Your top 5 (or 10!) Movies

[Its_asdf]

So I've done a brief search of this forum and found that there wasn't a thread like this (I wouldn't be surprised if there was a similar thread and if there is I apologize), so I thought I'd go on and make one. The title thread is pretty simple, I opted for people to either list their top five or top ten since some people aren't necessarily movie buffs or have watched a ton of movies such as myself. I'm certain most of you can list ten movies, but my memory simply isn't that good to remember that many movies.

Given the fact that I'm not some big movie watcher, my list will probably pale in comparison to other's I'm sure... But this thread is more of showing what your personal favourite movies that have made a great impression on you rather than some elitist movie watcher thread.

Anyway, here's my top 5:

1. Shawshank Redemption - I sure as hell did NOT see that ending coming.
2. The Matrix - Can't say the same about the last two films but the first Matrix film certainly had an interesting take on the cyberpunk genre.
3. Schindler's List - Definitely a downer movie, but World War II definitely wasn't a time of pretty rainbows and unicorns and it did a pretty good job of capturing that feeling of bleakness I think.
4. Saving Private Ryan - Just an all-around bad-ass movie tied together with some nice character development.
5. Spider-Man 2 - Improved upon an already good first movie that helped make the franchise good to great. Same can't be said for the third one though...

[Jackal]

1) Fight Club
2) The Godfather I+II.
3) Shawshank Redemption
4) The Dark Knight
5) Se7en/The Usual Suspects.

Cheated there a bit, but oh well...

Edit: Might as well explain why sort of...

Fight Club:

The movie is badass personified. It's the bad side every guy probably has in them. It just goes to show how modern day society has pretty much filled our heads with how we're supposed to be and what not. Some of the scenes are just epic. The whole Ikea catalogue scene, the "uprising" of low level guys who serve everyday big shots and naturally the best scene...Raymond K. Hessel.

The Godfather I + II:

You could just as well add the third movie to the list, sure it wasn't as great as the first two (Sophia Coppola just stinks) and the whole incest thing was not cool in my books, but as a trilogy, this is in my opinion the best one out there. Everything about this movie is legendary. If Fight Club didn't speak to me as much as it did, this would easily be my favorite movie ever. I see the movies as a single, long running movie by the way.

I loved the first one because it had Brando and you felt he was a man to be feared. Michael was shy, reserved and wanted nothing to do with the business. From the get go you knew Fredo was not going to be a top level guy ever, but you loved him...in his bumbling way, you still loved him. Sonny had his temper...but the love for the family was more than evident. His outburst at seeing what happened to Connie was just amazing.

The second one was so good because you witnessed Michael as a full fledged Don Corleone. You saw how far he'd come from his Navy days and had gone from a simpleton to being ruthless and calculating. Fredo really broke his heart, sure he made a mistake...but what a grave mistake it was. Young Vito Corleone was also a pleasure to watch...hearing DeNiro say he'd make the Don an offer he can't refuse much like Michael said his dad had previously done to the bandleader...priceless. The movie just fit in so well.

The third one was good solely based on Pacino's acting. His remorse for giving the order on Fredo and willing to relinquish power to Vinnie was also a thing of beauty. Garcia was also really good in this.

Shawshank Redemption:

With a tagline of "Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free." you know you can't go wrong unless you're a complete idiot of a director. What a beautiful movie, seriously. Everyones acting was right on the mark. Tim Robbins was perfectly cast and I can't imagine anyone else playing Red. I knew Freeman was a legend before I saw this movie...but this just solidified it. Gotta love Rita Hayworth.

The Dark Knight:

The story was all right, Heath Ledger was fucking amazing. I never disliked him or liked him, I could sit through his movies, nothing great. But that Joker...that Joker made the man great. I never, ever thought he had it in him. Aaron Eckharts portrayal of Harvey Dent was a.m.a.z.i.n.g. Very subtle compared to the Jokers over the top ways. + I am a Batman homer.

Se7en + The Usual Suspects:

John Doe + Kaiser Sose. 'Nuff said.

Honorable mentions: Casino, Goodfellas, The Departed, The Lord of the Rings, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, A Clockwork Orange...oh so many.

[Calamaro]

3. Schindler's List - Definitely a downer movie, but World War II definitely wasn't a time of pretty rainbows and unicorns and it did a pretty good job of capturing that feeling of bleakness I think.

I'm not going to say why I picked these movies because my english is not that good. I apoligize.

Anyway, here's my Top 5:

1. Shindler's list
2. I am Sam
3. Sin city
4. No country for old men
5. There will be blood

[Jackal]

Give it a shot Calamaro, my English isn't that good either, no worries bout that kinda stuff unless you're a complete moron.

[el badman]

1. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - absolutely twisted and hilarious, a masterpiece of independent movie making. Depp and Del Toro at their best.
2. The Big Lebowski - I love anything by the Coens but this one is the movie that made me a fan of their style. A portrait of LA that's a welcome change from other common stereotypes
3. The Shawshank Redemption - for the reasons already provided above. You actually do feel this incredible relief of freedom at the end, it's just brilliant.
4. Memento - Guy Pearce is fantastic in it, and the script is just amazing.
5. Fight Club - so much stuff going on in this movie, it's hard to narrow it down with words. Just a fantastic satire of modern America based on a study of the most vicious aspects of human behavior. And a stellar ending obviously.

I've loved so many others, it's hard to make a top 5, but I'd also mention Snatch, Se7en, The Usual Suspects, The Prestige, Magnolia, The Dark Knight, and pretty much anything by the Coen Bros or Tim Burton.

[Joe']

My top six movies:

1) The Shawshank Redemption; outstanding acting, amazing director, great story. Some of the stuff from the short story was changed (Morgan Freeman's character was supposed to be a white, redheaded Irishman with freckles) but that only made the movie better, especially the ending, which left me much more satisfied in the movie than the book.

2)American Pyscho; Patrick Bateman is awesome, period. No seriously apart from that and all the psycho killer stuff, I've actually found myself in the main character's same position numerous times, whether it was wondering why "my world" was so greedy and shallow and not realizing I was part of it too, or maybe I realized it but didn't want to believe it, for some reason. Or just shaking hands with someone, exchanging words and opinions but just not being there, feeling numb... or taking Xanax to calm myself after a panic attack or simply to fight depression. Anyway, I can relate a lot to the leading character. Of course, I'm not a serial killer but, *SPOILERS* if I got everything right, the movie's so ambiguous that you can't really tell if he was, either.*SPOILERS*

3) Fight Club; I love mind-screwing movies like this. And I love characters with serious mental issues. I guess it's because I have issues of my own, movies like this (as well as American Pyscho and others) help me get closer to realizing what may be wrong with me, or my perception of reality. Also, Edward Norton's performance was just mint.

4)Numb; Most of you don't even know this movie exists. Go watch it, it may not be exciting or have any twists, or have big name actors in it (although the acting is superb IMO) but you won't regret watching it. You'll feel so relived you don't have to live every day with any of that shit when you're done with it. + Respect for Matthew Perry, he was extremely believable in his role. Anyway, why do I like this movie? I suffer from the same disorder as the main character, and though VERY realistic, this movie gives me a certain feeling, hope maybe, when I watch it, that I too can find someone who I feel safe with...

5)Goodfellas; Greatest mob movie ever made. Nevermind the Godfather, THIS is the ultimate mafia movie. This will show you how a more realisitc approach to how Italian mafia families work. During the "non-mafia" scenes, such as the wedding scene, the birthday scenes, etc. it reminded me of my own family, to a certain extent. It looked real, much more real than Coppola's Godfather, in my humble opinion.

6)The Big Lebowski; Okay, where to begin... Greatest comedy ever. The Dude and Walter are probably my favorite movie characters. The story's great, the acting's great, the comedy's the best you could ever hope for. I had to include this in my top six.

Honorable mentions: Pulp Fiction, Memento, Se7en, Lucky Number Slevin, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Big Nothing, In Bruges, Catch Me if You Can, Thank You for Smoking, Kelly's Heroes, Escape from Alcatraz, The Prestige, The Shape of Things, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Papillon, Bullitt, Little Big Man and pretty much every other classic Dustin Hoffmann movie.

[Jackal]

5)Goodfellas; Greatest mob movie ever made. Nevermind the Godfather, THIS is the ultimate mafia movie. This will show you how a more realisitc approach to how Italian mafia families work. During the "non-mafia" scenes, such as the wedding scene, the birthday scenes, etc. it reminded me of my own family, to a certain extent. It looked real, much more real than Coppola's Godfather, in my humble opinion.

I disagree. I rewatched the movie today and it was great, no doubt, but I wouldn't say better than the Godfather. Besides, they are set in two very different eras so the whole "how the Italian family works" thing can apply to both films. Godfather I was set in like 1945, Goodfellas in 1970.

Besides, the Godfather was about the Don. Goodfellas was about just that, the wiseguys. They were low level guys making a living from the outside. None of them were even made men.

[Its_asdf]

I'm surprised that everyone's listing their top 5... I was hoping that everyone would be capable of having a better memory than I do.

[Jackal]

A top ten is difficult, some movies keep changing slots...so a top five is good enough.

Use the honorable mentions to round out the ten in which ever order you see fit.

[Andrew]

I'll give it a shot.

1. Forrest Gump
2. Clerks
3. Planes, Trains & Automobiles
4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
5. American Pie II

[cyanide]

1) Saving Private Ryan
2) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
3) Forrest Gump
4) Requiem For A Dream
5) Helvetica: The Movie

Honorable mentions: American Beauty, Wall-e, Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, American History X, Memento, Mulholland Drive, Irreversible, and Thank You For Smoking.

I can list more, but I think I've said too much.

[Joe']

5)Goodfellas; Greatest mob movie ever made. Nevermind the Godfather, THIS is the ultimate mafia movie. This will show you how a more realisitc approach to how Italian mafia families work. During the "non-mafia" scenes, such as the wedding scene, the birthday scenes, etc. it reminded me of my own family, to a certain extent. It looked real, much more real than Coppola's Godfather, in my humble opinion.

I disagree. I rewatched the movie today and it was great, no doubt, but I wouldn't say better than the Godfather. Besides, they are set in two very different eras so the whole "how the Italian family works" thing can apply to both films. Godfather I was set in like 1945, Goodfellas in 1970.

Besides, the Godfather was about the Don. Goodfellas was about just that, the wiseguys. They were low level guys making a living from the outside. None of them were even made men.

Paulie was a made man, actually he was underboss in the Lucchese family during those years, just a rank below Don. And he was very close to Tramunti (and Gaetano Lucchese himself,) who was the acting Boss during that time. In Goodfellas, Paulie talks about Tramunti when he warns Henry about drugs, about how Tramunti was gonna die in prison because of the drug charges.

Paulie ran his own crew from 1950 until Henry became an informant in the 80's, and the movie was about that, Paul Vario's crew. They weren't low level wise guys, they pulled off the Lufthansa heist (the largest cash robbery in American history; over $6 million, which would be about 20 million in 2009 dollars) for Christ's sake. And they weren't made men just because they couldn't be: Henry and Jimmy weren't Italian so they weren't eligible, and Tommy would've become a made man eventually, but they found out he killed that other guy who was already part of the family.

And this, all of this, it happened for real. It's not a novel. These are actual facts, look up anything and you'll found out it happened exactly as it's depicted in the movie.

I'm not saying I don't like The Godfather, I love that movie, it's one of the best movies ever made. I'm just saying it's a bit overrated, and I find Goodfellas to be much more authentic and realistic and overall a better movie. That's just my opinion, though, you're free to disagree.

[cyanide]

Goodfellas is definitely a great movie. So is Casino and Scarface.

It drops down a bit when you mention other movies like Blow, but mobster movies tend to be well made.

[Jackal]

Exactly, and I disagree with the opinion.

I know it was based on a true story, but that doesnt change the fact it wasn't much about the boss as it was about not made guys. It was about Henry, Jimmy and Tommy. Paulie's role was of a supporting actor, not the main focus of the story.

Ofcourse the element of a boss was there, that's in every mafia movie, but again...two different aspects being told. These guys were lower in rank, The Godfather was much higher and focussed more on a family story opposed to the dealings of "the real italian mafia".

I didn't mean low level as in unimportant, I meant low level as in not the head of a family. That's the only thing I was trying to make clear. To very different movies, so saying the one was better than the other in regards to realness is like comparing apples and oranges. They are both fruit, but not the same kind.

The Godfather and Goodfellas are mafia related movies, but one focusses on family and the other is a general happening of Henry Hill. Sort of a bio-pic.

[Andrew]

On second thoughts, I'll have to revise my top five.

1. Forrest Gump
2. Clerks
3. Planes, Trains & Automobiles
4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
5. American Pie II

[J@3]

1 - The Warriors
2 - White Men Can't Jump
3 - Battle Royale
4 - Pan's Labyrinth
5 - Karate Kid 1

[Null17]

1) Saving Private Ryan
2) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
3) Forrest Gump
4) Requiem For A Dream
5) Helvetica: The Movie

Honorable mentions: American Beauty, Wall-e, Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, American History X, Memento, Mulholland Drive, Irreversible, and Thank You For Smoking.

I can list more, but I think I've said too much.

I didn't know there was such a thing. Might check it out sometime.

[Joe']

3. Planes, Trains & Automobiles
4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

+1 respect for John Hughes. I grew up watching his movies, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Uncle Buck are my favorites, although PT&A is pretty awesome too: I love the scene with Kevin Bacon and Steve Martin running for the cab.

[Andrew]

I'm not a huge fan of Uncle Buck myself, but I quite like The Breakfast Club. I was also the right age when the first two Home Alone movies came out, I wouldn't put them in my top ten all-time but definitely two of my favourites when I was a kid and good enough for a laugh even now.

[el badman]

Pan's Labyrinth
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Requiem For A Dream

I forgot to mention those too, they were great. I'd also add Crash and The Constant Gardener.

[Jackal]

A movie I really liked but dont hear too much about is...The Fountain.

[el badman]

A movie I really liked but dont hear too much about is...The Fountain.

I was gonna mention it, it thought it was quite brilliant. But I know many people could barely sit through the whole thing, it certainly was strange as far as its structure.

[Jackal]

Indeed, my family members said I was trying to be pseudo-intelligent for liking it. I just paid attention, it wasn't that confusing. Dumbass brother in law.

[Its_asdf]

3 - Battle Royale

My anime nerd friends have raved about this movie.... I also hear it's a pointless bloodbath (typical of those crazy japs I guess), so if any one could elborate more on this movie on what makes it great please let me know and I just might get around to watching it .

[Jackal]

Speaking of bloodbath asian movies...anyone seen Ichi - The Killer?