptation of the French fairy tale offers the same wholesome fun as most other Disney pictures; it has catchy musical numbers, occasional slappy comedy, and a whimsical sense of magic and wonder. This film has a lot of heart to it though; I couldn’t help but to feel for the characters. For that matter, I feel that the Beast represents the primal brutality at the base of all men in general, while Belle represents the grace of all women. Despite their differences, their unlikely union is a wonderful thing to watch. Combined with a music score that’s occasionally powerful, and top-notch animation quality, this currently stands as my top favorite Disney feature.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
29:
[Show spoiler]"Silence of the Lambs"
A close adaptation to Thomas Harris’ novel, this film makes for one stylish, gripping, and bleak thriller. It is most memorable for bringing Hannibal Lecter to life (even though he was portrayed previously in “Manhunter,” Anthony Hopkins’ performance here is so perfect it’s chilling). For the most part though, the film is about another psycho who skins women to make into clothing; it’s a seriously gross and messed-up concept, but the film handles it very tastefully. It’s a strong story about metamorphosis, and with a uniquely intimate cinematic style, the film stands out really well.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
28:
[Show spoiler]"Wall-E"
Pixar’s 2008 feature film explores some fantastic sci-fi environments, from a battered and polluted Earth to the colorful regions of deep space. There are some inherently interesting themes at work concerning human society, but for the most part, this film is a romantic comedy between two robots. Their interactions are pretty darn cute, but the film is never overly-sappy, thanks to its comedy, impressive visuals, and impeccable storytelling. It is as entertaining as it is insightful. It ranks as my favorite Pixar film to date.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
27:
[Show spoiler]"Metropolis" (1927)
Of all silent movies, Fritz Lang’s sci-fi epic remains my top favorite. It is loaded with unique expressionist imagery, serving to tell a fantastic story that weaves biblical prophecy with visions of the future. It tends to be a bit wild and over-the-top, but that only adds to the film’s charm. Even after all these years, the model work and special effects hold up well enough. In spite of that, the film offers a fine visual spectacle, and a decent story to boot.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
26:
[Show spoiler]"Nanjing! Nanjing!" ("The City of Life and Death")
This film covers one of many bleak chapters in the history of World War II: an event that I was never even aware of, and I’m sure other people may have been in the dark about too. Taken from eye-witness accounts, this film chronicles the Nanking Massacre in full horrific detail. It’s an experience comparable to “Schindler’s List,” not only because the film is shot in stylish black and white, but largely because of its hard-hitting violence and uncompromising focus on a hideous war crime. Populated with quality characters, and featuring solid craftsmanship, this film is one of the most powerful and sobering ever made.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
25:
[Show spoiler]"Akira"
Anime has always endeavored to make the most out of limited budgets, staffing, and resources. “Akira” was the first of its kind: an anime produced from a small, stuffy apartment, but with handsome hand-drawn and hand-painted animation, a pre-scored soundtrack, weird music, and computer effects. Above all, it is one Hell of a thrill ride. “Akira” is loaded up with all kinds of action, as it shows biker gangs terrorizing the streets of NeoTokyo, before psychic powers manifest in the characters and lead up to one of the most destructive rampages ever put on screen. It’s action-packed, and often quite bloody; the thrills in this movie it matched only by its craftsmanship, which still holds up well after all these years. With a deliciously dense story and decent-enough characters, “Akira” is a thrill ride that I don’t mind going on over and over again.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
24:
[Show spoiler]"King Kong" (2005)
Peter Jackson flexes some impressive filmmaking muscle by taking the classic 1933 picture and putting his epic “Lord of the Rings” vibe into it. This remake runs for over three hours long, but it hardly ever feels long, and certainly not dull (although it does take an hour or so to get to the really exciting stuff). The film’s highlights include a fantastic fight between Kong and not one, not two, but three T-Rexes! Plus, spectacular sequences involving a brontosaurus stampede, giant bugs, freaky orc-like natives, and Kong wreaking havoc all across New York! It’s not all about excess CGI eye candy though; a lot of screen time is devoted to developing a coherent story and giving the characters some depth. I think it’s actually successful at besting the original ’33 film in regards to story and character. But in the end, this film has a strong heart, and it makes for one of the most pleasing adventure films ever.
The three-and-a-half hour extended cut offers loads more material, and is a pleasure to watch.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
23:
[Show spoiler]"The Abyss"
In this film, James Cameron ambitiously captures and creates a unique environment that’s rarely shown on film: the bottom of the ocean. In this high-pressure setting, the characters find themselves encountering the wonders of a dormant extraterrestrial presence, and simultaneously confronting the dire threat of nuclear war. With a colorful cast of characters, impressive (and fully-functional) set designs, and ground-breaking special effects, “The Abyss” is one of the most original and thrilling sci-fi films ever made.
The extended cut comes recommended, which features a longer, more complete ending that ties in the movie’s themes more coherently.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
--------------------
From here on up, every film has a perfect 20/20 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest)
--------------------
22:
[Show spoiler]"Back to the Future"
Great scott! This film has it all: comedy, cool special effects, and a decent story populated by fun and memorable characters. The dialogue is awesome. The film has impeccable attention to detail. The trilogy as a whole is great quality fun, but this first film remains the most original; it is a brilliant story. With quality craftsmanship by Robert Zemeckis, it’s always a fun trip in the time-travelling DeLorean!
21:
[Show spoiler]"Chi Bi" ("Red Cliff")
Say what you will of John Woo, the man best known for orchestrating scenes with crazy slow-motion shootouts where characters dual-wield pistols and pigeons fly across the screen for no reason. In Hong Kong, the man actually does produce quality work, and “Red Cliff” may as well be a revealing testament to his skill. It is a lengthy epic, based on the historical battle of Red Cliff, and it is loaded up with some impressive battle sequences (sans the slow-mo shootings and birds). It is especially noteworthy for incorporating strategy on and off the battlefield; some of the film’s most interesting moments tackle the problems of spreading disease, stealing arrows from the enemy, mapping out the enemy camp, and ultimately predicting the wind patterns to determine where to set the enemy fleet ablaze. With a cast of decent characters and a strong-looking production value, “Red Cliff” stands as my top favorite Asian historical epic.
Two cuts exist for this film. I haven’t seen the shorter two-and-a-half hour cut yet, but the full-length five-hour cut (spread across two parts) is fantastic. Even at this length, it hardly ever drags, and no scene feels like it should be cut. It comes highly recommended.
[Show spoiler]"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"
For the longest time, I would have called this my favorite “Trek” film, and with good reason. While “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” offered its fair share of spectacle, this sequel proved far more successful at tying up quality visuals, explosive action, powerful drama, and a gripping story into one franchise-defining package. Taking after the classic “Trek” episode “Space Seed,” the film brings Khan Noonien Singh to vivid life, thanks to a powerful performance by Ricardo Montalbán. The film rakes up the stakes very highly, pitting the Enterprise crew against this classic villain, while simultaneously hinting at themes of mortality, death, and rebirth. It is as exciting of a story as it is deep. Even after all these years, it remains one of the most endearing “Trek” movies of the lot.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
39:
[Show spoiler]"RoboCop"
Paul Verhoeven’s first Hollywood picture is a real doozy. It has an extreme amount of over-the-top blood and guts. It makes for an entertainingly hard-hitting piece of pulp sci-fi (which, in my opinion, is something of a rarity). But what makes the film stand out is its story; it’s a short and simple affair, but it’s a story well-told. Aside from having numerous satires and statements concerning human society, the film’s premise inherently carries some strong themes concerning death and rebirth.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
38:
[Show spoiler]"The Fountain"
As it is with most other folks, I didn’t like this film on the first viewing. I think I was thrown off by the three-way split in the story, and it took multiple viewings to appreciate what each split represented. Basically, it’s all about a doctor who’s obsessed with finding a cure for death (the present). In another tangent of reality, presented as a piece of fiction the characters are writing, there is a Spanish conquistador battling Mayans and searching for the fountain of youth (the past). In another, stranger, and more fantastic tangent, the man is in a glass bubble with a tree inside floating through a nebula (the future). It gets a little convoluted as all three timelines become entwined; it’s a visually fantastic piece of art that requires some interpretation to appreciate. Ultimately, Darren Aronofsky’s film is a sobering and awe-inspiring expression of remorse.
Adapted from Philip K Dick’s “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”, this film takes the basic story of a bounty hunter chasing after androids, and paints a grim depiction of the future around it. The film’s visuals are fantastic, with its dark, bleak cityscapes and crowded streets; it’s a future that’s very much plausible. The film is pretty slow, but the fantastic art design, the quality direction, the storytelling, and the thought-provoking themes of artificiality help make it engaging. Even though it received a mixed reception at the time of its release, it has proven to be a quality piece of science fiction.
Many cuts are available for this film. I find myself favoring the Final Cut above the others; it doesn’t have Harrison Ford’s narration, but I feel the film is more somber and moving that way. It also features some new shots that have been seamlessly incorporated into the film. Whether or not you’ll enjoy this version more will depend on personal taste.
It’s pretty ironic that David Lynch’s biggest flop (a film that even he admits is his biggest failure) winds up so high on my list. What can I say; I totally dig this strange, adventurous sci-fi epic. It takes some liberties from Frank Herbert’s novel (for better or for worse), but it does an impeccable job of bringing the Dune universe to life with lots of crazy detail. The baroque art design does the film great justice. The story is pretty intuitive, even if it does suffer a little. Characters are quite memorable, and feature very strong performances from the cast. For the most part though, it’s a film with a deep and invigorating style; it has a power that very few other films manage to match.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
35:
[Show spoiler]"Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi"
For the longest time, I considered this my favorite “Star Wars” picture (thus, my favorite all-time picture, or else my second-favorite…it’s fluctuated a lot). I can’t deny any more that the film has its flaws; most folks don’t take kindly to the Ewoks’ role in defeating the evil Galactic Empire. I still believe that this film boasts some of the best space battle scenes of all time; I’ve also always been enthralled by the opening act concerning Jabba the Hutt. But what really makes this grand finale stand out is the final duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker; it’s a powerful, heartbreaking climax that ties up the entire saga in the best way possible.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
34:
[Show spoiler]"Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith"
The more I see this film, the more striking it seems to get. It does boast some incredible action sequences, including an epic space battle over planet Coruscant, and the climactic duel between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. But what really makes the film stand out will be its characters and story; it is a bleak story filled with profound twists and turns that will not only connect the series’ prequels with the sequels, but also define the characters and bring certain themes to light. While the film’s craftsmanship may be put into question, it does go to prove that the “Star Wars” prequels have redeeming value.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
33:
[Show spoiler]"The Lion King"
Pretty much the exact same story as Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” only with Lions in an African setting. Disney’s feature film takes ever advantage of its unique setting to present a unique and memorable array of characters and environments. More importantly, it takes every advantage of the story to underscore key themes concerning personal growth, destiny, vengeance, and redemption. I’m not too keen on the music, but with the film’s editing style and fantastic animation quality, it is pretty darn powerful.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
32:
[Show spoiler]"American History X"
This film pretty much covers all angles concerning racial prejudice; the film explores its genesis, its progression, and its sobering conclusion. It simultaneously underscores potent themes of tolerance. The story and characters are captured in a style that is as invoking as it is striking and memorable. Even though the film is a little rough with its violence, it tackles some important issues head-on; this is one film that I’d gladly recommend to all.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
31:
[Show spoiler]"Shichinin no Samurai" ("Seven Samurai")
For a film that runs over four hours long, “Seven Samurai” never really feels all that long, and certainly not dull. It is a fantastic adventure, offering plenty of action to satisfy. The story is simple, but it boasts an excellent group of characters; the film overall makes the most out of a small-scale plot to make it really epic. While most of Akira Kurosawa’s films have pleased me, this has got to be his crowning achievement, and it comes recommended to all!
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
30:
[Show spoiler]"Beauty and the Beast"
Disney’s adaptation of the French fairy tale offers the same wholesome fun as most other Disney pictures; it has catchy musical numbers, occasional slappy comedy, and a whimsical sense of magic and wonder. This film has a lot of heart to it though; I couldn’t help but to feel for the characters. For that matter, I feel that the Beast represents the primal brutality at the base of all men in general, while Belle represents the grace of all women. Despite their differences, their unlikely union is a wonderful thing to watch. Combined with a music score that’s occasionally powerful, and top-notch animation quality, this currently stands as my top favorite Disney feature.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Very High
29:
[Show spoiler]"Silence of the Lambs"
A close adaptation to Thomas Harris’ novel, this film makes for one stylish, gripping, and bleak thriller. It is most memorable for bringing Hannibal Lecter to life (even though he was portrayed previously in “Manhunter,” Anthony Hopkins’ performance here is so perfect it’s chilling). For the most part though, the film is about another psycho who skins women to make into clothing; it’s a seriously gross and messed-up concept, but the film handles it very tastefully. It’s a strong story about metamorphosis, and with a uniquely intimate cinematic style, the film stands out really well.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
28:
[Show spoiler]"Wall-E"
Pixar’s 2008 feature film explores some fantastic sci-fi environments, from a battered and polluted Earth to the colorful regions of deep space. There are some inherently interesting themes at work concerning human society, but for the most part, this film is a romantic comedy between two robots. Their interactions are pretty darn cute, but the film is never overly-sappy, thanks to its comedy, impressive visuals, and impeccable storytelling. It is as entertaining as it is insightful. It ranks as my favorite Pixar film to date.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
27:
[Show spoiler]"Metropolis" (1927)
Of all silent movies, Fritz Lang’s sci-fi epic remains my top favorite. It is loaded with unique expressionist imagery, serving to tell a fantastic story that weaves biblical prophecy with visions of the future. It tends to be a bit wild and over-the-top, but that only adds to the film’s charm. Even after all these years, the model work and special effects hold up well enough. In spite of that, the film offers a fine visual spectacle, and a decent story to boot.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
26:
[Show spoiler]"Nanjing! Nanjing!" ("The City of Life and Death")
This film covers one of many bleak chapters in the history of World War II: an event that I was never even aware of, and I’m sure other people may have been in the dark about too. Taken from eye-witness accounts, this film chronicles the Nanking Massacre in full horrific detail. It’s an experience comparable to “Schindler’s List,” not only because the film is shot in stylish black and white, but largely because of its hard-hitting violence and uncompromising focus on a hideous war crime. Populated with quality characters, and featuring solid craftsmanship, this film is one of the most powerful and sobering ever made.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
25:
[Show spoiler]"Akira"
Anime has always endeavored to make the most out of limited budgets, staffing, and resources. “Akira” was the first of its kind: an anime produced from a small, stuffy apartment, but with handsome hand-drawn and hand-painted animation, a pre-scored soundtrack, weird music, and computer effects. Above all, it is one Hell of a thrill ride. “Akira” is loaded up with all kinds of action, as it shows biker gangs terrorizing the streets of NeoTokyo, before psychic powers manifest in the characters and lead up to one of the most destructive rampages ever put on screen. It’s action-packed, and often quite bloody; the thrills in this movie it matched only by its craftsmanship, which still holds up well after all these years. With a deliciously dense story and decent-enough characters, “Akira” is a thrill ride that I don’t mind going on over and over again.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
24:
[Show spoiler]"King Kong" (2005)
Peter Jackson flexes some impressive filmmaking muscle by taking the classic 1933 picture and putting his epic “Lord of the Rings” vibe into it. This remake runs for over three hours long, but it hardly ever feels long, and certainly not dull (although it does take an hour or so to get to the really exciting stuff). The film’s highlights include a fantastic fight between Kong and not one, not two, but three T-Rexes! Plus, spectacular sequences involving a brontosaurus stampede, giant bugs, freaky orc-like natives, and Kong wreaking havoc all across New York! It’s not all about excess CGI eye candy though; a lot of screen time is devoted to developing a coherent story and giving the characters some depth. I think it’s actually successful at besting the original ’33 film in regards to story and character. But in the end, this film has a strong heart, and it makes for one of the most pleasing adventure films ever.
The three-and-a-half hour extended cut offers loads more material, and is a pleasure to watch.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Very Good | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest
23:
[Show spoiler]"The Abyss"
In this film, James Cameron ambitiously captures and creates a unique environment that’s rarely shown on film: the bottom of the ocean. In this high-pressure setting, the characters find themselves encountering the wonders of a dormant extraterrestrial presence, and simultaneously confronting the dire threat of nuclear war. With a colorful cast of characters, impressive (and fully-functional) set designs, and ground-breaking special effects, “The Abyss” is one of the most original and thrilling sci-fi films ever made.
The extended cut comes recommended, which features a longer, more complete ending that ties in the movie’s themes more coherently.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
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From here on up, every film has a perfect 20/20 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect | Resonance: Highest)
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22:
[Show spoiler]"Back to the Future"
Great scott! This film has it all: comedy, cool special effects, and a decent story populated by fun and memorable characters. The dialogue is awesome. The film has impeccable attention to detail. The trilogy as a whole is great quality fun, but this first film remains the most original; it is a brilliant story. With quality craftsmanship by Robert Zemeckis, it’s always a fun trip in the time-travelling DeLorean!
21:
[Show spoiler]"Chi Bi" ("Red Cliff")
Say what you will of John Woo, the man best known for orchestrating scenes with crazy slow-motion shootouts where characters dual-wield pistols and pigeons fly across the screen for no reason. In Hong Kong, the man actually does produce quality work, and “Red Cliff” may as well be a revealing testament to his skill. It is a lengthy epic, based on the historical battle of Red Cliff, and it is loaded up with some impressive battle sequences (sans the slow-mo shootings and birds). It is especially noteworthy for incorporating strategy on and off the battlefield; some of the film’s most interesting moments tackle the problems of spreading disease, stealing arrows from the enemy, mapping out the enemy camp, and ultimately predicting the wind patterns to determine where to set the enemy fleet ablaze. With a cast of decent characters and a strong-looking production value, “Red Cliff” stands as my top favorite Asian historical epic.
Two cuts exist for this film. I haven’t seen the shorter two-and-a-half hour cut yet, but the full-length five-hour cut (spread across two parts) is fantastic. Even at this length, it hardly ever drags, and no scene feels like it should be cut. It comes highly recommended.
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To be concluded...
7 more to bring the total up to 39.
The total would likely be even higher if it wasn't for the fact that I have seen some of them yet (The Abyss, the majority of the old Star Trek, etc.).
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
some of them i really enjoyed and a few would make my top 100, maybe one or two i really loved but don't know if i could call it a favorite (Blue Valentine due to how dark and real it feels), and a few i have no interest in seeing again (TCCOBB for sure is in this category). thanks for the recommendations on the others, i'll have to look into those 
" so i knew i had to add them in. very different in style and substance, but sometimes we all need a break from the serious or intelligent 
variety is the spice of life! 
)
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