What are your favorite all time Movies and Why?
I really enjoy movies. One of the things I like spending spare money on is electronics. I purchased this neat Sony DVD changer a few years ago. It holds 400 DVD's. I kid with my wife a lot, and tell her I am going to watch TV and I will see her in a few months. I think the key to a good marriage is separate TV's. She watches her reality TV shows downstairs, and I watch my action movies and comedy's upstairs.
I tend to watch a lot of movies over and over again. I think when you watch a movie from the past it may bring back some good memories from different periods of your life. What is a little weird for me is that none of the movies on my list are that recent. I have watched plenty of good movies over the past few years, but off hand there is nothing I want to watch over and over again. Here is a list of movies that I enjoy and why in no particular order.
1. The Fugitive.
I think I am going to watch this movie tonight again. I just love the part when he is in the hospital and he reverts back to his profession and saves that boy.
2. Heat
This movie has smart cops and smart criminals. I love movies that show how smart people can actually be. The song at the end by Moby called God Moving Over the Face is a must have in my opinion.
3. Grosse Point Blank
I probably watch this movie or parts from this movie about 10 times a year. It is just one of those movies that you know you are going to have a good time watching right from the opening song. {I can see clearly now} I really like the fact that John Cusack and his buddies Steve Pink and D.V. DeVincentis worked on the screenplay together. John also put two of his sisters, and his brother in the film, as well as Jeremy Pivon, who is a good buddy of his. I love the theme of a hit man going back to his 10 year high school reunion. The reunion part of the movie was right on. The music and the writing are tops. There is a great version of Let My Love Open the Door on the sound track. Also Pressure is another great song by Bowie and Queen. I think you can tell the guys just had a blast making this movie. I always felt if you could mix your hobby with work, success will come pretty easily.
4. Americas Sweethearts
I think this is a very funny movie with great characters. Billy Crystal was great as well Chris Walken. I think the whole cast was great. Once again I think a bunch of friends having a good time shines in this movie.
5. Wall Street.
Another movie with a brilliant Part. Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen just play their parts to a tee. I also like the stock market. This is another movie with some smart characters.
6. Hero
This is a fantastic film with Dustin Hoffman. I like the movie because it is really about people. When it comes down to it most people really do have good inside them. People just need to make sure they work hard enough to bring the better parts of themselves into everyday life.
7. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.
I can't say enough about this movie. You laugh so hard right up till the end, then you cry. The train scene is very powerful with a great song by Dream academy. This is John Hughes at his best! The last scene ends with a freeze frame on John Candy. I miss that guy!
8. Animal House
How much fun do you think these guys had making this movie. I think this movie stands the test of time and will never get old. John Belushi is another actor who died way too soon!
9. Die Hard
Bruce Willis was great in this movie. The action was a lot of fun, Once again overcoming great odds is always a great theme. I think Bruce is working on another Die Hard as we speak!
10. Con Air
I think this is another one of the great action movies of all time. Once again we are dealing with smart people. It is hard to go wrong with Nicholas Cage. This is another fun movie with many great scenes.
Remember this list isn't necessarily a top ten list for me. These are just movies I really enjoy and could watch over and over again. I would love to hear other people's views. What movie dos you like and for what reasons?
You did ok until you mentioned Con Air as a great movie. That made me puke in my mouth a little bit.
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Heat - Agree with you here. One of the better crime-drama movies I've seen in a long time. Really, an incredible ensemble cast: Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Judd, Jon Voight, Henry Rollins. Oh fine, I'm a Rollins fan, had to throw him in.
Ronin - If not THE best, one of the best car chases ever filmed is in this movie. Although somewhat lesser-well-known actors, still a great ensemble cast.
Real Genius - Certainly not the greatest movie ever made, but it certainly shaped my own college experience.
Glengarry Glen Ross - Anyone who has ever worked in sales or will work in sales should see this movie.
The Fisher King - Talk about confronting your demons... this movie illustrates that we sometimes we are broken by them. We have to stare our demons down, so to speak. My favorite line is by Jeff Bridges, "Sometimes paranoid schizophrenics will say anything to get laid." In any case, this is a great movie about the road to redemption.
There's Something About Mary - FRANKS AND BEANS!
Oh crumbs, I'm all thumbs laying here with you. You're beautiful and busty and I'm a little rusty - I've forgotten what to do...
Conan the Barbarian is the best movie ever. I don't think the necessary dissertation to explain why is feasible right now, but on the simplest level it breaks down to me always being really happy when I'm watching it.
Actually, it's God Moving Over the Face of the Waters, and yes it is awesome.
I don't think it's unusual for older movies to be at the top of your list. They've had time to become meaningful to you, and we often look at the past through rose-tinted glasses.
Aliens - It's about everything, facing your fears, showing compassion, camaraderie, even redemption for the androids, and oh yeah, great action sequences. It does a good job of highlighting the better traits of humanity while still admitting that we can be real bastards at times.
In the Line of Fire - Very similar to how you described Heat, actually, with great performances from Clint Eastwood and Malkovich Malkovich.
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Quite possibly the best movie line EVAR!!
Mongol General: What is best in life?
Conan: To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.
Oh crumbs, I'm all thumbs laying here with you. You're beautiful and busty and I'm a little rusty - I've forgotten what to do...
Ok, I know people think I'm some intellectual-type guy, but the real answer is:
Baseketball.
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No judging now.... Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
Reasons
1) George Carlin
2) nobody wears a pop top anymore
3) Ted Theadore Logan
4) the ROCKIN music
5) i just so love history
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wordsmythe you are my new favourite person.
What are your feelings towards Bogus Journey? I personally have owned it for years and worn out the tape, but can't bring myself to buy it on DVD.
I love Death. Also, evil robot Bill and Ted.
"He burns at the center of time and can see the turn of the universe."
I actually think I prefer Bogus. It may be weaker overall, but I love the Grim Reaper.
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Edit: Oh yeah, I have the DVD box set. I got it about the same time I got the Wayne's World box set. All I can say about ranking the 4 is that WW2 is the worst.
To ease the OoCT crew's job:
WW2 is the worst.
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I absolutely love the Bill and Ted movies. They're the most underrated movie awesomeness ever.
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Great choices here. I don't know how I left out Something about Mary or for that matter Me Myself and Irene. GlenGarry was an absolute Gem. After fisher King I went out and bought about 3 different versions Of I Got the Power.
The Hudsucker Proxy
The true nature of man can only be revealed in a comedy.
Sneakers
This movie positively jives. James Earl Jones furiously exclaiming that "Tahiti is not in Europe" gets me every time.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
I could watch it back to back forever. Flawless.
Master and Commander is in the running, but is still far too young to have stood the test of time. The Mosquito Coast is close but suffers some flaws and also would be the third movie with River Pheonix in it. That'd just be weird.
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Trainspotting - I could watch this movie over and over again. Plus the scottish accents and Euro dance soundtrack are a nice bonus.
Groove - Reminds me of the good old days of dancing until 5am in some random SF warehouse.
O Brother Where Art Thou? - Wonderful story, dialogue, acting and soundtrack.
Secretary - It has James Spader, Maggie Gyllenhaal and BDSM.
American Psycho - Gruesome but has a point.
Ouch, I have lost myself again
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Thanks for the correction with God Moving Over the Face of the Waters. Yes I agree with you that it isn't unusual for the older movies to have more meaning. Comparing the present and the past is interesting. I will be turning 45 in February. I can't say the past is better then the present, because I really enjoy my life now and I enjoyed my life as much in the past also. I would say the present is a bit more complicated because of certain events. My mother lost her battle to cancer In 2004. There was 9/11. There is lot of world tension right now. Even though I wake up happy every day right now, maybe when I watch a 1996 movie like Grosse Pointe blank, in back of my mind I am probably thinking Life was less complicated then. Therefore it adds to the enjoyment of the older movie.
In the Line of Fire is another excellent choice. John Malkovich is really a great actor. He is probably why I enjoyed Con Air so much. I have always enjoyed Eastwood also! Aliens ranks very high with the horror films.
Highlander 2.
Because that is the only acceptable response to favorite movie threads.
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american Psycho was a very good movie because it was so real. it makes you tihnk alot. I have yet to Secretary but it is in my dvd player. I like maggie. I also Have always thought highly of James Spader. He has played some neat roles. O Brother Where Art Thou I hated while I was watching it. I did grow on me after a little time.
Another good list here. I haven't seen Master and Commander Yet. I have trouble watching movies set that far back in time. It made me think of Crimson Tide though, and for some reason that reminded me of Field of Dreams!
Off the top of my head i'd go with Gattica, The Princess Bride, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
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I didn't believe in having "favorite" movies, until I watched Scarface.
That, and Blade Runner.
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Hmm. Top 5 movies....
1) Saving Private Ryan
2) Fight Club
3) Raiders of the Lost Ark
4) Shawshank Redemption
5) Seven
I can watch any of those movies any number of times.
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So many movies... A lot of people have already named most of my favorites, so here are a few different additions..
1) Psycho - Great pacing & direction. My favorite Hitchcock film of all time.
2) Metropolis - 1926 silent film that's been horribly ill-preserved since its released. It had some incredibly ingenious special effect ideas and imagery that are still present in modern day culture (Pink Floyd's The Wall especially) as well as a (at the time) bold story line of social division in a futuristic society.
3) Jaws - "Show me the way to go home, I'm tired and I want to go to bed. I had a little drink about an hour ago and it went right to my head!..." God I love that movie. Thankfully, AMC runs it at least once a month.
4) Miller's Crossing - The best Coen Bros. movie that no one's ever heard about.
5) Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Because I had to pick a movie that wasn't all doom & gloom... "NI!"
I'm surprised Edwin hasn't submitted one of his lists yet.
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No mention of the Godfather series? No LotR? My list is actually pretty close to JMJ's, but sub The Godfather pt. 1 or 2 with Seven.
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In no particular order:
O' Brother Where Art Thou? -- This movie just captured me. Nothing about it reminds me of Mississippi, but everything about it I love.
Shawshank Redemption -- I just like this movie.
Sling Blade -- Mmm Hmm.
Star Wars, A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back -- the two that made the series (of six) worthwhile.
Apollo 13 -- Don't know what it is, but this movie just makes me feel proud when I watch it.
Raiders of the Lost Ark -- the quintessential adventure of my childhood.
Thrown into the mix includes just about any Johnny Depp movie, the Spiderman movies, the LotR movies, Serenity, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Story, Die Hard, Terminator, Rocky.... it goes on and on and on. The more I think about it, the more I realize that it'd be really hard to list a top 20. The ones above would move around in the top 5 or 6, but beyond that -- good luck.
Sin City - Beautiful art direction along with very interesting stories.
Payback - This movie introduced me to the anti-hero and I loved it.
Snatch - If it wasn't for the british accents might be my favorite movie of all time.
Clearly I have a thing for anti-hero movies.
And unfortunately the other movies I'm thinking of haven't had the test of time to see if I'll still want to watch them any chance I get. But I'll at least say the more recent movies that I think have a chance of becomming my favorites: Thank You For Smoking, Howl's Moving Castle, and Idiocracy. Idiocracy being the newest to the list but I downloaded it last week and have watched it 4 times since then, along with ordering the DVD yesterday from Amazon.
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My top two are the only entries in a top movies list that don't vary with time.
1. The Usual Suspects
I love this movie because of how amazingly well done it is, to the point of where it actually made me realize how many different elements go into making a movie. The scripting, the camera angles, the editing, all the things I had never thought about before or even noticed, this is the movie that opened my eyes to the intricacies of film making.
2. When Harry Met Sally
Because so much of this movie is humorously painfully true. I've probably watched this movie more times than any other two films combined, and I never get tired of it.
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Oh, man, you have great wisdom. I love the extended version on DVD, with a few scenes where Ahnuld actually emotes.
Raiders of the Lost Ark - I prefer the purity of the first 75% of this film over the general greatness of Indy 3
The Third Man - Oh, man, where do I start? Great writing, great acting, the soundtrack, the ferris wheel scene, the chase in the sewers. Perfect movie.
Seven Samurai - another perfect film.
Gold Rush, the General - silent films that still work almost 100 years later. The General is the better of the 2.
Sunset Boulivard - All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up!
Das Boot - best. surround. soundtrack. ever.
I can think of a lot more. Double Life, Casablanca, Notorious, Rio Bravo, Dangerous Liasons, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Chinatown, Crotching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Road Warrior, Fist of Legend, on and on.
We shall grapple with the ineffable, and see if we may not eff it after all.