My List of Favorite Films

[melon]

I'm posting this mostly for myself. I've been wanting to compile a list for a while.

In order:

1) Three Colours: Red
2) Three Colours: Blue
3) Three Colours: White
4) Am?lie
5) La Ville Est Tranquille
6) The Double Life of Veronica
7) Last Resort
8) Run Lola Run
9) My Life As a Dog
10) La Jet?e
11) Taurus
12) Chungking Express
13) Citizen Kane
14) Annie Hall
15) American Beauty
16) Battleship Potemkin
17) 2001: A Space Odyssey
18) Dr. Strangelove
19) Lolita
20) A Clockwork Orange

More to come, possibly. Any comments?

Melon

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"He had lived through an age when men and women with energy and ruthlessness but without much ability or persistence excelled. And even though most of them had gone under, their ignorance had confused Roy, making him wonder whether the things he had striven to learn, and thought of as 'culture,' were irrelevant. Everything was supposed to be the same: commercials, Beethoven's late quartets, pop records, shopfronts, Freud, multi-coloured hair. Greatness, comparison, value, depth: gone, gone, gone. Anything could give some pleasure; he saw that. But not everything provided the sustenance of a deeper understanding." - Hanif Kureishi, Love in a Blue Time

 

[pub crawler]

melon, I know Citizen Kane has been deemed by "film scholars" as possibly the greatest film ever made. I've tried to appreciate CK, but I have a hard time sitting down and watching the whole thing. Where does your appreciation for the film come from?

 

[Foxxern]

Good idea. Let's see, in no particular order:

Apollo 13
Saving Private Ryan
Life Is Beautiful
The Talented Mr Ripley
Ronin
La Vita e Bella (Life Is Beautiful)
American Beauty
Pi
The Seven Samurai
Rudy
The Day Of The Jackal




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Change is the only constant

 

[Calluna]

Melon, I am shocked and appalled that Pee Wee's Big Adventure did not make it into your top 20. I thought I knew you but I was obviously mistaken. I demand to know which number above 20 that this classic movie will be ranked in your list.

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Is that something you can share with the rest of us, Amazing Larry?

 

[Johnny Swallow]

I've only seen 6 of those, Citizen Kane, Clockwork, Lolita, Strangelove, 2001 and American Beauty.

And as for the greatness of Citizen Kane, it's not that it's the greatest story, best plot, or the most engaging characters (but those are all great parts of it in my opinion).

The amazing thing about the film is that absolutly everthing is deliberate. Every shot, every angle, every background, each little detail adds to the whole. The way that people move in and out of shadows comes to mind, as well as how the things around Kane become metaphors of Kane himself. For example, the very first shot, what do you see? A close up of a 'Keep out' sign. This represents Kane in a way, he really never let anyone in to his heart.

And the whole Hearst/Wells battle is soooo interesting to me. I just got the DVD for my birthday yesterday and I love it, it has the film on one disc and the 2 hour documentary on another. My only gripe with it is why in the world have they not released a widescreen version of this???? It's only the most influential film of all time.

Citizen Kane I obviously love.

Clockwork was very interesting from a critical standpoint but it's not the kind of movie I can sit down and just enjoy.

Lolita, I saw it but just didn't really like it all that much. I'm not really sure what to think about it. Any insight to it would be helpful in understanding it.

2001 is well, 2001.

Strangelove is one of my all time favorites. Amazing movie.

I haven't seen AB in a while but it's a sweet movie.

What are those 3 colors movies about? Arty film I'm guessing?


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This post brought to you by: Me "Don't hate me because I'm bitter."

AIM: JuanSwallow

 

[erper]

too many to name since im a film student majoring in film....but

#1 Braveheart

..................hands down no contest...well maybe star wars is a close second or tied.... but anyway


Amelie was damn good it should win best picture of the year at the oscars

i saw it 5 times at the movie theater... the only other movie i seen that many times was Gladiator 4 times

[This message has been edited by erper (edited 02-24-2002).]

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

i believe i already replied to a similar thread here asking your top five favourite films. no worries, i'll repost.

spice world
crossroads
glitter
a walk to remember
cool as ice

still remain my top five. aww yeah!

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why i see your face moving in the aerospace, white light shining you're all alone...
ME! all day, every day!
"...a poptart in pants..." -- elizabeth

 

[Anthony]

I do think 'Lolita' is a beautiful story, but I much preferred Adrian Lyne's version. I too, cannot stress enough the greatness of the french film 'Amelie', its absolutely amazing.

Of course, I don't much appreciate '2001: A Space Odyssey', and I've always thought of it as one of the most overrated films ever made, the same with Citizen Kane.

My personal favourites are (in no particular order);

1.Howard's End
2.Lolita
3.Amelie
4.Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources
5.The Madness of King George
6.Silence of the Lambs
7.Schindler's List
8.Sleuth
9.Dead Again
10.The Fifth Element
11.The Remains of the Day
12.Quills
13.Philadelphia
14.Midnight Express
15.Apocalypse Now
16.Shadowlands
17.Edward Scissorhands
18.The Age of Innocence
19.Like Water for Chocolate
20.Amadeus

Ant.

 

[HelloAngel]

In no particular order, and nowhere near complete!

Trainspotting
Breaking the Waves
Bridget Jones's Diary
Fight Club
Buffalo 66
Quills
Amadeus
Lolita (Adrian Lyne)
Secret of N.I.M.H.
Reality Bites
Wedding Singer


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I'm only asking, but I think you know.

"This is so bad it's gone way past good and back to bad again." - Enid, Ghost World.

 

[cass]

I'll be showing my age here, but that's OK.
I more go on gut reaction than, screen play, cinematography etc.
Earliest reaction often still referred to by my mum, "Lassie Come Home" apparently I was inconsolable when I thought Lassie had died.
"Cool Hand Luke" "Flaming Star" "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" "Once Were Warriors" "My Name is Joe". Must be others, I can't recall just now. I think it is when injustice is portrayed for all the world to see, that I am so moved.

My friends were sharing around the videos of the first 3 movies you listed melon. I never did make time to see them. I'll bump them up the "to see" list.

 

[wannabe]

Melon, what'd you think of The Shining?

Personally, it is high on my list.

 

[z edge]

This is a really hard thing to do Melon, because it breaks down into so many categories of picture (comedy, drama, action, horror, etc) and then I want to lean towards things like favorite actors/actresses and the sequel aspect.

I can't place these in any order from 1-20 or whatever, but I will list my favorites and hope I don't leave any out.

Jacob's Ladder
Apocylapse Now
The Empire Strikes Back
The Dead Zone
The Shining
Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Private Eyes
Silence of the Lambs
For Your Eyes Only
Saving Private Ryan
JFK
Shawshank Redemption (sp?)
Stripes
National Lampoons Vacation (original)

I don't know if anyone would even remember 'the Private Eyes', it is about 20 years old with Don Knotts and Tim Conway.

I know I forgot a bunch of movies

 

[pax]

American Beauty is my favorite film of all time. God, I can practically recite along with it. I have a still from it signed by Kevin Spacey, who is one of my favorite actors anyway.

Others that I'll throw in:

Babette's Feast
ANY Kevin Smith movie
The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride
Mystery, Alaska
Stranger than Paradise

and

The Princess Bride



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If you cannot live together in here, you cannot live together out there, let me tell ya. --Bono

You've got to cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice... --Bono

 

[UnforgettableLemon]

Originally posted by paxetaurora:


The Princess Bride

Inconceivable!

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"Shame on you! Ugly baby judges you!"

 

[melon]

More:

21) Pi
22) Storytelling
23) Chasing Amy
24) Dogma
25) Mallrats
26) Clerks
27) The Fifth Element
28) 12 Monkeys
29) Edward Scissorhands
30) Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
31) Sense and Sensibility
32) Little Women
33) Casablanca
34) Go
35) Trainspotting
36) Pulp Fiction
37) Four Rooms
38) My Brother Tom
39) Ghost World
40) The Man Who Wasn't There

Melon

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"He had lived through an age when men and women with energy and ruthlessness but without much ability or persistence excelled. And even though most of them had gone under, their ignorance had confused Roy, making him wonder whether the things he had striven to learn, and thought of as 'culture,' were irrelevant. Everything was supposed to be the same: commercials, Beethoven's late quartets, pop records, shopfronts, Freud, multi-coloured hair. Greatness, comparison, value, depth: gone, gone, gone. Anything could give some pleasure; he saw that. But not everything provided the sustenance of a deeper understanding." - Hanif Kureishi, Love in a Blue Time

 

[melon]

Originally posted by Calluna:

Melon, I am shocked and appalled that Pee Wee's Big Adventure did not make it into your top 20. I thought I knew you but I was obviously mistaken. I demand to know which number above 20 that this classic movie will be ranked in your list.

LOL...I like too many movies. It is #30. If it is any consolation, it was my favorite film when I was seven to nine years old.

Still a very enjoyable film!

Melon

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"He had lived through an age when men and women with energy and ruthlessness but without much ability or persistence excelled. And even though most of them had gone under, their ignorance had confused Roy, making him wonder whether the things he had striven to learn, and thought of as 'culture,' were irrelevant. Everything was supposed to be the same: commercials, Beethoven's late quartets, pop records, shopfronts, Freud, multi-coloured hair. Greatness, comparison, value, depth: gone, gone, gone. Anything could give some pleasure; he saw that. But not everything provided the sustenance of a deeper understanding." - Hanif Kureishi, Love in a Blue Time

 

[melon]

Originally posted by Johnny Swallow:
What are those 3 colors movies about? Arty film I'm guessing?

A French trilogy done by late Polish director, Krysztof Kieslowski. "Blue" was done in 1993. "White" and "Red" were done in 1994. I love everything about all three. I love the plots. I love the character development. I love the cinematography. I love the film scores. I never get tired of watching them either.

Melon

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"He had lived through an age when men and women with energy and ruthlessness but without much ability or persistence excelled. And even though most of them had gone under, their ignorance had confused Roy, making him wonder whether the things he had striven to learn, and thought of as 'culture,' were irrelevant. Everything was supposed to be the same: commercials, Beethoven's late quartets, pop records, shopfronts, Freud, multi-coloured hair. Greatness, comparison, value, depth: gone, gone, gone. Anything could give some pleasure; he saw that. But not everything provided the sustenance of a deeper understanding." - Hanif Kureishi, Love in a Blue Time

 

[melon]

Originally posted by erper:
Amelie was damn good it should win best picture of the year at the oscars

i saw it 5 times at the movie theater... the only other movie i seen that many times was Gladiator 4 times

I've seen it three times. I first saw it when it was the opener at the Edinburgh International Film Festival back in August, when I was doing my study abroad. Still blows me away thinking about it, because I saw it on the biggest screen I've ever seen with the best sound system I've ever run into.

The last time I saw it was yesterday.

Melon

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"He had lived through an age when men and women with energy and ruthlessness but without much ability or persistence excelled. And even though most of them had gone under, their ignorance had confused Roy, making him wonder whether the things he had striven to learn, and thought of as 'culture,' were irrelevant. Everything was supposed to be the same: commercials, Beethoven's late quartets, pop records, shopfronts, Freud, multi-coloured hair. Greatness, comparison, value, depth: gone, gone, gone. Anything could give some pleasure; he saw that. But not everything provided the sustenance of a deeper understanding." - Hanif Kureishi, Love in a Blue Time

 

[melon]

Originally posted by wannabe:
Melon, what'd you think of The Shining?

Personally, it is high on my list.

I've never seen it. It is on my "to watch" list.

Melon

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"He had lived through an age when men and women with energy and ruthlessness but without much ability or persistence excelled. And even though most of them had gone under, their ignorance had confused Roy, making him wonder whether the things he had striven to learn, and thought of as 'culture,' were irrelevant. Everything was supposed to be the same: commercials, Beethoven's late quartets, pop records, shopfronts, Freud, multi-coloured hair. Greatness, comparison, value, depth: gone, gone, gone. Anything could give some pleasure; he saw that. But not everything provided the sustenance of a deeper understanding." - Hanif Kureishi, Love in a Blue Time

 

[Spiral_Staircase]

Number of films in melon's top 40 that I've seen: 3

My comments:
1. Pee Wee's Big adventure: I admit, without shame, that I am 26 years old and still think this is a very funny movie.

2. Pulp Fiction: very good. will never see it again.

3. 2001: In all honesty, no film has left me feeling angrier. I truly thought I was going to smash the t.v.

 

[lylas]

Nice lists. Some comments.

Three colors trilogy: Wonderful set of films. I haven't seen them in quite a while. I probably should go back and try it again. White has a special place in my heart because it was the first film I saw at the Inwood, which is still one of my favorite "art house" theaters.

Amelie: I still haven't seen this yet, though I've been meaning to for the longest time. I did manage to see No Man's Land, which beat Amelie at the Golden Globes. It's a good movie. Pretty sad but with some humorous and light moments throughout. Not heavy handed. It's very good at showing the tragedy and absurdity of war, and is highly critical of the UN's involvement (or lack of involvement) in the Bosnian conflict, as well as the callousness of the Western media. Very satirical and very effective. It's more serious than Amelie and that may give it an edge at the Oscars.

Citizen Kane: a classic. very influential. really a perfect movie in many ways and great to watch.

Potemkin: I haven't seen this all the way through, just the ultra famous Odessa steps sequence. Hmm, I really have a few more holes to fill in my viewing. I have seen Alexander Nevsky though, also by Eisenstein, and it is absolutely brilliant, with an incredible score by Prokofiev.

American Beauty: Also a good film. It reminded me of Atom Egoyan's work though, which often features characters who video things, where people aren't always what they seem. Have you seen any of his work? I'd recommend Family Viewing, Exotica, and the Sweet Hereafter.

Assorted Kubrick: I've just begun to warm to Kubrick's films lately. I absolutely hated 2001 the first time I saw it. I can appreciate it now, but at the time I felt like my braincells were dying.

[This message has been edited by lylas (edited 02-25-2002).]

 

[kobayashi]

Originally posted by KhanadaRhodes:

spice world
crossroads
glitter
a walk to remember
cool as ice

still remain my top five. aww yeah!

oh my god!
those are like totally my faves too!

 

[kobayashi]

quick off the top of my head list(in no order):

the usual suspects(everyone knew that was gonna be there)
pulp fiction
reservoir dogs
memento
magnolia
national lampoons(christmas)
casino
donnie brasco
carlito's way
heat
ronin
fight club
seven
almost famous
the excorcist
snatch
+ my big cheesy one

ay it forward. i think it's a little convoluted but it is a GREAT idea and concept that is told well, strip back a storyline or two and you'll have a good movie in my opinion

 

[Calluna]

Originally posted by melon:
LOL...I like too many movies. It is #30. If it is any consolation, it was my favorite film when I was seven to nine years old.

Still a very enjoyable film!

Melon

I suppose I can live with PeeWee being at number 30.

My favorite films tend to be the quirky, wierd ones. Here are a few of my favorites in no particular order:

The Fifth Element
Twelve Monkeys
Brazil
The Big Lebowski
Pee Wees Big Adventure
Mars Attacks!
Beetlejuice
Edward Scissorhands
Ghost World
Run Lola Run
Fight Club
The Meaning of Life
Brain Candy

Thats all I can come up with at the moment.




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We plants are happy plants.

 

[bono-vox]

Amelie
Dead Poets Society
Meaning o life
and many many more

Snowman
E.T.

 

[camiloj]

I've seen alot of movies and my preference are Hollywoody type movies rather than Foreign or art-house type films. The list will show! These are movies that I consider some of my favorites!

1. Moulin Rouge
2. The Sixth Sense
3. The Fisher King
4. The Gift
5. Memento
6. Pay It Forward
7. A Beautiful Mind
8. Living Out Loud
9. Gone With the Wind
10. Forrest Gump
11. Blackhawk Down
12. Schindler?s List
13. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
14. Miracle Mile (has anyone else EVER seen this film?)
15. I Am Sam
16. Chocolat
17. Enemy at the Gates
18. The World According to Garp
19. The Shawshank Redemption
20. Fight Club
21. Magnolia
22. Blue Sky
23. The Others
24. The Player
25. Finding Forrester
26. The Ciderhouse Rules
27. Ever After
28. Billy Elliott
29. Grand Canyon
30. Life is Beautiful
31. Shakespeare in Love
32. Sweet and Lowdown
33. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
34. The Usual Suspects
35. The Green Mile
36. Armageddon
37. Enemy of the State
38. What?s Eating Gilbert Grape?
39. An Officer and a Gentleman
40. Independence Day
41. Dead Poets Society
42. The Breakfast Club
43. Bridget Jones? Diary
44. Quills
45. Gladiator
46. Bulworth
47. Pretty Woman
48. X-Men
49. Return of the Jedi
50. The Empire Strikes Back
51. Star Wars
52. The Torch Song Trilogy
53. Dog Day Afternoon
54. Playing by Heart
55. American Beauty
56. The Golden Child
57. Raiders of the Lost Ark
58. E.T.
59. Jaws
60. Erin Brockovich
61. Halloween
62. The Hitcher
63. The Spanish Prisoner
64. U-Turn
65. True Romance
66. Stand By Me
67. Titanic
68. Pump up the Volume
69. Bowfinger
70. One Flew Over the Cuckoo?s Nest
71. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
72. Misery
73. Go
74. Heathers
75. Pulp Fiction
76. Untamed Heart
77. And Justice For All
78. Legally Blonde
79. Poltergeist
80. A Simple Plan