All Time Favorite Movies
 

Okay. I have entirely too much free time at work. That's my boss' fault for not giving me enough to do. So now that I've justified my Cellar habit...

What is your favorite movie of all time, and why?

If you can't name just one, then name a few.

Just sit there, think for a second, and then spit it out.

Here, I'll go first. :)

And, uh... Spoiler warning. Yeah.

American Beauty - I have been a Kevin Spacey fan for years. After I first saw Swimming With Sharks, I began seeing everything he was in. Well, in October of 1999, I was in Toronto with a friend and we wanted to go see a movie. Looking in the paper, we saw that this film American Beauty was playing soon. All I knew about the film was that Kevin Spacey was starring. I think someone suggested we go see Mystery, Alaska but I was adamant. So, off to the theater we went.

Two hours and a few minutes later, I was sitting in the theater smiling. The main character was dead. Murdered. And I was smiling. I saw it again a few days later. When I got back to Maryland, I went to see it with my friend Megan. It was then that I began to fully appreciate the movie. It helped me see the world in a different light. It changed my life.

I saw it four more times in the theater, each time going with someone new. My sister, who was skeptical at first, went with me to see it twice. It's the only movie she's seen in the theater twice, and it remains her favorite movie. It's Megan's favorite movie. Jenni, my better half/significant other, considers it her favorite movie as well.

I own the VHS version, and Jenni and I each have a copy on DVD. I've seen it at least 20 times. Each time, I am brought to tears at the end. For any number of reasons. And each time, it reminds me why life is so special. Why we're lucky to be alive. It remains my favorite movie, and likely will. No movie has touched me as deeply, nor moved me as far. It was what I needed to see at a hard time in my life. It has changed me.

It's A Wonderful Life - I saw this after I got back from Toronto. This is my dad's favorite movie, and I finally buckled down and watched it. And it was spectacular. It's dated, but it's moving. I can't help but come to tears at the end. It reminds me that even though things may not be working out the way you envisioned them, it's still a wonderful thing to be alive. My #2/#3 movie, tied with the next one.

The Shawshank Redemption - besides being a good story and coming together like a true masterpiece, this movie teaches a lesson as well - that our bonds with loved ones are the most important thing, and that keeping hope throughout the hard times can be a great thing. It is, in my opinion, a more well-done movie than It's A Wonderful Life, but they're still equal in my eyes. Another truly great movie.

Now, aside from the emotional "lucky to be alive" dramas, I have another list of favorites. I'll try and touch on these a bit quicker.

Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb - the best black comedy ever. Kubrick is amazing.

The Godfather / The Godfather Part II - Exceptionally well done in every way. True epics. Two of the best films ever released. Part III wasn't too shabby either. Can't wait for the DVD release next month.

Fight Club - When I first saw it, I didn't think it was anything special. I liked it, but didn't consider it great. But after I got back from Toronto (I saw a lot of movies in Toronto, w00t), I thought about it more. The attention to detail is pretty spectacular, and the little hints that are dropped leading up to the ending make the movie something I can watch over and over, picking up more each time.

Chasing Amy - I love Clerks and Mallrats and Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, but Chasing Amy is the best of the bunch. It's real. That's what makes it a great movie.

GoodFellas - I can't get enough of it. One of Scorsese's better pictures. Great pacing, great photography... GreatFellas.

And there are a tone more. I'm a movie buff. I have nearly 100 dvds (after getting a DVD player in Februrary - let's see, that's about 14 DVD's/month) and over 100 VHS movies (which I bought from about June of 2000 until February, when I stopped buying VHS). I've seen a lot of movies, I like a lot of movies... but those are just some of the more notable ones.

So... what's your favorite movie? Why?

Dark City - probably my all time favourite film. It's beautifully dark, and represents an amazing little microcosm of the entire human race. People complain about the holes in the narrative, but that's what makes it work. You get sucked into the confused, amnesiac world of John Murdoch and the Strangers, and it just doesn't let me go.

The Matrix - Just a great film. The concept, the visuals, the story, Lawrence Fishburne (legend), cars driving on the wrong side of the road in Sydney. It's just a fantastic film and I can't wait for the sequels. Finally, Keanu Reeves' constant confused look actually looks right in one of his movies.

Fight Club - Visually brilliant. The ultimate designer's movie. Awesome storyline that mutates and contorts into something incredible from the beginning to end, and inspirational and life-changing as well

Resovoir Dogs - a great look at the world of crime. Great characters, with awesome script and direction from Tarantino. Some of the world's best actors in it, too.

Dogma - yeah, Kevin Smith's others are great, too, but this is my favourite. It would be nice if Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back actually came out in Australia some time in the next two hundred years, because I'm sick of hearing Americans and Canadians rant about how good it is. Dogma's great because it's such a fantasy film. I have a lot of interest in religious mythology and Apocalyptic concepts, and this was funny as well. Of course God has a sense of humour - just look at the platypus."

Akira - Awesome animation and storyline. I've heard that the original version is 4 hours long and has a rather different storyline to the one that got general release, but I don't know much about it. Nevertheless, it is a purely amazing film that sucks me in and traps me in it's little universe.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - I'm not sure why I love this film so much. It's mainly because it's so funny, but there's more to it than that. Just brilliant, really.

Others include Blade Runner, The Fifth Element, Star Wars (all of them), Spaceballs, 2001 a Space Odysee, American Beauty, Outbreak, and others that I can't remember right now. As you can probably tell, I'm a bit of a sci-fi fan, but there's other stuff I like as well.

American Beauty - No doubt about it. Brilliantly crafted film. Seem it 4 times at the movie (once on a huge screen on the botanical gardens) and own the DVD..

Fight Club - Thousands of reasons i love this movie, everything it explores is great, the ending was a bit weak but still, fantastic film. Twisting warping film in a way few films manage to pull off.

Mall Rats - If you've seen it you know what i mean.....Truely hilarious film that was the start of a generallyvery average genre.

Clerks: "My girlfriend sucked 37 dicks!" "In a row?" *rofl* Enough said.

Mallrats: One of the most underrated movies of all time. Jason Lee was excellent as Brodie...not to mention Jay & Silent Bob themselves. "I'd do it myself, but I threw my back out humpin' your mom last night, nooge."

I'm sorry...those two movies are so damned crude...yet I nearly lose it every time I see 'em.

Pulp Fiction: Some people just don't get this one, but Tarantino is God. I love the way he put the storyline together.

I couldn't possibly make a definitive list of my favorite movies and certainly not put them in any kind of order, but these are some of my favorites...today.

Willow Saw the whole thing for the first time recently. Yeah the special effects are pretty rough, but it still kicks ass.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Michelle Yeow, Chow Yun Fat, and Ang Lee. Enough said.

Anything Marx Brothers Sure some of their later stuff was losing its edge, but Duck Soup, Horse Feather, and Animal Cracker were some of the greatest cinema ever.

The Princess Bride I think the main reason I loved this movie so much was the fact that the first time I saw it I had no idea what is was about, I had never even heard of it. It was just so surprising, I still watch the DVD every couple of weeks.

The Matrix Again like The Princess Bride, this was a complete surprise. Because of the trailers I had seen I thought my then boyfriend/now husband was dragging me to see some brainless action movie. I remember after the credits started rolling we just looked at each other and said "DAMN."

Spaceballs and Blazing Saddles Mel Brooks is a comedic genuis.

Empire Strikes Back Don't even start. Everyone knows Empire was the better movie. I mean, come on, Luke learns Vadar is his father and has him chop his hand off, all in matter of seconds. It doesn't get any better.

It's a Wonderful Life - You got that one right, dhamsaic. This has been my favorite movie since I first saw it about 20 years ago. Yeah, some might call it sappy, but I think it teaches an important lesson about how our attitude toward life can change everything, and how many lives we can affect.

Somewhere in Time - One of the best love stories I have ever seen with, unfortunately, one of the saddest scenes I have ever seen. Without giving away much to those who haven't seen it, the "coin scene" just ripped me up something terrible -- it always takes me 20 minutes to stop crying at the end of this one.

Hey...did anyone watch "ER" tonight?
 

I know Tarantino had nothing to do with the new episode, but it sure felt like it the way the storyline kept moving around!

Hmmm... No, I don't watch ER. Besides, it'll be about 400 years before the episode that you watched last night reaches Austraila.

favorite movies
 

How do you choose a favorite?
These are just a few that I love---

Natural Born Killers / Pulp Fiction(of course)
Election (very dark, very funny)
The Matrix(of course)
Happiness (if u haven't seen this do so now!)
Requiem for a Dream (Ellen Burstyn is incredible)
Bringing Out the Dead (intense & amazing, nobody else seems to like it, though??)
Goodfellas (is it possible to not like this movie?)
Soylent Green / Planet of the Apes ( Chuck Heston nuff said!)
Joe vs the Volcano (another one that people seem to dislike)
Notting Hill (yes, I am a girl!)
Lost in America/Defending Your Life (I'm a huge Albert Brooks fan)
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (just because)
Same Time Next Year (another chick flick-but really good)
Ferris Bueler's Day Off (saw it in the theater-I'm old)
Evil Dead / Army of Darkness (Bruce Campbell-my hero!)
The Big Lebowski / Fargo / O Brother Where Art Thou (Cohen Bros are amazing)
I guess I should shut up now. I could go on for hours---but I should actually go to work.
Hope I did everything right, this is the first time I've replied to a post.

How do you choose a favorite indeed? Here are a few of mine:

Breaker Morant- The finest thing to come out of Australia in the last 50 years. One of the best movies I've ever seen.

Pink Flamingos- Hell, anything directed by John Waters. I'm from Baltimore. Whaddya expect?

The Sands of Iwo Jima- Worth watching just to hear John Wayne utter the immortal words: "Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid." Amen.

The Blues Brothers- The cameo of John Lee Hooker in front of Aretha Franklin's diner redeems any other shortcomings this movie may have.

Grosse Pointe Blank- I can't explain why. Maybe it's the soundtrack. Maybe it's Minnie Driver in the tight green shirt. Maybe it's the final shootout while Dan Akroyd tries to convince John Cusack to join his union. It's all good.

Titanic- I watch Titanic for the same reason people slow down to stare at car wrecks. This movie sucks in so many ways it's impossible NOT to watch. I can't help it. I giggle like a schoolgirl every time I see the top of Leonardo DiCaprio's head disappearing under the water.

Argh! I forgot Pulp Fiction!!!

When i first read titanic you lost all my respect till i read the blurb..:)

I"ve gone ot great lengths to avoid seeing that film, great, great lengths.

Hey, yeah, I forgot a few.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Pulp Fiction
Grosse Pointe Blank
Whole Nine Yards (pissed myself laughing)
Romeo And Juliet (Baz Lurhman's version)
The Big Lebowski
Office Space
Gattaca

And after last Friday, I'm going to add A.I. to the list. I thought it was excellent.

And thought Titanic was quite good, actually. I too went to great lengths to avoid it, but ultimately failed, and quite enjoyed it. I'm not saying it's fantastic, and there are some definite gripes that I have with it (FIND ANOTHER PIECE OF WOOD, YOU IDIOT!!) but it was quite good.

And while I'm whinging about crap Oscar-winning films, how crap was Gladiator? Everyone said it was so freaking good, but it was boring. Nothing really happened for the whole movie. And the characters were empty, too. Lifeless piece of crap. CT,HD should have won that oscar.

Pulp Fiction
Resovoir Dogs
Schindler's List
A Clockwork Orange
Dr. Strangelove
Pi
Shawshank Redemption
Seven
Chinatown
Citizen Kane
Trainspotting
Memento
Quills
Requiem for a Dream
Saving Private Ryan
The Graduate

5 Favorite Movies
 

I watch at least 5 movies a week, and sometimes many more, but there are a few movies that I can watch over and over again and not get tired of. Whether or not there is a few good parts, or the whole movie is great, some movies just stand out to me.

Resovoir Dogs
Fight Club
Almost Famous
Rock Star
Animal House

THE BIG LEBOWSKI- just cause they base a whole movie around a guy trying to get his rug back that somebody pissed on. that is my alltime favorite movie. nuff said.

favorite flicks
 

The Great Escape
Star Wars (all of 'em, yes even episode 1)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Morgan! (A Suitable Case for Treatment)
Harold and Maude
Silence of the Lambs
Psycho
Reservoir Dogs
Clockwork Orange
Code of Silence
Above the Law
Bladerunner
The Jungle Book (Disney animated)
Fight Club
American Psycho
Airplane!
2001: A Space Odyssey
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Excalibur
Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Koyanisquaatsi
Airport
Taxi Driver
The Usual Suspects (and darn near ANYTHING starring Kevin Spacey)


I know I'm going to be back to edit this like half-a-dozen times ...
There are just too many to name.

Once Upon A Time In America

Not a western. Sergio Leone's last film. The 4-hour version, of course; the US got the butchered 2.5h version that made no sense. Pauline Kael saw that version, wrote a damning review, saw the full version, and fell in love with it. Once you've experienced it, life will never really look the same to you.

James Woods basically defines the performance that he'd try to imitate and give again and again for the rest of his career. His smooth malevolence is utterly stunning. DeNiro is utterly flawless as a sort of Kubrickian anti-hero, all stares and observations, his actions inhibited by childhood trauma and suddenly flaring violence. DeNiro is a man lost in society, formed by prison, and released upon an unsuspecting world. Yet he is emotionally crippled to an extent that allows Woods to emotionally outmaneuver him.

Tuesday Weld is unbelievable, her pain and struggle manifesting in a perfectly nuanced performance. Her drawn face when attempting to betray her lover to save his life is unforgettable; the ultimate irony that would follow gives you one of those feelings of dread and emptiness, having witnessed human weakness, yet being utterly unable to do anything about it.

Oh, and Elizabeth McGovern. Beautiful and yet so cold. Not a good actress by any means, yet perfect for the role. Distant and emotionally untouchable, she is betrayed by the man she herself pushed away, and in the end loses everything because she desired to be more than she is. The scene where she wipes the make-up off her aged face will stick in your memory forever. That is, if the rape scene hasn't already scarred you thoroughly. Traumatizing, paralyzing.

Forget everything you know about films. Go find the 227minute version of this film, pop it in, and spend 4 times UTTERLY GLUED to the screen. Ennio Morricone's best score, Tonino Delli Colli's soft focus-yet-hard edged photography, and the completely flawless art direction and production design will have you enthralled. The script is brilliant, to say the least. The temporal arrangement works so completely that it should be the stock teaching material in film schools regarding film logic and script direction. And if you think I exaggerating the acting of Woods and DeNiro - their 'young' counterparts are staggeringly convincing. Personally I think that they show the by far best teen/kid acting I've ever seen on film.

Do yourself a favour, and check it out:
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0087843

Alternatively, the VHS version can be bought here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6300271617/

You may also want to have a look at the review of the Laserdisc, as there's no DVD of it out (yet) (good review, as well).
http://www.filmsondisc.com/LaserRevi...in_america.htm

In addition, there's a very convincing outline of the film at
http://film.tierranet.com/directors/...e/america.html

And finally, although this probably isn't anyone's cup of tea (do NOT read this if you haven't seen the film yet), there is a very scholarly analysis of the film at: http://film.tierranet.com/directors/...s/bartual.html

The laserdisc review describes OUATIA as a 'hallucinatory' film; take that in the best possible way - it will draw you in, and never really let you go. A poetic work of genius.

X.

Braveheart
J.F.K.
The Godfather
Star Wars
The Empire Strikes Back
Die Hard
Clerks
Mallrats
Dogma
The Big Lebowski
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
The Matrix
Office Space
Rush Hour
Raiders of the Lost Ark
IJ & The Last Crusade
Silence of the Lambs
Hannibal
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Volcano
Face/Off
Gladiator
The Negotiator
The Devil's Advocate
American Beauty
As Good As It Gets
Outbreak
Trading Places
15 Minutes
The Pelican Brief
The Firm

I will be editing this as I go through my library. And wolf is right, I defy anyone to find a movie that Spacey starred in that wasn't good. Which reminds me, I gotta see K-PAX to make sure the thread continues...

~Mike

Dittos on most of that and I'll raise you:

Apocalypse Now
Shakespeare in Love - because it's the cleverest of the clever-clever films
Young Frankenstein
Duck Soup, Night at the Opera, Animal Crackers, Horse Feathers, Day at the Races
Raising Arizona

Okay then

Shakespeare in Love was good?
While i've never seen it bigtime shakespere frieds of mine (as in peform plays monologs etc as a hobby) thought it was pretty damn awful...

A blast from the past...
 

The gods at the cable mecca on Northeast Blvd. (aka Comcast) decided to grant us free Encore this weekend. I happened to flip by it just as "The Blues Brothers" was starting. God that movie is still great! And truth be told, I had forgotten some of the antics in the movie (e.g. James Brown as Rev. Cleophus Jones). The cop chase is still one of the best ever.

Add these 5 to your rental list if you've not seen them. I like them very much.

African Queen- Classic fun- sweaty Bogart, sweaty Hepburn, Jungle, WWII...See it again.

All About Eve- THE smartest, sharpest dialogue ever written, delivered with the skill of a surgeon by Bette Davis.

The Red Violin- visually stunning, and Im a sucker for the narrative built around an-object's-chance-encounter-through-time plot device.

Hands on a Hard Body- Documentary not to be believed. Whoever can keep one hand touching the pickup will win it. Let the games begin.

So I Married an Ax Murderer- many wonderfully silly lines. "We have a piper down, repeat, a piper is down." plus great cameos-Grodin, Hartman,Wright,Arkin.

Apocalypse Now - Meant to see it, haven't yet.

Shakespeare in Love - Kind of curious, will wait for HBO random showing

Young Frankenstein - saw it once ago, can't remember much of it

Duck Soup - Don't remember it

Night at the Opera - Don't remember it

Animal Crackers - Don't remember it

Horse Feathers - Don't remember it

Day at the Races - Don't remember it

Raising Arizona - Sounds familiar, can't quite place it

And to add to my list:

Nat'l Lampoon's Vacation
Nat'l Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Planes, Trains, & Automobiles
Ferris Beuller's Day Off
Michael Collins
Glory
Halloweens 1 & 2
Summer Of Sam

And I'm out.

~Mike