Subscribe to ListverseYour View: What is the best movie ever made?
- Published February 5, 2008 - 506 Comments
I have decided to try out a new type of list on the site – one where you (the readers) pick the content. This isn’t a top ten however. The aim here is for you to discuss the question at hand and share your views with the rest of the site. If the idea takes off, I will consider making these a regular part of the site.
The format will be: I ask the question, I give my answer and reason, and then I open the floor to everyone here to give their answers and reasons. So – onward, to our first installment of Your View.
What is the best movie ever made, and why?
I think the best movie ever made is The Godfather.
I think it is the best movie because every time I watch it (and I have watched it many times) it really manages to draw me in – I become totally absorbed and feel like I am part of a real scene playing out around me. Also, the film has amazing cinematography and direction, and the acting is top-notch!
NOTE: Because this is our first try at “Your View” – let me know whether you think this is a good idea or whether we should forget about it. This will not replace any lists and we will continue to write lists as usual.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:06 am
I think the greatest film is “Dr Strangelove”. It contains at least five of the greatest comedic performances committed to screen (George C Scott, Sterling Hadyen, Sellers, Sellers, Sellers), the satire is razor-sharp and the film is frighteningly prescient. Kubrick didn’t intend to write a comedy until he began his script treatment and realised how ridiculous it all was.
My favourite part is when Dr Strangelove’s alien hand syndrome kicks into gear, the guy playing the Russian ambassador is corpsing really obviously in the background.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:12 am
The Godfather? I know this is heresy, but I fell asleep during The Godfather.
Schindler’s List. This movie doesn’t even need to be defended, but I will. This film breaks my heart and makes me feel great about being a human being all at the same time. I can hardly bear to watch it, but it is too beautiful to miss.
The “I could have saved one more” scene remains the most moving scene I’ve ever seen in a film.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:14 am
also… the ads on this page make it really difficult to read. I understand that you are “just paying the bills”, but I like to be able to follow the flow of the page a bit more easily. 2 ads between the title and the comments is kind of painful.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:16 am
I think Children of Men is the best movie ever. It is just absolutely fantastic, particularly the bit where they are walking down the stairs. I couldn’t find a single fault with it, which is why I think it’s the best movie ever. Batman Begins would also be a contender if it didn’t have Katie Holmes in it.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:18 am
Among new movies, The Departed, nuff said!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:21 am
I really liked Serenity. Ok so i’m a bit of a sci fi junkie but I thought it was/is a really great movie!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:22 am
If this favorate movie thing does catch on is there any chance of a “what is the worst movie ever made” section? haha THAT would get alot of comments! Imagine the agruements that would go on there…ok so maybe that was a bad idea
February 5th, 2008 at 2:23 am
Any Kubrik’s film. Probably Dr. Strangelove as Mac says…well, maybe 2001…
February 5th, 2008 at 2:24 am
Woah sorry for the 3 comments in a row but after I submited that last one the whole page changed it was centered and the banner was bigger and rounded on the edges! What’s up with thta!?
February 5th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Whoa, I totally agree with Nelia about the ads- I completely missed your Godfather pick and was wondering she commented on it.
Hey, I fell asleep during the Godfather too! 20 minutes in and I was out!
I can’t pick an all time greatest, so I’ll pick my all time favorite- Singing In the Rain. The casting, the characters, the dance numbers, the songs, and the comedy, all way ahead of their time. It is just so clever and witty, and Gene Kelly is so swoon-able. There has never been another musical like it and if they ever do a remake, I just might slit my wrists…
February 5th, 2008 at 2:26 am
Mac: I must say – I love Dr Strangelove – it is a great film.
Nelia: to be honest I found Schindlers List to be a little over the top. Oh – re the ads – I am not able to turn them off from page to page – it is less noticeable on lists as they are long – but on short pages like this it can be a bit of a pain – I agree
Kirsten: haha re Katie Holmes! I love Batman Begins too – I can’t wait for the next one.
Harsha: loved that one too! Wow this is a list of my favorite movies!
fishing4monkeys: That is ag ood suggestion – I was planning to cover all manner of topics too – thing like “what is the best religion” MUAHAHAH!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:27 am
I think the greatest film ever made is The Conversation. Made by Francis Ford Coppola, in between The Godfather 1 and 2. It is a more solid film than the Godfather films, although they are excellent too. It follows a simple premise of a man struggling with the morals of his career, but manages to convey so much through such profound direction. The theme is totally amazing also, and Gene Hackman provides his best role yet (later reprised in Enemy of the State). It won the Golden Palm at Cannes in 1974, and it is somehow still totally under-rated and overshadowed by the Godfather. Check it out.
In terms of recent films I would say Fight Club is an absolute masterpiece. I was also very impressed by the recent “No Country For Old Men”
February 5th, 2008 at 2:29 am
I have moved the advert to the bottom – unfortunately it is the best I can do!
fishing4monkeys: is it right now? I was in the middle of uploading the search button back – it flicks to base theme when you do that.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:30 am
MojoRisin: what is the career the guy has in The Conversation? And Fight Club is a modern masterpiece – I agree.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:31 am
Oh by the way, I think this is a really good idea. The downside is that when the page gets heaps of comments, no one will be bothered to read them all. Perhaps you could incorporate a tally of some kind.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:32 am
He is a microphone expert who gets paid to listen in to people’s private conversations.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Jfrater – you can’t blame me for having a deep, abiding love for Liam Neeson
I couldn’t nominate Michael Collins because I didn’t think many people would have seen it (and Julia Roberts kind of ruins it), so I went with SL. Still love it though. And still can’t get through The Godfather, but my boyfriend loves it almost as much as he loves Star Wars.
I can live with the ads, I can see how 4 ads on a page with only a few lines could get out of hand, but be ok on a long list page.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Hard to say. Godfather is a great example of an excellent classic movie. I’m also tempted to include ‘High Noon’ or ‘Twelve Angry Men’ (although this is rather a stageplay than a movie).
IMHO the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies also have deserved a top rank.
–
Jeremy
February 5th, 2008 at 2:35 am
I love Dirty Dancing and The Shawshank Redemption.These may not be as profound as the movies mentioned above,but they’re certainly movies I can watch over and over again.American Beauty is great too.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:37 am
MojoRisin: I was thinking about that – it might be possible to go over the list of comments and see what the totals were – though that would be a right pain if there are 100 different opinions
And thanks for answering that question – I would LOVE to be a microphone expert listening in on people’s conversations 
Nelia: you know – I have actually not seen Michael Collins – I am not the biggest fan of Neeson so it put me off.
Jeremy Foster: I wondered how long it would be before we got a Lord of the Rings mention
February 5th, 2008 at 2:38 am
sue: Shawshank is a very enjoyable movie – the ending makes you feel so good!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:46 am
jfrater:
Hahaha “best religion” because THAT would DEFINATLY make for a very peaceful and intelligent comment list
February 5th, 2008 at 2:47 am
Ok, they aren’t the best films ever made, but my two favourite films ever are 300 (great when you can’t be assed thinking of anything) and Team America: World Police (funniest film ever).
I think, however, the best film ever made that I’ve seen is A Clockwork Orange. The atmoshpere, acting, music, & stuff makes it awesome.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:48 am
I like this topic. Lots of good suggestions so far…
I have a lot of difficulty with this, so, if I may, I’d like to do one comedy and one drama. Bloody Sunday would be my pick for drama. The Graduate for comedy. And freakin’ Jaws rocks my socks off every time I put it on! It never ever gets old or loses its suspense for me. Acting, soundtrack, cinematography, all are excellent.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:50 am
fishing4monkeys: yeah
It would beat the bible stories list I am sure!
dangorironhide: I could agree about 300 – but not Team America – I really didn’t like that! Also, totally love Clockwork Orange – Kubrick is a master!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:52 am
dmarmion: thanks for reminding me about Jaws – I haven’t seen it in ages – I had better go pick up the DVD!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:53 am
jfrater:
Yeah, 1127 comments and it’s finally starting to die down
February 5th, 2008 at 2:56 am
Jfrater – sigh… not a fan of Liam? How about Daniel Day Lewis? Can I submit “In the Name of the Father” as the best movie ever? I was young and and in a classroom when I saw it, which kind of screwed up the viewing experience, but it is an understated and wonderful film. I love LotM with Lewis running about in minimal clothing, but ItNotF is Lewis’ best that I have seen.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:58 am
fishing4monkeys: I really cba reading all the comments. Can someone give me an overview on what they were about?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:00 am
Nelia: Liam Neeson I beleive is the single best character in Star Wars Ep 1. Qui-gon was awesome.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:04 am
I never read them…I saw the list only after a few hundred comments and didn’t bother spending 4 hours reading them all
I’d skim through and summarize it but that’s a heck of alot of comments!
Sorry I can’t help.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Haha ok then, maybe someone else can
February 5th, 2008 at 3:06 am
dangorironhide: to sum up the comments on the bible list: atheism versus religion
Nelia: not a big fan of him either – though I love his sister – she is one of my favorite TV chefs (Tamasin Day Lewis). And you can certainly submit any film you like – this is YOUR list – not mine
February 5th, 2008 at 3:19 am
I can live with that! Schindler’s List and In the Name of the Father then.
Never seen his sister, I’ll have to youtube her? Oh, and Jaws is the most watchable movie of all time. I’m sending mixed messages here… Cause Jaws is fantastic as a movie that may not be as meaningful as others, but no one I know will ever change the channel when they see it.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:19 am
Nothing like a good religion debate to get the comment numbers up!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:25 am
Citizen Kane, Citizen Kane, Citizen Kane. It’s critically thought to be the best movie ever made, and for good reason. It’s got everything an excellent movie should have: mystery, intrigue, romance, beautiful filming, well-choreographed shots, and ground-breaking camera work.
And then, for fun, I would have to say a Hitchcock. Which one? I don’t know, they’re all so good. If you were making a list of the best, Hitchcock would HAVE to be on it somewhere. I’m going to say Rear Window, just because it’s pretty universally appealing, I think. (And also because I have a crush on Jimmy Stuart.)
As for a recent movie, maybe Magnolia? I hate-hate-hate Julianne Moore and Tom Cruise, but it’s a well-paced and attractive film.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:29 am
good will hunting…great great movie
February 5th, 2008 at 3:29 am
Nelia: unfortunately there is nothing of her on youtube. This is a synopsis of her with a photo and some of her recipes: http://uktv.co.uk:80/food/item/aid/530456
February 5th, 2008 at 3:30 am
phunniemee: I love Julianne Moore – she was great in Magnolia – especially the scene at the drugstore!
mabutt88: Good Will hunting is definitely a great film.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:35 am
jfrater: I find her incredibly grating and talentless (to each his own, right?) haha. I think what bugs me most about her (and Tom Cruise) is that she plays basically the same character type in every movie she’s in. Except for The Hours, maybe but don’t even get me started on that P.O.S.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:41 am
phunniemee: each to his own for sure – I despise John Malkovich yet many people seem to like his hack acting! Funny you mention Cruise too – I think that Magnolia is one of the few films in which he is an excellent actor – revolting – but excellent.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:02 am
It is West Side Story, but one must be music and dance lover to enjoy it, winner of ten academy awards.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:13 am
How about splitting the movies by genre, the same with the list of best ever books…but if u must know, the Seventh seal gets my vote
February 5th, 2008 at 4:13 am
Savas Demirel: wow – I didn’t know it had won that many awards! It is a great musical.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:14 am
Citizen Kane, Casablanca, The Godfather, Lawrence of Arabia, Raging bull…
February 5th, 2008 at 4:43 am
I would go with Citizen Kane on this, just absolutely amazing lighting, plot, characters, casting, themes etc etc!
Also up there in my opinion there is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Pulp Fiction, Donnie Darko and Withnail and I.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:44 am
Serenity: http://imdb.com/title/tt0379786/
February 5th, 2008 at 4:49 am
How about Stalker by Andrei Tarkovsky. It is by far the greatest movie that i have ever seen.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:58 am
mabutt88: I agree with u,Good Will Hunting is excellent.Come to think of it,I rather like the dramatic side of Robin Williams,esp in The Dead Poets Society,which was another great film
February 5th, 2008 at 5:08 am
i vote for ‘Once upon a time in America’
February 5th, 2008 at 5:35 am
I find myself questioning the movie posters you picked after the jump. Deuce Bigalow 2?, the Pink Panther(remake)?, Roll Bounce?, The Wedding Date?. Really? Maybe i’m the only one that can remember a movie by its poster.
Anyway, I have to vote for Pulp Fiction. It truly is an incredible exercise in story telling. Its one of those movies that you cant just watch a scene, you find yourself obligated to watch the entire movie everytime, which, with a 400 hour movie like ‘The Godfather’, you cant say often.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:39 am
TRON don’t really need to say anything else
February 5th, 2008 at 5:42 am
The Usual Suspects.
Because pwnage put to film is funny.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:48 am
I’d go with The Princess Bride. It’s such a wonderful story, told so brilliantly and acted so perfectly that it can be watched again and again. I’ve watched it more times than I could ever hope to remember and still can’t find any faults in it.
Cinematic Perfection.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:52 am
I agree with Sue on the Shawshank Redemption. The Godfather movies, as a series, make a much better story than the first one. I had trouble being drawn into the first one.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Am I really the first to mention… Alien.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:00 am
I find myself wanting to go with what is traditionally seen as the best movie ever made, Citizen Kane, but I will resist that this time. I really enjoy the movie, so I think sometimes my opinion influences how I feel about that particular movie.
I am going to have to go with Casablanca. I studied the movie in a screenplay class in graduate school, and I developed a whole new appreciation for the movie. The dialogue, the characters, story, camera-work, etc, combine to create an amazing work of art that would even please Aristotle.
We were studying how scenes move forward in a movie or play. Usually this is built on one or more characters wanting something and then coming into some sort of conflict over that thing. Casablanca does this so well. Without having a voice-over narrative or any other cheap devices, Casablanca uses dialogue to show you where you are, what’s going on, who are the key players, etc. It’s just amazing.
And if I had a tie for greatest film, it would probably be Touch of Evil. The tracking shot in the beginning of the movie is incredible.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:01 am
Dr. Strangelove was amazing (and the idea for my A&P paper – Alien Hand Syndrome) and definitely up there on my list. I’m torn between that, Full Metal Jacket, The Boondock Saints, and American Psycho.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:13 am
The Searchers. John Wayne and John Ford at their best.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:19 am
There is no such thing as the greatest movie. Different people like different things at different times. I could never pick which film I find the best, cause I like so much genres. You’ve got the traditional “good” Oscar films, but you’ll never find a great comedy or sci-fi within those selected movies. While those Oscar movies can be great, sometimes you fancy a nice comedy or sci-fi. Other times you might want to see a cheesy chick flick, because that’s what you need at the time. “greatest” doesn’t exist.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:29 am
I dont think you can base a perfect movie out of all the genreas there are available so my list breaks it down.
Sci-Fi – Equilibrium. A Matrix type movie based on a future where the govmt controls everyone thru a drug that leaves people with no emotions. Very good combat scenes and emotional rediscovery brings tears to my eyes.
Action – Gone in 60 seconds. Amazing! So many nice cars.
Horror – Devils Rejects. A nightmare inducer.
Western – The Cowboy Way. John Wayne teaches a bunch of kids how to be cowboys by taking them out green on a drive and teaching them how to take care of each other and work together.
Drama – Green Mile. Obvious.
Comedy – Grandma’s Boy. Hilarious comedy. About video games. And weed. Not that i condone that kind of behavior.
A close second is Waiting with ryan reynolds.
Anime – DragonBallZ GT
Machanime – Red Vs Blue
Cartoon – Tom and Jerry
February 5th, 2008 at 6:39 am
JF: Isn’t this what the forums are for? Are you planning on replacing the forums because they are underutilized?
February 5th, 2008 at 6:40 am
i think the shawshank redemption is great…american beauty too
and v for vendetta
February 5th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Lots to pick from – The Godfather and Citizen Kane are the traditional choices. Casablanca, 2001 A Space Odyssey, Pulp Fiction and about 100 others are among my faves.
As for longball, I didn’t agree with any of his/her choices. But that’s the great thing about movies, you can choose whatever you like.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:48 am
BOONDOCK SAINTS for more recent, and for silent films Broken Blossoms with Lilliam Gish and Sunrise by F. W. Murnau.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:50 am
The Wizard Of Oz…Dreamgirls…Hairspray…The Shawshank Redemption…American History X…Se7en
February 5th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Mystern: the forums do have a similar role – but by doing these new styles of lists occasionally means we can communicate in a more structured way about some of our favorite topics
If you don’t think it is a good idea speak up now – I will do a tally of those for and against to help decide whether to do more in the future or not.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Fargo
Dramatic, Darkly Funny, Action, Great Actors.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Saving Private Ryan
February 5th, 2008 at 7:00 am
mklong: Fargo is an amazing film – Frances Mcdormand is great is everything she is in.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Citizen Kane
February 5th, 2008 at 7:15 am
The Departed
February 5th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Back in the day, jfrater would be picking a certain movie that he knows he’d get made fun of. So it’s a little surprising to me that he picked The Godfather.
I like this idea – gets conversations out of the forum and onto the front page.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:18 am
bucslim: why ever would I do that?! I thought everyone knew I loved the Godfather? My second choice would be Dancer in the Dark
February 5th, 2008 at 7:19 am
The Great Race!!! Has anybody ever seen that? That to me is the greatest movie ever made.
I also agree with a lot of people about Shawshank Redemption, that movie is brilliant.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:24 am
wow, i was growing concerned as i was reading through the comments that it took to the mid 40’s for my favorite, Pulp Fiction.
the dialogue is beyond top notch. lots of humor in the midst of several heart-beat skipping scenes. the in style movie device of having a fractured time-line that all come together at the end. several excellent actors in roles outside of their comfort zone. the direction is inspired. and holy crap, there are so many quotable moments
- “what do they call a whopper? i don’t know i didn’t go into burger king”
- “i hid this uncomfortable hunk of metal up my ass for 3 years”
- “did you see a sign on the front of my house that said dead nigger sorage”
- “tell that bitch to be cool”
- “i love you pumpkin. i love you hunny-bunny”
- “that better be one charmin’ mutha-fuckin’ pig. ten times mo charmin than that arnold on green acres, you know what i mean?”
i could go on but you get the point.
as honorable mentions:
saving private ryan
green mile
braveheart
life is beautiful
oh yeah, from comment #2, nelia, schindler’s list makes you feel good to be human? holy crap, anytime i watch anything about the holcaust, i hang my head in shame at what humans can do.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:34 am
yes it is jfrater, slingblade is a close second. for all the same reasons
February 5th, 2008 at 7:37 am
I probably shouldn’t open this can of worms, but I am kind of old school. I believe there is a difference between a person’s favorite movie and what they consider the greatest movie. For example, one of my favorite movies is It Happened One Night, in fact, I would say it’s my favorite movie. There is a lot of emotional value attached to that view as well. But it’s not the same with what I see as the greatest movie. I really enjoy Citizen Kane, and would agree with most people, it is a great movie, but it’s not my favorite movie. Another example of what I mean: from an artistic point of view, Sin City is an excellent movie, but I didn’t like it. I could, however, appreciate it on an artistic level, but on a personal level, it didn’t do a whole lot for me. Does that make sense? I always love these kinds of discussions.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:39 am
I also think this list (so far) has focused primarily on the past 20-30 years of film (and that’s being generous). We should try to reach back to the 70s (one of the greatest decades in film – we already brought up Godfather, Conversation) or the 60s or even farther back.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Cmon jfrater – you know you’re a David Lynch fanboy.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:43 am
bucslim: yes – though I wouldn’t rank his movies in the top 5 of all time
JLo: how about M – a great film by Fritz Lang – that is a contender I would say.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:44 am
It depends on what you mean. Historically, I’d have to say Citizen Kane because it was so revolutionary in the world of film. However, in terms of visual beauty, cinematography (kind of the same thing), meaningful content, and amazing acting, I would have to say Requiem for a Dream.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:44 am
the best movie of all time is Pokemon the first movie. lollll
February 5th, 2008 at 7:50 am
This is kind of a weird sidebar, but for me it isn’t all that much about my favorite movies or what is considered the greatest. For me it’s about my favorite directors. Right now I’d watch anything the Coens or Tarantino makes. Same goes for Kevin Smith, but I wouldn’t consider him to be the greatest. Hitchcock and Kubrick had incredible careers and most of their work could also be considered.
I never get tired of this discussion, it’s interesting to me to see how people view their movies and how important they are to them.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Requiem For A Dream
Disturbing, but beautifull told. Probably the most artistic movie I have ever seen. I hold this one dear to my heart having nearly a year of sobriety after my battles with addiction.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:57 am
JLo: you make a good point, but surely this list had to devolve into a “personal favorite” list. there is no standard as to what makes an objectively good movie. is it superb acting, visionary directing, depth of character development, tightness of story and script, lighting design, how many cars blow up, whether or not there are naked women, number of fart jokes?
while my favorite comedy is either napoleon dynamite or dumb and dumber, i would never suggest them as the overall best picture.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:01 am
1 – Goodfellas
2 – The Godfather/Godfather II (same level for me)
3 – Shawshank Redemption
4 – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
5 – Cool Hand Luke
6 – Jaws
7 – Fight Club
8 – Heat
9 – The Wild Bunch
10 – Resevoir Dogs
*11 – True Romance (couldn’t leave this off)
February 5th, 2008 at 8:06 am
just in keeping with form, perhaps we should add deuce bigalow so that it has no business being on 2 different lists.
if the standard is winning awards, then there are two that tie
one flew over the cuckoo’s nest
as good as it gets
these were the only two to sweep the oscar’s main awards, best actor, best actress, best movie, best director, best screenplay.
interestingly enough, both with jack nicholson
February 5th, 2008 at 8:08 am
DiscHuker: I respectively disagree…I do believe in objective criteria for art, literature, film, etc. As I said, I am old school, though. I believe excellent art, literature, music endures, stands the test of time, because it adheres to a certain set of criteria. Plus, if all of it is purely subjective, what makes a Michelangelo or Monet any better than a painting of Dogs Playing Poker or a Thomas Kinkade? I don’t really want to derail this list, though, so I apologize to jfrater if this happens. We should focus on our favorite…oops…AHEM…the greatest movies ever made.
Ars longa vita brevis.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Walk the Line!
February 5th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I would agree on “Fargo”, Francis McDormand is excellent in everything? Has anybody seen the kid’s movie Madeline? She’s wonderful as the nun. (ps; I know lots of people who didn’t get/like Fargo.)
Also current movies; Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, The Green Mile, A History of Violence, Kill Bill,7, The Matrix (1st one)
Old Movies; 2001(my 1st real love took me to this on our 1st date-note not a chickflick), Vertigo, Duel(early speilberg,I know it was a teleflick, but we’re not snobs), Kelly’s Heroes,
Holy its gonna hafta be Top 50 movies,,,
Oh and I just saw “No Country for Old Men” GO SEE THIS ONE
February 5th, 2008 at 8:18 am
The Seventh Seal.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Id have to say Harold and Maude…classic love story!
February 5th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Jlo; I get your point, the greatest should probably be some epic from the 60’s,,,maybe Cleopatra, or The 10 Commandments or some other Cecil B. DeMille classic. Unfortunately, although brilliant, none of these are my faves. Citizen Kane?
February 5th, 2008 at 8:29 am
First, Walk the Line is poop.
Second, Dr. Strangelove is amazing, it’s in my top 3 of all time, along with… get this… Howl’s Moving Castle. Hayao Miyazaki is an absolutely incredible storyteller, and his films encompass EVERYTHING in life… love, death, peace, war, happiness, loneliness, jealousy, responsibility, and confronting our own inner demons. P.T. Anderson’s latest outing, There Will Be Blood is also ridiculously amazing, easily the best film of the past few years, and definitely in the top 10 of all time. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is also a very respectable nomination. Honorable mentions are Babel (i think i liked it more than most people did), Pan’s Labyrinth, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (i definitely liked this more than most people did). I disagree with the poster who said Children of Men… it was good, but not great. But to each his own.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Oh, on a side note, I’m a film geek.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Is my comment awaiting moderation cuz there’s links in it?
February 5th, 2008 at 8:33 am
TMo: yep – it is approved now
February 5th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Wow, I’m really impressed with most of the picks so far. There are some great movies being thrown out there.
As for me, my favorite movie changes about every hour. Historically, it’s most often been The Godfather, which has everything you could ask for in a movie, from great memorable acting, to rich themes, and great directing. Some days, it is Citizen Kane, for its momentous direction and cinematography. Other days, it is one of my “litmus test” movies, movies that can make or break relationships for me depending on the viewer’s enjoyment: Rear Window, 12 Angry Men, Running On Empty.
But, today, my favorite movie, the greatest of all time, is the comedy masterpiece This Is Spinal Tap. An entirely improvised comedy, funny from beginning to end, about a fictitious rock band coping with their fall from stardom. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer put together arguably the greatest comedic performances ever to be put on film.
Today, my favorite line from that movie: “I’d love to stay and chat but I have to go to the lobby and wait for the limo.”
Classic.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I’d have to put up two movies for consideration. “The Exorcist” frightened me for years. And, I don’t recall seeing anyone mention “No Way Out” with Kevin Costner. I’ve always thought NWO was a great thriller with an even greater ending.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:48 am
It has to be Star Wars
February 5th, 2008 at 8:49 am
The very best movie EVER made is CASABLANCA.
Reason? Simple. The film is flawless from start to finish. Coming at the height of Hollywood’s studio system in 1942, from Hollywood’s grittiest, no-nonsense, tough-guy, wisecracking studio, Warner Bros. (home of the greatest gangster flicks and action pictures, as well as the beloved Bugs Bunny) Casablanca doesn’t reach too far (like “Gone With the Wind”) and yet manages to play it epic without seeming so. It’s got Humphrey Bogart at his best (gritty and tough and yet likeable) and no one does roles like this better than Bogie. It’s got Ingrid Bergman, who, at least in this film is quite possibly the most beautiful woman who ever stepped foot in Hollywood, and Claude Rains at his effortlessly urbane, witty best. Plus it’s got a (for the day) grown-up friendship between the lead character (a white man) and a black man, the piano player, Sam. (Yes, I know… in today’s world we only notice that Sam has a few lines and he keeps his place–but view it in context and Sam is a lot more of a racially progressive character than all the mammies in “Gone With the Wind”). Sam–a black man in a film made in *1942*—even gets to have some onscreen time with a white woman–even sharing lines with her as essentially an equal. This was *unheard of* in its day, and while no particular reason to judge this the greatest film ever made, it says a lot for the intelligence and taste of the people who made the movie.
It’s got the greatest villains ever–Nazis (there are no better villains)–and extra-villainous Conrad Veidt playing it extra-smooth-nasty as the lead Nazi, Major Strasser. The film has wit, drama, and romance, yes… but it’s also got *believable* heroism in it–not the Hollywood comic-book kind but the kind of real and honest heroism and self-sacrifice that noble people in real life really go through.
It doesn’t have a SINGLE bad or even hollow line in it, unless you want to count Bogie’s “hill of beans” line at the end—which nevertheless is surely one of the most quoted–if not *the* most–lines in Hollywood history. In fact, the movie is chock-full of famous and widely-quoted lines.
And don’t buy into the idea that because it’s an “old movie” that it doesn’t have relevance today or can’t work before an audience. I have seen Casablanca on three separate occasions over the last 20+ years in revivals on the big screen, in theaters, including once in college, before a large college audience. I was amazed at how very, very good this film still is when seen on the big screen, and how FUNNY it is. Lines that you hear at home off a VCR tape or a DVD are just clever-seeming, but before an audience in a theater, they still draw big laughs. Each time I saw it people were riveted and came away loving it, and on more than one occasion I encountered people who had never seen it before who came away staggered by it and in love with it.
And indeed–while almost every other great Hollywood film of the old era has its moments here and there that can be mocked a little (or a lot)–who, after all, can take Scarlet O’Hara *totally* seriously, or Fred MacMurray in “Double Indemnity” without a *little* tongue-in-cheek–Casablanca from the very start does NOT take itself seriously even for a moment, even when there’s real pain in watching how tough-guy Rick of the latter day evolved from the Rick who was almost giddily in love with Ilsa in Paris. What man amongst us hasn’t been a soft, adoring sucker for a woman we were mad about? (I have, on more than one occasion, I’m embarrassed to say) And yes, how many among us had our insides kicked out when we lost her?
Greatest goddamn film ever made.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Borg; I would agree on Spinal Tap. Watch Improv on TV and it usually gets silly pretty damn quick. They did it for a whole movie and it never got stale. Brilliant!
February 5th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Dickhuker; I agree on Pulp Fiction. You noticed its the first film I mentioned. The dialogue is top notch. I also like the disparate story lines and the way they meld seamlessly by the end of the movie….
February 5th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Randall: It is perhaps my greatest shame that I have still not seen Casablanca. I know I will, and I know I’ll probably love it, I guess I’m just waiting for the right person to watch it with. It doesn’t feel like the kind of movie experience I want to enjoy alone.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:00 am
I vote for Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai.”
February 5th, 2008 at 9:01 am
I like the idea of people listing their own stuff in the comments (rather than the forum) because it means I can pretend like I’m not procrastinating. (If I actually go into the forum and click through threads and stuff, I’ve invested myself in the procrastination and there’s nothing I can do to justify it to myself. Here, I’m just reading one page.)
And I agree with everyone who said that this would be most effective broken up into genres. Maybe a good “your view” thing would be “what genres shall we break movies up into?”
Comedy, SciFi, “Classics”, Rom-Com, Drama, Horror, (vaguely cheesy) Action, Animated…then maybe different things for best casting, or something. I don’t know, just a suggestion.
And, because I can:
Comedy: Raising Arizona
SciFi: Star Wars
Classic: Citizen Kane
Rom-Com: It Happened One Night
Action: Die Hard (hahaha)
Animated: The Triplets of Belleville (Anyone seen this? It’s great!)
February 5th, 2008 at 9:02 am
And my list of other greatest films ever, in case anyone cares:
City Lights
The Bicycle Thief
Open City
The Thin Man
Gone With the Wind
Citizen Kane
The Magnificent Ambersons
The Godfather
The Godfather Part II
The French Connection
The Taking of Pelham 123
Jason and the Argonauts
2001 a Space Odyssey
Through a Glass, Darkly
Wild Strawberries
La Dolce Vita
8 1/2
Juliet of the Spirits
Murder on the Orient Express
The Maltese Falcon
The Third Man
The Ipcress File
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
A Hard Day’s Night
It Happened One Night
The Bride of Frankenstein
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Beauty and the Beast (the original Cocteau version)
Orpheus
Vertigo
North by Northwest
The Philadelphia Story
Just pulling a few out of my head.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Kirsten: I hate that movie so much.
firshing4monkeys: I adore Joss (see username), but Serenity wasn’t THAT good…
Of course, I don’t have great taste in movies. To me, the best movie ever made is just one I like a lot.
I would probably go with Big Night, although About a Boy is right up there, too. But, I feel as if a movie based on a book is cheating…
February 5th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Anyone who hasn’t seen City of God should watch it right now. Everyone else should watch it again.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:20 am
My opinion… I have 2, since I can’t choose one over the other, I’ll tell both.
The Princess Bride: This movie has everything. Fairytale romance, pirates, kissing (ewwwwww), swordfighting, evil prince, an albino, monsters, Andre the Giant, unimaginable place put to perspective, fire, and so much more. The way Granpa tells the story reading it from the book just makes it that more perfect.
Oscar: This movie is just so funny, it gets me laughing everytime I watch it. The confusion, the chaos, Tim Curry calling a thug an oxymoron (well the thug thought it was a bad name “The doc was right! You are an ox AND a moron!” I just can’t put into words how wonderful this movie is.
Honorable Omissions: TRON, Spaceballs,
Jamie: This is an awesome idea.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:20 am
GoodFellas…..no doubt about it!
February 5th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Randall; I want your life. I swear your Top movie list is damn near as large as my entire movie list. And I’m not a young thing.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:25 am
greatest movie ever??? training day!!! by far the best movie ever!! denzel is the greatest actor ever!!! remember “it’s not what you know it’s what you can prove”
February 5th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Ravyn; TRON?, I fell asleep. Cool graphics only goes so far.
Spaceballs was hilarious but I preferred Blazing Saddles.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Randall: Great list there. The passion of Joan of Arc is a masterpiece, but i will have to disagree with North by Northwest. I think it’s Hitchcock’s worst film
February 5th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Tough decision. But I think I’ll go with “Saving Private Ryan” – no other movie that I can recall did so well at putting the viewer into the scene as this movie did during the invasion. Everyone I was with when I saw this movie commented on how they had that gut-churning experience of waiting to be the next guy to collect a bullet.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:31 am
bucslim- its him
and i dont watch alot of movies so i picked the best i could. now if we had a similar your view list about books….:-)
February 5th, 2008 at 9:33 am
The Fountain is also an amazingly beautiful movie..also by the guy who did Requiem for a Dream
February 5th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Ravyn: For the reasons you liked The Princess Bride, I would recommend Stardust. It’s got swordfighting, evil witches, a fairytale romance that doesn’t come off as cheesy, and Robert De Niro as a gay pirate. It was critically received very well but few caught it in theaters last year. Those who liked it often compare it to the Princess Bride.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Wow, a lot of the suggestions definitely should NOT ever be considered for greatest film. Not to be condescending, but when you look at Citizen Kane, Godfather, Casablanca, Clockwork Orange and Dr. Strangelove, very few films approach the importance of these films. Who remembers the 2nd person to climb Everest, 2nd to discover America, to discover relativity…
The fact is, people like Griffiths (albeit a racist psycho), Dreyer, Cocteau had such a blank canvas at the time that almost anything they did was revolutionary. Kubrick, Coppola and Welles happened to work in an era when film traversed at a high point for film, when technology and storytelling fed off each other. It’s a bit like music in the ’60s-’70s. The pendulum has swung too far towards the “business” side and art is not supposed to challenge or inspire, but simply to entertain and get butts in the seats.
Let me try to explain my little screed on the value of cinema by enlarging the music analogy. To me there are 4 levels of music (and yes, they are subjective). There are the songs you loved the first time you heard them, and now years later you still love. These are classics. They are the apex. Then there are the songs you weren’t sure about the 1st time. You thought they were alright, but it took a few more listens before you really “got” them. They challenged you, but ultimately the challenge payed off. These are the great songs. Then there are the songs that caught you the 1st time you heard them. They had a great beat, or a great hook, or clever lyrics. Whatever it was, it caught you right away and made you smile or tap your toe or whatever. By about the 10th or 20th listen, the lustre started to fade, but that didn’t matter because another piece of “musical candy” had come along. These are good songs, and most of what you hear on the radio. People enjoy them and they have their place, but they’re not “art.” In 50 years, people will still listen to the Beatles & Elvis, but will be as puzzled by the name Christina Aguillera as with Lulu or Katrina and the Waves. Oh yeah, then there’s the 4th group, which is just crap. Mostly modern rap, R&B and country. Sry, had to take that cheap shot.
In closing, years from now, people will watch Casablanca and Citizen Kane. Many will think they were great stories that were entertaining to watch, while others will see deft acting, clever writing, brilliant camera work and a multilayered story which tells us something about the human condition and, ultimately, ourselves and our lives. So, my vote: Bio-dome. Sheer brilliance.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Wizard of Oz!
February 5th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Kai4a – I think the way our society and culture are rapidly deteriorating, alot of the “crap” music and movies will be considered classics and all time greats
February 5th, 2008 at 9:45 am
i think a “best movie” should include all the elements – story, cinematography, editing, sound, popular/favorite subject, romance, action, comedy, great acting, and something you can watch over and over again.
hence, my vote for best movie is…The Princess Bride.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Wow, a lot of you people are movie snobs.
I
February 5th, 2008 at 9:51 am
I think it would be hard for someone my age, college student, to appreciate some of the older classics such as the Godfather, Goodfellas, etc. although they are excellent movies. Recently, the best movies of the last 15 years would have to be The Matrix, Fight Club, and Pulp Fiction. Just my 2 cents worth.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:55 am
A lot of people have decide to throw out faves rather than “best.” It’s tough to choose but here are a few that in my humble opinion belong:
Citizen Kane (yes, yes, trendy pick but for good reason.)
The Third Man
Double Indemnity
Out of the Past (no one is cooler than Mitchum)
The Haunting (original – great book also)
High and Low (amazing drama)
and just so you all know I like movies in color too…
Unforgiven
United 93 (you know the story but it made my heart pound)
and…
Jaws (my personal fave. There is not a wasted frame in the film! What is amazing that if you watch the documentaries on the production, everything that went wrong; from Lee Marvin turning down the role of Quint to the shark not working, helped!)
February 5th, 2008 at 9:57 am
I loved Stardust but, as always, the book was better.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Mom:
Trust me, you don’t want my life. It needs a lot of work.
But come on. All these movies can be had from Netflix, I’m told (I don’t use Netflix myself–rather, I own my own copy of most of the ones I mentioned).
But I confess–I did take a few film classes in college. Got me exposed to a lot.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:01 am
pjdigger; I had forgotten about The Haunting….I’m gonna get me a copy soon, thanks for the remind.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Randall; See I’m a walking, talking advert for either birth control or abstinence. 4 Boys, much sports, no time for movies…oh but someday….
February 5th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Kai4a: Great post, though I’m not sure I’d entirely buy your music analogy… and by the way, most of what we hear on the radio isn’t “good” unless you’re listening to some oldies station. Most of what we hear on the radio falls into the “crap” category. Similarly, most films are crap. Most books are crap. And so on.
Joss: Why are we “movie snobs?” Because we have standards and taste? I’m sick of know-nothing, will-watch-anything types calling others “snobs” because they insist on standards. Get out of here.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:07 am
I can’t really disagree with Randall about Casablanca, it’s pretty much a perfect script, perfect acting, direction, photography et al. I think the same case can be made for Citizen Kane.
Personally there’s about 100 movies that I never get tired of, but probably wouldn’t classify them in any ‘greatest’ category. They’re just good movies that entertain every time.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:08 am
am i the only person that doesn’t really like watching movie?
i have a netflix account, and it’s just slowly eating money, and i’m getting nothing in return. (my fault, i’ve had the same movie for about 6 months)
anyway, i really like 3 Iron, Gone with the Wind and Elizabeth. (not making any claims to their greatness or crappiness)
and this isn’t film snobbery. many of the movies mentioned are very good movies, and most people who have a decent knowledge of movies would agree.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I don’t get all these people spouting Princess Bride. Great movie, but the question is the greatest. Jeez, I know some gal who thinks Top Gun is the best movie ever made and I can’t talk her out of it.
Mind numbing when you think about it.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Randall; I can be a movie snob, or not. Depends on the mood I’m in…Sometimes I want Coq au Vin, sometimes I want a Big Mac.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:11 am
The African Queen, Annie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s
February 5th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Longball: Unfortunately, you’re right. But isn’t it a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Eddie: I don’t know if I’d characterize it as “hard.” Certainly more difficult than just blindly walking into the megaplex and buying a ticket for the latest Adam Sandler movie. I saw Casablanca when I was in Jr. High in the mid-’80s. I was home sick from school and my mother rented it for me. I was a bit puzzled by her choice, because it was a “classic” (meaning old, boring film), but watched it anyway. I loved it instantly. When I watch it now, I see more in it than I did then, so in a way the film grew as I did.
Sure it’s harder to watch an older film, but it’s harder for me to jog a mile than a typical college student. That’s because I’m 35 and sedentary. To quote Emo Philips, “life is like a sewer. What you get out of it depends on what you put into it.” When you put a little energy into seeking out a classic film and focusing on it, actually think about what you’re watching, it’ll give you more than your typical modern Hollywood film. And, the more you do it, the easier it’ll get. Sometimes I like to turn my brain off and be entertained but the best “fun” movie doesn’t hold a candle in real value, and will be passed out of the brain within a day like so much McDonald’s food through the colon…
February 5th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Randall: Thx. I guess what I mean is that film and music are both art and entertainment. The best films, the best music have artistic value while being entertaining. The “runners-up” aren’t as entertaining, but still have real merit. The next level, although not offering much on an artistic or philosophical level, are still entertaining. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, they’re just disposable and way too proliferate today.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I’d also like to throw a little love out to David Lean and nominate The Bridge on the River Kwai. Awesome performance from Alec Guinness; a script that has a point of view about the world, and about the war, about the mind of a soldier; incredible action;a sympathetic antagonist; and a kick-ass climax.
I also think Princess Bride is a close to flawless film. I would venture to say there isn’t anyone who won’t enjoy it from beginning to end.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Kai4a; hard or more difficult? A great movie, either classic or modern, should not be hard to watch. It all boils down to the story, symbolism and all the other ‘classic’ techniques must serve the story. If its hard to watch (and I don’t mean by making you uncomfortable), it can’t be a great movie.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Eddie: YOU ESPECIALLY I want to address my boy. You can be saved. I hope.
I mean… what IS this nonsense? “I think it would be hard for someone my age, college student, to appreciate some of the older classics such as the Godfather, Goodfellas, etc.” To begin with, I’m trying to get my head around someone calling “Goodfellas” an “older classic” (or a classic at all–I didn’t care for it, but that’s just me) …regardless of your age, Eddie, you ARE aware that there was history PRIOR to the last thirty years, right? Films have been around since about 1900, in fact, Eddie. Calling “Goodfellas” or even “The Godfather” an “old classic” is a bit silly. No. A LOT silly.
But I’m not here to pick on you. Honestly. I’m here to help. See, Eddie… I was in college myself once. I was your age once. And at that time, 19 or 20… I loved and appreciated old movies–*really* old movies–movies that to me, then, were already 50 years old, or so… give or take a decade or two. I wasn’t alone. Lots of my friends loved old movies. Lots of people I knew who’d never seen old movies liked some of them once they were exposed to them.
See Eddie, you have to get your mind away from this false idea that because something is old, it can’t be relevant to you. People haven’t changed Eddie. Not in 20 years, not in 50, not in 100, not in hundreds. Maybe not in thousands. Oh yes, technology changes, fashion changes, tastes change, social views change. But individual people haven’t changed, or haven’t changed much. Love, grief, life, death, success, failure, facing aversity, dealing with problems… crime, honor, justice, etc. etc. etc.—people have been living with all these things since people were invented, Eddie. And the best stories, whether they’re novels or films, are about these things.
Old movies can be incredibly cool. There’s nothing as cool and aloof and tough as Bogart in “The Maltese Falcon”… trust me. Rent a copy and watch it. Watch how Bogart’s character deals with Peter Lorre’s. It’s not only cool, it’s funny. There’s countless examples like this.
If this doesn’t convince you, Eddie.. my DAUGHTER loves these truly old movies–and she’s 13. And not sappy, chick-flick old movies. She loves the crime flicks of the 40s and the old screwball comedies of the Marx Brothers and on and on. If a 13 year old kid can find something to like, can find relevance, in old movies—then so can you. And really, it should be easier for you, seeing as you’re a college student–after all, a college student is supposed to be opening his/her mind to new things, to all sorts of ideas and concepts, to be *willing* to expose himself or herself to intellects and arts they’ve never encountered before, to be moved by these things and open their walls through encountering them. Otherwise, I’d ask you what you’re in college for?
February 5th, 2008 at 10:27 am
dmarmion; I can’t watch Bridge on the River Kwai anymore. Not since learning about the actual true facts pertaining to this atrocity.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:33 am
The Korean film Oldboy by Park Chan-wook. It’s simply awesome.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Wtf over, Randall.
1) I was teasing
2) That was ridiculously rude
February 5th, 2008 at 10:44 am
The greatest in my opinion is the 1979 movie, The Warriors, by Walter Hill. It was incredible. It documents a night in a reality that New York City was taken over by hundreds of gangs (law enforcement can’t fight them off), and the struggle of one gang, The Warriors, to make it back to the saftey of their home turf while being hunted down after being framed for the murder of the president of the city’s largest gang after said leader was rallying to unite all gangs into one gigantic group.
It really made an impact on me. Great fight scenes (especially The Warriors VS. The Baseball Furies) and a great change from the norm (the gangs are technically criminals, yet you can’t help but support one of them, The Warriors, in their struggle to clear their names).
The movie made such an impact that when it was released in theaters, it encouraged real-life gangs to fight each other, even in the theaters! It was the Grand Theft Auto III of the movie industry. Ironically, the guys who made Grand Theft Auto (Rockstar Games) made a very faithful game adaptation of The Warriors.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Joss: And just how was that “teasing”?
And if you thought what I said was “ridiculously rude,” you should get out more.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Mom: I think we’re in a bit of a “Blind Men and the Elephant” moment. I agree with you fully. “Hard” and “Difficult” are pretty much synonymous. In the end, the point is that the greater the value, the greater the effort required.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Oldboy is an amazing film.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:03 am
It was teasing. As in, this is a laid back, community-oriented site that promotes CIVIL, INTELLIGENT conversation. I made a silly remark on how people are taking this subject so freaking seriously. From what I can remember, even the bible thread didn’t get this pissy.
Plus, that comment wasn’t directed at anyone in particular. I glanced around at a couple posts, saw that some movie critic feelings were getting hurt and voila, my horrible, ignorant post was born.
1. (1) tease, teasing, ribbing, tantalization
(the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances; “he ignored their teases”; “his ribbing was gentle but persistent”)
If you think taking a couple film classes in college makes you an expert, that’s fine. Have fun with that.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Shawshank Redemption hands down. There are very few movies if any in the world that you can watch stop the dvd and watch it all over again. It’s tied with the Godfather for first all time on IMDB but with 100,000 more votes. From the moment the warden throws the rock through the poster to the end of the movie has to be the greatest 30 minutes on film.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Joss; I have had the same problem, tone and attitude does not translate well on the internet. I read an article last week that stated (sorry can’t remember where I read it)that over half of all comments/chat are misconstrued. Without the visual and aural cues we all rely on……
and Randall wasn’t being rude, just trying to educate…Lord I have a hard time getting my kids to even watch the Indiana Jones films and they thought American Werewolf in Paris lame…
beatin’ my head against a wall
February 5th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Fight Club, great acting and script,
:D
February 5th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Mom: I do agree that Randall wasn’t being rude in his actual posts. “Joss: Why are we “movie snobs?” Because we have standards and taste? I’m sick of know-nothing, will-watch-anything types calling others “snobs” because they insist on standards. Get out of here.”
In my opinion, that’s rude. Perhaps I’m odd.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I think The Godfather is a great choice: Stunning cinematography, compelling characters, brilliant acting and some very memorable scenes and lines. I mean, come on, the Horse’s head scene is possibly one of the most recognizable, parodied and iconic scenes of American cinema.
I might also say Star Wars (original trilogy), because it spawned a massive fanbase, it really broke sci/fi out to the masses in a way movies before it hadn’t, and it had such a simple yet engaging morality play plot that’s approachable and interesting.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Well, I’m not much of a movie person, so I haven’t seen the vast majority of films mentioned here.
One sort of recent critically acclaimed movie I enjoyed was the Aviator. I started watching it almost by accident and ended up staying put through the whole thing. Not normally the type of film I’d watch but I liked it all the same.
I’m glad The Princess Bride has been mentioned already, that’s my favorite movie and I didn’t want to be the only one bringing it up! I just think it’s brilliantly done, I get lost in it whenever I watch it. It has comedy, drama, action, romance – everything I want in a film! (Plus Cary Elwes! *swoon*)
*makes a mental note to rent Stardust*
February 5th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Joss, Randall; I’ll concede, maybe standards and taste was a little over the top…
We all need to remember that standards and taste evolve as we age. When I was a kid I thought Billy Jack was the best movie ever….I caught it again on one of the old movie channels…
I was embarrassed, OMG, it is baaad. Hackneyed, cliched, and crappy ass acting….
February 5th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Billy Jack was awesome.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Oh, I almost forgot: Mildred Pierce! Not for best film ever, but for a good, solid noir-y melodrama with a lady lead. Joan Crawford is win.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Ooh, maybe everyone should read through this list to find one great film they’ve never seen, and try to watch it this weekend.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Magnolia
Great script, acting, direction, music, cast. It is a must see behind Goodfellas and The Brady Bunch movie.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:22 am
phunniemee: Billy Jack?
February 5th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Randall: I am very sorry that my post offended you. Perhaps it would help to know that I refer to myself as a snob of all sorts. A foam snob (it has to be the rich, creamy kind), a children’s book snob, a makeup snob.
I do think that you went a little over the top in forcing your movie tastes and opinions on others. You know, it’s fine when someone thinks differently than you do. It’d be boring otherwise.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:26 am
le samourai
February 5th, 2008 at 11:28 am
GAGGGHHHFFF!
Pardon my wretching, but I don’t think Magnolia should be on the same list as Casablanca or Citizen Kane
February 5th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Shawshank Redemption is not only my favorite, but I also think the best movie ever made. Though any movie list like this without Godfather in the top 3 is in trouble.
jfrater: about an earlier comment… I think Schindler’s List did its job on you. You were supposed to see it as over-the-top.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Roman Holiday and Casablanca are the greatest movies of all times. I also love Reservoir Dogs and Memento. and from the recent movies, The Departed and Zodiac.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:32 am
DOn’t get sick over MY opinion Bucslim
February 5th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Pre-digested chicken sandwich chunks on the keyboard are a real bitch to clean out.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:38 am
One very good one I left out earlier is Four Feathers (NO not just because Heath Ledger was in it and there is a raging hoop-la about him right now). The writer/director is a genius! Watch the special features when they interview him, he makes some beautiful points. Another good one is Rabbit Proof Fence, and the Proposition (an Australian/western with Guy Pearce). Best scary movie I’ve ever seen that still scares the snot out of me is Event Horizon. But hands down best still goes to Boondock Saints (in fact I’m going to watch it a few dozen more times as St. Patty’s approaches). Gosford Park is on my list, too.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:41 am
How about ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ It is one of the few adapted movies I’ve seen that lives up to the book.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:41 am
OH MY GODD!!!! How could I ever have forgotten Donnie Darko? It is most excellent.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:44 am
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, too.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:44 am
didn’t read all 161 posts but i haven’t see There Will be Blood anywhere.i think i’m going with citizen kane though.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Maybe you should do a funniest superbowl commercial list. I’m sure that would create some more debate.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:45 am
khen – thank you for enabling me to swallow my lunch again.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Joss, grow up. You’re the one who started out injecting a lame-ass comment which you are now turning around and disavowing because you were called on it. Give me a break. Be a man and admit you said something stupid and were wrong.
I didn’t take offense Joss, I read what you said for what it was. Yeah, people think art and taste in art is important. It matters. I’m sick to death of people mis-using the term “snob”—i.e., calling other people “snobs” when what they really mean is, “I’m either not smart enough or too lazy, or both, to put thought and energy into considerations of what has value in art (or anything for that matter) and so I’m going to mock others for being able to do so, and imply that they’re not cool or are snobs, etc.”
A movie snob, Joss, would be someone who thinks ONLY foreign films are worthy, or only *old* movies, or only films made by certain directors. Get the idea? People who, on the other hand, simply take film (or music or any other art) as a subject seriously, who feel there *are* such things as standards, are not “snobs.”
I don’t need a definition of “teasing,” Joss. You need to know that teasing is usually something done in context. Your original remark offered none. The fact is that many times on this site, people have called others “snobs” in this sort of situation, and what I was doing was calling you on it. If you didn’t mean it, well hey, sorry to have gotten down your neck about it.
I’m perfectly willing to concede that I jumped on you, (I have a temper) but as you say you teased with no one in particular in mind, what I was doing was standing up for everyone here who would like to carry on intellectual debates without being called “snobs.” So let’s make nice and realize we were both wrong and yet were both acting harmlessly.
Lastly though, I am not aware of having “forced” my movie tastes and opinions on others. Again, this is a comment section. I offered my choice for the greatest movie, as solicited–as we were all solicited, and followed up with a list. I don’t see where that qualifies as “forcing” anything. And I NEVER said anything about having taken film classes in college as some greater qualification for my opinions. That WOULD be snobbish. What I said (DIRECTLY, by the way, to “mom424″–my statement was meant only for her, in answer to what she said to me) was that I had managed to SEE a lot of artsy films in my life partly because I had taken a lot of film classes which had exposed me to such films. Nothing snobbish or high-falutin’ about that. So get off it.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I don’t know about commercials. Funniest Superbowl moment: Belicheat running back to the locker room before the game was over. LMAO!
(Sorry Pats fans, nothing personal)
February 5th, 2008 at 11:48 am
bucslim; magnolia shouldn’t be on any list….lol
February 5th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I’m all for off the radar stuff that takes a chance. And, despite my gastrointestinal problems, I know some folks really really like Magnolia. Paul Thomas Anderson’s got talent – this year’s offering of There Will be Blood is evidence of that.
Metaphorically speaking, I was one of the frogs crushed on the pavement. And for those of you who don’t know what I’ve just said, don’t ruin your life by renting/buying the movie to figure it out.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:54 am
The Shining by Stanley Kubrick
February 5th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I think it’s important to remember that jfrater asked for a list of great movies, not movies we loved (I realize they can often overlap). I think it’s hard to say what movies are indeed great without seeing most if not all movies made, and that means watching the old ones, new ones, etc. I think it’s important to understand art in its context. I think the same goes for literature and music or any fine art.
I also think our appreciation and ability to identify “good” things can be developed the more we are exposed to “good” things. In junior high I thought Teen Wolf, Back to the Future and Nightmare on Elm Street were amazing movies, but while they are well made, fluffy movies, they are not “great list” worthy. Since that time I’ve watched a plethora of movies (movies that repeatedly make the best of all time movie lists) and many more, and I feel like I can tell when a movie is derivative, plotless, full of shallow characters, inacessible, etc. This is not about my personal tastes. It’s about craft. It’s about appreciating things because of your ability to understand where they come from.
You can really apply this to other areas, too. I love to listen to Sufjan Stevens, and some say he uses minimalist techniques of the composer Adams. Well, when I first heard Sufjan’s music, I thought, wow, that sounds like Adams, and I appreciated it on a whole new level. It’s one thing to really like Pulp Fiction because it’s cool, but it’s quite another to appreciate how it reinvented the genre and how Tarantino was making an homage to the noir movies of the 1940s. He didn’t do anything entirely new, but he put things together so incredibly well and made a good movie out all those elements.
I have been accused of being a snob as well. I appreciate all kinds of movies. I can sit and laugh at Dumb and Dumber or Animal House, but I can appreciate why these movies aren’t in the same league as His Girl Friday or Some Like It Hot.
I would challenge some of you to go and check out Roger Ebert’s Greatest Films list. Start watching each one, keep a journal or just talk to others about the films, and see how your appreciation of film changes. I think you will develop a more critical mindset, if you don’t have one already, and a greater appreciation for how difficult it is to make good art.
But once again, if you don’t believe in objective criteria for the arts, the above argument probably won’t work for you. And that’s where we will part ways.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I really just don’t care enough to offer a response. I hope to avoid you in the future.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
L’Appartment
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring
Network
A Clockwork Orange
Amelie
The Great Escape
Magnolia
Mulholland Drive
Requiem for a Dream
The Royal Tenenbaums
Spirited Away
Battle Royale
3-Iron
Noy the Albino
Gattaca
North by Northwest
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Woman in the Dunes
Tony Takitani
February 5th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
clockwork orange, serenity and pirates of the caribean its hard to chose the best film because there so diffrent but the all blow me away
(srry for the spelling) :p
February 5th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Oh, and if I had to pick one, I would say that Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring is the best film I’ve ever seen. It’s a small Korean film that I impore you all to watch.
A Clockwork Orange comes a close second
February 5th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Yikes… this list is getting HEAT-ED, Can’t wait to see how many comments we get now.
And for the record Joss: IF you really didn’t care enough to respond why did you post a comment stating that? Just curious…
My personal picks since you can never pick just one: Shawshank Redemption, Philadelphia, Dr. Strangelove, Schindler’s List, The Godfather, Pulp Fiction, The Usual Suspects, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Lion King, Monty Python and The Meaning of Life, Fargo and The Princess Bride.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Good old Kubrick is rating very well on this list so far – I am very pleased!
I am also very pleased at how well everyone has received this novel new approach to posts on the site. How often do you want one of these “Your View” posts?
February 5th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Not too often, jfrater, maybe 1 a week? I’m already not getting any work done…
February 5th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
TMoraca: heh I was thinking of weekly – seems like good timing to me.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
If I keep hearing more votes for Magnolia then, jfrater, I’ll never come back. My keyboard will be under a mountain of steaming bile.
Just kidding. Kubrik rules.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
And the next time, choose a lighter subject…like politics.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
That’s Kubrick. (editor’s note)
February 5th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Seven of David Fincher, Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman is my choice. A great story, hilarious acting and a shocking ending.. There is many films that got me out there but this one made it to my nightmares and dreams at the same time
February 5th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I like these “Your View” posts, it’s interesting to see what others think! One a week would be great, maybe a special “Your View” day or something.
The subjects are almost as limitless as the lists themselves!
February 5th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Hands down, “City of God” is the best movie ever made. Anyone who hasn’t seen it yet should see it ASAP.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
bucslim: do you really hate Magnolia? I found it to be a very unique and interesting film!
JLo: or religion?
delioglan: Seven is one of my favorite thrillers! Good choice.
Miss Destiny: yeah – that is the best thing about it! I already have next weeks topic in mind
February 5th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
InfiniteJorge: it is a good one – I have it on DVD – in fact, I might watch it tonight!
February 5th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
City of God. See it for yourself and you’ll know why it deserves the title o.f greatest movie ever made
February 5th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I agree completely jfrater I think these lists will be really good once a week. It helps everyone get their opinions out there. Almost like an open forum.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
jfrater – I thought maybe you’ve been following my posts, but no, I don’t like that movie.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
For the Romantic-Comedy genre….Love Actually
For the comedy-Caddyshack
For the Drama…ask Bucslim!
I also like hot dogs
February 5th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
At least Rob knows who the ‘go to’ guy is on this topic.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
heheh
February 5th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Next week’s ‘Your View’ topic is things bucslim likes and dislikes.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Magnolia is great, why don’t you like it?
February 5th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
bucslim: I don’t know if the site can cope with another 1,000+ comment list
February 5th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
8 1/2
If you disagree, you either haven’t seen of it or are a dunce.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
THE GODFATHER……..OR SCARFACE. I’m a big fan of scarface, and other mob/gangster movies. So it’s between them….
February 5th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Rob – see post # 180
I think Mangolia is one of those love/hate kinda things. It had plenty of critics gushing over it. Despite my distaste for it, I’m not going to dismiss it completely. It was one of Cruise’s best performances.
I guess I’m trying to steer the discussion back to the question at hand – the best movie ever made. You want to say Magnolia deserves to be up there with Godfather, Casablanca and Citizen Kane? Then I’m going to disagree with you.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
i think is Scarface with Al Pacino
February 5th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Joss:
“I really just don’t care enough to offer a response.”
Well, I won’t comment on why you chose not to offer a response. I doubt that it’s you don’t care, however. You cared enough to post about it four times (if I’ve counted correctly) after my first comment to you. But whatever. In my last post I offered an explanation and a partial apology, though I wasn’t about to back down in the face of other things you said that were pretty silly and uncalled for.
“I hope to avoid you in the future.”
Same here.
I suggest crossing to the other side of the virtual street when one of us sees the other coming.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
i would deffinetly go with a close tie between a Clockwork Orange, and Schindler’s List.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
You know, I just gotta say something to everyone here. I am known (I’m well aware) as the giant asshole around this site. I don’t really care–to be frank I’m a bit proud of it. I’ve sparred with several people here (some of whom I haven’t seen post in a while, but oh well) and a few of them have been smart enough to know it’s not personal and that I (usually) don’t get insulting until I’ve *been* insulted first. And even when I’m “insulting” it’s meant tongue-in-cheek, it’s of the Don Rickles variety of insult humor. Others were touchy little snips about it who couldn’t take A) a joke or B) being challenged — probably because they’re not used to being called on sh*t and can’t take it–fragile little egos that they are. In any case I pride myself (right or wrong) on taking a stance when I feel I’m right and being pretty reasonable about it when I’ve been proven wrong or been bested. I know I’m also known for being verbose, but I won’t apologize for that (much). The internet is too immediate and people have too short an attention span these days–that’s what I think.
But I’ve also been accused, a couple times, of essentially being too opinionated–and I’ve just about had it with that crap. I would like those of you who are regulars to this site to take note of the fact that up above I A) did what Jamie asked of all of us–I wrote a posting stating what I felt was the greatest film of all time, and gave my reasons. I then followed up with a list of what I felt were other great films. At no time after that did I mock anyone else’s choices (certainly not directly) as I am usually wont to do, though I certainly felt some people offered up a few whacky ones.
I just had another drag-out with someone else here which I tried to settle but was evidently beyond settling. Now in point of fact I feel the person in question was wrong and unreasonable, so I have no qualms about this–but I’m a bit fatigued at *looking* like the big monster here. I am not an ogre and am in fact, in real life, a nice person with a lot of friends. I don’t mean this defensively; I just want to state for the record that I’m not surly and derisive ALL the time. Just SOME times. When YOU’RE here.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Randall:
lol
February 5th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
LOL @ Rob (post #202)!!
February 5th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Whoops. In paragraph 2, there was supposed to be a “B”. Was supposed to be before “…then followed up with a list..”
Hanging my head. In pretend shame.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Pulp Fiction…it makes you think about it days later
February 5th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I approached Citizen Kane assuming that because it was always top of the list, it must be overrated. (backwards, I know, but I’m suspicious of anything that is supposed to be THAT good.) I suppose I expected something pretentious and boring. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that Citizen Kane was a fabulous movie. I usually get bored and restless when I have to sit for too long, even during movies. CK really kept me glued to my seat and screen. I’ve enjoyed movies more, but I quite possibly have never seen a better movie. It is certainly in my top three.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Randall:
You just have to understand how you might come off to people sometimes. You and I got into it recently. I was flippantly offensive and I felt that you were as well. Everybody who visits this site on a regular basis knows that you are a smart guy with a lot of experience and knowledge, but not everyone knows that your “insults” are meant in jest. It’s justifiable to think of it in that way, but it is extremely difficult to derive intention of meaning through the internet, especially when it comes to tone. To say that someone “can’t take a joke” when they don’t realize it was a joke in the first place is passively derogatory to others here that might have something interesting to add to the conversation.
I realize this might seem a little defensive (and it probably is
) but I think to dismiss those folks that have as much right to visit this site and espouse their opinion as you do as touchy or dull, simply because they took offense to a perceived slight in one of your posts, might be a bit off the mark.
All I’m saying is, sometimes you can be stand-offish in your posts, which tends to engender in people the type of reaction that you’re railing against. It’s fine to be caustic, but don’t be surprised when people respond the way they do, sometimes.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
My initial thought for the greatest film ever made is always to choose The Last Waltz. It has an immense beauty in its direction and musical score that has never been rivaled in my mind. The only detractor from me easily choosing it over every other film is simply the fact that the music being covered doesn’t appeal to all listeners. However, the gorgeous imagery and the power in the stories being told about the Band have no equal in my mind.
Some others I considered:
The Sting
The Departed
High Fidelity
Pulp Fiction
February 5th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
It’s pretty hard to tell if someone’s joking when you’re reading a post.
For instance, I could say something like:
People who like Magnolia are bat-shit crazy.
Interpret that last sentence and imagine me in a straight jacket pulling out the thorzine drip and a froth of sputum on my chin.
Now interpret that with me in a clown suit and a visible pee-spot.
Now imagine that sentence being typed by a guy in his office as his boss stares over his shoulder and motions him into his office to have a discussion about productivity.
Three different scenarios, one sentence, all priceless.
Like my buddies used to say in college, everyone sucks but us. If you get jabbed in here, drop another quarter in your Wurlitzer and give as good as you got.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
(Slaps hand to forehead).
(Pause. Turns to the crowd, whispers aside. “Sheesh. What do I *say* to this guy?”)
(deep breath, swallows)
SlickWilly:
You’re laboring under a misapprehension. Surely my fault, I wasn’t clear, perhaps.
I don’t care if some touchy people find me hard to take. It never surprises me, it simply irks me.
You didn’t really need to respond thusly to my little missive. I did not ask for nor expect responses. Thanks for yours, but I was simply stating a couple things for the record, that A) I am not an ogre and B) I resisted a great temptation to mock many people’s choices in this thread.
I was proud of myself and wanted some back slapping. A little love would be nice too. Honestly I give and give and really, all you people do is take.
But please… let’s not embark on some boring continuation of this discussion.
Back to the topic at hand. I forgot to add “The 400 Blows” to my list of greatest films. And “Jules and Jim.” Also, “The Lady Eve,” “A Night at the Opera,” “Lawrence of Arabia” and “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie” (I can never spell that damn word right).
February 5th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
E-drama is so silly.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Randall, if it’ll make you love me, I enjoyed A Night at the Opera. Will you be my BFF now?
February 5th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I own Magnolia and I think there are plenty of things to like about it, but at least as many to DISlike. Not one of the 10 best, or even the 100 best of all time. There Will Be Blood, on the other hand…
If I see one more person put Boondock Saints on here, I’m boycotting, too. Derivative in the worst ways, hack dialog, boring characters, and Willem Dafoe desperately reaching for Gary Oldman’s coattails. One of the single worst movies I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot. Maybe if I had been 11 and had never seen a crime movie before it might have rocked my socks, but that’s about the level it’s at – 11 year olds. Just my humble opinion…
February 5th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Randall; I didn’t think you were a giant asshole…just a little brown pucker mark now and again….
February 5th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Randall: I JUST watched “The 400 Blows” this morning for the first time, and found it to be absolutely AMAZING. “Lawrence of Arabia” is one of my ultimate favourites as well. Peter O’Toole is such a force!
I’ve also a soft spot for “Captains Courageous” and, because I’m a girl and adore witty love-sick men, “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Probably not the best movie ever made, but hilarious nonetheless.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Randall:
Perhaps I was. In any case, a) I know you’re not an ogre, and b) Believe me, I know how hard it is to resist the temptation to cockslap certain people for their inane suggestions, sometimes, so I’m with you there.
Now that my petty, bullshit trifles have been laid aside, I offer you much love and backslapping. *acts thusly* Keep up the good work.
To the thread:
Picking the best movie ever made is like picking the best song ever recorded. It simply can’t be done (ethically and logistically). However, my personal choices (not necessarily my personal favs) would be:
1. Casablanca
2. Gone with the Wind
3. Lawrence of Arabia
4. Citizen Kane (I know, I know…..but WATCH the goddamn movie, it didn’t earn it’s title for nothing)
5. The Godfather
6. The Godfather II
7. Dr. Strangelove
8. The Passion of Joan of Arc
9. A Clockwork Orange
Oy……that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
HAH “The Importance of Being Earnest”… my girlfriend made me watch it, good movie, but then again, I’ve got a soft spot for Oscar Wilde. If you liked that, you should see “An Ideal Husband,” but the book (play) is better.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Mom: ewwww… I threw up a little in my mouth. But….. uh…. thanks…. I guess. (I think I’ve been insulted a tad, but it’s not nice to go after moms).
February 5th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
TMoraca: I have seen “An Ideal Husband” and agree that the play is better, but a good watch nonetheless. Oh, and Oscar Wilde is my hero!!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
i would have to say the original Star Wars, because its the only movie made before i was born that could grab my attention, and make me see every sequel, plus it has some very memorable quotes, i would also vote for Dr.Strangelove.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Oh, and I forgot one of my other girlie favourites: “Wuthering Heights.” I love Bronte’s story, and really, who doesn’t adore Laurence Olivier?
February 5th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
don’t think any one movie can be called the greatest but here are some of my favorites:
any w. c. fields movie
the bourne trilogy
February 5th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
kittym:
Peter O’Toole is amazing. Check him out in “The Ruling Class,” too.
Also, “Captains Courageous” (the original with Freddie Bartholomew and Spencer Tracy is amazing. One of my faves, though I would hesitate to put it on a “greatest films” list, simply because there are so many others.
And which version of “Importance of Being Earnest” do you mean? Actually it hardly matters—to me each has strengths and weaknesses. But you can’t go wrong with that play.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
hit the wrong button before i was finished
alien
contact
mash
zulu
breaker morant
its a mad world
jurassic park
hard times
the african queen
close encounters
February 5th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
the movie for my pick would have to be a tie between Pulp Fiction and A Clockwork Orange. Pulp fiction is a hilarious movie that also keeps you paying attention to completely understand the plot. A Clockwork orange is such a bizarre and unique edition to cinema that you can’t help but be shoked in any way at the pure boldeness of it.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Randall: I meant the original for “Captains Courageous” (I first watched it only because it HAD Spencer Tracy in it) as well, and I wouldn’t put it on the “greatest films” either — it’s just one that I adore, so I thought I’d share!
And it was the 1952 (I think) version of “The Importance of Being Earnest” that I adored. Don’t quote me on that one, I’m not positive. I’ve also seen the newer version with Rupert Everett and Colin Firth, and didn’t enjoy that one nearly as much.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
A few people have suggested the original Star Wars. Frankly I can understand this. Especially since I was once an eager lad who loved sci-fi (I am no longer eager, nor a lad, nor do I love sci-fi anymore, though I still have a soft spot for a few films, a book or two, and the *original*–and ONLY the original–Star Trek) and was THERE, at the perfect time, to see that film—when it came out in 1977… and I was 12 years old. There had never been anything like it. Younger people today have no concept of how shockingly different it was. They can’t understand what a different world it was then and how Star Wars stood out in it. It would take me pages and pages just to put it into words. The way it impacted people then and still is understandable.
Nevertheless, please. Examine it closely. It’s a great, fun movie… but it’s also hackneyed and silly, and has some truly atrocious dialogue. This is borne out when you take note of the other films in the series–The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi were okay—good, fun films also—but then Lucas had stepped back from direct creative control. But then when Lucas stepped back in and took over full control on the last three films…. well, all I can say is it’s readily apparent how godawful they are, in varying degrees. Particularly The Phantom Menace. Star Wars (the original) suffers from many of the same flaws, but we take less notice because in Star Wars the epic and classic elements of the story ride through it—and also Lucas shot his bolt with that film—he’d built up to it with American Graffiti and put all he had in it. But if you compare Star Wars to, say… 2001 A Space Odyssey…. it’s like candy and ice cream that ultimately doesn’t satisfy, vs. a full meal. A WEIRD and jarring meal, I grant you…. but a meal all the same.
Nope, Star Wars is great, but not the greatest film of all time. No way.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Randall; feel free, I’ve been insulted by the best of them
February 5th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
oyagavalt…another person in favor of Pulp Fiction. I’m not picking on you specifically, “hound,” but all those Pulp Fiction people out there. I love Pulp Fiction; its very entertaining and hugely quotable. However, the quality of the acting, script, story, and cinematography is VASTLY overrated nowadays (perhaps not the cinematography….if QT did anything right, it was jumping behind the camera). Most people don’t realize that QT pretty much steals bits and pieces (some bigger than others) from other movies and throws into this big, steamy, smushy, ultra-pop, postmodern mess. He is an innovator, no doubt, but not an originator. He is a master of the po-mo film technique, but maker of the greatest movie ever made? Hardly.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
kittym:
Spencer Tracy is one of my faves. And in fact, that reminds me.. another film I forgot:
Judgement at Nuremberg
It’s got Marlene Dietrich, Burt Lancaster, Judy Garland, Maximillian Schell AND Montgomery Clift in it! Can’t go wrong. And even…. Shatner! Sounds like a joke, but it’s a fantastic film.
And since I mentioned Marlene, I forgot about
Witness for the Prosecution
and also, why this just came to mind, I don’t know, but Hitchcock’s
Rebecca.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
thats way too hard to choose. narrow it down
February 5th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Oh – incidentally – may I remind all American’s here to get out and vote!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
jfrater: I’ll be voting *next* tuesday!! (Maryland)
Go Obama!!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
It is hard to enter into a discussion of the best movie of all time, as “best” can be defined in many different ways. Many of the films suggested here might be better suited to a more specific list. Star Wars, for instance, would be perfect for a sci-fi list, or a list of the most innovative movies of all time. I think trying to decide about the most innovative films would be a lot of fun (though Citizen Kane would probably bully its way to the top of that list too, damn that experimental cinematography), just because there are so many different aspects to innovation. Use of special effects, new technology leading to new kinds of cinematography, use of color or sound…
I’ve always been a little embarrassed by how much I like the Colin Firth version of “The Importance of Being Ernest.” I haven’t seen any of the other versions, but I’ve always had the feeling that this one is probably not top of the line.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Randall: Judgement at Nuremberg … gah. Speechless. Totally agree, fantastic film.
And I could go on and on and ON about Hitchcock films, but then that would lead to me dribbling over Jimmy Stewart which would lead me to The Glenn Miller Story, which would ultimately lead to my head imploding because … just … gah …
Sigh. I was born in the wrong decade.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Easy on QT Slick Willy, or I’ll have to bitch slap you bucslim style.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
i know i am going to get a lot of groans with this one but i just loved ‘no country for old men’.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Nelia: The Colin Firth version of “The Importance of Being Earnest” is definitely an entertaining film, and has its merits (the characters mesh well in that version), but I strongly recommmend that if you ever run across one of the older versions, that you sit down and watch it, becuase they are brilliant! They seem to capture the overall charm of the story better.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
bucslim: If you gotta make a choice between blowing away some stupid motherfucker and doing 10 years in the pen, it ain’t no choice at all. Keep that in mind next time you want to bring it, bucslim-style. (
)
Gr8flDdFn: Jesus, you’re sn is hard to type. No groans here. “No Country” and “There Will Be Blood” are a recent double-whammy of amazing filmmaking. Best film ever made…..ehh….a (weak) case COULD be made for “Blood” but why would you want to? “No Country” is great, but not the “greatest.”
February 5th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
jfrater: I would have voted, but the goddamn DNP took all of our goddamn delegates away. Nothing feels quite as warm and fuzzy as hearing that your vote doesn’t count. In the words of the immortal Randy Marsh: “Oh! Oh, I’m sorry! I thought this was America!”
February 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Hard Candy is my favourite just because its amazing how the film keeps you interested. It’s 2 people in a house for almost the entire film and most of the shots are close ups of the faces. It is also one of those films that asks the viewer profoundly moral questions. Get the film. watch it. you’ll be disturbed. you’ll be shocked. it’s the best film ever made.
Fight Club is 2nd
American Gangster and Trainspotting are 3rd
February 5th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Hey Slick, I’m a mushroom-cloud-layin’ motherfucker, motherfucker! Every time my fingers touch brain, I’m Superfly T.N.T., I’m the Guns of the Navarone!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
This is a difficult question. My favorite movies are not necessarily great movies, or in some cases, not quite good at all. However, A Woman Under The Influence is on both of my favorite and best movies lists.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
i know im gonna get alot of hate but I think Donnie Darko is the best movie in the entire universe.
im not even going to defend it.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Oh geez, Donnie Darko … the movie I had to watch three times before I had even an inkling of what was going on …
It definitely kept me interested enough to want me to sit through it two other times, though.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
bucslim: LOL. Easily one of my favorite quotes from that movie. Just as an aside, I thought Reservoir Dogs was a much stronger movie than Pulp Fiction. The Kill Bill flicks were great, stupid, stupid fun. Jackie Brown is the dark horse, not quite as good as the others but great in its own ways. PF is definatley QT’s crown jewel. The fault for his overrated doesn’t lie with him, he’s just trying to make some kick-ass movies. The fault lies with mostly ignorant movie-goers who love a certain movie just cause it’s the cool thing to do. (I feel the same way about Fight Club and…..ahem….Donnie Darko.)
Molly: Speaking of Donnie Darko, why would you pick that movie as best movie ever made and then not defend it? I mean, surely you will be tore down in an instant, perhaps not by me but someone else who doesn’t feel the way you do about it, but if you are going to state a case, you have to make one first!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
my favorite of all time has to be Schindler’s List. the part at the end when he drops the ring the jews made for him and he quickly picks it up shaking and breaking down…even after multiple viewings, it gets me every time.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
The Wizard of OZ, mainly because of how infuential it was. So many facets of modern film can be traced to this film (color anybody). It also plays many universal themes- the brainless scarecrow, heartless tin man. Also a little known fact the film is very political, look into the silver standard and the populust party of the late 1800’s. Not to mention the musical score is still amazing.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Wow. Tons of great movies listed (Goodfellas, Shawshank, Pulp Fiction, etc.) but one I haven’t seen listed is Gladiator. It launched Russell Crowe’s career and his and Joaquin Phoenix’s performance in this movie were outstanding. This movie will continue to stand the test of time. I’m not a film geek, but my vote is for Gladiator, baby (“Are you not entertained? ARE..YOU..NOT..ENTERTAINED?! IS THAT NOT WHY YOU ARE HERE?!?”)!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
No problem Slick. I absolutely agree with you. It’s not going to make everybody happy – but damned if they aren’t fun to watch.
I really didn’t like Jackie Brown when it first came out, but it definitely has grown on me over the years.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
All time favorite? That’s very tough. How about my fave classic and favorite modern films?
Classic- Scarface
Modern- The Departed
I’m sorry but Scarface is Pacino’s best movie ever. Superb acting and the final scene has film immortality- it will never be outdone. Amazing.
As for The Departed, it was between that and Fight Club which came very close but look at the former’s cast:
-Matt Damon
-Leonardo DiCaprio
-Jack Nicholson
-Mark Wahlberg
-Anthony Anderson
-Alec Baldwin
-Martin Sheen and the lovely
Vera Farmiga.
Everyone’s performance was top-notch and top it off with a masterful Martin Scorcese directing job and you have the best movie ever made.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
as per usual Randall is telling everybody why they are wrong to like their favorite movie
February 5th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
once upon a time in america
February 5th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Slick and Bucslim; I thought Reservoir Dogs to be brilliant. The ensemble cast was amazing. Steve Buscemi rules. To this day I get the creeps just thinking about the Baldwin character.
As an added bonus, I didn’t figure out who the cop was beforehand, and I almost always figure it out,,,to the point where I’m not allowed to comment when I’m watching with the hubby…
February 5th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
stefan: Ehhh….I don’t think he’s saying you are wrong for liking your favorite movie. I think he’s saying why picking your favorite movie for the title of “best movie ever made” is wrong.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Mom424: I thought it was brilliant as well. The script was better than PF, IMHO. Can you believe the critics actually slammed the script for RD? Not enough “reflective moments” as Roger Ebert put it. What the hell? Did he not WATCH the film? I thought that’s what the guy got paid for. Great cast, great cast. Who is the Baldwin character you are referring to? Mr. Orange? I pretty sure that was Tim Roth. (Is Baldwin the characters name?)
February 5th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Citizen Kane. Yeah, I know people think it’s a pat answer and everyone says that. Or at least, the experts do. But it really is a good movie.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Wow, I didn’t mean to light a fire under some people. I was posting that in my opinion, those were the best movies in the last 15 years. They are easier for me to relate to and I really enjoy these movies. I just wanted to point out that I thought these were the best movies of the last 15 years. Pulp Fiction, Fight Club, and the Matrix. My opinion. It is hard to compare Pulp Fiction to Gone with the Wind. That is all I was trying to say. I never said old movies weren’t cool. I love the movie 12 angry men. It is a great movie with a great message, and it is considered a “classic”. The movies I listed are what I consider to be some of the best movies ever made, in the last 15 years. I am in college to open up my mind, not to get on the internet and give a person a lecture who has an opinion that differs from mine. A huge problem with my generation is apathy. They don’t care. So when I post my opinion on a website, in a conversational manner, I don’t really want or care to hear your lecture. Maybe the older generation has a lot to do with the apathy of younger generations. So try to refrain from calling me out from now on. It is rude I do believe. “Saved”, that is sad. I’m sure there are a lot more important things in this world than a movie list on which you disagree with me on. Btw I love listverse and will continue visiting the site and posting comments, but I will not criticize someone else’s opinion.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
SlickWilly; Michael Madsen, my mistake…he looks enough like a baldwin to be one….and I pause everytime I hear “Stuck in the Middle With You”
February 5th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
brokeback mountain is a glorious tale of two honest americans
February 5th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. First movie that I have ever left the theater wanting to see again. I woke up the next more long to watch it again. It blow my mind on so many level. The scene were he sing about his daughter and kill people at the same time is just so brilliant.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
eddie: i don’t think it is hard to compare pulp fiction to gone with the wind. samuel l. would kick clark gable’s ass.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Best Digitally Ever Made: Transformers (2007) and Best Ever Made: Scarface
February 5th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I would probably have to say the movie “Crash”
February 5th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
In no particular order:
Castle Keep
The Big Lebowski
Days of Heaven
February 5th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
whew…(sweating from reading all the comments)
favorite: aliens-repeat watchabilty, action, suspense
greatest (or best): schindlers list, acting, technical expertise, and made me literally (not figuratively,haha) jump from my seat (along with everyone else in the theater) when ralph fiennes just outta nowhere shot the person in the concentraion camp from his deck
btw: citizen kane- unique for its time sure, but i found it unwatchable as entertainment
February 5th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Best movie is a tight ‘between’
The God Father
and
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (maybe this slightly above)
February 5th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Jules & Jim – Truffaut
Mulholland Drive – Lynch
2001 A Space Odyssey – Kubrick
Dogville – Von Trier
The Night of The Hunter – Laughton
Zabriskie Point – Antonioni
The Shining – Kubrick
February 5th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Reqiuem for a Dream.
It’s disturbing, tragic, and beautiful.
2nd: Fight Club.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
TMoraca: I’ve never heard of Billy Jack. What was that in reference to?
bucslim #222: hahahahaha…you said sputum!
I’ve been seeing a lot of stuff about Tarantino…my personal opinion on him (and believe me, I used to be SO into Tarantino. I was probably the MOST into-Tarantino person you could meet) is (now don’t kill me, guys) that he’s a phase you grow out of eventually. He’s definitely an excellent director and writer with many, many talents, but a lot of people raise him to a god-like status (these people tend to be between 16 and 22) that just is not deserved. I mean, he’s good, but he’s not Hitchcock good. Or Orson Welles good. Or Coppola good.
Speaking of which, I don’t think anyone’s mentioned Apocalypse Now, yet, which surprises me.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Alien obviously
February 5th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
phunniemee: I’ll second your Apocalypse Now. It’s one of my favourites. And I agree with your Tarantino theory. He’s an excellent director, but it makes me cry a little inside when people compare him to Hitchcock. Of course, I’m one episode of “The Alfred Hitchcock hour” away from officially being an obsessive fan-girl, so I may be biased …
February 5th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
any one geektarded enough to have actually handwritten a top 150(!) list like I did a couple years ago? ,and updated it this year
Yes, I have a life.
(it’s just not a very interesting one)
February 5th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Best movies all time – Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, and Snatch. I’m a major Guy Ritchie fan. Jason Statham, and Vinnie Jones are some of my favorite actors.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
in the interest of adding my two cents into a giant collection of replies, i’d like to nominate “apocalypse now” as the most brilliant film ever created.
i believe francis ford coppola and his cast poured blood, sweat, and tears into this film.
it’s innovative, clever, moving, picturesque, and very deep.
there are a lot of amazing stories about the making of this film that indicate that this is one of the most toiled-over films ever set to screen.
it’s my favorite.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I like different movies at different times but one that I have consistently enjoyed no matter what is Disney’s Fantasia.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
the usual suspects, nuff said
February 5th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I really think that Blade Runner would be in the running, as well as Dangerous Liaisons.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
JACKASS NUMBER TWO!!!! I just love that movie.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Fight Club
Because even though you know what he is doing is wrong you still kinda want to help him. that and it has an awsome ending
February 5th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
PULP FICTION
The Godfathers I and II
2001, A Space Odyssey
February 5th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Well, as for recent films, No Country for Old Men is an instant classic. Children of Men is also my alltime favorite movie, not necessarily the best. There Will Be Blood is overrated, still a great film but not the best, as there wouldn’t be a movie without Daniel Day Lewis, giving probably the best performance I’ve ever seen outside of Brando, Sellers or O’Toole. Any movie by Kubrick, the Godfather, Schindler’s List, Blade Runner and the Good, the Bad and the Ugly are all contenders, but I think it comes down to A Clockwork Orange or Apocalypse Now. And yes, I do own a deluxe dvd box set of Kubrick.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
1. Horror:Scream (not 3)
2. Comedy:the Simpsons movie(duh!!!!)
3. Drama: The Godfather 2
4. Action:Die Hard
5. Sci Fi:Jurassic Park (roar!)
February 5th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Phunimee; see comment 157, its only good if you’re 10 or 11, I saw it at the theatre in ‘73.
And I’ve seen interviews with Tarantino; he does a very good job of raising himself to god-like status. He is a shitty actor too, but it doesn’t take away from his movies…(except From Dusk ’til Dawn, he was psycho-looking enough, but acting…blech), Resevoir Dogs…was pretty damn fine. And Kill Bill is a romp.
And I like the pulpy grindhouse features too…
February 5th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
1) The Deer hunter
2) Shakes The Clown
February 5th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Being the girlie, I can sometimes be, and my love of history, Gone With the Wind, and The Diary of Anne Frank. That’s my humble opinion, also, I’ve watched Pride and Prejudice about 107 times…. so that’s up there too.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
FUCK!
I didn’t want you guys to put it up, I wanted to be surprising.
In my opinion, The Island. I’ve thought it to be the best movie of all time since I first watched it so please don’t tell me I’m not being creative or anything. I can’t understand why a lot of people do like it.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
My 2 personal favourite films, at the moment, are Ed Wood (Tim Burton, Johhny Depp), and Chopper (Eric Bana). But this isn’t about favourites is it? Besides, favourites change all the time.
So, the films I believe to be the “best”, are Casablanca and The Godfather Part II. Casablanca, my mind is too muddled to really explain it, but it just draws you in. And Godfather 2 is simple – Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone is more engrossing than Brando’s Vito Corleone.
Wow, I haven’t posted anything on the net, for a while. My mind is fried from waaay too much lurking!
February 5th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Holy *expletive* We got to 300 comments, lol.
Btw im pretty sure the greatest movie of all time is Dumb and Dumber. i absolutely love that movie. i know it line from line, and i will always watch it if it’s on. it has to be one of the greatest comedies of all time. period.
A good 2nd place is Monty Pythons: The Life of Brian.
The scene where the spaceship comes and swoops in, and it has a chevy stickshift! hah that was great.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Biodome with Pauly Shore.
But seriously, Its a Wonderful Life. It makes me so happy.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
One of the problems I have with picking “The best movie ever made” is that we haven’t been given guidelines on how to judge. I previously used “Saving Private Ryan” because IMO is did the best job of suspending my disbelief while I was sitting there in the theater. I felt like I was there on a beach in Normandy. This is a story-tellers movie, in a medium that in my opinion is primarily about relaying a story.
On the other hand, there are other movies that are better done technically, but are far less likely to make me feel like I’m part of the movie. My vote for best movie from a technical basis would go to “2001: A Space Odyssey” – a masterpiece of direction and cinematography, but the plot sometimes assumes a plodding pace that is off-putting. A visual masterpiece, but sometimes with all the action of a painting.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
1.citizen kane
2.god father
3.city of god
4.casablanca
5 Titanic
February 5th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
im digging on apocalypse now, i love that movie!
February 5th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Amelie. What to say… beautifully, and amazingly executed. Just the fact that such an independent French film, not only including a simple yet quirky storyline, also envelopes the authenticity of what an arty foreign film is all about.
To think that all movies HAVE to be action packed and mind blowing, is blasphemy, if you haven’t seen Amelie.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
first off i agree with almost all of the movies put forth so far. in fact with all the ones that i have seen which is the vast majority. that being said the greatest movie ever released is with out a doubt EQUILIBRIUM. for those of you who haven’t seen it think Farenheit 451 with awesome action and christian bale. the first time i watched this movie, a group of friends and i were starting to come down off of an 8 hr exstacy roll (dont know if ya have ever been there or not but your highly emotionally aware and have probably just finished an orgy with people ya are extremely close to, which is exactly the scenario we were all in) we laid around as the sund started to come up and put on this movie somebody had rented for no aparent reason. now i am a heterosexual male but i have no problem admitting that at several points in the movie everyone there wept and everyone there cheered. if you have never seen it i highly suggest it. i love all dystopian movies but this one undoubtedly takes the cake
February 5th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
1. The Godfather
2. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
3. Pulp Fiction
4. The Searchers
5. Shawshank Redemption
February 5th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Happiness by Todd Solondz. period.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
If the question is the worst movie I will say The ‘Birth of a Nation’.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Casablanca, Citizen Kane, Bonnie and Clyde, The African Queen,
High Noon, Metropolis and In Cold Blood.
How about a favourite B-Movie list? Now THAT would be funny.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:13 am
a tough call between Goodfella’s , the ultimate gangster flick from start to finnish and A Matter Of Life & Death with David Niven , about 1946 i think but a beautiful love story played out between heaven & earth – i’m suprised it has never made a list of mucst see films
February 6th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Harold and Maude is near perfect. It has such originality still, 36 years on. The dialog is as sharp as any of Neil Simon’s work, the cinematography is at times breathtaking(the cemetery scene) and the acting from all is superb. A few scenes that make me smile just thinking about them.
1. Harold wearing exactly the same clothes as his psychiatrist.
2. Maude’s continual stealing of any car that takes her fancy, including Harold’s.(“this is your hearse.” “Yearse.”)
3. After a wonderful fake suicide, scaring a potential wife away, Harold conspiratorially turns to the camera, which I think is the best scene from any film ever.
If you haven’t seen it consider yourself lucky to have it to look forward to.
Oh, and Herzog’s The Enigma Of Kasper Hauser…
February 6th, 2008 at 12:54 am
In my opinion, the best movie ever made was The Lives of Others. Anyway, I think “Your View” is a good idea. The comments here are just as interesting as your lists!
February 6th, 2008 at 1:58 am
b movies awesome idea , how about the 1972 Crassic Invasion of the Blood Farmers , so bad its wonderful
February 6th, 2008 at 2:40 am
Bladerunner and The Matrix. So may movies have taken from those two movies, and not even sci-fi movies. If there weren’t a Bladerunner (Ghost in the Shell also) there would be no Matrix. If there were no Matrix CGI and action sequences may have taken a different turn.
Closer was a great movie as well.To show even when you love someone you don’t end up happy-go-lucky in the end.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:53 am
Hmm if we’re talking about which movie is the most influential it has to be Citizen Kane.
however my personal favorites are There Will Be Blood, Singin’ in the Rain, Little Miss Sunshine, and Pan’s Labyrinth
February 6th, 2008 at 3:18 am
I think this is a good idea, I think the best movie ever made is Jeux d’Enfants, or Love Me If You Dare in English.
I love this movie because it is unique, starting with the action and the characters and ending with how it made me feel when watching it.
I truly think it is the best movie ever made and I love it and I could watch it 100 times without getting bored.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:22 am
I’d have to go with a semi-cliched rebuttal choice of “The Silence of the Lambs” or possibly “The Last Temptation of Christ”.
Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster are a darker and sexier Rhett and Scarlett. Hopkins is Olivier, Bogart, and Brando combined and better (and in only 17 minutes of screen time!) It always keeps me on the edge especially “I’m having an old friend for dinner.” Foster’s Clarice Staring has just the right amount of naivety, chance and intellect.
Favorites are a different story from “best”. I love “Dogma”, it is on most days my quintessential favorite (SOTL is the other). However I love and appreciate “The Last Temptation of Christ,” a lot more. “Dogma” is a movie that pales in many areas to Scorsese’s genius. (Maybe I just like it when lapsed Catholics make movies about Jesus, better than Mel Gibson’s tripe).
Everybody is on top of their game in “Last Temptation.” Many people complain about the accents…did you ever notice the Jews have American accents and the Romans have British…it’s genius. Some people complain about Willem Dafoe as a lighter haired blue eyed Christ (then take those asinine blonde and blue-eyed Christ paintings and stained glass out of your damned churches) besides, he does a damn good job.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:24 am
jfrater: Of course I voted, I made my self get out of bed and do it! Damn you for dropping out Edwards.
Obama/Edwards for the White House!
February 6th, 2008 at 3:57 am
I hated cartoon movies but when I saw spirited away I left the room with my jaw dropped- excellent movie.
February 6th, 2008 at 4:28 am
Here’s my list:
1. To Kill A Mockingbird – a simple story told with a extremely powerful message.
2. Donny Darko – seen it at least 20 times and still trying work out what its about.
3. The Untouchables – brilliant acting by Sean Connery
4. Pulp Fiction – only Tarantino could put together a great cast such as the ones in that film. The accidental shooting in the car is hilarious.
5. Das Boot – great film about a WWII German submarine and the excitement and tedium of war. No good if your claustrophobic.
6. The Party – Peter Sellers at his best.
February 6th, 2008 at 5:37 am
If not anything else, the comments here throw up so many movies i gotta checkout. And i have to say, someone should have mentioned Taxidriver. De niro’s best performance, without a doubt.
February 6th, 2008 at 5:42 am
heavybison: I definitely agree!
February 6th, 2008 at 6:28 am
jayfray: since i didn’t mention it before (for official score keepint purposes) i think the “your view” category is a great idea.
do you think that so many lists lately having lots of comments is due to hitting a nerve or is it just due to the fact that there are lots more people in the community now? more people = more comments.
February 6th, 2008 at 6:31 am
DiscHuker: I think the increase in comments is because of the increase in visitors – we are up 10,000 pageviews a day on average since December and that is even taking in to account the reduced number of lists through January.
February 6th, 2008 at 7:06 am
my favourite movie of all time… would be Across the Universe.
I enjoy musicals…
there is something about the dance choreography that is slightly hypnotic, yet soothing at the same time
February 6th, 2008 at 7:33 am
In my humble opinion, it would have to be a toss-up between Natural Born Killers & Fight Club. Both are mind-bending, visually stimulating and have riveting story lines.
February 6th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Jesus Christ, what the hell is happening in this forum? I leave for one night and the suggestions I’m faced with upon rising this morn are just mindboggling. Just to recap, we have had:
1. Donnie Darko (x2)
2. Pulp Fiction (x2)
3. The Matrix (x2)
4. Equilibrium (come on, now, people, that is just silly)
5. Dumb and Dumber (actually, I believe, the title of a movie and not an adjective describing the person who suggested it; I know, I’m surprised too)
6. Fight Club (x4, now, I think)
7. Monty Python (oy-vey….)
8. Die Hard
9. Scream
10. Jurassic Park…
11. …Transformers (that one leaves an icky taste in my mouth)
and my personal favorite…
12. Jackass 2
Ladies and gentlemen, these are the people who pay to see movies like “Soulplane” and “Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector.” If you, as a true movie fan, would like to see the quality of modern film improve dramatically, you have these people to blame.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:00 am
heavybison: That one was right at the tip of my tongue (fingers). Taxi Driver is an amazing movie….maybe not the best ever made, but certainly in the running.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:03 am
LEPRECHAUN!
February 6th, 2008 at 8:36 am
#JF: The user alias’es were hyperlinked to their profiles(Thats how i saw csimmons is a baby kiddo). Do put that feature back again if possible..
February 6th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Miller’s Crossing – The best Coen brothers movie, though I have seen No Country yet
Amadeus – Come one people, no one here thought of that one?
Mary Poppins – I can’t explain it, but there it is.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Oldboy.
Words cannot describe how good that film is.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is probably the best movie ever made in my estimation…and not JUST because I’m a Jack Nicholson fan.
I think a whole lot is said about the craziness of people in it…about society, about medicine, about corrupt government. It’s inspirational and incredibly sad and simply magnificent.
However, there are some others I am quite partial to:
1. Singin’ In the Rain
– great story, great music, great dancing, great cast, great humor…it’s timeless!
2. Fight Club
– it is probably the most ingenious movie of my generation and it is EXTREMELY well-done. Probably one of the only examples where the movie is better than the book.
3. The Blues Brothers
– ok, ok…I know it’s not the most thought-provoking movie, but so much can be said about the plethora of amazing guest appearances: Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker, James Brown, Ray Charles, Chaka Khan…and those are just the musical stars!
Yup…that’s my list. Feel free to agree or criticise!
February 6th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
My all time favorite would have to be THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. The storyline, the locations, sets, director, the special effects. It makes for one hell of an entertainging movie. I feel I am in that time with the characters every tme I see it!
February 6th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
TRANSFORMERS… nuff said.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Transformers was a giant pile of doodoo.
Boy Meets World + Michael Bay + $$$ = Transformers
The only good thing about that movie is Megan Foxxxxxxxxx.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Fight Club is th greatest movie of all time it reflects our modern trends of over emphasis on stuff and rejection of self.
David fincher flawlessly encapsulates the paradox of being a man in the modern world and feeling as you really have no kind of purpose.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
koyaanisqatsi series
February 6th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Jean de Florette
Manon of The Spring
Blood Simple
Godfathers I and II, by no means III
Amadeus
Miller’s Crossing
Big Lebowsky
Repo Man
Howard the Duck
Ordinary People
Babette’s Feast
Lawrence of Arabia
Bridge on the River Kwai
One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest
I’m kidding about one of them, see if you can guess which one.
February 6th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
el duderino-
Gosh! Which one could it possibly be? ‘giggle’
February 6th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
The Passion of Joan of Arc
February 6th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Thrilled to death to see mentions of “The Seventh Seal,” “The Passion of Joan of Arc,” and “Seven Samurai.” My money’s on “The Godfather,” but let me throw in another candidate: “Rashomon.” Take that one to a party, and let the argument/discussion begin.
Aside: I registered weeks ago, and I’ll be dipped if I can get the system to send my password to me (fishpope (at) iname (dot) com). Anybody here who can give me a hand up?
February 6th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
American History X is pretty powerful. I vote for Fight Club too.
February 6th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Caddyshack.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
The City of Lost Children by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
February 7th, 2008 at 7:21 am
SlickWilly # 330
I couldn’t agree with you more. Some people actually paid money to watch a 6th Rocky movie and a 60 year old guy play Rambo.
I’m reminded of Clerks: “OOOOhhooo Navy Seals!!”
February 7th, 2008 at 7:39 am
bucslim: Lmao. Well…….I didn’t actually pay to see the 6th Rocky, but thought it was great nonetheless….way better movie than Rocky 5, anyway, you have to at least give me that. I wouldn’t pay to see Rambo.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:40 am
el duderino:
Hahahahaha……surely it can’t be Howard the Duck…at least, not with Repo Man right above it. Hmm…you got me, duder.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Slick,
Well even going to the theater these days is nothing short of a trip to ass clown central. I sat through the third Spiderman movie while some jerkoff behind me kept incorporating the word ‘pimp’ into every scene and dialog.
“He’s a pimp.” “He got pimped.” “He’s pimpen em.” and the ubiquitous “Pimp that bitch.” I’ve bitched about this in more detail on my blog, but for now I’ve resorted to waiting towards the end of a film’s run in a theater so I can arrive late, pick an empty spot and enjoy my movie without the gene pool skimmings ruining it for me.
I heard the last Rocky movie was pretty good too, I’m just sayin. . . .
February 7th, 2008 at 7:56 am
bucslim: I totally agree with you. These days, if I go to the theater, its normally to see some heavy drama or other “oscar-buzz” picture, the kind of film that mature, thoughtful adults see so I don’t have to put up with that kind of horseshit. As for movies like Spidey 3, I normally wait till its out on DVD. (That was TERRIBLE, btw. Spiderman 2 is probably the greatest superhero movie ever made, and then Raimi did a complete 180 and basically jerked the audience off for the whole time, without even having the goddamn common courtesy to let them finish.)
I admit, I did see Cloverfield, recently. But that movie was surprisingly fresh and…for gods sake, a movie about a giant monster? You can’t even begin to do justice to something like that on DVD, no matter how big your TV is.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:13 am
You didn’t like Emo Peter Parker?
I agree, S3 was dog crap concentrate. Unfortunately for me I was forced to see it three times. I have three kids and I had to go to it with each one individually to fit their social calendar. The first time was when I endured the G-Master Hood rat I described above. The second time I wanted to run through the audience with an automatic weapon. The last time I tore my eyes out and poured gasoline over myself and lit a match. I came out of that experience much the same way as Malcom McDowell in a Clockwork Orange.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Snowkid32: The Island? That’s hilarious. One of the worst films I’ve ever sat through (I kept watching to oogle the divine Ms. Johansen). Seriously, that film is such a blatant ripoff of Parts: The Clonus Horror, which in itself is such a terrible film that it got on MST3K, that the producers of P:TCH are suing the producers of The Island! And they should win. I spotted the plagiarism within minutes. Besides that, Michael Bay should have a restraining order out against him that he can’t come within 100 yards of any film set! Sorry to go nuclear, nothing personal, but wow. Baaad choice.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I went to a packed theater for Spiderman 3. I knew it was going to suck, so I went in expecting nothing. Fortunately, Sam Raimi pulled a fast one on everybody. I was the only one in the theater left un-disappointed, and I was the only one laughing at the crappiness throughout.
Also, Hulk was the best superhero movie made in the past 10 years.
February 7th, 2008 at 9:41 am
TMo: Ooh….them’s fightin words. Hulk? Seriously? Better than Spiderman 2? I don’t want this to turn nasty, so I respectfully offer to disagree with you and leave it at that. Besides, hopefully, Ang Lee learned his lesson. The new Hulk movie coming out with (again, hopefully) put the first one to shame, what with Edward Norton as the title character and all.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Alien is the best movie ever made. It was a film truly ahead of its time. It was at once scary, thrilling, and beautiful. It’s definitely my favourite movie.
I think Godfather is a bit overrated. It’s like the Citizen Kane for younger critics.
I think Dr Strangelove would have to be up there though.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Please bear with me; I’m new to this forum stuff.
I’ve only been able to scan the previous posts, and many of my own favourites have been mentioned, but here are some that I havent seen and I think should be considered(all for different reasons):
Tombstone (Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday!)
Captain Horation Hornblower (Gregory Peck at his best)
Airplane!
Mr Roberts
12 Angry Men
Psycho
Arsenic & Old Lace
The Last Hurrah (Vastly under-remembered Spencer Tracy performance)
Young Frankenstein
The Oxbow Incident
The American President
Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge
Fail Safe
I was AMAZED to see a mention of Shakes the Clown! I was pretty sure that Bobcat Goldthwaite and I were the only ones in the world who ever heard of it!
February 7th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
fydeaux: No, no, my friend. I too witnessed the brilliance that is Shakes the Clown. Mime Jerry will live forever!
February 7th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Harold and Maude is a beautiful movie. And the Cat Stevens soundtrack is amazing.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
This particular question is a bad idea because it has one answer only.
A: THE GODFATHER
if u disagree…well ur wrong….simple….its like saying the sky is not blue….its just plain wrong….and btw im not some old guy….Im 19 and 1st watchd The Godfather when i was 17.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I watch movies almost as much as I read! All guys love The Godfathers…..I think they are great, but guys seem to really get into these movies.
Severak faves are:
Holiday movies: It’s A Wonderful Life, Holiday Inn and A Christmas Story (You’ll shoot your eye out kid!)
Kids – The Princess Bride and Toy Story
“Old Movies” – Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, Rebecca, Rear Window
Com/Rom Houseboat (Sophia Loren) When Harry Met Sally
Just for Fun movies – Clerks, Dogma, Trading Places and Sixteen Candles
Best movies – Casablanca, Forrest Gump and Crash
February 7th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
GRUMPYNZ, Alien was a great flick on many levels. Oddly enough, I feel it’s also one of the sexiest. When a young Sigourney Weaver runs around, taking care of business in those tiny little panties….. Sorry where were we? Oh yeah, it’s a great flick.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
So many choices…I have several favorites. Citizen Kane, The Godfather, Casablanca, Singing in the Rain, Gone With the Wind, Manchurian Candidate (original, not the awful remake), All The President’s Men, My Fair Lady.
February 7th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
There are too many comments to read them all and I am lazy.
“Night of the Living Dead” is my answer though.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
i’ve seen 80% of the movies mentioned so far are they best of all time? i don’t know. has that even been made yet? again i don’t know. but my pick for the best movie ever made, The Quiet Man . J. Ford J.Wayne K. O’Hara all the sceenery the big fight at the end and a minester nicknamed “snuffy’. not to mention the opening…. Do ya see that road over there, well don’t take that one it will do ya no good.
it has humor it has drama it has ireland in all its glory.what more can i say
February 8th, 2008 at 12:53 am
I thought this was supposed to be about ‘the’ greatest movie. Why are people just naming their favourites?
February 8th, 2008 at 5:38 am
It just breaks my heart that, even though it’s a tad corny, but The Wizard of Oz has GOT to be up there! How many times have YOU seen it? Me? Well, I’m 49 – so that makes it about 48 times!
Booty call was a pretty funny movie too, by the way – but still not ever near the class of the W of O!
Yes, this obviously was a good idea – geez, look at the # of comments! Fun! But lots to read!
Oh, by the way, what ads? I didn’t see any! (Hurray for Firefox I guess!)
February 8th, 2008 at 6:58 am
Doesn’t anyone else think Forrest Gump was worthy of mentioning? The way they edited the film to make it look like Tom Hanks was in all those important news clips was just incredible. Story lines was very good too.
February 8th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Doesn’t anyone else think Forrest Gump was worthy of mentioning? The way they edited the film to make it look like Tom Hanks was in all those important news clips was just incredible. Story lines was very good too.:)
February 8th, 2008 at 7:05 am
The princess bride had eerything
February 8th, 2008 at 7:08 am
forrest gump was great btw
February 8th, 2008 at 7:23 am
I would say either My Dinner with Andre or Blade Runner!
February 8th, 2008 at 10:23 am
completely agree with Rew.
“surrender”
“very well I accept”
i’d love to see a list of the funniest lines from films
February 8th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Casablanca. Story, story, story.
February 8th, 2008 at 11:01 am
what is wrong w u people?
it’s
STAR WARS (77)
everybody knows that
me not geek
February 8th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Children of Paradise
8 1/2
El Topo
The Rules of The Game
Berlin Alexanderplatz
Satantango
Wings of Desire
tooooo hard theres thousands of amazing films….
my vote goes to Pink Flamingos
February 8th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
The best movie I’ve ever seen is 8 1/2, though it’s not my favorite. It is the single most interesting thing I’ve ever seen on film, and it still bewilders me to this day. My favorite movie is probably Apocalypse Now, or maybe Pulp Fiction… I can’t say either of those are the best ever though.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
C’mon, more love for Kurosawa. Seven Samurai is one of the finest, if not the finest, products of the director’s art.
Try watching it twice, the first time without subtitles. Every nuance of dialog and characterization is right there on screen.
February 8th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
anything in the past 2 years should be disregarded
im going to go with the crow
the elements it has, the visuals and directing
not to mention brandon lee’s amazing acting
February 10th, 2008 at 4:24 am
I think Pulp Fiction is the best movie i’ve seen.
Runners up would be: The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather part 1, Se7en, Usual Suspects and Festen( The Celebration).
February 13th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
The Shining the one directed by Stanely Kubrick
February 14th, 2008 at 1:27 am
Alright I have a pretty biased list -
Boondock saints, Shawshank Redemption, Full Metal Jacket, The South Park Movie, Pirates of the Caribbean series, Miracle, Evil Dead, Fight Club, Donnie Darko, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pulp Fiction…
February 14th, 2008 at 10:53 am
The Godfather, hands down is the greatest movie ever made. It revolusionized film, and the way film was made.
February 17th, 2008 at 10:32 am
here are a few that i think are among the best films ever made
• 2001:a space odyssey
• A clockwork orange
• Brazil
• Eraserhead
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s nest
• Paths of Glory
• 8 1/2
• Barry Lyndon
February 17th, 2008 at 10:33 am
oh and i forgot to mention Fitzcarraldo. If you haven’t seen it… DO!
February 18th, 2008 at 4:14 am
The things which i liked most are
* Man in the Iron Mask (De Caprico)
* Face Off (Nicolas Cage)
* Gladiator (Russel Crowe)
* Police Story series (Jackie Chan)
* Lock Up (Stallone)
* Behind the Enemy Lines (Owen Willson)
* Black Hawk Down
* Finding Nemo
* Pirate of the Caribbean (Johny Deep)
February 18th, 2008 at 4:16 am
Sorry I forgot to add one more last but not least
* The Last Samurai (Tom Cruise)
February 21st, 2008 at 9:34 am
Godfather
Anything else is just a short story
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:44 am
I think the film Dr. Zhivago is amazing. It may have a slower pace for some folks, but I have ADHD and I can sit through it!
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:09 am
Hey Phineus – and I have dislexyia..so what’s HDAD ?
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:51 am
These are abscure…but some of my favorites….
Requim for a dream
‘Green St Houligans
Gangs of New York
…really anything with Daniel Day Lewis. I belive the greatest actor of our time
The Departed
Have to admit…everyone loves Dumb and Dumber
February 25th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I think the best movie ever made would have to be man on fire with denzel washington it’s brilliantly acted and a masterpiece of film
February 25th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
“The Right Stuff”, and Steve McQueen’s performance in “The Sand Pebbles”. These two under-rated movies were nominated for Best Picture, but lost to inferior, forgotten movies due to Political Correctness by the people who cast the Oscar ballots…
February 27th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
i’m gonna have to go with “the godfather” as well.not only is it an incredible movie(i could watch it ten times in a row and still wanna see it again)but it’s one of the few great movies to be followed by excellent sequals too(yes,i love 3 too,especially the end when michael lets out that scream when his daughter gets shot.heartbreaking).
at a close #2:”the last temptation of christ”.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:52 am
Id have to agree with you.. Godfather is the best movie ever made!!!
March 12th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
There are too many movies that are amazing, so I will categorize a few.
The Best…
Science Fiction – Forbidden Planet
Action/Adventure – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Fantasy – Lord of the Rings trilogy
Horror – The House on Haunted Hill (with Vincent Price.)
Drama – Schindler’s List
Comedy – Blazing Saddles
The Best Movie of All Time – Citizen Kane
March 20th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I think the greatest film is CITIZEN KANE. I know this is stereotypical, but it has zero to do with what the critics and polls say. I just selected the film that I think is the best, deep down in my heart.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:33 am
i can’t just pick one film only; but if i had to, it had to be BRAZIL
war movies like APOCALYPSE NOW, FULL METAL JACKET, THE DEER HUNTER are also serious contenders for first place; and of course, anything Kubrick;
nothing new so far, they’ve all been mentioned, so i’d like to add THE LIVES OF OTHERS/DAS LEBEN DEN ANDEREN, a more recent film that i think deserves to be taken into consideration for best film-ever.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:35 am
uups, sorry for caps lock abuse; wasn’t paying attention
March 30th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Mine has got to be American History X. Good Will Hunting is up there too though.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:06 am
american history X was really good.
I also liked Lucky number slevin.
One flew over the cuckoos nest was shit. they butchered that story so bad. not only did they leave events out but they kept characters that died off in the book. They changed the order of events and they changed the whole perspective of the story.
April 5th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Friday Night Lights..yeah, it may not seem great to a movie buff, but if you have ever played football, high school or otherwise with any heart you will realize just how good of a job FNL (spoiler alert) does at recreating the pain that follows after you lose a hard fought game…i almost cried for the panters when the seniors lost their last game..=(” Children of Men is a very close second but i have a football bais.
April 5th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
*panthers* not the panters…aghh. >=(
April 5th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
we got a lot of younguns here dont we?
April 5th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I can’t pick one, so:
I love Miyazaki films. They’re the most deep animated films you’ll ever see: they’re not childish at all.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
My Left Food– GREAT acting
Rainman
Breaking Away
Once– for the soundtrack and the accents
Hilary and Jackie– also for the soundtrack
CHICAGO!!! That film had energy
April 5th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
And how could I have forgotten Airplane? The Guardian voted it the most funny movie ever made.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I’m sorry, but I didn’t think the Godfather was that amazing. I thought it was a bit slow. Maybe I’m not looking at it with the right perspective.
Has anyone seen the best indie film ever: Everything is Illuminated? FANTASTIC MOVIE– makes you laugh and cry.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:00 am
Godfather agreed but the best movie ever should go to The Hustler.. What a script! What a performance by Paul Newman.. Stunning picture
April 15th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Kai4A:
Sorry. But half of these movies are stupid as shit. The Island was awesome to me. To see people finally understanding the world they’re living in, a utopian society broken. I loved it.
300, FUCKING SUCKED.
American Gangster, FUCKING SUCKED.
A Bronx Tale, FUCKING SUCKED.
Apocalypto, FUKCING SUCKED.
We Own The Night, FUCKING SUCKED.
Ripoff’s of Scary Movie, FUCKING SUCK.
Open Water, FUCKING SUCKED.
21, FUCKING SUCKED.
Star Wars, FUCKING SUCKS.
Lord Of The Rings, FUCKING SUCKS.
Sweeney Todd, FUCKING SUCKED[a lot]
The Incredibles, FUCKING SUCKED.
All these “classics” are movies that take half an hour to get to the next scene, do stupid shit to apeear “cool” and aren’t even made decently. Breakfast Club, St. Elmos Fire, Shawshank Redemption, Goodfellas, The Matrix, those are good movies.
April 15th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Did I say IMO?
April 24th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Lawrence of Arabia
Sneakers
Murder by Death
April 24th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
With out a doubt the flawless masterpiece that is GoodFellas tops my list. Other greats include
The Departed
The Shawshank Redemption
As Good As It Gets
The Big Lebowski
The Fisher King
Good Will Hunting
April 27th, 2008 at 8:24 am
I don’t know about the best movie but I know what my favorite is. Songs from the Second Floor. It’s a Swedish film so have fun finding it for sale unless you live in a bigger city (which I don’t, but that’s what Amazon.com is for).
Other favorites include Northfork, Snatch, The End of Evangelion, and a lot more.
April 29th, 2008 at 11:46 am
4. The Rivers Edge – Keanu’s best work
3. Barfly – Frank Stallones best.
2. Jaws – That’s some bad hat, Harry.
1. The Big Lebowski – because no one fucks with the jesus!
April 29th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
it “Your view” on what is the best movie not your view on people’s choices so keep your fucking opinions to yourself SLICKWILY…
and stop using clinton’s nick name you fucking Geek
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
slickwilly
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:20 pm
For me, I think it would be “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story”. This movie actually changed my life when entering highschool. I learned that parents cannot protect us all the time, and we need to protect ourselves from assailants if necessary. I’d say that martial arts is a very important part of our lives because we need it(not for the fact of showing off but rather defending ourselves and our loveones from evil people).
May 17th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Wizard of Oz
May 19th, 2008 at 9:56 am
garden state is the best movie EVER.
anyone who disagrees doesnt understand.
everyone who hasn’t seen it is missing out.
everyone who agrees is my most favorite person.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:57 am
and.. fight club and donnie darko follow garden state by the way.
June 1st, 2008 at 5:11 am
*comedy*
Monty Python and the Holy Grail xD (Of the ones I’ve seen so far of course)
June 16th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Can’t just pick one, so: Terms of Endearment, The Outsiders, 12 Monkeys, Thelma and Louise, The Color Purple, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride
June 16th, 2008 at 8:36 am
The Happening
(snark)
June 16th, 2008 at 8:40 am
i’ll give you a snark, asshat
June 16th, 2008 at 8:44 am
sounds kinda hot…
June 16th, 2008 at 8:47 am
you wish
June 16th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I wish
June 16th, 2008 at 8:53 am
a/s/l/pic!!
just kidding.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Singing in the rain. I LOVE GENE KELLY *swoon*
June 17th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
There are so many movies! I’m big on the horror/sci-fi catagory, so I’d have to say either War of the Worlds, or Cloverfeild (pretty recent, totally rocks!).
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I personally think these movies wer good: the prestige, fiddler on the roof, the bucket list-(recent), anne frank, hannibal, life is beautiful, etc. there r so many good heartfelt movies I could list but, these are some of the best.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Well, I love many different genres, but love “Gone With The Wind”, my absolute favorite. I never get tired of watching it over and over. Also, love “To Kill A Mockingbird”, “Mr. Smith goes to Washington”, any movie with Katherine or Audrey Hepburn, love both of them. “The Passion of Joan of Arc” makes me cry everytime I watch it. Such raw passion told through that woman’s eyes tells you all you need to know. I just have an affinity for the older movies when the effects were minor, but the story moved you. Well, except for “Gone With The Wind”, I just liked everything about it.
July 25th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Lord Of The Rings
Shawshank Redemption
In The Mood For Love
A Clockwork Orange
Amelie
Cinema Paradiso
Cidade De Deus
Elephant
Dancer In The Dark
August 3rd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I’d have to say out of recent movies, Wall-e and Idiocracy.
They have a wake-up call factor.
‘HEY YOU. THIS COULD BE HOW YOU’RE STUCK LIVING IN THE FUTURE. YOU SURE YOU WANT TO THROW OUT THAT STYROFOAM CUP AND LET MORONS PROCREATE 10 TIMES?’
August 6th, 2008 at 4:35 am
1. Schindler’s List
2. The Dark Knight
3. The Godfather
4. Cidade De Deus
5. The Godfather Part 2
6. Citizen Kane
7. A Clockwork Orange
8. Gangs of New York
9. City Lights
10. Oldboy
* (Runner Ups) A Dog Day Aftrnoon and The Deer Hunter
August 18th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Best ever films by far are…
1. Road to perdition (tom hanks)
2.reservoir dogs (quentin tarantino)
3. The hurricane (Denzel Washington)
by far the best!!
August 19th, 2008 at 6:03 am
I am not qualified to say what the best movies are because that type of thing is completely subjective. A bad movie can still be entertaining and popular. Just like a great movie can be boring. Here are three movie list I’ve compiled that feature all of MY favorite movies. There is no particular order.
Best movies to watch:
Se7en
The Matrix
The Exorcist
Nosferato
The Godfather Trilogy
Jaws
The Sixth Sense
City Lights (Chaplin)
Seven Samurai
Blade Runner
Most over rated movies still worth watching:
Fight Club
Citizen Kane
Do the Right Thing
Gone with the Wind
Shawshank Redemption
Star Wars
Pulp Fiction
Metropolis
A ClockWork Orange
Titanic
Most under rated movies worth watching:
The Birds
Devil in a Blue Dress
O’ Brother, Where Art Thou?
Dracula (The original)
Audition
Peeping Tom
Shaft
Love Story
The Wizard of Oz
The Lion King
August 19th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I have to say I agree about The Godfather. My second most favorite movie ever made is Boogie Nights. I just LOVED everything about that movie!!
August 20th, 2008 at 3:52 am
I’m sorry, but i just had to say, has everyone forgotten about one of the greatest films i’ve ever watched; Forrest Gump. I just adore this movie with all my heart, when Forrest is standing over Jenny’s grave it makes me cry every time (I know, it’s really soppy!) It fully deserved all its Oscars because it’s so unique and touching. Since 1994 when it was released there really has been nothing like it in my opinion.
However some other great films out there are The Wizard Of Oz (time-less classic) Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Shawshank Redemption, Schneider’s List, A Clockwork Orange, The Departed, Dumb and Dumber, Happy Gilmore, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The English Patient and Titanic (also makes me cry)
AND anything with Tom Hanks or Audrey Hepburn
Have not yet seen The Godfather, but will do one day soon hopefully.
Believe it or not, i have actually seen all these films a number of times and i may add that i am only 13 years old, but i do have a lot of opinions to voice
I hope that no-one is going to be criticising my opinions just because i am a child!
PS – I love this site, and all my friends think i am weird becuase of it
August 29th, 2008 at 7:18 am
manila in the claws of neon
August 30th, 2008 at 10:13 am
The Labryinth!
And this may not be one of the best but people should watch it anyway: Brain Candy.
September 1st, 2008 at 9:12 am
This is hard..
I really like The Sound of Music, The Notebook, and Rear Window.
They’re all very different but they’re my favorites.
The Sound of Music- it’s fun and energentic but still has some very almost tear jerking parts. And I just love the chemistry between everyone.
The Notebook- In my book, this movie is the biggest tear jerker of all time. The love between Noah and Allie is beautiful and I would love to be that loved. Go ahead and read the book also, it’s worth your “valuable” time.
Rear Window- I just love old movies and this one is amazing. Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart: they’re like a match made in heaven in this movie. The suspense is great even though it’s nothing compared to today’s standerds. But definetly worth watching.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
The best movie ever made is Casablanca.
Why? Great story, great actors, great performances, fantastic dialogue, unforgettable quotes (‘Here’s looking at you, kid…’ we all love this quote don’t we),beautiful song, great ending, the list goes on…
Citizen Kane? The Godfather? Gone with the wind? yes, they are all great, but there isn’t a better movie than Casablanca.
We’ll always have Casablanca…
September 7th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Disaster Movie
September 17th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Donnie Darko. C’est sûr.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:33 am
SCARFACE
FIGHT CLUB
USUAL SUSPECTS
September 25th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Braveheart….if you do not like that movie there is something wrong with you!!! haha
September 27th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
By the time I reached comment #200 or so, I’d forgotten the point of this list..
September 27th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
pursuit of happiness
or transformers. but whatever your opinion, there will always be a better movie you might have not seen. oh and scarface is great, but over rated, and definately not the best.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
SUPERBAD!!!!!!
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:24 am
I think that the greatest movie of all time would have to be The Shawshank Redemtion. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are great in this movie. the way how everything turns out is very heartwarming
Schindler’s List is also a great movie and should always be ranked up with the possibly slightly overrated Godfather.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:32 am
441. Bella: Well, if your still around Bella, it’s really not your age but the quality of your comments that gets you noticed around here. If your comments are as well thought and written as that one, then I see you fitting right in. At 13 you’re half my age, but I’m still half or a quarter of others posting here and they treat me well enough. Welcome.
November 19th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
my personal fave is Pulp Fiction. i cant find a single line of dialogue out of place or nonsensical. its comedic, slightly scary at points, the actors are phenomenal: Travolta, Jackson, Willis, Thurman, Walken, etc.
id say its as close to perfect as any other movie.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:20 am
good topic,
though i agree with you all.. ive watched most of your favorites i must its all good. checked it in rottentomatoes.com.
but i must say from the top 10 of the hollywood movies (forgot the url) and all “genres”
1. Citizen Kane (1941)
2. Godfather part 1 (1972)
3. Casablanca (1920’s?)
not sure whos 4th but heres some i remembered
schindlers list, the shining, battleship potemkin (around 1920’s)
“ill make him an offer he cant refuse”
- vito corleone
November 25th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
There are too many excellent movies for me to choose just one favorite. For me it would be between Good Will Hunting, Crash, American History X, Fight Club, and The Shawshank Redemption. They all teach so much that so many people miss when they watch them and its really a shame. I will mention this though. The Godfather is not in my top 10. I personally think it’s a good movie, but not the masterpiece it’s made out to be.
November 28th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
1.Dude, Where’s My Car?
2.Eurotrip
3.O Brother, Where Art Thou?
4.Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
5.Ace Ventura Pet Detective
6.Revenge Of The Nerds
7.The Big Lebwoski
8.The Waterboy
9.A Night at the Roxbury
10.Army of Darkness
I think the best movies ever made are the ones that made me laugh
im sure i will outgrow this though 
December 4th, 2008 at 2:22 am
secondhand lion
December 8th, 2008 at 5:16 am
459 comments and noone said the third man?
hence my nomination, carol reeds 1949 masterpiece
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:16 am
Citizen cane!
December 29th, 2008 at 6:46 am
die hard
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Oh, Elizabethtown is absolutely amazing. Such a sweet movie.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Boyz In The Hood.
January 16th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Wow, I’m suprised at the limited amount of classics placed in the comments section. I had to read through 30 posts before someone mentioned Citizen Kane and even then, it’s brought up only sporadically.
Citizen Kane and Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari. Both pushed the envelope of cinema with well thought out storylines, experimental camera shots and artistic direction… Granted, there wasn’t much of an envelope so the there was plenty of push room but it’s also harder to create something from nothing rather than build on an existing idea.
As far as modern works, I have to say Lord of the Rings. It expands and excels on all the foundations of what makes a movie good from an objective pov.
…I’m kind of have an advantage since I took Film Studies and Film History courses and we did dissect a number of films (I can’t remember if LOTR was out yet but we didn’t talk about that in class).
January 30th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Not the usual choice– there are loads of flaws but I grew up with that movie. I love it
February 9th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
The term “best” is deceiving. Best could mean most artful filmography, funniest, most rewatchable, or most controversial. There’s no single pedigree upon which to rate all movies, therefore I cannot possibly pick the ones I think are the best. Additionally, everyone is a biased source when it comes to this question because nobody has seen every movie.
But, in the spirit of the list, I’d have to say that my favorite movies are, in no particular order,
- Memento
- Saw
- Pi
- WALL-E
- The Music Man
- Rat Race
February 10th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Used Cars
February 16th, 2009 at 2:26 am
I would say the Godfather series!
They were all awesome movies so they should all be credited with No.1!
February 16th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Boy thats a hard one rather than the best of all time I’ll say one(s) I like best right now. The lord of the rings trilogy in extended play. They drag a bit in places, but I do enjoy them, I also think its well casted.
I saw the princess bride mentioned – good one, enjoyable and funny.
Someone mentioned the Monty python movies – Holy Grail and Life of Brian I laugh every time i see these.
Also I dont know why, but there is a movie – The seven sign I think Rob #92 mentionedit. It has Demi More (sp) in it, now I know in no way shape or form woud it be on anyones “best” list, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t really enjoy the story
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Toy Story anyone? Haha, well its my own favourite movie, cos its a childhood one, but also LOTR, Bill and Teds Exellent Adventure, Rambo Quadrilogy (where else will you find a one man killing machine?), Star Wars series, Monty Python series, Letters From Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers, (does The Hobbit count?
), Alien 1-4, The Matrix, Fight Club, The Bridge on the River Kwai, (A Bridge Too Far anyone ?), Saving Private Ryan, Titanic, Spartacus.
Sorry for the longwinded list, but in my own opinion these should be contenders, or at least have a mention.
March 6th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Dune (the unedited directors cut)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
March 10th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I am torn. A lot of movies are really great but it’s hard to pick the best.
Cinema Paradiso
In The Mood For Love
March 20th, 2009 at 10:17 am
These are not my favorites but these are what I would consider the best movies ever made.
(In no order)
Seven Samurai
Citizen Kane
The Godfather
Casablanca
Shawshank Redemption
Schindler’s List
Lawrence of Arabia
The Wizard of OZ
Its a Wonderful Life
Titanic
But my all time favorite on a personal level is Rocky
March 20th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Probably American Beauty. It is example of demented but enjoyable entertainment
March 20th, 2009 at 10:27 am
along with Tombstone and It’s a wonderful life
March 20th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
LSD – this ia a hallucination no one is here really.
Oh well then – anything John Houston did
April 1st, 2009 at 1:32 am
Lets not forget Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
April 22nd, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I think the best movie ever was Transformers. It was great and dramatic and funny. It turned an old tv series into a sucessful movie. This movie also is full of action.
April 28th, 2009 at 4:51 am
Best American Film: “Dead Man”
It is a perfect overall illustration of the old West and man’s struggle. Beautiful imagery also.
May 9th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
28 Day’s Later was incredible. It had some fantastic cinematography. It truly rocked
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:45 am
pursuit of happiness!!
great movie and book!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:15 am
2001: A Space Odyssey. It is an awesome film for a number of reasons.
1) The story. I feel there is a lot of the film left open to personal interpretation. I feel that for a film to be of excellent standards it must reach the audience on a personal level.
2) The music. The fact that the soundtrack works so well with the visuals is nothing less than remarkable. I think that Kubrick truly recognised the importance of music and sound when it comes to the audience interpreting the film.
3) The story elements and events. These things (such as the bone/space capusale transition, the HAL 9000, and the Star Gate sequence) are so iconic that they are buried into the public conscious.
It is the perfect Sci-fi film. Also, it was the last thing to show man land on the moon before man actually landed on the moon.
Of course, all these are my own personal opinions.
June 14th, 2009 at 1:01 am
Rocky Horror Picture show
Pulp fiction
Grease
hands down the best
June 14th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Clockwork Orange. Freaks me out every time I watch it, especially the bit where they pin his eyes open so he watches the film !
June 14th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.
Some the best a wittiest writing i’ve ever seen, a brillant highly involving plot that is very intelligent yet watchable. Some brilliant performances, it manages to be funny one moment and sad another. Amazing film.
June 14th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
In fact i realise i have more i would consider the ‘best’:
(in no order)
Kiss kiss, bang bang
In Bruges
American Beauty
The Prestige
Lotr trilogy
Sunshine
Life of Brian
June 25th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
i think the greatest film ever made is the butter effect or band of brothers (i know its not a movie but its just amazing).
July 18th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Im not so sure what my favorite movie is,I have so many!
the first movie i ever saw was Alien when i was five,it was so awesome!Yes alien will always have a special place in my heart.
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:03 pm
V for Vendetta…or Seven (even though I’m not a huge Brad Pitt fan)
July 27th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
V for Vendetta
July 27th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
i don’t know about the greatest, but my favorite movie of all time is “the wizard of oz.” to me, it’s quite symbolic and the lesson can’t be beat.
July 28th, 2009 at 8:14 am
best comedy must be blazing saddles, in your face Political Correctness, best overall for me would be between American History X, No Country for Old Men and Scarface
August 8th, 2009 at 11:07 am
My top ten favorite movies,
1. Raging Bull
2. Reservoir Dogs
3. The Shawshank Redemption
4. Clerks II
5. Scarface
6. True Romance
7. Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels
8. Office Space
9. Full Metal Jacket
10. Schindlers List
August 9th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
I like the South Park movie
August 11th, 2009 at 2:13 am
DeepThroat
August 11th, 2009 at 2:20 am
LMAO, had 2 do it. Note previous post. Actually I would say “My” best movie ever made choice would be 300, second choice would be The Jerk with Steve martin, and finally, The Wizard of Oz. My boyfriend says his choices would be Cool Hand Luke and The Outlaw Josey Wales.
August 13th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Top 10:
1&2 (tie) “The Godfather” and “The Godfather, Part II”
3 “The Manchurian Candidate”
4 “Taxi Driver”
5 “The Big Lebowski”
6 “The Wild Bunch”
7 “The Producers”
8 “A Face in the Crowd”
9 “Duck Soup”
10 “Angels with Dirty Faces”
September 12th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
A Clockwork Orange
Kubrick is god
September 18th, 2009 at 1:48 am
I feel like Schindler’s List is important because before that, people turned a blind eye to the Holocaust and pretended like it never happened. Jews remained closeted about the sufferings they went through until Spielberg made this movie. It was until after Schindler’s List, the Holocaust survivors started speaking out/opening up… some of their stories are testimony of why tolerance is so important.
September 18th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
September 28th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
i would say mine has to be Shawshank Redemption. its such a powerful film,and is portrayed beautifully. also The Green Mile. both amazing films with fantastic lead actors,originally written by a very talented Stephen King.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
The Pianist is great . . .
November 19th, 2009 at 12:39 am
The Usual Suspect tops my list..