Your Top Ten Films... EVER. - Page 2

Here is my updated list. I had to do my top 15 because this list tends to fluctuate from time to time...

01) TIE: Star Wars - A New Hope & The Empire Strikes Back
02) Raiders of the Lost Ark
03) Good Fellas
04) Raising Arizona
05) Rocky & Rocky II
06) Wild At Heart
07) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
08) Apocalypse Now
09) The Shawshank Redemption
10) Alien & Aliens
11) Fight Club
12) Brazil
13) Pulp Fiction
14) Rain Man
15) The Lord of The Rings films (They may deserve a higher position, but time might change that. I have not seen any of them more than twice all the way through yet).

The list changes:

01. Return of the King
02. The Two Towers
03. The Crow
04. Fight Club
05. Fellowship of the Ring
06. The Empire Strikes Back
07. Trainspotting
08. Brotherhood of the Wolf
09. Blue Velvet
10. The Big Lebowski

1.Pulp Fiction
2.Kill Bill vol.1
3.Taxi Driver
4.Fight Club
5.Resivoir Dogs
6.This is Spinal Tap
7.Empire strikes back
8.Fellowship of the Ring
9.The Royal Tenenbaums
10.Dogma

First of all, I am further in awe of Nick, since he has The Thing at the top of his list. You seriously rock, dude. Anyways, here goes:

1. The Exorcist. Simply the most effective motion picture I have ever seen. A great story, lovingly told, with amazing acting, convincing direction and cinematography, and one of the most chilling scores (or pseudo-scores, since it's actually piecemeal) ever in a movie.

2. Phantasm. This is one of those movies, you know? It came out around the right time, and had the right people, and the right mood about it? I mean sure, the story isn't exactly wrought in stone, and God knows it's not one of the best-budgeted flicks in history, but it works.

3. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. This is one of my faves because it is just so fucked up and fun. Never before has there been a movie that was so smart, tongue-in-cheek and whacked out all at once. And everyone plays it so serious, the effect is not unlike one of the Airplane! movies.

4. The Thing. I totally concur with Nick's appraisal -- without a doubt Carpenter's finest hour. Some folks see Alien at the forefront of the sci-horror sub-genre, but I couldn't tell you why...

5. Dune. No, I still haven't read the books, and don't know if I want to. David Lynch created an amazing film with his interpretation of Frank Herbert's work, and made it completely his own. From the production design, the gung-ho acting and the stylish visuals, Dune sucks you in from the get-go and doesn't let go until the cast reveal at the end.

6. Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope, Whatever). It's Star Wars to me, dammit. The Classic Of All Classics as far as I'm concerned -- simply because there's something timeless about it, and something that always suspends the most weighted of cynicisms about the franchise, or of Lucas' work in general -- for me at least. I can always enjoy that time long ago and land far, far away.

7. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I'll just lump these together, seeing as how we've discussed them to death seperately already. Being a Tolkien fan, I too at first treated the subject of a film series based on the books as something of a heresy -- but thanks to the loving work of Peter Jackson and company, the films stand on their own as well as being a tribute to the Prof. and his wonderous land of Middle-Earth. These are definitely films that I will be watching again and again in the future, since they will always hold that fascination for me.

8. Naked Lunch. We're off to Weirdsville again, I know -- but my taste in films tends to head that way. David Cronenberg's oddly compassionate portrait of William Burroughs, and a fascinating look at the disturbingly sensuous dimension of his work. A wonderfully freaky movie, too.

9. The Fog. My second fave Carpenter flick, and one of the coolest horror movies ever. I love returning to Antonio Bay every once in a while, just to keep up with folks. Hal Holbrook is still a little skittish, Andrienne Barbeau is foxier than ever, and Tom Atkins remains The Man's Man of Modern Cinema. Plus, those pirate ghosts rock all to hell, too.

10. Total Recall. Ahnuld at his peak, and Paul Verhoeven's best, IMO. The perennial 80's action-scifi-mindfuck flick, and it even has a swanky Jerry Goldsmith score to boot. It's funny, exciting, somewhat well thought-out, and has some wicked visuals. And with the likes of Michael Ironside, Sharon Stone and Ronny Cox thrown into the mix, how can it possibly miss?

Sure there are plenty of other movies I could add, and a few I might swap out if I gave it more thought -- but fuck it, it's almost 3am and I'm tired

You always struck me as a Clash of the Titans type of guy. It didn't make your list?

Wow, this is going to be painful. Of course, as new movies are released and old ones I've never seen are visited, my lists change. I'm 28, BTW.

10) A Clockwork Orange - Poor little Alex. This film is delicious in every way. Two wrongs don't make a right, do they? "Bliss, bliss and heaven; It was gorgeousness and gorgeosity made flesh; Oh, it was wonder of wonders; And then, a bird of like rarest spun heavenmetal, or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now."

9) Gattaca - This film is about doing what everyone says you can't. Vincent's relationship with his brother also strikes close to home for me and my brother ( who recommended the film to me. ) "The only way you're going to see the inside of a space ship is if you were cleaning it."

8) Raiders of the Lost Ark - Simply great adventure. Indy is a true icon. "You wanna talk to God? Let's go see Him together; I've got nothing better to do."

7) The Shawshank Redemption - I hate for this topic to sound like a broken record, but perhaps that's a testament to how this film is so damn good. "Get busy livin', or get busy dyin'."

6) JFK - Wow. This film stripped me bare and left me for dead on a snow swept highway; Such is the panic and paranoia infused by Stone's masterpiece. "I couldn't imagine anything more uncouth than my turning towards the kitchen and yelling 'Frankie'!"

5) Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope - I know ESB is the popular favorite, but A New Hope is the one I fell in love with. "You'd have been killed too, and the droids would now be in the hands of the empire."

4) Schindler's List - Poetic and haunting; disturbing and glorious. Steven Spielberg's very best. "I could have gotten more, but I didn't!"

3) Princess Mononoke - I could loop the DVD through TV glasses and headphones and watch it 24/7 without effort. Beautiful on every level. "To see with eyes unclouded by hate."

2) The Lord of the Rings - Tolkien created a single story that was split into three tomes ( and six books ). Jackson's masterpiece was created in the same spirit, as was made evident when I attended Trilogy Tuesday. "And if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you'll be swept off to."

1) 2001: A Space Odyssey - Without a doubt Kubrick's purpose on this Earth. This film would make me weep if I weren't so frightened by the possibilities. "I'm afraid, Dave."

edit- wow this is an old thread... I've been duped!

1) godfather 2- hard to pick the "sequel" without the original, but I'll do it anyway. why I particularly like this movie more than the first is the juxtaposition of the rise of Vito and the fall of Michael. anyway the movie has everything going for it... there's not a weak link anywhere. when I think about this movie for some reason I am reminded of that famous line in Our Town where it goes from micro (15 grovers corners or whatever the hell it is) to macro (the universe... the mind of god) this movie is about a man, but also about his family, and about the people associated with that family, and about the people associated with the people associated with the family, about the country they all live in, and even about the entire world in relation to that country. it just keeps getting bigger and about bigger things, business, politics, economics, history... and then BOOM. it goes back to the man, and his family, and the tragedy of it all.

2) unforgiven- because I love westerns, specifically clint eastwood westerns... and after you see this movie you realize they are all just movies. and there's nothing wrong with that... but I have never seen such a powerful deconstruction of a mythology... and all done so simply. I don't know if this is the way it was back then but it is definitely a metaphor for how it is. no heroes, just actions. no purpose, just agendas. no truth, just perspective. no god, just emotion.

3) ran- What can I say about this film? It just blew me away on every possible level, that's a start. I love King Lear, I might love this film more.

4) memento- I was and will always be haunted by this film. I actually read a review that said the film was gimmicky because it didn't hold up played chronologically! jesus, could you miss the boat that much? I have no idea how a relatively novice director structured such a tight and perfect movie. Guy Pearce gives perhaps the greatest performance I have ever seen an actor give.

5) raiders of the lost ark- The standard for action/adventure. Nothing touches it, except perhaps...

6) the empire strikes back- I'd rate it above raiders if raiders wasn't so note perfect. the mythology was expanded here to an astounding level... and I am sorry but from my perspective "I am your father" is the single most iconic moment I've ever witnessed at the movies.


7) the conversation- like memento this film haunts me to no end. "when the red red robin goes bob bob bobbin along." I love movies that fuck with you, and this is perhaps the best of those. you go through what caul goes through... the intrigue, the deception, and the only reason I was left in awe and not as paranoid as harry is because, well, I was just watching a movie. also it apparently summed up the paranoia of the time very nicely... which I guess is another feather in its cap.

8) the english patient- this is my casablanca.

"Betrayals in war are childlike compared with our betrayals during peace. New lovers are nervous and tender, but smash everything. For the heart is an organ of fire."

"We're the real countries. Not the boundaries drawn on maps, the names of powerful men... I know you'll come carry me out into the palace of winds. That's all I've wanted, to walk in such a place with you, with friends, an Earth without maps...."

9) eyes wide shut- my favorite kubrick movie... I love how he manipulates the audience (and the main character). how he sets up everything and then, the way it's played out, brilliantly lays bare aspects of our psychology (specifically about our three main obsessions; love, sex, and death) and how we make mountains out of molehills of it all.

10) the graduate- this film is the best satire yet on my main obsession-- which is obviously my life, my environment... the american middle to upper middle class. what the hell are you supposed to do after school anyway? plastics? yeah. fuck 'em. sure nichols said at the end of the bus ride they wouldn't be anyplace different, and elaine would be wondering "what am I going to wear?" but it's that action, that almost self imposed exile, that should be a lesson to my generation and a warning to those expecting us to take care of them when they get older. THIS is the world I am inhereting?? No thanks.

Where to begin, where to begin. I'm 24.

10. Point Blank. John Boorman's best film, Lee Marvin is the ultimate badass in this film and the film is visually brilliant, he turned what could've been a boring revenge film into something more.

9. Bullet in the Head. An intense emotional film about three friends hurtling through a country in chaos. Simon Yam is a badass. The final scene between Tony Leung and Jacky Cheung is heartbreaking. Has a very haunting theme.

8. Hero. One of the most visually amazing films I've ever seen.

7.Godfather 2. A popular one but a good one. That shot of michael sitting alone is one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever seen and watching Cazale look both pathetic and defiant is riveting "I deserve some respect dammit, I'm smart, not like everyone else but I know things"

6. The Wild Bunch. Peckinpah's finest hour. The shot of them riding horses as the mexicans sing is beautiful.

5.Akira. I prefer the manga but this is still a masterpiece of animation.

4. Friend. First time I saw it all the memories of growing up came flooding back and the last shot had me in tears.

3. The Man who wasn't there. The Coen's ultimate salute to Noir.

2. Raiders of the lost arK. Had to add this. The film is just awesome.

1. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance. An intense, gripping film. There's no way to describe the shit that goes down in this film.

1. Lawrence of Arabia
2. Lord of the Rings trilogy
3. Jaws
4. Sunset Boulevard
5. Original Star Wars trilogy
6. Modern Times
7. L.A. Confidential
8. Festen
9. Vertigo
10. Come and See
11. The Thing
12. The Gold Rush
13. The Big Sleep
14. Once Upon a Time in the West
15. Godfather trilogy
16. North By Northwest
17. Bridge on the River Kwai
18. 2001: A Space Odyssey
19. Goodfellas
20. E.T.

This list changes all the time.

In the order that my sluggish brain puked 'em up to me:

• Godfather Part II
• High Noon
• Psycho
• The Natural
• Aliens
• Raising Arizona
• On the Waterfront
• The Age of Innocence
• Don't Look Now
• Twelve Angry Men

Edited to add: Of course, there should be room in there for The Deer Hunter or Apocalypse Now or West Side Story or Death of a Salesman or Jean De Florette / Manon Des Sources or Kes or the first Godfather...

I'll play. I may have contained them in a numeric order; however that does not mean any of these films are lesser than the other. These are the movies I can watch over and over again. And have and will do - for many years to come.

1)Lawrence of Arabia. THIS is the reigning champ of all movies. The movie that inspired/inspires a legion of film makers. The rest of the movies in no particular order:
2)Dark City
3)The Sting
4)The Right Stuff
5)Empire Strikes Back
6)Raiders of the Lost Ark
7)RAN
8)Excalibur
9)Alien
10)Hard Boiled

Honorable Mentions:
*War of the Roses (the one movie where the chemistry between Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas is BURNIN'!)
*Heathers
*The LoTR Trilogy (soon to be in the Top 10)
*Kill Bill (the funnest time in the theater)
*Minority Report (the more I watch this film, the more I love it)
*The Usual Suspects
*Strictly Ballroom
*Finding Nemo

This just makes me realize how much I love cinema.

This list changes like every fucking day. So here it is.

1. Goodfellas
2. Robocop
3. Re-Animator
4. Pulp Fiction
5. Aliens
6. Once Upon a Time in the West
7. Empire Strikes Back
8. Mallrats
9. Raiders Of the Lost Ark
10. John Woo's The Killer

1. Robocop

2. The Incredible Shrinking Man

3. Once Upon a Time in the West

4. The Outlaw Josey Wales

5. The Thing

6. The Killer

7. Dark Star

8. Night of the Living Dead

9. Halloween

10. Escape from New York

bubbling under: Assault OP13, Prince of Darkness, The Fog, Airplane, Jacob's Ladder, Angel Heart, Bullet in the Head, A Better Tomorrow, Just Heroes, Dirty Harry, For a Few Dollars More, Good/Bad/Ugly, Dawn of the Dead, First Blood, American Werewolf, The Howling, Above the Law, Marked for Death, Out for Justice.

Almost definitve, couple change here and there as the mood takes but pretty solid

Jacob's Ladder if I only know one thing about this list it's that this is the greatest picture ever made.
La Grande Illusion
E.T.
Powder
Contact
Lord Of The Rings - yeah, the whole thing. Inseperable. Sue me...
A Place In The Sun
On The Waterfront
Heat
Once Upon A Time In America

In no particular order....

Dr. Strangelove (or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb) - Sellers and Kubrick at their best w/ an incredibly quotable script. Kubrick's films tended to reach to be "heavy". This one walked the line - social commentary and dark comedy at the perfect blend.

The Godfather - I won't go into the endless praises that could be heaped upon this film. Goodfellas was great, but this set the mafia bar out of reach.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles - No matter how many times you watch it, it is always funny. No better compliment can be given to a comedy.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Defines the Western genre imo.

It's A Wonderful Life - The perfect holiday movie. The little man against the corporation. Despair against hope. The feeling of being utterly alone versus the warmth of community. Who cares if it is communist propoganda, it pulls all the right strings.

Rushmore - Is it a comedy? Is it a drama? Superb story telling is what it is.

Jaws - Shaw's story on the boat alone knocks this one into the top ten. The build up 'til you first see the shark was brilliant.

Cool Hand Luke - Stick a gun to my head and force me to make a choice: this is my favorite movie of all time.

The Last Waltz - Makes me mourn that I wasn't old enough to have gone to a show before they called it a day.

Smokey and the Bandit - I almost feel like I need to apologize for this. However, Burt was cool, Sally was hot and Gleason was hilarious.

Wish there were room for: Raising Arizona, Resevoir Dogs, Platoon, Catch-22, Psycho and The Great Escape.

Good Lord! How could I have forgotten to include Hoosiers. Hell, replace any of my top ten, except for Cool Hand Luke.

I'll just mention my favorite movie of all time

Millennium Actress--this movie is pure love for me, certain moments, when the main charector finds a painting of herself on the wall after the bombings, and when you learn the fate of the main charector, and her Love just brings me to tears

In no real order. I will say Lord of the Rings, Empire, and Raiders are the top three:

Die Hard
Usual Suspects
Empire Strikes Back
Raiders of the Lost Ark
12 Monkeys
Fight Club
Lord of the Rings (the entire trilogy)
The Godfather
Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan
Evil Dead 2

I'd hate to even start to list the honerable mentions since all Nick asked for was a top 10.

As obviously expressed by all us film geeks, nailing down just 10 can be an exercise in futility.

But for the hell of it, I offer:
[in no particular order]

Pulp Fiction- Saw this at a sneak preview back in 1994. I remember just staring in awe as I absorbed everything. Now, it's effect is slightly less on me, but I still think it is a masterpiece.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy- Since everyone is listing these together [in all fairness-- how can you NOT?!?], I'm joining the club. However, if I was forced to pick just one, I'd have to give it to the EE of FoTR-- but just by a hair over RoTK. These films opened my eyes to fantasy, something I never got into growing up- dunno, just never dug it. Now,not only am I enjoying Tolkien's written works, but I'm going back and giving a second chance to other films of that genre I earlier glazed over.
Swingers- This came out right when I was experiencing a similar situation in my love life. Just everything clicked for me, and I can instantly be transported back to that time just by watching it. And that's not a bad thing, because amidst the misery, I made lots of great friends and expanded my horizons.
GlenGarry Glen Ross- The amount of talent in the film is nearly mind-boggling. Immensely re-watchable, it proves that cursing can be poetry, too.
Die Hard- One of the few action films that have stood the test of time. FX are tight, and for all the times it's been re-hashed, this original still rises above. Perhaps the first movie that I could quote line for line as a teen.
Cool As Ice- Just checking to see if anyone was reading this...
Goodfellas- Just feels so real. Amazing performances and time after time, the story never gets old.
The Empire Strikes Back- Leaps and bounds better than ANH or RoTJ. Harrison Ford OWNS this film, and it was the first 'cliffhanger' ending I can recall seeing.
Raiders of the Lost Ark- I believe Nick said it best- the PERFECT action movie. Find a fault, I dare you.
Matrix- Actually, the convoluted chaos that came about with the sequels [which I really enjoyed, BTW] makes this one jump up a few notches in my book. I had been busy that summer and failed to see this until late August. Luckily, no one had spoiled 'what is the Matrix?' for me. I can recall leaving the theater with my friends [who had already seen it several times] and being as giddy as a schoolboy. Subsequent viewings have so far held up. I completely buy into that world.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest- A difficult choice for me to put here. While I love SO many things about this film, it's certainly the one I have seen the least. This film, more than any other emotionally drains me. It's not something I can watch time and time again, but simply amazing nonetheless.

Cool as Ice?!

you just gave up you right to be called human

uh I"m just going to list my 10 favs putting them in order would break my brain.

1. Akira
(I'm an anime fan so yeah) It was seeing the reflector lights of the motorcycles for the first time and thinking this sooo kicks Disney's ass.

2. Shaolin Soccer
when I first started posting here a year or 2 ago this movie was a news story about a movie I should order online. I did and I have watched this movie more than any movie I own on DVD. Its just sooo funny and great.

3. Hackers
Oh yeah. with references to Decepticons (before it was hip to reference Transformers) and a young Angelina Jolie. And Penn from Penn and Teller. I love this movie.

4. Goonies
My best childhood movie. I remember seeing this for the first time and not believing how much the kids cursed in it.

5. The Crow
Its a shame all the others sucked balls cuz I love this first movie. Encore has been showing it every other day this month and I've watched bits and pieces of it every time its on cuz i love the look of this movie.

6. Ghost in the Shell
yeah its more anime.. but the first anime I saw in the movie theater. I was blown away at how great it was on the big screen.

7. Sixteen Candles
Anthony Michael Hall. Molly Ringwald. and a young John Cusack.

8. Better off Dead
John Cusack's finest role. This movie just rules. I wanted to marry the french girl.

9. Army of Darkness
yeah its cliche by now.. but damn I love this movie. like I'd really leave out Bruce Campbell?

10. Purple Rain
The first R rated movie I ever saw. It had boobies. It had Prince. My wife loves Prince and is from Minnesota. My sister loved Prince and is how I got to see the movie when I was in 3rd grade. Honestly its one of the greatest rock n' roll stage performance movies ever made. Morris fuck'n Day. Let's go crazy.

10. Aliens. - What is fear? "Movement!" "Where?" "Uhhh, can't lock in." "Talk to me, Hudson." Really well crafted monster movie, B flick that is actually on the A level. Cameron creates great characters.
10. Predator. - Before the movie actually came out, I used to rent the trailer on vhs and play it over and over. That's how much I love this film.
9. Contact. - It's under the radar a little, but the pure heart this film has is astonishing. Jodie is brilliant, and that sound effect is still creepy as hell.
8. Ransom. - Gibson. Sinese. "Gimme back my son!" "You want him?" "Yes!" "You want him?" "Yes!" <BANG>
7. Unforgiven. - "Well I'll see you in hell, William Munney." "...Yeah."
6. Shawshank. - Redemption. Hope. Life. This film is almost too powerful to watch.
5. Face/Off. - Woo reaches the very peak of the stylistic, operatic action movie. Great performances too.
4. Die Hard. - Classic action film, with smarts. Is as good today as when it was released. Hans Gruber rules.
3. Matrix. - Absolutely blew my mind. Stylish and brilliant, like how I want to be.
2. Terminator 2. - Life-changing film. All the pathos, all the struggle that defines who we are as humans. Cameron's masterpiece.
1. Raiders. - Greatest film ever. Will last forever. Opened my childish eyes.


Honorable mentions: Dogma, Fifth Element, Total Recall, Key Largo, Desperado, Blade Runner, Blade, Maltese Falcon, Crouching Tiger

If I tried to put these in order, I'd fry my brain:

American Beauty- I've always liked it when stage directors move on to film. This is beautifully directed, acted, scored, shot and written. It absolutely nails all the awkward moments and encounters of daily life and succeeds in creating a truly memorable and relatable cast of characters.

Requiem For A Dream- one of the single most powerful films I'm likely to ever see. There is nothing to hide behind in this film- it's brutal, it's sickening, it's depressing and I love it for that. Ellen Burstyn gives one of the best performances of our time.

The Lord of the Rings- all three of them. The best trilogy in American cinema, if you ask me. Every single thing about these films is done to perfection and I have never been so consistently entertained, moved, and impressed by a series of films.

Raiders of the Lost Ark- the best adventure movie ever made. Exciting, funny, scary, excellent production values, perfectly cast, amazing stunts... there's nothing to dislike here.

Fight Club- one of the most effective movies ever made. For every reason I'm sure has been stated before, this is just a flat out brilliant film, and one of the few to be better than the book it was based upon.

Casablanca- the tightest movie ever made. Everything is there for a reason, and it all works. Best dialogue ever put on screen, and Bogey kicks more ass than any Brad Pitt or George Clooney ever will.

Ronin- the most no bullshit spy movie I've ever seen. It's gritty, realistic, moves like no other movie, the action is quick and brutal like it should be, and the cast is right on.

Chinatown- I fucking LOVE film noir, and this is about as good as it comes. Excellent script, Jack and Faye are amazing, and the entire film is just dripping with atmosphere.

High Fidelity- I like it when Stephen Frears and John Cusack work together, and this is my favorite collaboration of theirs. It's so quotable, the soundtrack kicks ass, Cusack and Jack Black are excellent.

Saving Private Ryan- the best war film ever made. This is such a brutal, devastatingly realistic portrayal of both the physical and mental horrors of warfare and Spielberg, Hanks and the rest of a stellar cast of actors do more than their part to pull it off. This also stands as one of the most technically stunning films I've ever seen. Cinematography, sound, special effects- all utilized to enhance the experience without calling attention to themselves. Black Hawk Down did that incredibly well, also.

Honorable mentions: Black Hawk Down, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Blade Runner, Princess Mononoke, The Thing, From Russia With Love, Moulin Rouge, Aliens, Bull Durham, The Sting, LA Confidential.

1. Conan The Barbarian - I pray for one more Conan film PLEASE!

2. Lord Of The Rings - Nothing else needs to be said.

3. Gladiator - I though this was a masterpiece.

4. Brotherhood of the Wolf - It's French but you gotta love it.

5. Castaway - Very powerful.

6. Point Break - TBS all the way baby.

7. Harry Potter - I think these movies bring out the kid in me.

8. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation - I just laugh my ass of to the day for this movie.

9. Sweet November - I don't know why but I really liked this movie.

10. Titanic - Jim Cameron at his best.

Excuse me hear, but I really believe that the BEST movies in anyone's (anyone who really has fun with cinema and KNOWS cinema at the same breath), wil understand this:

"Best" movies come from directors/filmmakers who are making films THEY themselsevles want to see.

The one example that immediately comes to mind: Raiders of the Lost Ark. It's the type of movie that not only did Steven Spielberg and George Lucas watched when they were young lads, but the embelishments were added as the ones they WISHED that had been included in what they had seen...waaaay back when. The embelishments and "what they had seen" all came together to make such a movie as to be included in just about everyone's "Top 10" list.

Mine has been the same for a while but here goes:

10. A Christmas Story: Even if we were in the middle of July this would be on my list.

9. Major League: The lines from this movie that stick in my head are too many to count. "One hit! One goddamn hit!"

8. Naked Gun: I don't think 30 seconds pass without something funny happening in this movie.

7. The Punisher: Scoff if you like, but I love it.

6. Commando: Arnold at his excessively violent best!

5. Face/Off: Everyone involved had their "A" game going for this one, even Margaret Cho!

4. Heat: The best crime drama ever that just happens to throw in the best shootout ever as a bonus.

3. Batman: I'm probably still watching it through my 11 year old eyes but so what, the movie rocks!

2. Pulp Fiction: Changed the way I watch movies.

1. Die Hard: It will always set the standard for action movies. The coolest cinema hero, the baddest cinema villain, and at least 10-15 other characters that shine throughout the entire movie.

Here I go:

1) Ghostbusters-- The film that injected celluloid into my bloodstream. The film that made me hungry for the art of moving picture storytelling, watching anything and everything I could stick into the VCR. The acting is perfect down to the cop in the jail cell. The chemistry between the principals is golden. The special effects still hold up and the ones that don't still shine with personality and love. It's immensly quotable, and it's at the top spot for me. The best blend of comedy, horror, and special effects ever, and a surprising amount of intensity in the final act just cements this as my favorite film, and nothing but nothing will ever top it.

2) The Shawshank Redemption-- Proof that voice over works better than spoken dialouge when used correctly. The most sweeping epic on such a personal and intimate scale I've ever seen, and Morgan Freeman's performance is nothing short of a revelation.

3) The NeverEnding Story-- Some people may think me strange for putting this so high, but the pure wonder and enchantment I feel every time I watch this is undeniable.

4) Mr. Smith Goes to Washington-- Dismissed as manipulative by some and cheesy by others, this film gets to me every time I watch it. Sometimes I feel as though Jimmy Stewert was the last man to truly believe in the American Dream, and it does nothing but inspire.

5) Léon: The Professional-- The first "action" movie that made me cry, and my first brush with French cinema (true, it takes place in New York and is filmed in English, but Besson's roots shine through the language barrier). Jean Reno may be my favorite crimminal of all time.

6) Glory-- My favorite war movie, and the one that never fails to make me cry no matter how many times I watch it. Anyone who has ever doubted Broderick's acting chops need only watch this film.

7) Raiders of the Lost Ark-- The defining term for "movie magic". Others in this thread have stated better than I why this movie is awesome, and if you're reading CHUD, chances are you already know as well.

8) Butch Cassidey and the Sundance Kid-- Taught me that movies don't have to be just serious or just funny, they can be both and end up hitting you twice as hard emotionally at the end. Newman and Redford have a chemistry that has rarely been duplicated.

9) The Usual Suspects-- THE film that turned my brain upside down when I was 14. I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I watched this movie, and despite my numerous repeats viewings, the story still grabs me. I'll never forget my first viewing, though. It was the first time I was able to curse in front of my mom without getting in trouble (I let out a huge, involuntary "Holy SHIT!" at the end), and I still remember the noise my jaw made when it hit the ground.

10) The Shootist-- John Wayne's final performance is also the one that I hold most dear. Still one of two films I can't watch without crying at the end (the other being Glory.

Others that are interchangable with the bottom 5 on my list:

A.I.
Solaris
Pulp Fiction
The Abyss
Jaws
Lord of the Rings
Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Dead Poets Society
edward Scissorhands
Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Lord of the Rings Trilogy: If I had to choose one of the three (I'm counting it as one film here), then I'd pick the future ROTK: EE. I liked the ROTK theatrical version better than the other two, so I think I'll like the ROTK: EE better too.
Lost In Translation: This is a film that I absolutely loved. It had some great comedy, and it was just how I remembered Japan being.
Gladiator: I know some people hated it, but I thought Crowe and Phoenix did amazing jobs, and I loved the story.
Glory: An amazing story with amazing acting. It's Zwick's best film, but I felt that The Last Samurai was able to recapture some of this magic.
Signs: Another film that a lot of people here didn't like, but I thought it was the best M. Night film yet, and I absolutely loved the revelation that Mel had at the end of the film and how it was set up throughout the movie.
The 'Burbs: Pound for pound, the funniest movie I have ever seen. The little things that Dante put in the film, from the sound effects, to the things going on in the background just make it that much better. Sure, it suffers from a terminal case of 80s fashion, but there isn't another film out there that is funner in my book.
Saving Private Ryan: Another great Tom Hanks film, and one of the best war movies out there.
Black Hawk Down: Sure, there are minor quibbles with this movie, but I still think it's the best Ridley Scott film. Another great war movie that, if anything, is even more realistic than SPR was.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: I put this ahead of Raiders because I liked it better. I felt it had the same amount of goodness that Raiders had, but more heart, and that's what gives it the edge. Well, that and Sean Connory.
The Shawshank Redemption: All the same reasons that others have it: it is one of the best stories to be put up on the silver screen.

My Top 10 (this list is subject to change due to new films seen or the listers mood changing):
1. Apocalypse Now
2. Miller's Crossing
3. The Godfather
4. Raiders of the lost Ark
5. Seven Samurai
6. Casablanca
7. Seven
8. Blade Runner
9. The Maltese Falcon
10.Alien

I don't hink there's anything controversial or obscure on this list. Most are generally accepted to be at least very good .

My list would be so different now.

Hey SJR, where did Solaris go?

Lord of the Rings Trilogy - The gold standard for which all epic cinema will now be judged.

The Empire Strikes Back - The defining film in the Star Wars Trilogy. Without it, the whole series would be little more than a shallow space opera.

L.A. Confidential - A perfectly realized police procedural AND character piece.

Duck Soup - The greatest Marx Brothers movie and one of the funniest movies of all time.

Rear Window

American Movie

Blue Velvet

Vernon, Florida - I grew up near Vernon and this movie catches all of the insanity of everyday life so perfectly that I never get tired of it.

The Big Lebowski - still funny after hundreds of viewings

Heat - Michael Mann's masterpiece

This is the hardest thing I've done in quite awhile. I mean, we talk about this stuff all the time, but to commit to something like this? And yes, there will be honorable mentions.

Roger Ebert put 100 in his book, and there's plenty more he could have chosen (He still writes the "Great Movies" essays, right?)...

But I am no Roger Ebert, I am a mere 22 year-old newlywed with gaping holes in his "Films Watched" queue, so here I go...

10. PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (P. T. Anderson, 2002) Because it briefly made Adam Sandler look legit. Because watching it with my then-fiancee was the strangest, sweetest moment I had ever shared with another human being up to that point. Because those who have never loved, or refuse to love, or have forgotten the pure wonder and joy of new love, look down on it. And that saddens me. "I have strength in me that you can't understand... I have a love in my life."

9. HARVEY (Henry Koster, 1950) Highly overlooked gem featuring James Stewart's best comedic work. The best of just about anyone's comedic work, for that matter. Based on a Pulitzer-winning play, the dialogue is sharp, daring (for the times), and downright hilarious at all the right junctures. Overall, a wistful and surprisingly touching piece. "My mother told me once that a man can be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. I was smart for most of my life. I recommend pleasant."

8. VERTIGO (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958) James Stewart may be my favorite actor ever, and this is his greatest performance. Plus, it's the Master at the top of his game. An absolute cinematic punch to the gut. "Did he tell you exactly what to do, what to say? You were a very apt pupil too, weren't you? You were a very apt pupil! Well why did you pick on me? Why me?"

7. FIGHT CLUB (David Fincher, 1999) The people's choice here at CHUD, and with good reason. Anarchy 101. A definitive primer on nihilism, the "Thus Spake Zarathustra..." of our generation. On top of all that, it's fantasy filmmaking at its finest! In a world without authority, truly anything is possible, and is that not the foundation of a fantastic story? Chuck Palahniuk gets this, and so does this film. "In the world I see - you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty car pool lane of some abandoned superhighway."

6. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (Irvin Kershner, 1980) Why does George Lucas insist on destroying his own creation? Maybe it's because he knows that someone else gets the credit for making the best STAR WARS film, and it really eats him up. Hell, I'd be upset if someone else made a better movie than I did, using my characters and my created universe... "I'd as soon kiss a Wookiee." "That can be arranged."

5. RESERVOIR DOGS (Quentin Tarantino, 1992) Man, it was hard to choose between this and PULP FICTION, as I've decided that no filmmakers will repeat on this list. So, I basically flipped a coin. Anyway, this is as tight and brutal as heist films get, and the heist happens offscreen! Stylistic to a degree, but not to the excess of QT's later fare. This is probably due to budget constraints, but ultimately makes the film better as the dialogue picks up any slack, moreso here than in PULP. "You gonna bark all day, little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"

4. DR. STRANGELOVE (Stanley Kubrick, 1964) Darkly ironic and amazingly subversive (given the context) satire, filmed more starkly than any comedy has a right to. Powerhouse comedic performances from George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Slim Pickens, Peter Sellers, Peter Sellers, and Peter Sellers. "Survival kit contents check. In them you'll find: one forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days' concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings. Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff."

3. MOULIN ROUGE! (Baz Luhrmann, 2001) I'm actually surprised that this one ranks so high, but these movies are virtually interchangeable, as others have noted. This is the best-written musical ever. Not the best sung or choreographed, but definitely the best-written (and probably filmed, too). Vibrant colors and virtuoso editing are only the icing on the cake: this is a great, tragic love story, and that's why it plays so remarkably well. "Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months. And then, one not-so-very special day, I sat down at my typewriter and wrote our story. A story about a time, a story about a place, a story about the people. But above all these things, a story about love. A love that will live forever..." "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

2. THE GODFATHER (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972) I was duly impressed, but not blown away, until the christening scene. Everything after that: The best storytelling ever put to celluloid. "What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully? If you'd come to me in friendship, then this scum that ruined your daughter would be suffering this very day. And if by chance an honest man like yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear you."

1. THE LORD OF THE RINGS (Peter Jackson, 2001-2003) One film, just as it's one book. And it works. Yes, the EE's are better, but that hardly detracts from the most ambitious project ever brought to completion. "Sam, I'm going to Mordor alone!" "Of course you are, and I'm coming with you!" "My friends, you bow to no one."

Well, the honorable mentions will have to wait...

In no particular order:

Raiders - I don't think an explanation is necessary.
Cool Hand Luke - This is the first hard core drama that I could watch over and over.
Buckaroo Banzai - The weirdness here is sooo me.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off - I could watch any part or all of this movie over and over. I wanted to be Ferris but I was sooo Cameron.
Stripes - Funniest, most quotable Bill Murray movie.
Wraith of Khan - Best Star Trek movie and for some reason it means more to me than the Star Wars movies. Not the best science fiction movie by any means, but it just does it for me.
LOTR - Best twelve hour movie ever.
The Iron Giant - The only animated flick that made me choke up. Absolute perfection.
The Shootist - The best by one of my favorite movie legends.
Psycho - The movie that made me the horror fan I am today.

....

I'd never be able to put them in order, and its hard enough to actually choose ten (I'm sure if you look in past "top ten ever" threads, you'll find lists I've posted that conflict with this one), but I'll try again..

1.) Back to the Future (THE film of my youth..nothing else comes close)

2.) UHF (I don't care..its Weird Al, its as ridiculous and lowbrow as you can get, but it is and always will be the funniest film ever made)

3.) Star Wars: A New Hope (Empire is probably the superior film, but it wouldn't be without this one.)

4.) Rocky Horror Picture Show (infinitely fun, the guiltiest pleasure known to man)

5.) Spider-Man (may not be the best comic film ever, but it was the one movie in years that really made me feel like a kid again)

6.) Ed Wood (my favorite Burton film, my favorite Depp performance, I can watch this every day. Perfect, perfect film)

7.) Halloween (I don't know where I'd be without it)

8.) LOTR Trilogy (included simply because I've never seen films like these in my life, and I question whether I ever will again)

9.) The Crow (the ultimate love story, even more powerful if you know the story behind the comic it was based on..)

10.) Toss up between Ghostbusters/Nightmare Before Christmas/Evil Dead..they all have special places in my heart.

Except for the top 4 positions, my choices will change every couple of times I'm asked (Spoilers ahead):

10b. Runaway Train - This movie is gritty & dirty, & it is Jon Voight's crowning achievement, imo. The first time I saw the movie, I didn't even realize it was him. He played Oscar Manheim like an animal, & got to deliver some of the most intense & humorous dialogue I've heard from him.

10a. Night Of The Living Dead '90 - This is one of the only films ever to surpass the original, imo (sue me). No matter how many times I watch it, I still catch myself squirming in my seat during certain scenes. Also, Patricia Tallman = win.

9. What Dreams May Come - I just like the story. *shrugs* His "heaven" being his wife's painting, his children appearing as people he admired in life, not to mention Robin Williams did some FIRST CLASS acting in this piece. I was on the verge of tears on more than one occasion.

8. Conan The Barbarian - Say what you will, but this movie is an epic adventure. It's fun. And it's one of the first instances where I can remember seeing the actors (as opposed to stunt men), swinging real steel at full force during the sword fights.

7. Fight Club - Everyone who has seen this film realizes its genius. It is inventive & thought provoking like almost no other work of cinema. It is one of the few movies, where I can say that I never knew what was coming next, all the way up to the very end. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.

6. The Iron Giant - Vin Diesel's best work. This flick had me rolling on the floor one minute, & was tugging at my heartstrings in the next. If you've seen it, you understand. "You are who you choose to be..."

5. Twelve Monkeys - This movie solidified Willis' & Pitt's status as TRUE actors (for me). Watching James Cole's (Willis) reaction when he first hears music on the radio (in the doctor's car), is watching greatness in the making. That kind of talent doesn't show itself often. And I'd always thought of Brad Pitt as sort of a pretty-boy heartthrob. His portrayal of Jeffrey Goines blows that stereotype off the planet. (Goines: "Sorry. Sorry. I got a little agitated. The thought of escape crossed my mind, and then, suddenly, suddenly, suddenly I felt like bending the fucking bars back! Ripping out the Goddamn window frames and - - - EATING THEM! YES, EATING THEM!! And leaping, leaping, leaping!! Colonics for everyone! All right, you dumb assholes! I'm a mental patient! I'm SUPPOSED to act out!!")

4. Raiders Of The Lost Ark - The epitome of adventure. I can't elaborate past what everyone else has said about this movie. It was a CLASSIC the moment it hit the big screen.

3. The Empire Strikes Back - Episodes 4, 5, & 6 changed my life. Probably because at 7 years old, I'd NEVER seen anything like this before. I can't tell you how many countless hours my friends & I pretended to be Jedi. I prefer TESB because it is darker than the other two. In other news, as soon as scientists learn how to construct REAL, working light-sabers, I'm getting one in every color.

2. The Outlaw Josey Wales - The greatest western of all time. It's Eastwood's best character ever & it has enough one-liners to keep me scowling & squinting 'till the day I die. (My wife, who is foreign, can never remember the title of this movie, so she calls it: "The one where the guy spits on everything". Comedy gold.

1. Blade Runner - I would ramble far too long about the things that make this movie the masterpiece that it is. I'm positive that this film helped to shape me into the person I am today. I don't know how many hundred times I've seen it, & it never gets old. If I see that it's on TV, I MUST watch it. I know every inconsistency, every mistake, every error in storyline & editing, & it simply. Doesn't. Matter. It truly is greater than the sum of its parts. The musical score is mesmerizing, & even with today’s advancements in SFX, its style has yet to be matched. Rutger Hauer's finest hour.

In no particular order...

The Matrix triology

Big Lebowski

Run Lola Run

Pulp Fiction

Kill Bill

Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Akira

Trainspotting

Spirited Away

It'll have to be 12 because i can't leave out

requiem for a dream

star wars trilogy

Terminator 2

Top Ten Films

1. BEING THERE - Probably my all time favorite movie, from Peter Sellers subtle comic performance, to the great social commentary of the time. What makes it even more special is that it was a labor of love for Sellers, raising most of the financing himself from doing more Pink Panther sequels than we would have ever liked to do.

The rest are in no particular order, though some probaby do rank higher for me than others.


WHEN HARRY MET SALLY - For some reason, this one has just stuck with me and is the chick flick I always go back to. Rob Reiner at his best (unless you count Spinal Tap) and Nora Ephron prior to being too big/good to write decent scripts.

THIS IS SPINAL TAP - No explanation needed.

ED WOOD - I don't know what it is about this movie, but for some reason, if I come across it while flipping channels ('cause it always seems to on cable), I instantly drawn to it (much to my wife's dismay). Another Chewer said that he liked it because of the relationship between Ed and Bella. That's part of it. I just can't put my finger on the rest of it.

ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN - It was either this or Brazil for my favorite Terry Gilliam film, but this is the one I come back to, time and time again. From the stunning visuals-on-a-budget, to the genius comic performances of John Neville, Jonathan Pryce, Eric Idle, Oliver Reed, Sting's cameo, etc., or maybe it's because you get to see Uma Thurman naked (if you're really looking!). Whatever it is, I find each viewing a magical experience, once again, to my wife's dismay.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - Mel Brooks at his brilliant best. There are others that probably list Blazing Saddles above this one, but I'm a huge Marty Feldman, Gene Wilder, and Madeline Kahn fan, and since I can't bring myself to put Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother on this list, Young Frankenstein wins out.

GROSSE POINT BLANK - I love Cusack movies. High Fidelity is also a fave, but I loved the premise behind Grosse Point Blank and would LOVE to see a sequel. I could even sit through Minnie Driver's performance in this one, and you can never get enough Jeremy Piven.

EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - Enough people said why already, so I won't repeat.

SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION - Another one I can't escape if it's on TV, and it's on TV an awful lot. THANKS, TNT! As someone else said, pretty much perfect in every way.

SWINGERS - Favreau and Vaughn at their best. Another one you can't escape if on the tube. Some of the best dialog ever uttered on film. A similar flick that I endlessly enjoy is Free Enterprise. If you haven't seen that one, rent it.

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK - Harrison Ford, a whip, and a poisoned monkey - a recipe for success.

HALLOWEEN - One of the, if not THE greatest horror flick of all time - and the only one my wife will watch. Not much gore to speak of, great suspense without being over the top, but the brilliant soundtrack/score from Carpenter makes the film.

Okay, okay - so I listed 12 movies. So sue me.

here ya go.

10. PULP FICTION: still remember the first time i saw this- i didn't even know what the fuck a director DID- but i knew i had never seen a film quite like this before. the most influential film of the 90's and an absolute fucking bullseye for tarantino's style. fuck the overexposure- this flick still has the goods.

9. LOTR: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING: true, all three films are fucking phenomenal (and the EE of ROTK has yet to hit)- but it's this introduction that i feel the most for. the warmth of the film- the awesome prologue- the cave troll- the small, simple battle with the uruk-hai at the films climax (traded in for giant fucking "thousands of cgi-characters on screen" war battles in the 2nd and 3rd films), the single narrative, lothlorien, boromir-
all exclusive to this. if big pete never makes another film- these have already secured his legacy.

8. THE GODFATHER: so much more than a movie. here's a challenge- find a fault in this film. i've seen it plenty. not only can i not find a flaw- i can't find a SECOND of less than perfect celluloid. IMO the greatest american film ever made- in every sense of the word.

7. ROCKY: an awesome film in it's own right (a damn classic)- but it holds a special meaning for me. a favorite of my mom (especially as i was growing up) it always reminds me of her and her heart and resolve to never give up. i hope one day it reminds me of me as well.

6. SWINGERS: i have seen this movie about 50 times and i still light up like a little bitch when it starts- still laugh out loud at pretty every thing that comes out of trent's (vince vaughn) mouth.
this is a movie about ME- no doubt. i AM mikey (kind of...) and (thank god) i have friends who pick my shit up and always try to tell me i'm so fuckin' $$$.

5. JAWS: quite possibly the most well crafted film ever made. no bullshit. not a second lingering in anything less that EXACTLY what is needed- some of the most memorable movie quotes of all are in this puppy. this movie OWNED me when i was younger and it remains the shit today. sooooooooo many others have tried to get this right since then (including steve-o himself)- but no one has touched it and no one ever will.

4. ALIENS: a guys movie about the strength of the woman. PERFECT casting- awesome score- FX that hold up insanely well today. when the marines land on LV-426, they walk... and look.. and ... look some more. what's going on here? pitch-perfect character development, that's what- and it's as subtle as can be.
cameron's masterpiece (although he's had at least one or two more) is powerful enough to bump that shark flick down one- and MAN is that saying a lot.

3. THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS: love and death. what else is there? choice, fate- hope, faith- yeah that's all in there too. but it's the first two that dominate this final chapter to filmdoms greatest trilogy. the last half hour or so is everything i love about film. the rain battle is something i've dreamt about since i was in my diapers, or something like that. a beautiful, brave and somewhat surprising end to neo's journey.

2. THE MATRIX RELOADED: the sequel no-one seemed to be expecting is as dense as they come. i've seen it at LEAST 25 times- and i love it more with each viewing. you will most likely never again see a "summer blockbuster" with a $150 million budget that contains scenes like the merovingian restaurant, hamaan at the enginnering level (what is control?), or the pitch-perfect encounter with the oracle. the problem may be choice- but not when it comes to picking numero uno...

1. THE MATRIX: this is the one. i remember seeing it for the first time with my friend bryan. i literally felt as if someone had researched everything i dug about movies and LIFE and thrown them into a blender that read "JUST FOR YOU, MOTHERFUCKER!!!"
i've lost count of how many times i've seen this. this is the most important film of my time- and it happens to be my favorite, as well. i feel for the people who can't get at least a little something out of this. wachowskis- THANK YOU.

Psycho
Halloween
Seven Samurai
Fight Club
Magnolia
Beautiful Girls
Shaolin Soccer
Lawrence of Arabia
Ghost in the Shell
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Rope got bumped out when i remembered Ghost int the Shell being, well, a "movie" too.

In no particular order:

- Lord of the Rings trilogy
- Aliens
- Empire Strikes Back
- Rushmore
- Godfather
- Usual Suspects
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Pulp Fiction
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
- Lost in Translation

That's such a great idea for a thread that I've set one up here for discussion

Thought this would take me ages, but in the end it wasn't so hard. In no particular order:

- The Lord of the Rings.
For the first time ever, we had the technology to make this most epic of tales. More remarkably, people actually had the courage and vision to make this happen. A masterwork, though not without some slight disappointments.

- Dune.
Now many people criticise this film, but I consider it a brave effort by one of the world's most intriguing filmmakers (David Lynch), to adapt a work that was considered unfilmable. In spite of all this, it is a masterpiece of visual design with very creditable perfomances throughout.

- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Proper wuxia style martial arts. Proper drama. It made me cry at the end and my girlfriend loves it and she hates martial arts films.

- The Matrix.
A lean, taut introduction to a francise that ultimately disappointed many. Ground-breaking effects and innovative action sequences make this a refreshing experience, even on repeat viewings.

- Army of Darkness.
Pure entertainment. Wisecracking guy with a chainsaw for a hand. Zombies. How can you go wrong.

- Time Bandits.
A band of midget thieves and a small boy travel through time. Tewrry Gilliam you are a genius. Charming and hilarious in equal measures (large ones).

- The Princess Bride.
A charming tale of true love, but with a wicked sense of humour. All this plus Andre the Giant.

- Airplane!
The funniest film I have ever seen. And to think Leslie Nielsen used to be a serious actor.

- The Empire Strikes Back.
An epic battle of good versus evil. Lightsabers. This time with actual character development, a small green fella with poor grammar and that twist at the end. Perhaps the most dramatically complete of the series, though some may quiblle about the poor resolution at the end.

- The Three Musketeers.
The old Michael York, Oliver Reed ones. A superb cast including Oliver Reed at his best, Charlton Heston, Christopher Lee, the list goes on. Some of the most superb buffoonery ever committed to film.

Top ten in no order:

Goodfellas - Why does WB hate this movie and not give it a proper DVD?

Swingers - Best movie about friends and relationships that's not a chick flick.

Grosse Pointe Blank - This movie deserves more love.

Godfather I and II - Tells all the story that needed to be told. III suffers from Sofia Coppola not being as good at acting as she is behind the camera.

Rounders - this should be no surprize with my name and after just watching it again thanks to Nick's column.

Casablanca - This got all the love it deserved in the most recent DVD.

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King - The other two are gold too but this is where it all pays off, has the emotional impact of Fellowship and the raw battle scenes of Two Towers. Love this movie.

Ronin - God gave us this movie because he too loves car chases.

Apoclypse Now - War never seemed more twisted and convoluted and yet at the same time emotional than this movie.

Figured I'd use my first post on here for this thread.

My Top 10 in no particular order since deciding what was the top 10 was hard enough.

Saving Private Ryan - A film that always brings certain emotions out and shows why I love the movies Spielberg makes.

Good Will Hunting - This movie just impressed me immensely and have had a great respect for Matt Damon ever since. I wish Ben would choose some better films. I'd have to add Rounders to this spot as well. I thought I was the only one who wore out his Rounders DVD but I was happy to read a couple weeks ago that I wasn't alone.

Raiders of the Lost Ark - The whole trilogy really, but this one is my favorite.

Return of the King - The whole trilogy really. This is what I would have felt watching Star Wars at 24 years of age I think.

The Empire Strikes Back - again the whole trilogy. I was about 4 or 5 at the time and man did this film just stick in my head. Probably the first film I ever remember seeing.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - The only true Batman film ever made. No one else has gotten it right yet as far as I'm concerned (I have high hopes for the Chris Nolan version though).

Pulp Fiction - was the first film were I noticed that the dialogue really entertained me more then maybe the visuals did. I was about 13 at the time so I have since found other movies with that quality but this was the first time i noticed a film for dialogue.

Out of Sight - I have to agree with what Nick said and also add that this is my favorite "romantic" film or film with romantic elements at least. I use it as a "date film" and it hasn't failed me yet.

The Godfather - I still see this one as the better of the first 2 although like Nick, part II is probably going to surpass it soon.

The Awful Truth - The first screwball comedy I ever saw. Also introduced me to a world of film that existed before 1970 like The Graduate, North by Northwest, His Girl Friday, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Citizen Kane. For that, I sentimentally add it to the top 10.

Damn, this list was hard to think up and I'm sure I won't be happy with it after I hit "Submit Reply" Oh well, I love these films and while I have no doubt some may slip in and out of the top 10 whenever I am asked, I do love these films and would definately make my top 25 list.

10) Bringing up Baby- The screwball comedy of Screwball comedies, almost 70 years old and still has me clutching my stomach.

9) Empire of the Sun- In my opinon Steven Speilberg's best film, he directed what he directs best war and childhood.

8)Back to the Future- This movie never ceases to be fun and touching.

7) The Shop around the Corner- Ernst still can't be beat when it comes to romantic comedies, he makes a shopkeepers life epic.

6) Vertigo- I think this one is self-explaintory

5) Hud - Paul Newman's best performance.

4) William Shakespere's Romeo and Juliet- Partly because of adolescent memories and partly because I've watched it so many times it has to be on this list.

3) The Godfather - I only saw this first two years ago, but it is an undeniably good movie.

2) The Terminator- What can one say, this movie has everthing...Time travel, romance, 80's hair, "those metal mother-fuckers", i can watch this movie endlessly.

1) The Lion in Winter - Peter O' Toole +Katherine Hepburn+ Anthony Hopkins+ Great Script= Great Film
Eleanor of Aquitaine " You're not an assassin."
Prince Richard " Look again. "

1: Magnolia (a brilliant study of the human condition)

2: Boogie Nights (a character study and fascinating story)

3: Empire of the Sun (One of the best movies ever made for emmense character change)

4: Nowhere in Africa (also great for character change, just a great German film)

5: American Beauty (Wow, acting powerhouse, wonderful script incredible directing)

6: Almost Famous ( This is amazing, inspired my love for music)

7: Network (True to any time and very original. One of the nest scripts ever written)

8: Ran (The definitive epic of all time)

9: Seven Samurai (It changed cinema... forever)

10: Blade Runner (Directors Cut is brilliant)

1. Aliens(Special Edition). This is my all-time favorite movie ever since I was a kid ive enjoyed it every time.

2. Patton. Makes me fall over laughing and is a great history lesson.

3. Alien 3 (Special Edition). Love the suspense, Love the atmosphere and most of all love the alien.

4. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. One of the best movies ive ever seen I enjoy it alot.

5. Kelly's Heroe's. Funny, wacky and simply a kickass film.

6. Braveheart. Everytime I watch this film I enjoy it alot and the ending makes me cry everytime.

7. Predator. One of arnolds best films and one of the best Sci-Fi Flicks just next to Aliens.

8. Finding Nemo. A wonderful Pixar movie! I never cease to laugh and enjoy this movie everytime I watch it.

9. Shrek. Makes me fall down with laughter.

10. Das Boot(Directors Cut). Really shows you what its like to live in a sub-marine and is very intense.