Steven Spielberg's 20 Favorite Films...

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Markgway

But hey, if I did a list I'm sure it would have the piss ripped out of it by everyone.

Spill.

[Adam_ME]

Pretty solid list. I had to look up Untouchable. I didn't realize that was The Intouchables which I love.

But, c'mon. Guardians of the Galaxy? Even if you dug the movie, the villain sucked. Compare that to other films on his Top 20 which featured all-time great antagonists like Mr. Potter, Ledger's Joker, and HAL 9000.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Did Tobe Hooper pull a sick day?

He did, to go see Blade Runner!

[stvn1974]

Dark Knight is still garbage even if Spielberg likes it.

[moreorless]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

I'd argue that the film had already cemented its classic status by the late 90s (hell, my introduction to the film was seeing clips from it on some Top 100 Films TV documentary), but I do think time - and each subsequent re-edit of the film - has reinforced that status.

I'd say whats perhaps acknowledged more now is that the film extends beyond pulpy entertainment and style, that and simply a bit more age to it will I suspect help it next time around.

Although also I felt the directors poll on the 2012 list was better than the critics one.

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

He did, to go see Blade Runner!

We stan Hoop.

[MechaGodzilla]

I saw this list, and I don't think it comes directly from Spielberg himself, but rather them putting together a list based on movies he's mentioned that he likes.

For example, he's said Guardians of the Galaxy is his favorite superhero film, which is why it's on here. But would he personally rank it #5, or include it in his top 20 period? I'm not sure, but we won't know unless someone asks him for a top 20 and he complies.

Still interesting to get a sampling of his taste, though.

[Chumley]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

We stan Hoop.

I went to college with Stan Hoop. Bastard still owes me 20 bucks.

[Winslow Leach]

Interesting list.

[BluBonnet]

That's not the Hoop I know.

[Cremildo]

I expected Lawrence of Arabia to be numero uno.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by moreorless

Honestly his "post blockbuster" career(so around mid 90's) I have always felt it was a case of a man with very good taste who could never quite equal his influences, could never step fully away from that blockbuster mentality.

Starting with Color Purple in 1985, he's always made blockbusters and dramas, a deft balancing act that no other filmmaker has come close to achieving on Spielberg's level. There is no "post-blockbuster" era. There are simply Spielberg films.

[david_blu]

It must be difficult for Spielberg when making a list.

No one mentioned yet, he is probably the only person in the World to not include his own films in the top 20.

How many of us have at least 2 Spielberg films in our lists.

We all look at the list and think something is missing and it's his own films.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by david_blu

How many of us have at least 2 Spielberg films in our lists.

Don't mean to sound like a snob but if I did have such a list, it probably wouldn't include any Spielberg movies. Not saying his movies aren't extremely entertaining, I think they are. But at least in my view they lack the element that makes for true greatness in the way that Lean, Fellini, Goddard, Kurosawa, Bunuel, or Powell & Pressburger can lay claim to.

[ptsherm]

Originally Posted by Chumley

He didn't see it. He was too busy directing Poltergeist.

Hey-sus Cristos, this joke doesn’t even work, Poltergeist and Blade Runner came out the same month. At least Ridley Scott recognized where actual horror skillz came from (‘Texas Chain Saw’ inspired ‘Aliens’).

Anyway.......

Visual/aesthetic affinities:


No punchy/quirky shots like this in Poltergeist:


Beatrice Straight shows her loyalty:


Who actually shows up halfway through the day(perhaps taking in a matinee) to point fingers and be a bully producer:

[Chumley]

Mission accomplished.

[Akuash]

I was always under the impression that Spielberg was a big fan of the original Texas Chainsan Massacre. Not enough to make the "list" I suppose, or I'm flat out mistaken.

[LokiMok]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

I saw this list, and I don't think it comes directly from Spielberg himself, but rather them putting together a list based on movies he's mentioned that he likes.

For example, he's said Guardians of the Galaxy is his favorite superhero film, which is why it's on here. But would he personally rank it #5, or include it in his top 20 period? I'm not sure, but we won't know unless someone asks him for a top 20 and he complies.

Still interesting to get a sampling of his taste, though.

I agree. The list is bogus. I don't doubt that he likes these movies but does anyone really think he jotted down a list of 20 movies & emailed it off to some clickbait website no one has ever heard of? And with no comments and no interview? Every quote in the article is sourced from somewhere else. The list has no source.

[ptsherm]

Originally Posted by Chumley

Mission accomplished.

Wasting my time, I see. But hopefully not others’! Knowledgeispower

[ptsherm]

Originally Posted by Akuash

I was always under the impression that Spielberg was a big fan of the original Texas Chainsan Massacre. Not enough to make the list I suppose, or I'm flat out mistaken.

He’d certainly seen it, as it was the main reason both he and Hooper sought each other out and were acquainted to the point they decided to develop Poltergeist.