Your Top 5 Movies

[Bayleaf48]

It's the code word used by International Rescue at the end of a message, a bit like 'Roger', 'Over' etc.

[tokyogirl]

Ahhhhhh....I see said the blind man to his deaf wife

[Bayleaf48]

Now you can see why I use it a fair bit & it's in my signature

[Foxbat]

Sometimes it's more interesting to know why somebody likes a thing rather than what the thing actually is. With that in mind, here's my top 5 best ever films (or sets of films)....... In descending order of course.


5: Titus - directed by Julie Taymore. Probably the most underrated film of 1999/2000.An adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragic (and honourable) Roman General. Anthony Hopkins is immense in this visual amalgamation of past/present and fantasy. Should have won at least 2 Oscars (best picture, best original soundtrack)

4: Jean de Florette/Manon des Sources. The vibrancy of the scenery, the sharpness of the dialogue, the simplistic beauty of the plot. French filming at its finest.
3: The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy. Not only did it come close to the epic scale of the Star Wars Trilogy but actually managed to surpass it. No mean feat. A wonderful choice of location, of scenery, of fine photography, new technology and a sense of grandeur few other works can compare to. Oh, and the acting wasn’t bad either.

2: Casablanca. The finest tragi-romance since Romeo and Juliet. The setting, that song! And the wonderful one-liners. Hollywood at its best!

1: Cinema Paradiso. What else? If you have a love of cinema then this is the one and only choice. That moment when Alfredo’s gift is revealed is probably one of the most touching in World Cinema. For me, a film I can watch over and over again and tell myself that the magic of cinema is still there.

There are so many fine films and I'm sure that by this time next year my fickle mind will have a new top 5. So there you have it. Want to add your own? The floor is yours peeps.

[dwndrgn]

There are way too many to just pick five. How about I pick five in each genre

Ok, I'll make a stab at it. From the top of my head ~

1. The Court Jester, Danny Kaye and Angela Landsbury do a wonderful job in this 'Robin Hood' parody. It makes me laugh every single time. I can also sing all the songs...so don't tempt me .

2. Clockwise, John Cleese is another man who always makes me laugh. I don't know if it is his lack of facial reaction to his own words or his perfect facial antics in response to certain situations. In any case, this one has all the perfect bits - good acting, good directing, good script...

3. The Shawshank Redemption, This one is just a beautiful and emotional movie that never loses it's luster.

4. LOTR - ROTK. If I have to choose one of the three, the third hit all the right spots.

5. A Few Good Men - I'm not sure why. I normally don't like that kind of movie but this one kept me interested all the way through, numerous times. I think it was a combination of a good story that was well scripted. With the exception of Jack Nicholson and Kiefer Sutherland, any of the other characters could have been played by any decent actor and the movie would still have been good.

Ok. There's my attempt. Tomorrow they'll all be different

[littlemissattitude]

Like dwndrgn says, it changes from day to day. But I'll give it a try in today's mood. Won't be in any particular order, though - I'm not capable of that level of analysis today, I don't think.

The Right Stuff - Ensemble acting, a great script, wonderful subject matter, brilliant effects - but only where they're needed. I just love this movie.

A Hard Day's Night - Well, being a Beatles fan from way, way back (I'm old enough to remember seeing them the first time they were on Sullivan's show ), of course I love this film. But, aside from that, it really is brilliant comedy.

Rebel Without A Cause - This really is a very 50s film, but that's okay. I love this one for so many reasons. James Dean - don't have to say any more than that, really. The thing is, this is a landmark film - in some ways it invented the modern teenager. And, of course, Griffith Park Observatory is in it. I grew up going to the observatory, I've seen countless planetarium shows there, so seeing the film brings back many memories about that.

The Day The Earth Stood Still - I've talked about this before here. This is the perfect science fiction film. Period.

Empire Records - Yeah. Okay. It's about a day in the life of a record store. It's basically a teenager movie. But it is just so well crafted, from my point of view, that I love it. Also, I had a friend who worked in a record store, and it isn't all that far off the mark.

And then there are all the other films that keep popping up in my mind: "Gone With The Wind", "The Abyss", "2001", LOTR trilogy, "Home for the Holidays", "Victor/Victoria", "Kalifornia", "Manhunter", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", the original Star Wars trilogy, and more. I think the problem is, I've seen too many movies. Nah. That couldn't be it.

[dwndrgn]

Ooooh! Victor/Victoria! I love that movie! Ok, it's now on my top five. Along with The Princess and the Pirate - great Bob Hope movie. Oh, oh and Antie Mame! The original, with Rosalind Russell. Wow. I wish I had a whole day to watch good old 'flicks'!

[McMurphy]

I don't think I have the mental will-power to focus a top 5 list of my favorite films of all time, so I am going to cheat a little and narrow the thesis of the question down to the top 5 films from the '80s that I loved as a child.

5.) The Neverending Story -The first time I watched that film was in grade school. The school (I was living in Arizona at the time) had decided to set up folding chairs and a large movie screen in the gym. Aside from the time they maliciously tried to get over a hundred children to cry ( ) by broadcasting Where the Red Fern Grows, it was the only time I remember such a treat being given. I fell in love with the movie and remember cheering at the ending.

4.) Pee-Wee's Big Adventure -Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I don't know why, but I loved that movie. At least I can point out that it was directed by Tim Burton. That must count for something, right? I remember watching that film anytime I had a chance...even if I had to run out of the room every time the "Large Marge" part came on because it frightened me so much.

3.) Gremlins -Again, another movie that slightly scared me but I was not able to resist watching it whenever I had the chance. I got a kick out of the theatre scene when all the Gremlins watched Disney's Snow White. I had to cover my eyes for the Gremlin-in-the-microwave and Gremlin-in-the-fountain-at-dawnbreak scenes every time. I am starting to think I spent a bit too much time being scared as a child....

2.) Back to the Future -I still love this movie. It was flawless storytelling as far as fun, all ages films go. I remember being frustrated with the "To Be Continued" ending for so many years before the sequels finally did come out. I was convinced they would never end up making them.

1.) Goonies -Talk about a cult classic! It was the movie that could get me to have a "meaningful" discussion with any kid on the block, regardless how much we disliked each other. The secret to world peace is in that movie, my friends.


[What list would be complete without honorable mentions? As I typed these selections in this post, films such as Fletch, The Burbs, Adventures in Babysitting, Monster Squad, and even Stand By Me were begging to be on the list. Okay, so this list was more of a top 10 one in the end.

I remember some films that I can't believe I loved as a kid. Howard the Duck, Masters of the Universe, the Movie, and Short Circuit are the most embarrassing examples that come to mind.]

Good question!!

[I, Brian]

Heh, I'm not the only person in the world who ever enjoyed Monster Squad then?

As for top 5...any genre? Ooh...difficult.

Would probably include, in some roundabout order:

Once upon a time in America - Robert DeNiro and James Woods in what I personally class as the best gangster movie ever made. Truly epic storytelling.

Star Wars - The original and best - it's use of themes make this akin to a modern ancient Legend, not to mention an eye-opening vision of space.

Life of Brian - funniest film ever made

Bladerunner - great atmosphere - need I say more?

Any movies by Pixar - these are some of the best scripted and most imaginatively directed films in modern cinematic history, IMHO.

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

OK, I'll try:


1. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
What can I say? Pure popcorn glory. I have seen this film scores of times and it never fails to entertain me.

2. Pulp Fiction
Tarantino's magnum opus, I think. A story has to have a beginning, a middle and an end - by why, indeed, in that order?! My favorite part is Christopher Walken's walk-in.

3. The Ghost and the Darkness
Another great popcorn trip. Man eating lions, the plains of Africa - and India's own Om Puri in a very cool role.

4. Dark City
My favorite SF-themed film. About a million times superior to slicker movies on similar themes.

5. The Brave
Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors, and this movie (with a cameo by Marlon Brando) is simply one of the most haunting pictures I have ever seen.

[Aeolus14Umbra]

Fun topic!

Well, for what it's worth (in absolutely NO order(?))...

- THE LAST HOUSE ON DEAD END STREET (BRILLIANT low-budget cinema from early '70s!!! Chase up the DVD, people - it's got the funniest/coolest director's commentary! HA!))
- THE DEVIL'S 8 (shares the award with the similarly-themed DIRTY DOZEN!)
- THE GREEN SLIME (up there equal with THE X FROM OUTER SPACE!...and ALL Godzillas & Gameras etc etc!!!)
- LOGAN'S RUN (a childhood fave that remains a fave!)
- NIGHTMARE CITY (well, out of all those classics, eg DAWN OF THE DEAD, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, EATEN ALIVE, etc etc...I had to pick ONE! heh)

...and...THE OMEGA MAN!!!!...equal with...PLANET OF THE APES... and... and... Aaaarrrggghhh!!!!!

Whoops, that's 6(7?8?)! (Notice I got to mention others too? heh heh)...

Wow, plus a billion other movies...

Impossible question, actually!

[dwndrgn]

Ok, now that Foxbat has got me started, I can't stop! Here's a much longer list of my favorites - whether they are the best technically is up for question, but sure enjoyed the heck out of them.

Children's Movies:
1. Bedknobs and Broomsticks - great singing, wonderful use of animation, witchcraft, war, abandoned children and it all ends happily ever after.
2. The Wizard of Oz - a wonderful story of appreciating your surroundings, and watching what you wish for.
3. The Neverending Story
4. The Dark Crystal - another Jim Henson wonder
5. Pippi Longstocking - I thought she was the coolest person in the world and I wanted to be her. Unfortunately, keeping a horse in the house wasn't in the picture for me .

Drama:
1. The Shawshank Redemption
2. Bridge on The River Kwai - this is a well-told story that never gets old.
3. The Dirty Dozen
4. The Sting
5. Dangerous Liaisons

Fantasy:
1. LOTR
2. Ladyhawke - I can't get enough of Matthew Broderick, Michelle Pfeifer and of course Rutger Hauer
3. Legend - I love the cinematography on this one. Absolutely beautiful.
4. Time Bandits
5. Dr. Doolittle (the original with Rex Harrison) - I still wish I could talk to the animals!

Comedy:
1. Clockwise
2. Top Secret!/Real Genius are tied - Val Kilmer has a surprising talent for comedy.
3. Yellowbeard - I don't know what they were drinking when they made this movie but I'd like to have some...
4. All of Me - Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin should have made more movies together.
5. The Gods Must Be Crazy - I laugh myself silly over this one.

Classic:
1. Captain Blood - Errol Flynn, need I say more?
2. Auntie Mame
3. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Danny Kaye played the hapless rube very well.
4. Kind Hearts and Coronets - another Alec Guinness wonder.
5. The Scarlet Pimpernel (the original with Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon)

SF:
1. Blade Runner
2. Star Wars
3. Mad Max
4. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Accross The Eighth Dimension
5. Journey to the Center of the Earth

Ok, now that I've bored everyone, I'll stop! Although I could go on...I did skip some genres like the 'shoot-em-ups' or the westerns but I had to stop .

[Foxbat]

Some interesting choices here. I'm definitely going to have to hunt some of them down and get in the popcorn

[Aeolus14Umbra]

Just eat your popcorn in private, pal! So annoying in the cinema...ha ha...

OH GOD YEAH...Journey To The Centre Of The Earth...Bridge On The River Kwai...fantastic!

Let's not forget...ZULU!!!...duh-duh-daaaaaaa......duh-duh-DAAAAAAAAA......duh-DUH-duh-duh.......

CLASSICS? Oh where does one start? (You know in Cassablanca there is no "Play it again, Sam!"...???)...ha...MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY is a good one...ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES....KING KONG, FRANKENSTEIN, ha ha...

COMEDY????? Now don't get me started! CARRY ON = all the way!!!!!! Cheech & Chong...???

[riffraff]

yay! someone else likes dark city. i also like clockwork orange, rocky horror, sleeper and beetlejuice. but that will prob change by 2 moz. is the neverending story a film as well then? because I've got the book and I loved reading it. still do.