100 Greatest Movies (according to Time)

[shokhead]

Any list without GWTW is not worth reading.

[paul_pci]

The one WTF title that stood out for me was Finding Nemo. My god. And the one title that comes to mind that should be on the list, which I don't think anyone's mentioned yet, is Chaplin's Modern Times. A must see to understand key developments of the 20th century; and plus, it's not as hauntinng as Metropolis.

[RGA]

The problem with all of these lists is that some films are geared to art house lovers, other films to the average Joe movie goer.

I have argued on forums for a while about film art and film entertainment and if there is only one list then how does one break it down.

A Film like La Grande Illusion (1937) to me is vastly superior to Citizen Kane or Casablanca -- the latter two make lists the former -- some. Then there is Raiders of the Lost Ark which is as entertainment cheese as it gets but IMO the best film of its kind ever made -- so invariably with only 100 slots what makes the list. Someone here as already kind of blasted E.T. for making the list -- it would make mine -- it pays homage to several films like Casablanca but better it to me. E.T. is the best boy and his dog story I have seen...why not make the list -- it evens manages to be impressively directed with camera angles often and mostly always from the kids perspective looking up and out at the world -- small touch done very well.

Ebert's approach makes sense - the great movies -- the first 100 and now he has a second 100. To me the Original Dawn of the Dead is one of the great satires, why is Young Frankenstein and The Producers not there -- comedy is often left out or only silent film comedy which is fantastic as "history" but doesn't hold up as well today -- see "I love Lucy and the Honeymooners"

Some lists are about the film makig process "Citizen Kane" and understandably makes many lists. To me though entertainments should be there -- Star Wars always makes the list -- but most everyone I know prefers The Empire Strikes Back -- why not at least be "together" the way the two Godfathers are joined?

Speaking of the Godfatther -- to me Cabaret was a better movie -- and The Conversation was Coppola's true masterpiece.

81/2 I've seen twice -- so freaking what?

[dean_martin]

81/2 I've seen twice -- so freaking what?

I have to disagree with you on 8 1/2. It draws me in like a good AN system does with music! I think it's better than La Dolce Vita. I have the same response with Touch of Evil as compared to Citizen Kane.

Although I agree with the numerous glaring omissions noted by all, I was surprised with 2 Sergio Leone films being listed. Both are westerns and both are extremely deserving, IMO. But most "list-makers" would probably pick one and leave the other off.

I would like to see Tod Browning's "Freaks" get a little more recognition for it's controversial subject matter and its inspiration for many indie film makers of the modern era. I think I can count on one hand the good indie films that DON'T have a character suffering from some kind of physical deformity.

I also think that City of God was a band-wagon or trendy pick. I've seen it twice recently and I agree that it's an excellent film. I also like the realistic film making style. The story was interesting, but a little stereotypical in spots. It's one of the better recent films I've seen, but I just don't think it belongs in a top 100 list.

[RGA]

Wll there seems to be a:

It makes the list because it was a pivotal moment in film history or did something for the movie making process -- alla Casablanca or Star Wars (really it isn't that great a film with rather silly dialog - kudos to Harrison Ford for turning some real clunky dialog into something tongue in cheek -- something the new films lack).

I just don't see how anyone can really compare most films and this goes for the Academy Awards which is just a popularity contest.

I mean really how the hell do we compare a Raiders of the Lost Ark a pure popcorn entertainment to say "The War Zone?" One film is about a larger than life renaissance man battleing the Nazi's to get some mystical Ark out of Hitler's hands --- a pure impossible fiction. The other is about a family dealing with incest. WTF??? Both are about as well done as the story can hold. Then add in goof-ball films like Young Frankenstein -- which is still the most truthful to the spirit of the book of all the films done on it.

I also think the period the film was in should stay there -- ie a best of 1990s a best of 1930s -- Very few to almost no silent film holds up well by today;s technical standards -- Citizen kane is drooled over for its IMPACT on film making but really compared to Pulp Fiction or Schindler' List(which from a cinemetography perspective is about as good as film gets) it is anhialted in every visual way -- In Fact some scenes in Kane are completely distracting from the event rather than enhance them

I've avoided Fellini as 81/2 was the first I saw and it didn't impress me -- it just doesn't have "real" substance and every single review skirts the plot or the point of what comes across to me as self-indulgent tripe by the director.

Of course maybe this is why I should not be a critic because my list would have Dawn of the Dead and the original Terminator film on it and it would not have Citizen Kane, Casablanca, 81/2 among some others. My list is more front loaded from the 1960s to now. And my top ten has 3 Spielberg films and 2 Kubrick films, a Tarantino, Scorcese, Renoir, Kirosawa and MEL BROOKS. So that probably knocks my list of the art house group.

[dean_martin]

I also think the period the film was in should stay there -- ie a best of 1990s a best of 1930s -- Very few to almost no silent film holds up well by today;s technical standards

I agree with you as a general rule, but I immediately thought of the similarities I see in Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and many of Tim Burton's films - the angularity of set pieces is an example.

[RGA]

Well it's funny a lot of people dislike Spielberg and yet he's lifted from all the greats ditto for Tarantino. it's not unlike a new singer singing an old song -- if you do it better then I have no problem with it. I made an error only 2 Spielberg film are in my top ten Schindler's and one of (jaws, Raiders, ET) which seem to cycle through as my mood changes. That;s the other thing -- why be locked into what's best.

Frankly the TV film Death of a Salesman with Dustin Hoffman deals along the American Dream lines of Citizen Kane -- Death of a Salesman was visually very well done mixing stage play with film -- thematically it was more resonant to me as well.

The Terminator I justify as a romance film which is why it's in my top 100 incidentally.