My All Time Favorite Films..

[PeruvianSkies]

Ok, everyone has movies that they love and movies that they hate. It's hard for me to narrow down my favorite films, so I often have to ask myself which films I could watch anytime no matter what. These are movies that I would not want to live without.

What are 10 movies you can't live without????

In no particular order mine are:

CONTEMPT (1963)

This is by far my favorite Jean Luc Godard film for several reasons. It's such a great tribute film to the medium itself, it also stars Jack Palance and Fritz Lang and of course Brigitte Bardot and has a terrific climax. Beautiful true technicolor and gorgeous cinematography as well as an aching score by Georges Delarue. A must see for any true film lover!!!

http://www.cof.ens.fr/cineclub/synopsis/affiches/le_mepris.jpeg

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)

Without a doubt one of the greatest works of Science Fiction and a film that gets better with age. Shot in Superpanavision 70mm with little dialogue, incredible special effects, and some of the best classical music with images that are so striking and imitated. The film has so many levels of genius happening, including the usage of birthdays. Brilliant.

http://media.outnow.ch/Movies/Images/1968/2001/dvd-film.ws/14.jpg

SULLIVANS TRAVELS (1941)

Easily the funniest movie or at least one of the funniest movies I have ever seen and it is so witty and genius at the same time. Preston Sturges helmed this masterpiece of comedy starring Joel McCrea and the beautiful Veronica Lake, who is so awesome in this film it should be required viewing!

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/filmnoir/femmeweb/VeronicaLake.jpg

BARRY LYNDON (1975)

Yes, another Kubrick film, but this is clearly one of the greatest authentic films ever made. It's such a gorgeous low-key film that beautifully captures the era with the flat appearance, muted colors, and superb natural lighting. The costumes are also so authentic that this is usually a reference point for a period piece. As with most Kubrick films...many imitators to follow, none succeeded. Awesome collection of classical pieces again and The Chieftains "Women of Ireland" is well suited.

http://www.tomamusica.com/caratulas/Bso/B.S.O.-Barry-Lyndon.jpg

THE NAKED KISS (1964)

I just love Sam Fuller films, they are so pulp and odd, yet daring and cool. This is my favorite and the twist in this film is so crazy!!! Great acting, brilliant black and white photography.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6305909733.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)

The Coen Bros. have made so many awesome movies, but this one just gets better and better the more I see it and the more I pick up on the little nuances and also deeper themes of the film. Incredible performances by everyone involved here and I still laugh so hard everytime I see Walter throw the ashes onto The Dude....hysterical!

http://www.markiza.sk/markiza/data/21823/__extra_2565-Big-Lebowski1.jpg

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1968)

I love westerns and it's hard to pick a favorite, but I have seen this one the most because there is something so captivating about it. I love the music and I love the pace of this revenge story. This is also one of my favorite Henry Fonda performances, who manages to play the bad guy role quite well.

http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v68/geo175/Wallpaper%201/Wallpaper%202/onceuponsep_1.jpg

REAL GENIUS (1985)

It's no suprise that I am a huge fan of this film and it's much wittier than most write it off as. Such a brilliant film deep down, cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond and Val Kilmer's finest moments.

http://www.goldgaber.com/yh/gr/ph_real_genius.jpg

12 MONKEYS (1996)

As much as I loved BRAZIL, this is still my favorite Terry Gilliam film and one of the greater works of science fiction in recent years. A film that gets better with each viewing and the best film Bruce Willis has his name attached to.

http://www.sfondideldesktop.com/Images-Movies/12-Monkeys/12-Monkeys.jpg

NOTORIOUS (1946)

It's nearly impossible to pick just one of Alfred Hitchcocks films, but suprisingly my favorite is one of his British films and usually not nearly as popular as the likes of PYSCHO, VERTIGO, THE BIRDS, etc etc. However, it is in this suspense thriller starring the great Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman that I find the most refuge.

http://www.carygrant.net/desktop/movie/notorious-1024x768.jpg

[Dusty Chalk]

I've seen quite a few of those films, and although I cite only one as one of my favourites (2001: A Space Odyssey), I do very much like the others that I've seen (Big Lebowski, 12 Monkeys, etc.). I'll have to check out the remaining.

[salad 419]

The Big Lebowski is definately one of my Favs.

[icarus]

I must totally be out of it considering i have only see one of your greatest movies... hoooray big labowsky

[s dog]

Surviving The Game - ICE-T, RUTGER HAUER.

[Troy]

Wow, try to post smaller images! My browser is maxed out.

You picked some great moves there.

"Sully's Travels" is pretty fun, but I think for Sturgess I'd pick "Palm Beach Story." Know what tho? I prefer Frank Capra to Sturgess almost every time. "You Can't Take it With You", "Arsenic and Old Lace", "It Happened One Night", "Mr. Deeds", "Lost Horizon" are all better than any Sturgess film.

2 Kubrick picks and no "Dr. Strangelove"? Kubrick was best when he used a little humor and irony. That movie is still timeless to me. It's relevant. Barry Lyndon puts me to sleep every time I watch it.

Can't argue the Lebowski pick out of all the Coen movies. That movie just gets better every time I watch it. Still, "Raising Arizona" and "Fargo" give it a run for the money.

For Western I'd go with "Deadwood" every time. If it HAS TO be a theatrical film, then "Unforgiven" gets my vote.

Notorious? Really? Hitch made SO MANY great films, I can't imagine a personal top 10 list without "North By Northwest" on it.

I like movies too much to make lists like this. But I can't imagine not having "Apocalypse Now", "Godfather 2", "Pulp Fiction" and "Blade Runner" on it.

[The Tahitijack]

1. It's A Wonderful Life (Still holds up 60 years later. I still hear or see new things each year..."Old man Potter is the richest and meanest man in Bedford Falls"...)

2. Silverado (There are a lot of great westerns but this is my favorite)

3. 2001 A Space Oddesy (The first space movie that moved me)

4. The Graduate (I'm actually in this movie, did not know at the time how important it would be)

5. Easy Rider (You'd be surprised at the lack of dialogue, cult film reflected the times)

6. The Natural (lots of sports films but this one still brings goose bumps at the end)

7. Raders Of The Lost Ark (The opening sequence will cause you to empty your jumbo popcorn bucket)

8. The Last Emperor of China (Spectacular)

9. Memiors Of A Geshia (there is beauty in every scean with a story to match)

10. Riding Giants and Step Into Liquid (tie) these are companions/brothers that must be viewed together. Nether is better thant the other they are the best of this type film....Endless Summer Parts 1 and 2 are in a catagory all by them selves.

[PeruvianSkies]

NOTORIOUS is one of the most glorious looking black and white films and the chemistry between Bergman and Grant is sensational. What I love about the movie are the things that you don't get to see, but rather what is implied, which is what makes this film work so well. Hitchcock is commonly known as the master of suspense, but what makes distinguishes himself amongst so many others is his inept ability to take the viewer to a place that is far more suspenseful than anything else...your own imagination.

[eisforelectronic]

10. Riding Giants and Step Into Liquid (tie) these are companions/brothers that must be viewed together. Nether is better thant the other they are the best of this type film....Endless Summer Parts 1 and 2 are in a catagory all by them selves.

I thought "Riding Giants" was much better than "Step into Liquid". Both have great footage for sure, but Stacy Peralta's style is enough to elevate "Riding Giants" beyond "surf Film" to great documentary. I think of "Step into Liquid" as a pretty good "Surf Video".

[Dusty Chalk]

...distinguishes himself amongst so many others is his inept ability to take the viewer to a place that is far more suspenseful than anything else...your own imagination.I think you meant "inate", not "inept". "Inept ability" is an oxymoron.

[PeruvianSkies]

Yes, that is what I meant and I also realize looking at my list that I forgot a key title ...ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO's NEST....how could I forget that?? Arggg.

[lewburgh]

Nice selection! You can't go wrong with any Kubrick films in my opinion although there are a few I haven't seen.

No particular order here- I don't even know if I am capable of that. This is hard!

The Shining (Jack is classic! Definetely favorite horror film)

Office Space (Mike Judge)

Hoosiers (David Anspaugh, Gene Hackman, classic!)

The Godfather (Francis Fod Coppola, Mario Puzo, Pacino, Duvall, J. Caan, Brando, need I say more)

Lord of the Rings-Fellowship of the Ring (JRR Tolkien, Peter Jackson, My personal favorite of the 3 films, I absolutely love introduction to the Shire and the development and formation of the Fellowship in this Epic)

Star Wars- The Empire Strikes Back

Matrix- (Wachowski Brothers)

Heat- (Michael Mann is one of my favorite directors excluding some of his more recent films including Ali and Collateral)

Groundhog Day- (Favorite comedian and I equally appreciate him in Stripes, Caddyshack, Lost In Translation, What About Bob?, Scrooged, Ghost Busters, Kingpin, The Royal Tenenbaums)

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation- (Chevy Chase at his best- Fletch also rules)

Somewhat of a modern list of recent films but is what is coming to mind at the time.

Lew

[lewburgh]

Nice selection! You can't go wrong with any Kubrick films in my opinion although there are a few I haven't seen.

No particular order here- I don't even know if I am capable of that. This is hard!

The Shining (Jack is classic! Definetely favorite horror film)

Office Space (Mike Judge)

Hoosiers (David Anspaugh, Gene Hackman, classic!)

The Godfather (Francis Fod Coppola, Mario Puzo, Pacino, Duvall, J. Caan, Brando, need I say more)

Lord of the Rings-Fellowship of the Ring (JRR Tolkien, Peter Jackson, My personal favorite of the 3 films, I absolutely love introduction to the Shire and the development and formation of the Fellowship in this Epic)

Star Wars- The Empire Strikes Back

Matrix- (Wachowski Brothers)

Heat- (Michael Mann is one of my favorite directors excluding some of his more recent films including Ali and Collateral)

Groundhog Day- (Favorite comedian and I equally appreciate him in Stripes, Caddyshack, Lost In Translation, What About Bob?, Scrooged, Ghost Busters, Kingpin, The Royal Tenenbaums)

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation- (Chevy Chase at his best- Fletch also rules)

Somewhat of a modern list of recent films but is what is coming to mind at the time.

Lew
I think that the online world has actually brought books back. People are reading because they're reading the damn screen. That's more reading than people used to do.
Bill Murray

[KaiWinters]

Swordfish
Basic
American Wedding
The 13th Warrior
A Knight's Tale
The Sum of all Fears
Enemy of the State
Master and Commander
National Treasure
The Exorcist

[Dusty Chalk]

National Treasure -- really?

[PeruvianSkies]

Swordfish
Basic
American Wedding
The 13th Warrior
A Knight's Tale
The Sum of all Fears
Enemy of the State
Master and Commander
National Treasure
The Exorcist

Out of all the films made in the past 100 + years these are your favorites? I'm a bit surprised since the only film on this list that is over 10 years of age is THE EXORCIST. Not that age has to do with everything, but the list seems to have some odd choices like AMERICAN WEDDING (instead of AMERICAN PIE) or BASIC, which I thought there wasn't a soul in the world that enjoyed that film. NATIONAL TREASURE also was a mix and THE SUM OF ALL FEARS was incredibly poor out of all the Jack Ryan films, I would have thought HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER or PATRIOT GAMES would have been placed above this film. A KNIGHTS TALE was also a film that I thought no one really liked, let alone loved.

So I am not 'dissing' your list, just thought it was a bit different with some unlikely choices in there, i'd be curious as to what you liked about these films.

[KaiWinters]

I have one and only one credo when watching a movie "entertain me". That is it. I do not look for hidden meanings nor try to figure out what the writers, producers or directors were trying to do.
The Exorcist scared the hell out of me the first time I watched it and still does today...gives me shivers...probably my Catholic upbringing. American Wedding is my favorite of them all...basically the dance scene in the gay bar, bachelor party scene, groom shaving his hair scene, blow job scene, banging grandma scene, saving the wedding scenes, etc. just a lot of enjoyment for me. Basic was interesting. I liked the "setup" scheme to trap the drug smuggler. I liked how the woman did not crumple but got stronger and angrier as the movie went on. The end scene in the bar was a bit predictable but enjoyable for me. National Treasure was just fun to watch and I do not tire of watching it for no other reason. The Sum of all Fears was intriguing to me. I liked the behind the scenes activity on both sides. I liked how the Americans were interested in the mundane things that had an impact in one form or another. I liked "The backdoor" even if it is probably made up but actually who really knows. I liked the end scene with the engagement gift. A Knight's Tale was a funny movie. I liked the parody. It is more of a spoof than a real movie. The music was funny especially how they made it fit the scenes. Chaucer "trudging" in the nude was hilarious and losing his clothing to a gambling loss was funny too. I liked the scene trying to teach him to dance and the fighting. I liked the "smith" scenes especially when she thought he was demeaning her because she was a woman and he replied it was because she was a lousy "smith"...the Nike "Swoosh" was silly but funny and fit with the spoof atmosphere.

Hunt for Red October was good when not boringly ovedone.
Patriot Games was good but just another of a same genre to me...possibly because I have some "insiderness" of the reality of such things in the past and chuckled over some of it...yes I know there is no such word as insiderness but I enjoyed using it.

I could have named many other favorites but those hit me when scanning my collection. I probably could have added 20 more that I would consider favorites. Taste is individual and acquired. I do not feel "dissed" and generally pay no attention at all to those that rate movies professionally. I make up my own mind and enjoy what I enjoy for varied reasons and sometimes depending on the mood I am in.

[PeruvianSkies]

Fair enough...I do not discount people who want to be 'entertained' with movies. That is one of their sole functions. When the motion picture was first invented it was merely a medium to entertain people, then it became a tool for learning, and then was an artistic canvas for expression, which later became a reflection of life and all of this was happening at such a fast pace, mainly pre-1930's. Each country was then learning how to identify itself through the use of motion as well, with German Expressionism and Russia was using it for Political purposes, as was Germany. It's amazing how this single medium can be used for so many facets, but in the more recent years has been dumbed down to the point where people only want it to entertain them. There is nothing wrong with that, but I personally feel that it has more to offer and I love people mezmerized by celluloid in intellictual, spiritual, emotional, and physical ways. If my only purpose for seeing a 2 hour film is for it to make me forget about the world, than that's fine, but I am still going to have to face the world again when my 2 hours is up, now if a movie can give me something more to help me think, feel, or be a better person than it has accomplished much. Sometimes movies are just inspirational and sometimes they are done with such excellence and excellence inspires people. When movies are done poorly it makes you feel like you wasted your time and that the people making the movie are so ignorant that they can pass off garbage to you and you are still willing to waste money on it. We should feel offended when a movie does not meet the mark, yet we go on our merry way. There was a time when Hollywood was in high-demand for high quality product and it shows...look at the history of movies and the classic era of movies...sure there were a few films here and there that were not excellent, but there were also a huge number of movies that were top notch being turned around constantly.

[recoveryone]

let me put these in catogory's

Drama/suspense:
Spy Game
The Recruit
Inside man
Training Day
War:
Black Hawk down
Apocalypse now
Full Metal Jacket
Fantasy:
LOTR series
SciFi:
Star wars series
Matrix series
Comedy:
Super Troopers
American Pie series
Western:
The good, the bad and ugly
Wild bunch
Sports:
Remember the titans
Cinderella man
Glory Road
Action/thriller:
Mission impossible series

[PeruvianSkies]

let me put these in catogory's

Drama/suspense:
Spy Game
The Recruit
Inside man
Training Day
War:
Black Hawk down
Apocalypse now
Full Metal Jacket
Fantasy:
LOTR series
SciFi:
Star wars series
Matrix series
Comedy:
Super Troopers
American Pie series
Western:
The good, the bad and ugly
Wild bunch
Sports:
Remember the titans
Cinderella man
Glory Road
Action/thriller:
Mission impossible series

I enjoyed a few of your selections. I definitely think that THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY is a great western as is THE WILD BUNCH, but I also loved ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST and I would say that those are the only two films near it in scope. Those three are a potent trio for sure.

I also enjoyed SPY GAME, BLACK HAWK DOWN, FULL METAL JACKET, and CINDERELLA MAN, and of course APOC NOW. I would probably have to add a few more recent films in there as well. So, here is my list of recent films worthy of my favoritism...

RONIN
THE LAST SAMURAI
BLADE
SEVEN
DOWN WITH LOVE
ALI
MIRACLE
MAGNOLIA
SECONDHAND LIONS
ROAD TO PERDITION
FROM HELL
OPEN RANGE
FAR FROM HEAVEN
WINDTALKERS
THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE
DONNIE DARKO
DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS
THE WEATHER MAN
WAKING LIFE
CECIL B. DEMENTED
THE BIG LEBOWSKI
and ADAPTATION

[Troy]

They've been making movies for longer than 10 years guys. North by Northwest and a trainload of other movies are better suspense/dramas than stuff like Spy Game, The Insider or Training Day. Get out there and see some of the classics.

Everybody KNOWS the best sports film of all time was Caddyshack. Get with it, man!

Windtalkers is like a 50s John Wayne war movie. (It's also a euphemism for farting at my house) Honestly, that movie is SO corny. Why is everyone that shoots at Cage such a bad shot? Cage never runs out of bullets. The CGI is bad. It's just unrealistic to the point of sillyness. Rent Band of Brothers.

The wideness of this thread gives me a headache. Don't post such W I D E images in the threads! Peru, can you fix that?

[recoveryone]

Troy I had to watch most of those classic as you put it in college (film class), I'm sorry but most of them I could not identify with like some of the ones I had on my list. and you left one out Citizen Cane..............rose bud....rose bud......rose bud! or better yet how about Birth of a Nation that was a real barn burner. Most of the movies on my list mirror parts of my life. I was a U.S. Marine for 9 years, a Cop for 10 years, played sports all my life ( I golf now days) and caddy shack would have fell under comedy and not sports. So I can appreciate the old classic, but they just don't fit my life style.

[PeruvianSkies]

CITIZEN KANE is without a doubt the most advanced film ever made. It's technically one of the most innovative films ever made in an era when technique was limited. Without this film we would not have many of the modern innovations and styles. The importance of this film alone is unprecedented, let alone the narrative, which is also as challenging as it is detailed and uncompromising. If you know the story behind Hearst and Welles, you will appreciate the film even more as well as if you actually know what "Rosebud" really stands for. I recommend the following to assist you in your understanding of this masterpiece of cinema:

Check out: THE CAT'S MEOW, RKO 281, and THE BATTLE OF CITIZEN KANE.

[KaiWinters]

Wow perhaps I misunderstood your thread. I thought it asked for our "favorite" films/movies. Perhaps I was mistaken and you were/are looking for people's favorite movies that are similar to your tastes and you offend those whose tastes differ.
You must also be a highly educated and experienced film critic making my lack of education and high brow experience significantly lacking and my choices therefore without merit.
Were it made clear that such standards were in place and expected I would not have participated and certainly will not in the future.
I did not dis nor offend you for your choices, nor will I, and I thank you for your respectful treatment of my choices.

[Troy]

Wow perhaps I misunderstood your thread. I thought it asked for our "favorite" films/movies. Perhaps I was mistaken and you were/are looking for people's favorite movies that are similar to your tastes and you offend those whose tastes differ.
You must also be a highly educated and experienced film critic making my lack of education and high brow experience significantly lacking and my choices therefore without merit.
Were it made clear that such standards were in place and expected I would not have participated and certainly will not in the future.
I did not dis nor offend you for your choices, nor will I, and I thank you for your respectful treatment of my choices.

Hey, you're being sarcastic.

Look Kai, instead of whining about feeling inferior, why don't you just learn more about movies if you love them so much that you want to spend time on a movie message board? In a way, I envy you because you have yet to discover some great movies.

You guys are too sensitive.

[dean_martin]

favorites? movies I couldn't live without? yep, these are not necessarily the movies I think are "best", but are generally in my favorites list:

1) I have to lead with an Elia Kazan picture, but picking my most favorite fave among East of Eden, Baby Doll and A Streetcar Named Desire was tough until I saw Streetcar on the big screen. Man, I was blown away! Couldn't get enough of Brando as Stanley and Blanche's back story was so intriguing. The dialog is superb. It doesn't get much better than Tennessee Williams. I would have loved to have seen the original Broadway production before the Hollywood censors got a hold of it. (Some may pick On the Waterfront as their fave from Kazan and that's understandable.)

2) Blue Velvet - mind-blowing experience.

3) Donnie Darko - thought about it and discussed for days after watching it which for me is always a good thing.

4) Welcome to the Doll House - quirky, funny independent film about awkward 13 yr old girl.

5) Female Trouble - not as popular as Pink Flamingos and maybe not as popular as Polyester, but this was the first John Waters film I saw and it left lasting impressions - some good and some disturbing.

6) Tie. Jason and the Argonauts/Golden Voyage of Sinbad - I saw these as matinees during the summer between 1st and 2nd grade. I've always had a soft spot for these Harryhausen gems and I still watch them.

7) Tie. Faster, Pussycat! Kill...Kill/Camille 2000 - these are totally different films, but I discovered them at about the same time. I love the glorious black & white Faster Pussycat and the plot is just so cool! Russ Meyer's finest. Camille 2000 is a Radley Metzger film with luscious scenery, cinematography and music. This is the finest European cheese masquerading as class.

8) Tie. Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Hitcher, Return of the Living Dead - I may be cheating a little with so many ties, but when I first left home for college in 1986 my new friends and I watched these movies over and over. It was all about having fun back then.

9) A Clockwork Orange - anyone ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence? a double-WOW upon first seeing this.

10) Spider Baby - several years ago I read an article in FilmFax about this little known, almost lost B-grade horror film by Jack Hill who gave us several other B horror movies, blaxsploitation vehicles for Pam Grier, and everybody's favorite women-in-prison flicks. I tracked it down and it doesn't disappoint like so many b horror movies with tantalizing titles. This one's the real-deal, low-budget, comedic-horror film.

Some that could make the list on another day - Once Upon a Time In the West, The Evil Dead and The Evil Dead II, Crumb, Trainspotting, The Seventh Seal, 8 1/2, The Bicycle Thief, The Player (in which The Bicycle Thief plays a prominent role), Suspiria, Dog Soldiers, Pulp Fiction, Fight Club, True Romance, Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Vampyros Lesbos. A more recent film that might edge its way in over time is Little Miss Sunshine.

[Troy]

Kazan huh? Real 50s pot-boiler stuff. A lot of his stuff defined the decade.

Anyone that picks Blue Velvet, Crumb, Fast Times and Holy Grail on their list is A-OK with me. (And none of those would make my list, but they're all 5-star great)

I saw Clockwork Orange and Deliverance as a double feature once back in 1976 or so. I was 16, first time for each one. What a mind-blower!

I need to see Donnie Darko again cuz I thought is was just kinda stupid. Maybe I was just in the wrong mood. So many peole love it tho . . .

Recent movie that may creep onto my short list- Children of Men

[dean_martin]

Kazan huh? Real 50s pot-boiler stuff. A lot of his stuff defined the decade.

Anyone that picks Blue Velvet, Crumb, Fast Times and Holy Grail on their list is A-OK with me. (And none of those would make my list, but they're all 5-star great)

I saw Clockwork Orange and Deliverance as a double feature once back in 1976 or so. I was 16, first time for each one. What a mind-blower!

I need to see Donnie Darko again cuz I thought is was just kinda stupid. Maybe I was just in the wrong mood. So many peole love it tho . . .

Recent movie that may creep onto my short list- Children of Men

I read Dickey's Deliverance after seeing the movie. I was thinking that if the movie was that good, then the book must be fantastic. The book is obviously good, but it made me realize the movie is an excellent adaptation. To see it back-to-back with Clockwork at 16 must've been an eye-opening experience. I didn't see Clockwork until the mid-80's when I was 17. It hit me like a ton of lead.

I first saw Donnie Darko while in the right mood. There are certain movies that I'm drawn into when I'm feeling a little flat or depressed and want to be left alone. Darko became one of those for me. Of course it didn't hurt that my most despised actor of all time - Patrick Swayze - played a self-help guru who secretly molested children. I couldn't have scripted a better role for him. I also remember seeing it about the same time I saw Butterfly Effect. Initially they seemed comparable, but Darko is more about alternates crossing dimensions rather than time travel and I quickly picked Darko over Butterfly. Also, I found many pieces of the Darko puzzle on the web AFTER watching the movie - I almost forgot about that. Things fell into place and made more sense. Find out what you can about Sparrow's book. I have the regular dvd version which includes some pages from the book in the special features, but I think the director's edition dvd has more clues. I almost forgot about the leg work I had to do and I still couldn't find all the answers, but I found enough to satisfy my curiousity. I'm not usually one to go out and search for info to fill plot holes or answer the unanaswered in movies. Who needs the extra work? But Darko was unique in that regard.

Children of Men? I'll have to look into that one.

[Troy]

Yeah Dean-o, Children of Men is in theaters now. Destined to be a cultish sci-fi classic, the "Blade Runner" of it's generation, except it's a better movie than Blade Runner. Our tastes are pretty similar, you'll probably love it.

I read A Clockwork Orange in Jr. Hi (I was a weird kid) so I was kinda prepared. Younger guys today have no idea how different the world was back then. Today that movie plays like a documentary of typical societal ills, but back then it was staggering it's offhand brutality and general unpleasantness. Many people were outraged at the use of "Singin' in the Rian" in that movie. Nothing like that had ever been done before. It's view of the degeneration of society ended up being painfully visionary. ACW steamrolled me, but Deliverance was unforgettable. Poor Ned Beatty, forever typecast as "EEEEEEEE-EEEE!" for me. I was totally unprepared for that scene.

I enjoyed Butterfly Effect. Creepy and ugly. I'm a big fan of Amy Smart, that helped a lot.

Putting Donnie Darko in the queue.

[Dusty Chalk]

I'm a big fan of Amy Smart, that helped a lot.Dude, have you seen Crank yet?
Putting Donnie Darko in the queue.I envy you.
You guys are too sensitive.(sulks)

[Troy]

Crank in the q too. Thank yoo.

[Feanor]

Ok, everyone has movies that they love and movies that they hate. It's hard for me to narrow down my favorite films, so I often have to ask myself which films I could watch anytime no matter what. These are movies that I would not want to live without.

What are 10 movies you can't live without????



My list is the movies that I've most enjoyed or have impressed me at the time I saw them. I don't have fixed set of criteria for these movies, but the paramount, (no pun intended), criterion is entertainment value. A curious thing is that there are some on my list that I wouldn't care if I never saw again, (so "can't live without" doesn't apply), but I was glad to see them when I did.

Movies -- in no particular order ...

The Godfather, I & II / Francis Ford Coppola, 1972 & 74
The Deer Hunter / Michael Cimino, 1978
Wild Strawberries / Igmar Bergman, 1957
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly / Sergio Leone, 1966
Star Wars, Episodes IV, V, VI / George Lucas, 1977 - 83
A Clockwork Orange / Stanley Kubrick, 1971
The Graduate / Mike Nichols, 1967
Alien / Ridley Scott, 1977
Raiders of the Lost Ark / Steven Spielberg, 1981
Little Big Man / Arthur Penn, 1970But how about TV mini-series? I haven't compiled ten of them but a few of mine are:

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy / John Irvin, 1979 -- absolutely the greatest
The Civil War / Ken Burns -- close next greatest
Shogun / Jerry London, 1980
The Six Wives of Henry VIII / Niaomi Capon & John Glenister, 1970
I, Claudius / Herbert Wise, 1976
The Duchess of Duke Street / John Hawkshawe, 1976
A History of Britain / Simon Schama, 2000
Elizabeth R / Roderick Graham & Richard Martin, 1971

[PeruvianSkies]

Feanor,

I am glad to see WILD STRAWBERRIES on your list. Certainly a film of 'aching' and 'expression', which I felt more connection to this film than THE SEVENTH SEAL, which is commonly regarded as Ingmar Bergman's greatest film, which is actually, in my opinion, just a more memorable film for it's striking images that even for those who have not seen the film are typically aware of, especially if you have seen BILL AND TED.