Highest rated films - General Discussion Discussion

[–] April-151-CT (10210) 7 years ago

I don't know for the life of me why The Dark Knight is there. I went to see it with 2 other people and we all literally fell asleep. I woke up to find them sleeping too and when they woke up, we left. It was about half way through. I just couldn't believe it LMAO 😂😂😂😂

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[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

Yeah, when the first time I watched it in theatre I felt the same. The whole Two-Face story is not interesting and not even necessary. They just talk, talk, talk, and then talk. If it just compacted a bit and leave Batman vs Joker only, up the action scenes, it would be great.

It's still is undoubtly the best superhero movie ever, but obviously not one of the best movie ever.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Two Face certainly isn't as compelling as the Joker but he's important to the overall story... his alter ego becoming the extension of his real life personality. People love the Joker because he's unabashedly damaged and evil... Two Face is the mirror of Batman/Bruce Wayne, if he somehow lost himself completely. Losing faith in any empirical justice, he rejects a world where personal volition matters for his coin flip. The whole movie is about making impossible choices but while Bruce/Batman at least tries to find an answer... Harvey like the Joker simply surrenders to a cruel universe that doesn't care. Maybe, the moral of the story is found when Alfred burns Rachel's letter... it's better to view the universe through a prism like Schrodinger's Cat... believing that both good and evil can still be found rather opening the box and finding nothingness.

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[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

Two-Face the character is fine. The boring part is how his story is told in the movie. Way way too much talking and talking and talking and not enough action. This is after all a superhero movie, not a courtroom drama.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

What do you think is a good example of a non boring superhero movie?

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[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

The Dark Knight, the parts that involved The Joker. Even when he's talking there's action going on. The more I repeat view it, the better it gets. Of course, I fast forward when Two-Face is talking.

As I said before, The Dark Knight is undoubtly the best superhero movie there is. Just not the third best movie of all time.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Thanks, I was just confused because it was odd that you didn't like a big portion of the superhero movie you thought was the best in its genre. Where would you put it then? Top 100?, Top 1000?

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[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 7 years ago

Well you cannot blame the guy, his account name does have "action" in it.

I would have to agree that some movies have to have talking to go with action. If it was just action all the time, without a plot, would it not becoming boring? I compare it to a strobe light.

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[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

It's hard to rank all kinds of movies, because it's not very fair to rank different genres together, not to mention from different eras as well.

Then there's the fact that many many great movies I have never watched, mostly the old masterpieces or foreign films.

But if I must guesstimate, it would place maybe between 100th to 150th.

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[–] catsidhe (1649) 7 years ago

Two Face is heartbreaking!!!!!

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[–] April-151-CT (10210) 7 years ago

Yup. Two-Face talking in the hospital bed is the last thing I remember before conking out LMAO!!!!

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[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 7 years ago

Oh...you missed the quote about schemers.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

When I rate a film, I tend to rate it against like films... Comedy vs. Comedy... Horror vs. Horror, etc. Do you like any superhero movies? Or do you just not like the genre in general? I'm lucky in the sense that I like all categories of films but I realize there are many who only can watch certain types.

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[–] April-151-CT (10210) 7 years ago

Yes, I like certain ones. I really liked the Iron Man movies. I've seen others as well. But my genre of choice is horror.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

If you like Iron Man, you should be able to enjoy the Dark Knight... it's a little bit slower but a very good film. Maybe you were just sleepy that night... You should give it a chance if it's on some time. But yeah, for a horror fan it might not be exciting enough.

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[–] April-151-CT (10210) 7 years ago

The thing is, ALL THREE of us fell asleep. Not just me lol. It just wasn't for us.

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[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 7 years ago

The Dark Knight was AMAZING! Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises were both snoozers.

I remember when I saw a trilogy special in my local Regal, I fell asleep at The Dark Knight Rises. Then again, it was like 10:30 p.m. before it even came on.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Yeah I was arguing with someone today who thinks the Dark Knight Rises was a bad movie. I definitely think The Dark Knight is the best... but I still enjoyed the other two.

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[–] AngularTurnip (3334) 7 years ago

In fifty years do you think any of these films will still be in IMDB's Top 10 (provided IMDB still exists)?

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Interesting question, I suppose that since 12 Angry Men and The Good The Bad and the Ugly are still there... it's definitely possible. The Godfather I and II are already almost there. Which do you think least deserves its place? (When I say there, I mean... 50 years old)

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[–] AngularTurnip (3334) 7 years ago

"Return of the King." Effects-laden spectacles don't seem to age very well. How many millennials are still watching Cecil B. DeMille, after all? And yet young people still adore stuff like "Twelve Angry Men." I think that's because emotional violence ages like wine. "Twelve" generates its tension through taut writing and timeless themes -- not bloated CGI that has all the staying power of a Klondike bar on a hot July day. I loved "Return" when I first saw it; now I just find it numbing

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Well, as you see I gave it a lower rating... so I agree with you in this case... although I did like the first two better. It just felt long and drawn out to me. I think it depends on the film though... The Wizard of Oz is still very popular. I think people still watch the Ten Commandments every Easter season. But yes, good writing even for huge sci-fi/fantasy epics is the most important thing.

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[–] AngularTurnip (3334) 7 years ago

I forgot about how for many Cecil B. DeMille and Easter go together like Spokane and property crime.

"The Wizard of Oz" has effects, yes, but it doesn't try my patience anyway by using them on dull, overlong, unimaginative battles. Honestly, some of the effects in "Oz" feel less dated than "King." But that's me. The vast majority, no doubt, will marvel at "King" for years to come. I, on the other hand, will turn it on only if I'm in search for the most sure-fire method of curing insomnia I know.

Just imagine: Fifty years ago movies like "Gone With The Wind," "Oz" and "Citizen Kane" would have been in the IMDB Top 10 (if such a thing existed back then). Look where they are now ....

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Oh, I agree about unimaginative battles... especially CGI generated ones with hordes of troops mindlessly clashing together like shapes on a screen saver. For some reason, directors often think more is always better and sometimes they fill the screen with so much action that it turns into visual white noise. I think Gone With the Wind, Oz and Kane are all still rated quite highly... you just need to venture a few pages down the list in order to find them. As I said at the beginning, I don't agree with the order of the films... but I find it amusing to go through the list of what others like.

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[–] AngularTurnip (3334) 7 years ago

I'm surprised there's not a single Hitchcock in the Top 10.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

For more serious film buffs I'd recommend using this list
http://www.theyshootpictures.com/gf1000_all1000films_table.php

Personally I prefer that list... however since I'm trying to help this website catch on... I'm using a more "populist" one. Maybe if we get more of those posters... I'll go through that list next.

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[–] AngularTurnip (3334) 7 years ago

I can't stand "The Searchers." I understand its cultural importance -- and marvel at that final shot like everyone does -- but still, for the life of me, can't get into it.

I wouldn't put any of those films above "The Godfather" like they did.

I'd put "Psycho," "Rear Window," and possibly even "Notorious" above "Vertigo." I think what bugs me about "Vertigo" is when Madeleine and Judy are revealed to be one and the same. Hitch was a genius, and had his reasons for doing it, but on a suspense-level it, for me, mostly detracts.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Well that list is compiled from all the film critics' lists... while the other list is from popular votes. I agree with you about Vertigo... I'd probably put North by Northwest, Strangers on a Train, Shadow of a Doubt ahead of it as well in terms of sheer enjoyment value. I suspect it's rated higher in terms of its formal qualities as well as its influence on film in general. I'm surprised that the use of psychological complexes bothers you in Vertigo but doesn't bother you in Psycho... it seems both stories are equally far fetched. I was relieved though that they were the same as I don't believe much in supernatural phenomena. Agree that The Searchers is overrated... but I think if a better actor played John Wayne's role it might have been more effective. Wayne could be good in certain roles but I don't think he properly conveyed how racist and unhinged that character was.

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[–] AngularTurnip (3334) 7 years ago

I guess "Psycho" worked for me more on a visceral level than "Vertigo." I need to watch "Vertigo" again anyway ... Where I think both "Vertigo" and "Psycho" excel are their endings: Norman Bates breaking the fourth wall, his mom's cadaverous grin superimposed over his own; Scotty, arms spread, assuming a pose foreshadowed in his earlier nightmare, looking about to follow Judy's lead and plummet to his death .... Whereas some earlier Hitchcock efforts feel pat at their conclusions these two refuse to pull any punches .... In terms of influence, though, you really can't do a Top Ten list without including the likes of "The Searchers" and "Vertigo". Excluding them would be akin to doing a Top Ten list of TV's most influential achievements and omitting "Twin Peaks" and "The Twilight Zone."

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[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 7 years ago

Why not 100 years?

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

Good thread, Sentient.

Neither list has my top ten on them, but the second list is better, IMO.

Of your OP's list, I've seen:

1. The Shawshank Redemption, and I'd give it a 10/10
2. The Godfather, 8/10
3. The Godfather, Part II, 8/10
4. Schindler's List, 9/10
5. 12 Angry Men, 10/10

I'd like to see Inception, just haven't gotten around to it. The rest I can pass on, primarily due to being disinterested in their respective genres, but not solely.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Thanks... appreciate you taking the time to do the ratings as well.

So you don't like Superhero movies... Fantasy movies... Westerns so much?

Why not Pulp Fiction? Too crude... too violent for you?

Inception is excellent... but you do need to like Science Fiction/Puzzle type films to enjoy it.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

I'm generally not into superhero movies, although I did like the first 2 (or 3? have lost count) Spidermen, and Superman, and might like The Dark Knight.

Fantasy movies, no, not so much. Can't, off hand, think of any I've seen and liked.

Westerns, generally not, although there is one on my personal top 10 list: The Big Country.

With Pulp Fiction, most of the people I knew who liked it had tastes very diverse from mine. Fans of Blue Velvet/David Lynch for instance, and I'm not. I didn't know it was crude. Can you explain? Not generally a fan of violent films or shows, but sometimes it's necessary and effective to tell the story. For instance, several of my friends were shocked and amazed that I saw Face/Off, let alone liked it. But there was some superb acting in it, and I was also riveted by the storyline.

As to the critics' list, as I posted on another thread about "most overrated films," IMO Citizen Cane is extremely overrated, even though I think Welles was an actual creative genius, and some of the shots will always stay with me as strokes of brilliance.

Last night I saw a documentary on his War of the Worlds radio play. It was fascinating! Have you seen it? Put in historical context, the way the documentary did, what happened made perfect sense and I now have a much greater understanding, including how Welles worked.

Adding onto your and AngularTurnip's (another great user name) conversation about Vertigo and Hitchcock, I can't stand Vertigo and IMO it's far down the list of Hitchcock's best. I have no idea why it's lauded the way it is.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

I think the key for someone who shies away from Science Fiction/Fantasy/Superhero genres is to find one that has strongly written human characters where the fantasy/special effects aspects are more incidental rather than central to the film. If you look at the genre more as merely set design... maybe it will open you up to watching other films. For example... if you like Spiderman or Superman... I'd guess maybe you liked the romance in those films... as both are in many ways a Superhero/romcom film. On the other hand although the Dark Knight has some romance... it's much darker so for that reason you may not like it as much. Same with The Big Country... it has Gregory Peck in the lead... so even though I've never seen it... I'm guessing it has a strong romantic component.

Have you seen any of Tarantino's movies? They are very violent and crude... although Pulp Fiction's violence is probably less so than some of his other films such as Reservoir Dogs or The Hateful Eight. His films are almost a category unto themselves so if you are unsure of watching maybe start with Jackie Brown which is probably the least Tarantino like film of his. His films are darkly comic, with a lot of inside jokes and pop culture references and a lot of homages to cult action films he grew up watching in the seventies. If you don't like biker films, kung fu movies, blaxploitation etc... can't tolerate violence and don't like edgy jokes that push the bounds of tastefulness then I'm not sure Pulp Fiction would be good for you to see.

I think Kane suffers from overhype... since birth most have heard of it referred to as the greatest film of all time, so how could not one help but be disappointed a little when seeing it. I saw it first when I was a teenager... but when I watched later as an adult, I appreciated it much more. How could a twenty year old relate to Kane? But as one approaches middle age it has a lot more meaning and a more relatable story.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

I think the key for someone who shies away from Science Fiction/Fantasy/Superhero genres is to find one that has strongly written human characters where the fantasy/special effects aspects are more incidental rather than central to the film.

Nail > head, and that goes for any genre, except for the special effects aspect.

While I certainly have no objection to romance playing a part of, or being the focus of, a movie -- it is, after all, a very compelling aspect of life -- but that isn't why I liked Spiderman, Superman, or The Big Country, despite their genres. It's that I lose interest when characters are underdeveloped and the movie instead relies on other aspects -- action, romance, even solely plot, etc.

The Big Country does have a romance throughout it, but that's not why it transcended its genre for me. That had nothing to do with it. Admittedly I'm a big Gregory Peck fan, but the reason this film stood out is it was the first Western I'd ever seen that rather than Hollywoodising the fight scene, showed both actors getting *tired.* I loved the realism. But really it was all about the complex and strongly written characters, of which Peck's was superb. Didn't hurt that William Wyler directed it ;)

I've just looked over Tarantino's oeuvre, and notice I haven't seen a single one. That's unusual. Yeah, biker/kung fu/blaxpoitation and the like isn't for me.

You bring up an interesting point. I wonder what I'd have thought of Citizen Kane if I'd heard nothing about it. Regardless, I'd have thought the sets were terrific, and that one continuous pan from outside Kane's bedroom window to inside, and into the globe was nothing short of magnificent. All the same, for me it fell short in character development, and I did and always will feel the reveal was anticlimactic. Had there been more character development, the ending may well have worked. I was in my mid-20s when I first saw it, and have seen it since, BTW.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Once again... Kane as with the superhero/western movies... has no romance. Coincidence?... lol

Yeah, I wouldn't call Kane the greatest film either... but I did come to admire it after initially thinking it was overrated.

You should try to watch a Tarantino just to see what it's like... unless you are sensitive to violence or offended by graphic language... in which case you should skip it.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

Kane does have romance in it -- the character supposedly based on Marion Davies. I loved Aliens for instance, but, there's no romance. You'll just have to trust me on this, seeing as I know my reasoning for liking or disliking films far better than you do ;)

I don't mind graphic language, provided it's well-used, and likewise violence. However, looking over his list of films, it's unlikely I'm going to like his work. If I'm really bored some night, I might give Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction a try, but very much doubt I'll like them.

Similarly, I've never seen Twilight, and never will. I don't have to watch it to know I'm not going to like it.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Watch Pulp Fiction first... Reservoir Dogs is hard to watch for most people.

Kane has a relationship, but romance is hardly the word I'd use to describe their situation... I believe you when you say you don't need that to enjoy a movie... but I'd say a huge percentage of people do so there's nothing wrong with that.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

I'll take your and DB's advice and watch Pulp Fiction, if I watch any of his work. I don't mind profanity, but its overuse is dulling and tiresome.

I disagree with you about Kane and his wife or mistress (I forget how their relationship was portrayed in the film). While hardly an ideal relationship -- but then many romances aren't -- Kane pulled a lot of strings and spent a lot of his money trying to fulfill her dream of becoming an actress, despite her marginal, or lack of, talent. I don't see how that could be considered anything other than a romantic gesture.

BTW, in case you weren't aware, it's been very seriously speculated that her character was not solely based on Marion Davies, but a combination of her and the (very eccentric, yet fascinating) Madame Ganna Walska and one of her husbands, Harold McCormick, of International Harvest fame.

McCormick actually bought Theâtre des Champs Elysées in Paris so she could perform opera there, and backed her in many other ways, despite her voice having been panned by critics any number of times, and Erte having designed stage costumes for her.

I'm sure there are a great many people who need romance in a movie to enjoy it, and agree there's nothing wrong with that. Sometimes romance can make a movie, and sometimes it can ruin it.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

In this case I think he loved her more like a favored possession or pet (although clearly not more than Rosebud) than as a peer or a person. I remember that man recounting the story about the woman in the dress... and it felt more like Kane's views on romance (the movie not the character) were that it was something more ethereal and mythological than something concrete. You can try to accrue enormous amounts of material goods, you can try to mold your wife into your ideal of a lover, but you can never recapture that naivete necessary as a child or a young adult to have complete faith in the purity or goodness of the world.

When you watch Pulp Fiction, don't expect too much... it's very much a work of its era and because of its liberal use of pop culture references it probably would appeal to forty or fifty year olds more than any group younger or older. I think you'll either love it or you'll be mystified by its appeal.
Tarantino is definitely his own unique genre.

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[–] db20db (16568) 7 years ago

I recently re-watched Reservoir Dogs and was really turned off by what I considered to be an overuse of the profanity. It was like every other word by just about every character was the 'f' bomb and it was delivered with such venom. It became wearisome, and I'm somewhat of a Tarantino fan, I've seen several of his movies. Pulp Fiction is a much better bet.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

11. Forrest Gump 7/10 (Drama, Zemeckis)
12. Fight Club 10/10 (Drama, Fincher)
13. Fellowship of the Ring 10/10 (Fantasy, P. Jackson)
14. The Empire Strikes Back 10/10 (Science Fiction, Kershner)
15. The Human Condition 9/10 (Japanese War Drama, Kobayashi)
16. A New Hope 10/10 (Science Fiction, Lucas)
17. Goodfellas 10/10 (Crime Drama, Scorsese)
18. The Matrix 10/10 (Science Fiction, Wachowskis)
19. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 10/10 (Drama, Forman)
20. City of God 9/10 (Brazilian Crime Drama, Meirelles/Lund)

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[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 7 years ago

Out of 10:

2001: A Space Odyssey - 10
A Clockwork Orange - 9.5
The Godfather, Parts 1 and 2 - 9.5
Casablanca - 9.5
Citizen Kane - 9.5
The Shawshank Redemption - 9.5
Star Wars: A New Hope - 9.0
Fargo - 9.0
Lawrence of Arabia - 9/0
The Wizard of Oz - 9.0
Goodfellas - 8.5
The Graduate - 8.5
Apocalypse Now - 8.5
The African Queen - 8.5
Raiders of the Lost Ark - 8.5
A Night at the Opera - 8.5
Duck Soup - 8.5
Saving Private Ryan - 8.5
Gone With The Wind - 8.5
The Bridge on the River Kwai - 8.5
The Treasure of Sierra Madre - 8.5

😎

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Not the same list but thanks. I will refer to them as I go through mine.

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[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 7 years ago

Okay, that was my list. Here's my ratings on your list:

The Shawshank Redemption - 9.5
The Godfather - 9.5
The Dark Knight - 8.0
The Godfather Part II - 9.5
Schindler's List - 8.5
Pulp Fiction - 8.0
The Return of the King - 8.0
12 Angry Men - 8.5
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly - 8.0
Inception - 8.0

😎

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Thanks for rating those... I did 11-20 also. I guess you don't give any tens out. You'll see a lot of tens from me at the top of the list... but much fewer as we go further down. I figure if you are going to use a 10 point scale... you may as well use all ten numbers.

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[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 7 years ago

You're welcome.

Good point, only one film deserves a 10 in my universe, and that's is 2001: A Space Odyssey. That is the greatest film of all time imho.

But here are my ratings on 11 - 20, on a scale of 1 - 10 of course:

Forrest Gump - 8.5
Fight Club - 8.0
Fellowship of the Ring - 8.0
The Empire Strikes Back - 9.0
The Human Condition - (Have not seen this one. I'll have to check it out.)
Star Wars: A New Hope - 9.0
Goodfellas - 8.5
The Matrix - 8.5
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - 8.5
City of God - 8.0

Hmmm. Looks like I'm a tougher critic.

😎

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Good stuff... if you're only going to give one ten... that's definitely a worthy one.

What I do is rate within the genre... so even though Lord of Rings wouldn't get a 10 for me as a drama... it does as Fantasy film... Same with New Hope as a Science Fiction/Adventure movie.

I also try to remember my reaction to the film when I saw it in the theater. Like Fight Club has lost its power over time... so has American Beauty... but they stunned me when I first watched them so I still give them love.

The Human Condition is a Japanese war drama trilogy that shows the horror of war from the Japanese perspective including their occupation of China. If I remember correctly, the main character was a pacifist so in a way it was kind of their version of Hacksaw Ridge. I saw it a long time ago so I should probably watch it again to rate it properly but for now I'll leave it at 9

Do you only rate the Godfathers above Goodfellas for gangster films? Or are there others you rate more highly? Same question for Cuckoo's Nest... Hard to imagine many dramas being better than that one.

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[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 7 years ago

I see. I was just rating them in general.

I think New Hope and Empire would be the 10s in the Space Opera/Adventure category.

I was also stunned by Fight Club and American Beauty, but nowhere near as much as 2001. I saw that film way back in 1968 at the tender age of 18. I can still vividly remember every detail of that film. I also remember going home and sitting in the living room in stunned silence for three hours just thinking about what I had just been privileged to witness. It was like nothing I had ever seen in my life. I've never had a stronger positive reaction to any film. It is quite simply perfect, a true cinematic masterpiece imho.

Yes, I would rate only Godfather Parts 1 and 2 over Goodfellas. (Never mind about part 3). So I guess under your system I would give Godfather Parts 1 and 2 (I consider them one movie.) the 10 for that genre. There are other excellent crime films, but those three (or two) are the tops.

And in the "Mental Institution Films" category, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest definitely gets the 10.

😎

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Yeah, I certainly wasn't trying to change your system... more like trying to understand it. Thanks for explaining. I think most people use the 10 point system like teachers... they give mostly points between 5 and 10... very rarely using 2 through 4. This could also be because we all avoid movies that we know we are going to hate... so you don't see that many bad films by design.

2001 is a truly monumental experience... I'm younger than you so I saw it in a revival theater but I had a similar reaction. It's still amazing how accurately Kubrick imagined space, to the point where you can see how conspiracy theorists could think we faked the moon landing because it was so close to reality. Every detail was like a prophetic vision of the future from Skyping to an artificial intelligence battling humans. As I said above, if one were to only give one perfect 10... I could hardly think of any other film that was as deserving. It's almost more like a revelation or a vision than a regular movie.

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[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 7 years ago

You're welcome. Yeah, there aren't too many I would grade from 2 - 4, cause I'm usually pretty picky on the films I decide to view.

Yes it's amazing how advanced Kubrick was, especially in the realm of special effects. With no CGI he crafted a believable universe, and did a better job than many modern CGI films. He's my number one director of all time. I believe Alexei Leonov, the Russian Cosmonaut and first man to walk in space, remarked after seeing the film, "Now I feel like I've been to space twice."

And of course Kubrick had the immeasurable help of Arthur C. Clarke, my favorite sci-fi writer.

And yes, it was more like a revelation or a vision rather than just a movie. It is truly amazing.

😎

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

21. The Two Towers 9/10 (Fantasy, P. Jackson)
22. Seven Samurai 9/10 (Japanese Action, Kurosawa)
23. Harakiri 10/10 (Japanese Drama/Action, Kobayashi)
24. Interstellar 10/10 (Science Fiction, C. Nolan)
25. Your Name 9/10 (Anime, Shinkai)
26. The Silence of the Lambs 10/10 (Thriller, Demme)
27. Saving Private Ryan 10/10 (War Drama, Spielberg)
28. Léon: The Professional 10/10 (Thriller, Besson)
29. Se7en 10/10 (Mystery, Fincher)
30. The Usual Suspects 9/10 (Mystery, Singer)

It feels like I'm being over generous with my ratings, but almost all of these films blew me away when I saw them in the theater. (Except for Samurai and Harakiri which were before my time) Some have faded with time but I try to give my grade by how I felt when I originally saw them. I loved Fellowship but as the trilogy went on they felt less magical so that's why my ratings for them went 10, 9, 8. Harakiri is a great lesser known samurai film that's better than 7S imo. The Silence of the Lambs impact has faded since our senses have been dulled by hundreds of CSI shows but when it came out it was amazing. The beginning of Ryan was one of the most shocking experiences I've had in a theater... more than most horror movies. Natalie and Jean were an amazing pair in The Professional. Se7en, much like Lambs has also faded but it was very powerful when it came out. I take a point off of Suspects because although I enjoyed it a lot... I also feel it is unsolvable.

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[–] db20db (16568) 7 years ago

I'd have to agree with you on " the beginning of Ryan . " I had an uncle who died at Normandy. The first time I saw this movie, trying to process that was surreal, to say the least.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Yeah, I can't imagine how either former vets or family members would react seeing that opening segment... truly helps to demonstrate the bravery necessary to take that beach. Since, then that style has been replicated many times so it has lost its original effect. (Just saw Hacksaw Ridge for example.) Band of Brothers of course was another great tribute to those men.

Sorry about your uncle.

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[–] db20db (16568) 7 years ago

Haven't yet seen Hacksaw Ridge although I'm looking forward to it. Enjoyed Gibson's We Were Soldiers.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

You should like Hacksaw Ridge. Good old fashioned war movie.

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[–] db20db (16568) 7 years ago

But it seems different somehow, from what I've gleaned. What I consider as " old fashioned war movie " is To Hell and Back with Audie Murphy .

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

I never saw the film... but didn't they make a movie about a pacifist called Friendly Persuasion? Also, Hacksaw is based on a true story.

Gibson's good at capturing the feel of older films. Of course it won't feel like an Audie Murphy movie but relative to what currently comes out of Hollywood... it seems as close as you might get.

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[–] db20db (16568) 7 years ago

I've never heard of that movie. Speaking of true stories, the most recent war movie I've seen that really moved me was Unbroken. That guy humbled me !

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Well, if you like Unbroken... you should like Hacksaw then. Don't want to build too much expectation... but the guy also showed incredible bravery.

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[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

Yeah. I've watched both. Similar themes, but Hacksaw Ridge has better direction.

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[–] AtomicReturns (1252) 7 years ago

Great idea for a thread!

I had no idea Inception was #10. And I forgot Dark Knight was so high (I think Inception was the better film, but I haven't seen TDK in a long time either). I'll save this thread and expand more on those IMDB entries later on.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Thanks... I took IMDB's list and added smaller films that haven't yet qualified for their Top 250. Hope to see your comments and ratings too.

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[–] db20db (16568) 7 years ago

bump

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

31. Spirited Away 10/10 (Anime, Miyazaki)
32. Life Is Beautiful 8/10 (Italian War Drama/Comedy, Benigni)
33. The Intouchables 9/10 (French Biopic, Nakache/Toledano)
34. Once Upon a Time in the West 10/10 (Spaghetti Western, Leone)
35. It's a Wonderful Life 10/10 (Drama, Capra)
36. City Lights 9/10 (Silent Romantic Comedy, Chaplin)
37. Satantango 10/10 (Hungarian Drama, Tarr)
38. Alien 10/10 (Science Fiction/Horror, R. Scott)
39. The Prestige 10/10 (Drama, C. Nolan)
40. Gladiator 8/10 (Adventure, R. Scott)

Spirited Away is a great introduction to anime... I rewatched it recently and it didn't have quite the same effect but still it's a magical film and I'm giving it full marks because of my reaction to the first watch. I was torn on Life Is Beautiful... I really enjoyed it when I saw it... but then when Benigni made a spectacle of himself at the Oscars, I thought maybe he cared more about himself than the subject matter. It is a good film though. Intouchables is a heart warming film that relies mostly on the charms of its main actors which are considerable, especially Omar Sy. I would've graded it a point lower but it is a true story so I took that into account as I did with Lion. OUATITW is an epic Spaghetti Western, perhaps the best of its type... I prefer it to The Good The Bad and the Ugly. City Lights is a wonderful silent but I took off a point because the female lead wasn't memorable. Satantango is a trip... probably unwatchable to 99% of the population but amazing for those who can. Alien is probably the best horror sci-fi film. The Prestige is brilliant although I'm not thrilled with the ending... the rest of the film is so good I still give it a 10. Gladiator is overrated... a nice movie but I'd rather see Ben-Hur.

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