Here’s the Friday open comments post.
Today’s suggested topic is a list of “10 all-time favorite films.”
Today’s topic — top ten favorite films, has been a happy challenge. It’s a challenge to pick just ten, but a happy challenge.
Here’s my list, in no particular order:
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Inspired.
High Noon (1952). A fine western, and rightly celebrated. Marshal Will Kane stands his ground, in a tribute to individualism. Over fifty years later, it still holds up.
Exorcist (1973). Parodied many times, but a great film from William Friedkin. Some the the scenes have a real tension, in those moments of conversation.
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). Great Harper Lee book, and a solid, serious performance from Gregory Peck in the film.
North by Northwest (1959). My favorite Hitchcock film.
Henry V (1989). Better even than Olivier’s version, Kenneth Branagh conveys Henry’s transition from supposedly callow ruler to wartime leader.
King Kong (2005). Beautiful and moving. Astonishing. My favorite of all time.
Dark City (1998). A science fiction gem: “…a lifetime of knowledge in a single syringe.”
Bringing Up Baby (1938). Always funny.
His Girl Friday (1940). Some of the funniest lines on screen, in a comedy about a big city paper.
The use of pseudonyms and anonymous postings are, of course, fine.
Although the comments template has a space for a name, email address, and website, those who want to leave a field blank can do so. Comments will be moderated, against profanity or trolls. Otherwise, have at it.
I’ll keep the post open through Sunday afternoon. Enjoy.
Hi John,
Shame, shame, shame.
How could you have left out the Fountainhead? Between Gary Cooper in High Noon and Gary Cooper in the Fountainhead there’s a film foundation for individualism.
All the President’s Men would also be an obvious selection for a film about standing up for the truth (against the state).
The best films are science fiction and fantasy because movies show things that books can’t describe real well. My picks are Star Wars (original one, part IV), Lord of the Rings, 2001, Wizard of Oz, Independence Day, Avatar, Star Trek (new one), ET (for kids but still good), Aliens (part two), the new Batman series.
gone with the wind was the first full color blockbuster and belongs on the list maybe the jazz singer would make sense as a talking picture i still think gone with the wind was bigger than any other film of all time
Well, Ayn, you’re right that I did omit the Fountainhead. That’s where ten films are a meaningful limitation — there are lots of worthy films missing. The courtroom speech is particularly powerful, in that film.
I think that the speech is the highlight of the film, and little else therein matches it (that’s both compliment and criticism).
I’ll just have to try to do better next time —
Best,
Adams
Hi
I have a list of horror films because I think that horror is better in film than in books, like the otherguy said about sci fi
Nosferatu (the old movie, not a newer one)
King Kong
Psycho
Alien
Rosemarys Baby
Night of Living Dead
Exorcist
The Thing
Hills have Eyes
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
no order except all are better than book versions would be
Greatest. Movie. Ever.
Citizen Kane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best films of all time: Birth of a Nation, Jazz Singer, Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, Snow White, Citizen Kane, Graduate, Godfather, Star Wars, Titanic
Avatar should be on the list because it will lead to a permanent explosion of 3D. I don’t know what the first big color film was but we all know what the first big 3D film is and it’s Avatar. We’re at the beginning of a new film revolution.
Avatar is not a great film just because it had 3D James Cameron has had big hits but that dosn’t mean he’s ever made a great film He has’t even made any good films! Terminator, Titantic and Avatar all made barrels of money, but were not great films
Hey, it’s not just Hollywood making movies! Bicycle Thief, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, and Seventh Seal, they are all great films. What about them?
there can be no true greatness without Ishtar. Warren Beaty has such great range.
1) Frankenstein 1931: The beginnings of Universal Pictures’ reign as THE House of Horrors in the 30’s & ’40’s
2) King Kong 1933: The Eighth Wonder of the World! ’nuff said!
3) Casablanca 1942: The film that made Bogart a star. A true Classic from WW II.
4) The Day the Earth Stood Still 1951: “Gort! Klatuu! Niktu! Barada!”
5)Godzilla, King of Monsters! 1954/Gojira 2004: The 1954 original launched a 50 year romp of truly good to truly bad (but fun) destruction; the Japanese original, remastered in 2004, is a tale that views the Japanese people—and Godzilla, as victims of American Imperialism and atomic weaponry.
6) Gorgo 1961: A little,minor, British film that is England’s answer to Godzilla. In only 78 minutes: baby dinosaur captured in the Irish Sea, brought to put on display in London’s Picadilly Circus. Paleontologists realize this 50 ft. tall specimen is a baby—and the Mother, 200 ft. tall, is coming after it! Destruction of all major London landmarks follows! Special effects are ’60’s style, but…Mother and Son are victorious! Nature prevails and they turn tail as London burns and they swim off back home!!! Catch it on TCM.
7) Dr. No 1962: Bond, James Bond, and where it all began.
8) Taxi Driver 1976: Scorcese! De Niro! The violent American tale that inspired John Hinckley
9)Superman The Movie 1978/Superman II 1980: I am linking these because they were filmed simultaneously. After George Reeves, Christopher Reeve was The Man. The first film is reverent; the second reverent AND irreverent: what fun—Kryptonite! Lex Luthor! The Phantom Zone! General Zod!
10) The Departed 2006: Scorcese! Nicholson! DiCaprio! A many layered gangster/good cop/bad cop/crime tale.
My electic list: The Phantom Stranger
The question says “favorite” films, and taht means ones people like not ones that people think are great in the view of critics. Anyone can be right about this question. So Avatar CAN be on a person’s list.
Readers can put whatever they want down on a list. If it turns out that what someone wants is only what others like or approve, then a person’s list becomes a poll result, a survey of others’ views. If that’s the case, so be it.
So much better, though, to choose what you’d like, the opinions of others being suggestions only
There’s no doubt that this website supports free speech, if I’ll approve a comment from someone who mentions (even in jest) Ishtar.
At least, I hope it was in jest….
Phantom Stranger —
I remember Gorgo, and there’s something fascinating about that film, that makes it memorable.
Superman was a real breakthrough for a film about a comic book, and the it was a deservedly huge hit. The effect of flying was well done, and much better than anything from earlier films. Really top notch.
I’m embarrassed to say that on The Departed, I am The Ignorant. I’ve heard good things about it, but have yet to see it. Its presence on your list settles the matter — I’ll rent it pronto.
Dr. No — not as famous a villain as Auric Goldfinger, but excellent, worthy of better notice, and the great start of a great series. Very cool, indeed.
Oh, I hope that I’m not too late to post my top 10 list. In no particular order:
1) Patton
2) Gone With The Wind
3) Breakfast At Tiffany’s
4) Dead Poet’s Society
5) The Godfather
6) Jaws
7) Casablanca
8 ) Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (original, not the bastardized digitally-enhanced remakes because Lucas needed more money version)
9) The Graduate
10) La Dolce Vita