HAH-BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Dr Strangelove, great stuff. I'd love to see the famous alternate ending pie fight thou, hope it appears on a DVD some day.

Well, apparently Kubrick destroyed the only copy of it, because he felt it would be out of place with all the satire. Understandable, but yeah, that'd be cool to see.

God I love that movie. It's probably in my all time top 10. I kinda wanna watch it now, actually.

32.


Halloween

Halloween remains one of the very best horror films for a simple reason: How real it still seems. My biggest issue with A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Hellraiser, etc., all the franchise slasher films that would eventually came out, is that the villain and bloodspilling is hammed up enough and relatively unbelievable in a real world setting, that it seems just about cheesy. A creature who kills you in your dreams is frightening, but Freddy is a creature who could never be real, there's never any doubt that he's not coming for you, unless you're a kid seeing it for the first time. But with Halloween, there is nothing overglorified. Myers is a man now masked, escaped from the institution, and from insanity he is killing everyone on his street on the 31st night of October. The deaths themselves, he doesn't fuck around, he stabs them or strangles them, and leaves it at that, there is no over the top bloodshed or evil laughing. Michael Myers is one of the very few horror villains who strikes you as someone who could actually come and kill you, that's what makes the film scary. To the people on the street this is just another Halloween night, horror villains are things shown in movies... that's exactly the mindset we all have right now. They are strangers to Myers, these people didn't deserve to die, they were just in the wrong way of a crazy man, and their deaths came quick and unexpected.

The other half of why Halloween is brilliant, is Carpenter's direction and storytelling technique. He uses shadows, lighting, and suspense over what will happen next to masterful effect in the film. The first half of the film is build-up to when the deaths start, but it works because it develops Curtis and etc.'s characters, it makes us care when they die. Also the ominous face hanging around the yard, waiting for night, just further builds the suspense. Halloween is truly a horror film that stands up greatly, and remains my second favorite ever for the genre for personal reasons, though I can admit it's probably the most expertly made.

31.


Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

I do need a Raiders rewatch, but as it stands in my memory, The Last Crusade is both the best Indy film and the best Spielberg film to date. The feel that this was, essentially, the perfect adventure film. It's also one of those films out there that is impossible to dislike, it's just so much fun all the way through. It has everything you could ask for in the 3rd Indy film, after the small failure that was Temple of Doom... Nazis, Indy kicking ass, interesting riddles, humor, entertainment, whip, hat, Indy. Harrison Ford as Indy is as great as he ever is, and as what makes this film the strongest in the series for me, Connery is a blast and then some. They have perfect chemistry, and he was as a legend, the perfect addition to the cast. The 3 tasks at the end would stand as one of the best sequences in adventure film history, and overall, the film for its type is just essentially, perfect.

30.


The Godfather Part II

For me, The Godfather Part II is so superior to the first that it makes my top 30 films, while the other is far out of the 100, landing at around B range compared to A. Wait... what? How is that possible Shack?

There is a similarity I feel between the Godfather films and the Lord of the Rings films, in my personal perception and comparing that is. There is one reason why Fellowship far outclasses the other two films, and why Godfather II outclasses the first, and it's the same reason: Grace. I feel that in the second Godfather film, finally Coppola made a film where he cared about the poetic filming and beauty of the shots he was directing. In the first film, many of the scenes would be the family talking among themselves, mob politics, the family, etc. In Godfather II however, Coppola created shots like Vito singing on his chair or walking in America for the first time in general, the old Italy in his prologue, Michael's fall as the bullets fly through the curtain, Vito scaling those buildings and wrapping his gun to kill the Black Hand, Fredo's denouncing and death, and it is in those scenes that he reaches a place the first could not. He takes a simpler, more poetic step in his directing. Coppola seems to be using his camera in a more beautiful way, he is filming his shots with specifics now. Apart from that, the stories themselves were simpler and more character-based, the brotherly betrayal itself and the way Michael has to handle himself as he starts getting broken down, and other things like Keaton becoming a more useful character, better pacing and enjoyability factor, and Pacino as Michael improving enough to give one of the best male performances ever, all help the film tremendously. To be honest in the first film I got tired of much of the talk, but this to me, this is the definitive mob film. By slowing things down and taking pleasure in what he is filming, Godfather II is an expertly crafted piece of film, and an improvement over the first by a mile. Don't ask me to explain the G2 - Amazing G1 - Decent seperation any more than that, I don't think I can... just consider it weird.

Wait . How is that possible Shack?

Very interesting list to follow, Shack. I haven't been commenting thus far, but followed it from the very beginning because I liked your structure of writing your thoughts to each and every of the films.

I think I should write down my list here one day as well, in the same manner as you do.

Well it's always nice to have another fan. I think your list would be an interesting one, considering from your Critics forum reviews you put a lot of weight into films in your top 25 or 30 of all time and etc.

29.


Fargo

The Coen Brothers in Fargo, crafted a noir black comedy triumph. It is a film that is not only funny in its dark and bloody themes, but excellently made and crafted as well, the Coen Brothers are operating at full strength here. Certainly the idea of a kidnapping fake set-up that goes way off is something that could be imagined before-hand, though no-one can pull plots for comedies like that quite like the Coens. The acting and characters in the film is flawless, William H. Macy and Frances McDormand are at the peaks of their careers here, but for me the best of all is Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare as the off the rails criminals, the chemistry and scenes between them are just great. In particular near the beginning Buscemi is a man that is afraid of death, he squirms when his partner in that excellently directed scene runs out in the snow to kill the man, but as the film goes on, he gets more and more broken and twisted internally, to the point where he kills men like the toolbooth guy at will to get away, it is a very good transformation they put him through, as with all the characters actually. The scene where he burys the money, and trys to mark it with a tool sticking out of the ground is just classic, as is the van argument and final woodchipper scene. The Coen Brothers are a duo that have made a living of making crime hilariously funny in as black a way as possible, and Fargo is a prime example of that. Fargo is the type of movie that is hard to explain in words what a treat to watch it is, it's just the kind you have to watch for yourself. How did the English Patient beat this again? A classic.

28.


Reservoir Dogs

Over time, I have grown to appreciate Quentin Tarantino. I have always considered him one of the very best writers working today, but as of recently, his auteur direction has grown in my taste a lot as well. Reservoir Dogs is, for me, his perfect creation. It uses quite a simple technique, for much of the film is men in a warehouse arguing and threatening among themselves, while flashbacks reveal things about the criminals in the events leading up to this. One man is a mole, originally it is left to the audience and not just the characters which one it is, though halfway through the film the suspense is lifted. The screenplay in the film is just incredible, with the limited budget and setting space, Tarantino through the power of words has no issues telling this story, and virtually every moment in the film stands as dialogue perfection, from the opening restaurant scene to where Mr. Blonde first comes in to the debriefing to Mr. Orange's flashback, it never has any moments of faltering, ever! Tarantino does a great job building the atmosphere and tension between these men, and as characters despite being nameless, they stand out. Certainly the more graphic scenes like Mr. Orange's shooting, the torture scene, Mr. Blonde's death, and the end, all are done smoothly as well. Buscemi, Roth, Keitel, Penn, Tierney, Quentin himself, the cast is uniformly rock solid, all live up to their roles completley. Reservoir Dogs keeps things simple, a group of nameless men pissed off in a warehouse, ready to pop each other, and it is my mind, the definitive QT masterpiece and a crime film that will likely stand the test of time for a while.

27.


The Ring

The Ring is personally, my favorite pure horror film of all time. For my generation, it will stand as the defining film of the genre that came out and scared its way to fame forever, and with good reason: It's simply an amazing movie. Samara is not persay an original horror villain as the scary little girl, however, she is very effective in the movie. What I think is most underappreciated from it, is the direction by Gore Verbinski, who has built himself quite the under-recognized career over the last couple years. Samara on paper is a typical horror villain, however the way he films her, the way she kills the victims, is terrifying. The Ring also does a very good job with characters, the as always great Naomi Watts makes a very likable protaganist, and over the film you do grow attached to her, her beau, and her son, and the research they do to figure out the riddle of Samara, is excellent. The old man who electricutes himself is built up well, as are other victims in the story. Samara herself, while the evil mother has been done before, the well drop is still haunting and you almost feel for her in the movie. The well itself and Samara climbing out of it is a great idea, extremely chilling. The Ring is a film that not only completley scares you in your seat, but also moves at a brisk and entertaining pace, with characters and events you care about. There is one scene that single handidly pushes this to be my top horror ever, and it is Samara climbing out of that tv. At that point you had thought the villain was defeated, you thought it was over, but when she climbs out and goes to the front of the screen, it is one of the most chilling horror moments ever caught on screen. Apart from that, you also realize that she will still be out there, she cannot be stopped. It is one of horror's greatest denounments, easily.

All great movies in the last few listed, I wouldn't have Ring in the top 100 but i did jump out of my cinema seat when i first saw it.

Yeah Ring's good, but its not in my top100.

The Ring is one of the 4-5 scariest films I've ever seen and certainly would land in my all-time Top 100. Great pick!

Reservoir Dogs is very good, I'd put it ahead of Pulp Fiction actually (though behind Jackie Brown and Kill Bill).

I'm leaving for a couple days tomorrow morning, so I think I'll blast through a bunch more tonight to make up for it.

26.


The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski is the other side of the Fargo coin. While that film was an expertise in respectable filmmaking for the boys first and black comedy second, Lebowski doesn't really give a fuck about catching acclaim, it just allows itself to be as crude as it wants and as bloody hilarious as it wants, and that it does. Both films are bril, but Lebowski barely gains the edge as the Coens best for me, simply because of how damn funny it is. The Dude, Walter, and Davey are lazy men, as we all can relate with, how hilarious is it to have heroes in a story who contribute to nothing in their lives and have no ambition, just great stuff. Bridges does a good job, but it is John Goodman who stands out the most, in probably one of the best comedic performances ever. Every time he cusses, or does something ridiculous like draw the gun at the bowling alley, it's marvellous. The plotline is strong, it strings along the characters and story very well in an almost complex way, Lebowski is a film that is not only hilarious, but ridicuously entertaining to watch in a twisted crude noir way as well. To make hilarity of the most twisted themes is the Coens forte, and The Big Lebowski is just a fantastic exercise in that. It is a film that could rise on my list with a few more viewings, as well.

25.


The Sound of Music

I've heard some people criticize this movie for being too sugar-coated, too corn infused for audience pleasure, too contrived and calculated. I consider those people to be assholes. Just kidding... Not.

No but really, I find The Sound of Music to be one of the most endlessly enjoyable musicals ever, and while critical reception may say one thing, I find it to be a film that is hard to dislike in any way. It's just so... delightful. First of all, the characters themselves, from Maria to the Captain to the children, are all immensely likable and infectious to watch, partly due to the acting by Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, and the great child actors. The movie does a good job building up the connection between them all, and the eventual connection and romance between the two adults. When they do end up being together, it isn't any over the top romantic gesture, it is a very warm exchange in their backyard with big smiles while talking about their first days together, a very believable couple they make. The songs in the film rank as probably some of the most memorable ever, from the Hills Are Alive to Some of my Favorite Things to De Re Mi to the Time to Say Goodnight ditty, they are all extremely memorable and infectious to the ears. Apart from the joyful moments of the film, the scene near the end with the song escape and the Nazis flashing their lights looking for them, is an expertise in suspense. The movie overall has very good cinematography and direction, it is finesse movie making. What more can I say, one of the most enjoyable and lovable films to watch ever, and a film that has aged very well. One of the best classics ever, I'm not afraid to say it, I just love this movie.

24.


Team America: World Police

Trey Parker and Matt Stone + Puppets + Political satire = Comedy Greatness?

I've come to the conclusion that Trey Parker and Matt Stone are geniuses, and with Team America: World Police, they made a film that will probably stand the test of time more than any of their other works. The fact that they not only came up with the idea of a crude offensive political satire starring puppets, not only made a full feature film out of it, but made a bonafide gut-bursting classic for the ages out of it, proves that these men are practically god's spawns.

Team America: World Police is just... hilarious. Every moment of it. Like most TP + MS works, it offends everyone intentionally, in as crude a way as possible, but is ultimately hilarious and then some. Team America is another one of those films where it is useless to go on for paragraphs about its worth, it's just something that people need to see if they want to laugh. Like... the opening fight scene, the dialogue out of Gary's mouth, the songs ("Pearl Harbour sucks and I... love... you" "America! Fuck yeah!" "Everyone has AIDS! AIDS AIDS AIDS!"), everything and anything Kim Jong Il, the F.A.G.("Matt Dehhhmon"), the terrorist infliltration("durka durka durka" has become one of my favorite phrases to quote), the sex scene, the vomiting, and just other lines throughout the film that are just gold ("Have you ever seen an ant eat his own head? Then you haven't seen everything"), Team America is simply comedy greatness. As a juvenile I can't help but admit it, I fucking love Team America: World Police. People who take offense to it need to seriously loosen it up. It remains one of my favorite films to rewatch as well.

23.


Rear Window

Hitchcock is known as the master of suspense, and with Rear Window, his mastery is out in full form. He sets the film from the viewpoint of one room, Stewart's character can't go out because of his leg, so he can only see. In voyeurism he takes pleasure in watching these people, in spying on them from his rear window, it gives him something to do. When he sees the door to door salesman one night carrying the briefcase away from the room, the mystery of course starts. We see what he sees, a silent look across the way at this man's apartment, and that's it. It is in silence from one viewpoint that all this suspense and mastery of what will happen next is created... In that way Hitchcock has taken his mastery of suspense, and used it in such an achieving way, we can only wonder how this man does what he does so good. It is an incredible and brilliant achievement of direction, this is the peak of the power of the greatest director of all time, and to be honest, I think it may be the best directed film of all time. Stewart and the beautiful Kelly make very good protaganists for this story, in defining roles. This is the epitome of Hitchcock, the height of his directorial power, this is the film you watch if you want to be Hitched. As a masterpiece I have it as his 2nd best film ever, I'll get back to just how the greatest directed film of all time slides from that top spot quite quickly, when in my mind his best is listed in the next couple choices.

Rear Window! Nice.

22.


The Shawshank Redemption

Shawshank is the definitive prison based film, however in reality it is so much more than that. It is a story about hope, about over time having the will-power to overcome anything, it is a story about life and friendship and how we can make ourselves better. Andy begins his friendship with Red and the rest of the inmates in one decades, and over the next 20 years we get to know these people and inmates, they grow with us and they learn about themselves. Shawshank is one of the most emotional films I have seen just because of these people and characters, the lifetime they go through in there, the way Andy spreads in the rain after he escapes because he knows that his ambition and hope has caused this, it is a film that shows how essential those things are in life. Darabont proves his direction hellas worth in here, his cinematography and angles in the prison in incredible, it is an amazingly made movie. Every scene in the film means something, whether its spreading the message of hope and redemption, or creating a clue that will come in later when Andy escapes. The poster and never seen identity scheme that is created by Andy in the jail, is brilliant. Robbins and Freeman carrying the story give career definitive performances as the leads, they are excellence. Shawshank is a film that over time more and more people will see and love, and deservingly so. It is as good as said and more.

Last one for tonight, then I'll start the top 20 when I return in a few days...

21.


Shadow of a Doubt

I mentioned Rear Window as being Hitchcock's 2nd greatest feature, and his first? No, it's not Psycho. It's Shadow of a Doubt.

For me, the biggest reason why Shadow outpaces Window, is its character work. The latter film for all its directorial magnificence, isn't deep with its characters, and that hurts it. Shadow of a Doubt is Hitchcock's absolute masterpiece for me, because it combines both masterful suspense with tremendous characterization work. Uncle Charlie is, for me, the greatest on-screen villain of all time, excluding Vadar. What seperates him so much from someone like Norman Bates or Michael Myers, is that to the hero of the story, he's not a crazy stranger, he is not an evil man who she just happened to meet by chance. Charlie is part of her family, is someone she immensely knows and is connected to, hell, she's NAMED after him. She loves her Uncle Charlie, she idolizes him, she jumps in excitement at the sound of his name... Her Uncle Charlie is her favorite person in the world, and she has known him and felt this way all her life. How terrifying is it to have a serial killer who is not a stranger, but a part of your family and your personal favorite at that too, someone who know tremendously. And then how terrifying is it that once they discover you know about them, that it becomes a scenario where they are now trying to kill you. Shadow of a Doubt is the greatest cat and mouse thriller ever because these are people who are close, there is so much more emotion invested in the predator and prey with the connection and love over the years that the two share, it is an absolute triumph of character work and depth completley.

Aside from the connection to the hero, Charlie himself is one of the greatest villains, because he is smart, likable, charming, and in control. How do you beat a man who wants to kill you, that can outwit you, is stronger than you, is stronger as disguising and lieing than you, and is still stable and immensely in control of what he is doing without remorse, while you can barely bring yourself to speak against him? When he brings up the situation that young Charlie can't tell anyone about him because her mom couldn't stand the shock, you know young Charlie should still reveal him, but he is so deceitful in his explaining that she just can't. It is wit and depth like that which make Charlie truly terrifying. Someone like Norman is just crazy, while Charlie is in control, he has your steps mapped out, he knows what you're going to do and knows how to stop it with his intelligence, he is still man that wants to stay out of jail and wants to live the fisade of respectable citizen and won't allow anyone to stop him doing it... just incredible work by Hitchcock's team. Adding to that, Joseph Cotton in the role itself is amazing as the face of both charm and evil, and Teresa Wright with a role that in most situations would be the helpless little girl, is also absolutely fantastic... The exchanges between them and the work they do make this film.

As well, the rest of the family, from the mom to the children and little smart girl, are all very well done, you feel like you could know these people, they are just likable and infectious, and unknowing of the plot around them. The black humor between the father and his friend about how'd they'd kill each other, is also a nice touch of comic relief, giving the film enjoyability in dark moments. I consider Shadow of a Doubt to be Hitchcock's greatest work, because of the character and depth that it shows, it is the anti-thesis of typical thrillers where it's random undeveloped victims and random undeveloped killers. By giving Uncle and young Charlie so much depth and emotional connection between the two, giving it so much more development than killer and victim, and with the combination of terrfic acting and perfect villain and hero creation and development, it is the greatest pure thriller of all time in my mind, because it is both a character themed masterpiece and a perfection of suspense. While Shadow sits at #21 at this time, over time I could see it climbing much higher, as it stands I consider it while not a personal top 20 favorite, a monumental cinematic achievement, and as it stands, it is both the 2nd best 'classic' and B&W film that I have personally seen.

Nice with SOAD very underrated movie.

Great to see The Ring, Godfather II and Shawshank!

You're right on with Uncle Charlie, Shack.

Joseph Cotten rocks.