The 75 greatest movies ever made
Submitted by grizham1 on Tue, 07/15/2003 - 06:05
Tags:
- The Godfather
- The Godfather II
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Lawrence Of Arabia
- It's A Wonderful Life
- The Elephant Man
- Star Wars: A New Hope
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
- Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
- Metropolis
- The Princess Bride
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
- The Shawshank Redemption
- Gone With the Wind
- The Usual Suspects
- Donnie Darko
- Airplane
- Das Boot
- Apocalypse Now
- The Silence of the Lambs
- Citizen Kane
- Blade Runner
- The Bridge Over the River Kwai
- Patton
- Monty Python & the Holy Grail
- The Pawnbroker
- Chinatown
- Big Lebowski
- Annie Hall
- The Producers
- Harvey
- The Wild Bunch
- The Outlaw Josey Wales
- Pulp Fiction
- Braveheart
- Casablanca
- Rosemary's Baby
- Brazil
- Stand By Me
- Taxi Driver
- The Exocrist
- Carrie
- Young Frankenstein
- Blazing Saddles
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
- Requiem for a Dream
- American History X
- Elizabeth
- Trainspotting
- Reservior Dogs
- Amelie
- The Matrix
- Saving Private Ryan
- Platoon
- Miller's Crossing
- L.A. Confidential
- Fargo
- Jaws
- Alien
- The Fellowship of the Ring
- The Shining
- Fight Club
- High Fidelity
- The Lion King
- American Beauty
- Princess Monoke
- Ghost World
- As Good As it Gets
- Memento
- Interview With the Vampire
- Swingers
- The Man With a Movie Camera
- Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
- October Sky
- Sling Blade
Author Comments:
75 movies is enough for me!
Nice list! While anybody can quibble, I think it will be hard to find somebody that can "rip it to pieces." So I'll just bring up one thing that has puzzled me for some time: the amount of love Donnie Darko fans shower on that film. I liked it, but it seems like most of its fans love it. A *lot*. I see that it's cracked your top 20, so I was wondering if you could tell me why you dig it so heavily? Thanks in advance!
Well since you've already seen it and have your opinion on it, I assume by your post, I launch right into why I love it w/o going through what the story is about and all. So here goes, well I identify quite alot with the lead character in the movie, we have quite alot in common, not everything but enough to where I see myself as him. My friends and brother joke around with me about it all the time, so that's one reason, another reason is the fact that this film doesn't limit itself to one genre. It's a satire, comedy, drama, sci-fi piece, period piece, allegory for good and evil, I'm sure I'm leaving some out. Their is also the fact that he is constantly struggling through the film to find somekind of meaning in his life, much like the rest of us do throughout our lives (or at least those of us that know we exist...). This movie isn't for everyone, some people can't concentrate on anything but themselves, some don't have enough attention b/c of MTV, others are too old to understand it seems, and for some the story is so complex they can't keep up with it (this happens alot frequently when most people I work with have trouble watching The Italian Job and keeping up with the plot....) I really feel like I'm rambling as I usually do when I talk about something I love. So now I'll really explain why I love the film so much. The ending just works so well for me, throughout the movie Donnie is constantly questioning his life, his family, his friends, the place of God in the world, and Death. Frank is in my mind God and he helps show Donnie that when he does die their is nothing to fear, Death is what Donnie makes of it. Donnie slowly begins to understand through the movie that something isn't right in the world and that he may have to leave everything he loves so much behind to face his most dreaded fear of dying alone. The wonderful ending, that left me confused the first time I saw it, gets better with every viewing now. The kicker for this movie getting into the top 20 for me is this. Sacrifice, Donnie understands that by the end of the movie everything he does is predestined by God and that God has given him the opporunity to not only be with him after death, but to save his friends & enemies through his selfless act of sacrifice at the end of the movie. Nothing to me is more meaningful than willingly going to your death for those you love (& hate) in order to make the world a better place, its a Christian theme given, but nonetheless one that STRONGLY reasonates with my belief system to this day. I can't recommend this film strongly enough, I love everything about it, especially the ending.
Excellent, thanks! Now I understand a bit better the amount of affection this movie garners. I'll have to watch it again one of these days!
I have great respect for a man who is bold enough to include "Airplane!" as one of the 20 greatest movies ever made. Can't say I agree with "Usual Suspects" though. I see you liked "Seven Samurai", have you seen any other Kurosawa? The reason I ask is because his movie "Rashomon" is kinda similar to "The Usual Suspects", but, IMHO, far superior.
Great list! I'm dying to make a top 100 list as well, but I haven't seen enough movies. Someday...
What don't you like about The Usual Suspects?
I suppose you see it as inferior to the other Kurosawa film, which I confess haven't seen. I will rent it though since you endorse it as well as state its better than one of my favorite movies, high expectations my friend, hopefully they'll be met.
I have a love-hate relationship with "The Usual Suspects." I guess I do think it's a pretty good movie, just not one of the top 20 movies of all-time.
"The Usual Suspects", as you know, is a very different kind of movie, where Kevin Spacey fabricates an alibi for most of the movie. Then we see the truth in that great ending that nullifies the rest of the movie. It's very clever, but it's also incredibly manipulative. Then again, I might have been able to forgive the manipulativeness, if only Spacey's alibi made more sense. As it is, it's very hard to follow Spacey's complex story. I think the filmmakers just said, "Hell, we're tricking the audience anyway, let's create an unnecessarily complex story to go along with it."
They could've gotten away with making the whole movie a lie only if the lie worked too. Think about what would happen if you took away the ending. The movie would suck.
Finally, I don't dislike "The Usual Suspects" ONLY because I see it as inferior to "Rashomon." I saw "The Usual Suspects" first and thought all of the above before I saw "Rashomon."
You seem to be threatening me based on my praise of "Rashomon" and your praise of "The Usual Suspects." I certainly hope you enjoy "Rashomon", and if you keep an open mind, I think you will, but I can't guarantee anything.
Hey, um... I think The Graduate, Mean Streets, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Rocky, Rushmore, and Star Wars:Episode 2 all deserve a spot here, but that's just me...
Just kidding about Episode 2.
Great list! There is no doubt you covered just about everything. 'Ghost World' though? Yuck! The movie is 'Mystery Science Theater' material. It was humorous at first, well, it was a dark, sarcastic humor (which I usually dig), but overall the movie's garbage. 'Donnie Darko' top 20? I have seen the movie around 15 times now (my roomate is obsessed) and still nothing. I guess I missed it too. 'Psycho' at #3? Shower scene is cool, blah blah. It's mostly just a woman driving around in a car. I have always seen the movie for what it is - boring! I loved seeing 'Swingers' though. I have seen the movie probably 100 times. It's the perfect guy movie. The real male perspective on relationships, partying, and friendship. Great movie! 'Trent' is still an idol of mine. Good times - Good list!
cheers
Donnie Darko should be number one, alas I known that certain things are better, that guy you lived with must be one great man.
I agree.