Top Ten Movies

[JWR]

Ok . As I approch headlong to the "milestone" age of 50 , I can't help but start reviewing certain aspects of things that have had a profound influence in my live so far.

One of those involves certain movies. Now do understand these are mine, your all free to have your own,

So in no true order , these are my top 10.

Apocalypse Now (1979 )- lets just say that I saw this when it opened in 1979 at the Pacific Cinerama Dome and it left me numb. But it also hit me with the fact that when placed in an insane situation , that the truth of combating horror with a greater horror may in have been the only way out.

Akira (1988) I do understand that by todays standards , Akira is somewhat outdated but in 1988 when all you have ever seen was the normal Saturday morning cartoon drivel , Akira on the big screen totally blew me away. It showed what animation treated by adults could be truly capible of.

The Usual Suspects (1995) One of the most classy thrillers ever made.

Alien (1979) I went to the Egyption Theater at the 2:30am show the first night this opened. Scared the crap out of me , the only film I saw in which my fight or flight responce told me to get the heck out half way through. Of course the fact that they had a bunch of the original set props on display at the Theater may have had something to do with that.

Blazing Saddles (1974) Well what can be said about this one. Every group had it's turn under Mel Brook's harsh lamp. I still remember allmost every line and each time still laugh.

Rollerball (1975) forget the 2002 remake. The original with James Caan as Jonathan E. as the hero who would not let the corporate powers best him still to this day strikes a cord with me.

The Haunting (1963) Again forget the remake. The original with it's seen but unseen evil scared the crap out of me. Like a Lovecraft story , nothing on the screen could outdo your imagination. The walls & ceiling that were pushed in but not breached still haunt me.

Close encounters of the 3rd kind (1977) Another of those movies that now seem hokey but seeing it when it opened on the big screen, the special effects blew me away. One could hear a pin drop in the theater when the mother ship appeared.

Star Wars (1977) I saw this the night it opened at Grauman's Chinese Theater and went back another 8 times. Unlike anything else of it's time.

Cat people (1982) One of the few cases of the remake being better than the original. Of course I think it was Nastassja Kinski and the raw sexuallity she had on screen just captivated me.

[blueheaven]

Great list. It's hard to narrow it down to just ten, but here goes.

Kiss of Death - Great film noir classic featuring the debut of one of my favorite actors, Richard Widmark. It has a cast of fine actors in it, and contains one of the most shocking scenes in movie history, when Widmark's Tommy Udo pushes a woman in a wheelchair down a flight of stairs while laughing.

Casablanca - Bogart, Bergman, Raines, Lorre, and Henreid. What a fantastic film. It really does have it all. Romance, comedy, action, and drama. One of my favorite lines, "When it comes to women you're a true democrat."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa-dGYjSq5k

Fight Club - It isn't very often that a director takes on the project of turning a book into a film so seriously. David Fincher really made Tyler Durden come to life in this film about the self-realization that comes with being a modern American male. It also brought out Brad Pitt's best performance to date.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btk1wh1r2_Y

The Kentucky Fried Movie - The film that took parody into the dumpster. Directed by John Landis and written by the hilarious Zucker brothers, this compilation of TV, film, and pop culture parody hits the target at every angle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYeL3fowrHg

Shall We Dansu? - A lovely film. I can watch this all day. A Japanese salaryman is going through a midlife crisis. He is starting to realize that his life is going to be the same for a very long time. He takes up ballroom dancing in order to gain back some sense of freedom and break up his monotony. I love the scenes between Sugiyama and his wife. Always gets me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV3cNR_15_k

12 Angry Men - I could watch this movie every day and it would still provide the same tension and interest every time. Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb's back and forth is compelling film to say the least. The scene where one breaks down at the end is heartbreaking, showing that we all bring our own prejudice to the table even though we don't mean to. This scene is also one of my faves. The only way to defeat prejudice is not to feed it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTDhgR3p12w

LA Confidential - Neo-Noir filmaking at its finest. Tells the story of old Hollywood and the dirt beneath the glamour. Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, and James Cromwell round out a cast that provides a whodunit for the ages. Tell me you didn't clap when Russell Crowe's Bud White flipped out during the interrogation scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZSOZgILM0w

Boondock Saints - A very underrated film. While the story may have some holes, it makes up for it in characterization and dialogue. Hollywood needs more stories of vigilante justice that is based in a real world. And the fight scenes are as gritty as it gets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKzM8xsQ5-U

Leon: The Professional - Jean Reno in his best role ever. Natalie Portman in her first role ever. And a story written and directed by Luc Besson. Reno's touching depiction of a childlike assassin who is saddled with an orphaned girl is amazing in that it portrays a loving relationship in a very platonic and beautiful way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-1HHvmOGaQ

Desperado - Just pure Mexican film carnage. It's even more amazing when you consider that Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek did all their own stunts. And how sexy was Salma in this movie? Over the top action, fake blood, and wire effect flying made this just pure eye candy. The soundtrack is also a major factor in this film, with some of the songs being performed by Banderas himself(quite nicely, I might add)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK4GcGG7ekQ

[usamamo]

I could only come up with a few that I know I really enjoy watching time and time again. I will have to think about the others.


Star Wars - All of them....does that count as 6?

The Wedding Singer - It gets me everytime.

Gone in 60 Seconds - The Nic Cage one.

Memoirs of a Geisha - (thanks for reminding me Zunny)

Pirates of the Caribbean - (Thanks SME for reminding me on that one too )

[Zag]

The Usual Suspects (1995) One of the most classy thrillers ever made.

Agreed! Since I'm hitting the big (for me) 3-0 this year, here's my list.

Laura (1944, before my time, but I'm named after it.)
Raggedy Ann & Andy: a Musical Adventure (shut up, I was 5)
The Secret of NIMH
Short Circut (and 2)
The Last Unicorn
Back to the Future (and 2 & 3)
The Usual Suspects
Leon (The Professional)
Godzilla (because anything with Jean Reno rocks, even if it sucks.)
Big Trouble (if you haven't seen this sleeper, go rent it today!)


Those are the first 10 that come to mind as the most "Watched over 10 times" and "Influenced my outlook on Life" and "Frequently quote, or refer to in conversations".

[Baakay]

Since Joe and I are basically the same age, some of our picks are the same. And a lot of his others are up there with my favorites, too, but not necessarily top 10.

Star Wars -- I lost count of how many times I saw it in the theatre. Boy, it looks REALLY OLD now, but as I told my mom at the time, "it's our Wizard of Oz!" .. which is a great segue to:

Wizard of Oz. This movie still amazes me. When I was a kid the annual TV showing was a Big Event (because, remember, there warn't no such thing as video). I still marvel at the tornado, I still cry when Judy Garland sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow (ok, she looked just like my mom, which helps) and I choke up at "there's no place like home." I'm a sap. Sue me

Blazing Saddles ("What in the Wild Wild World of Sports is goin' on here?")

Close Encounters -- Which I can still watch over and over and not get tired of it. But the experience in the theatre was something beyond amazing.

Jaws. The original Jaws. I'm reading Joe's statement about the fight or flight reflex. The only time I've ever physically risen out of a chair at a movie out of fright was the underwater scene where the corpse shifts and falls down into the porthole. You know the one? I seriously came off the chair. It's also the only movie I've ever attended where the entire audience broke into cheers and applause at the climactic scene

The Birds - scared the willies out of me when I was in the 8th grade and hasn't stopped since.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Two words: Robert Redford. Ok, make that 3 words. Robert Redford. Yum.

Raise the Red Lantern. I went to this one in the local "we're cool because we show indie movies" theatre as many times as I could manage before it went away.

Rocky Horror Picture Show - not that it's a great movie, of course, but the experience of going made it one of those lifetime experiences that will never fade. Besides which, I'm a total sucker for musicals -- particularly the kind where nobody gets PO'd if you sing at the top of your lungs IN the theatre

West Side Story: My second movie ever. (My first was Bambi. In the theatre). I saw West Side Story at a drive in with my parents when I was so small I couldn't really follow the story, but the music and dancing had me pinned to the screen. The older I got, the more levels of meaning I gleaned from the movie. It's still one of the all-time best movie scores and to me was the pinnacle of all things "musical theatre."


Man what a weird list. O_o

[Not Sir Phobos]

300-The pinnacle of movie making, this movie shows how far we've come with our ability to make a moving picture that moves the audience with it.

Office Space-One of the few movies to ever make more money once it was out of the theatre, it's a movie that was panned over in the theatre, but it was so good that it took time to catch on.

The Army of Darkness-Bruce Campbell.....

Schindler's List- It's a movie I think everyone should see, so society as a whole does not forget.

Oldboy-The ultimate in who done it and WTF!!!???

Clockwork Orange-I've seen this film a few times over the years, but it took untill recently when I saw it at a mignight matinee at our local theatre to truely appreciate what Kubrick had to offer.

12 Angry men-(Tips hat to Brian)Only the original in black and white will do. The remake was garbage. This movie illustrates how our judicial system SHOULD work. A gorgeous piece.

Homeward Bound-Don't judge me.

The Way of the Gun-Ryan Phillipe and Benicio Del Torro make this movie a masterpiece. The shootout at the end of the film is pure realism.

Cowboy Bebop the Movie-Awesome, awesome anime.

[Cloud]

I like the bugs in the movie Starship Troopers, because they represent an alternative form of intelligence, like me.

[dude_moose]

I'll be turning 20 this year, to continue the "milestone year" thing we have going here

Good Bye Lenin! - I think that this is my favorite movie ever. It's the perfect combination of drama and comedy.

Lost in Translation- I know a lot of people hate this movie, but I really like it.

Ran - I've only seen this once, but once was enough to know what an epic, tragic, and artful movie it is.

Grave of the Fireflies - I liked the way someone summed up this movie: "the best movie you'll never want to see again"

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon - this movie has a great soundtrack and awesome choreography.

Kill Bill - style, gore, and some great lines and characters

Star Wars (the original 3) - These are great movies.period.

Alien(s) - These movies are pretty awesome. I think I liked the second one better. I'm also a big Lance Henriksen fan

Battle Royale - this movie is awesome incarnate.

Amelie - great cinematography and pretty engrossing.

[Cloud]

Where did you lose your in Translation- he or she know a lot of people hate this movie but he or she really like it ?

[monkeyboy]

A fun thread! Wow did this make me think. There are so many movies I enjoy, many are on other members lists too.

As for my list in no set order other than to number them:

1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Cinematic art at it's best! I was lucky to see it when it was re-released(restored road-show version a few years ago) for the "big screen" at a local theater. If you get a chance to see it that way also please go.

2. The Lord of the Rings (2001- 03)

I know technically this is three movies, but how can you just see one? They were a great adaptation of the books.


3. The Big Lebowski (1998)

The slacker as king! To me the Coen brothers hit a home run with this movie.

4. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

I look forward to the release of the director's cut (the full movie 1 + 2).

5. Donnie Darko (2001)

"Life is one long insane trip. Some people just have better directions".

6. The Princess Bride (1987)

I'll admit I like this quirky "fairy tale" told to a child.

7. Brazil (1985)

Terry Gilliam's view of futuristic life is a true masterpiece. Bureaucracy run amuck!

8. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Cool spaghetti western beautifully shot.

9. La Dolce Vita (1960)

A stylish love story that goes nowhere, but worth seeing!

10. Clerks (1994)

A well written film about mundane life.


All these movies I would gladly watch right now.

[logorzat]

OK here are my top 10:
Bye Bye Birdie
Coyote Ugly
Walk the Line
Gone with the Wind
Devil Wears Prada
Daredevil
The Longest Yard (Adam Sandler Version)
Heartbreakers
13 Going on 30
Resident Evil Apocalypse

[ZombieBunny]

Hmm lets see here....

1: Memoirs of a Geisha

2: The Crow

3: Casino Royale

4: The Da Vinci Code

5: Rush Hour (both of them lol)

6: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

7: The Nightmare Before Christmas

8: The Truth about Cats and Dogs

9: Saw (the first one, any other is just CRAP)

10: Different Animes

[Majin_Vegeta_2028]

in no particular order:

Fight Club
Boondock Saints
Last Samurai
Braveheart
300
Lord of the Rings - although the movies were great, the book was far superior
Vanishing Point - the original, not the remake with Viggo
Full Metal Jacket
Good Will Hunting
Fear and Loathing in Las Vagas

honourable mentions:
Clint Eastwood westerns - pick one, there all good

Leon: The Professional - Jean Reno in his best role ever. Natalie Portman in her first role ever. And a story written and directed by Luc Besson. Reno's touching depiction of a childlike assassin who is saddled with an orphaned girl is amazing in that it portrays a loving relationship in a very platonic and beautiful way.

i agree. he also did a great job in Ronin, which by the way, happens to
have one of the best car chase scenes

[crackpot27]

1.) Lady Hawke- Just a wonderful movie. Action, romance, and even a little comedy. This is one of those movies where I can re-watch again and again and still get pulled in by the story and characters.

2.) Final Fantasy Advent Children- Am I biased if I say it's because of Cloud? Final Fantasy 7 was my first rpg game played and to say I love it is to say the sun is hot To be honest just sitting there and being able to spot the game references has me watching it again and again.

3.) Indiana Jones- Can I count all the movies as one? I've been watching these since I was very little, and Harrison Ford is not only great eye candy, but he has a whip too. Love the action, Love that he gets to have more than one great adventure.

4.) Lord of the Rings- Gorgeous is the best I can sum up this trilogy. The acting was top notch (even with Elijah Wood), the use of New Zealand for location was brillant, and the design was just better than I could have hoped. I'm also a fan of the books so....

5.) X-men (the first one )- Fan of the comics, and felt like it was done as well as it could have been done. The joke about the yellow spandex certainly doesn't hurt

6.) Aliens (again the first one)- Wonderfully horrible movie, gave me nightmares.

7.) Teenage Muntant Ninja Turtles (numero uno)- What's not to love about four smack talking green reptiles?

8.) Howl's Moving Castle- My indroduction to Miyazaki and wow, completely blew me away.

9.) About a Boy-.......I'm not quite sure why I love it...I just do...

10.) Minority Report and ironically enough The Fugitive-

[Cloud]

Some reptiles are cool. . Take for example various lizards.