I thought this could be fun and promote discussion.

 

I will be posting my 50 films that I feel must be seen in any one lifetime. I'm not trying to set myself up as the next Leslie Halliwell but as a long time film buff who has studied the medium and film making techniques at college I figure I have a reasonable understanding of film, plus I've always wanted to do this.

Films will be included based on their creative merit, ground breaking acheivements, and personal favourites. I will only post about one a week to allow for relevant discussion after each film and hopefully some people will discover something new and possibly recommend something I should see.

All genres are included and there are bound to be omissions that many will feel worthy and probably some controversy. Not all films will be obvious.

 

If any Mods feel this is inappropriate for this forum and should be moved or I'm just being self indulgent do let me know and I will happily do it elsewhere or if necessary can the idea.

 

I hope this could be fun.

Ooh. definatly will be interested in this.

 

Didnt know you had studied film (i have to, infact it's probaly what i miss most about college).

I don't know how many films I will have seen in your list :lol: and I doubt there will be any Sandra Bullock ones

so it will be a good education, i love discovering new films.

Yeah ChrisI wish I'd continued with it some times.

 

And I like Sandra Bullock... but no, not this time. :D

 

 

 

Whittling it down to a final 50 proved to be a right headache. The following all just missed out for one reason or another and as such come highly recommended by me. If you're interested I'm sure the trailers are on Youtube.

 

 

Avatar - Groundbreaking certainly and hugely impressive in the cinema so it almost got in but effects aside it is poorly scripted, clumsy in narrative and ultimately disappointing after the twelve year wait. Note to Mr Cameron - Right yourown story next time don't just steal one.

 

Heathers - Blackly comic high school drama featuring Christian Slater and Winona Ryder at the peak of their talents. A personal favourite too.

 

Saving Private Ryan - Mainly for the frankly stunning opening 25 minute D-Day landings. After that it can't keep up the momentum but continues to be a masterclass in how to make a War movie. Spielberg and Hanks both on top form throughout and the attention to detail with the military hardware is exceptional.

 

Bowling For Columbine - Michael Moore's hard hitting documentary about America's love/hate relationship with the firearm. Notable turns bya eloquent Marilyn Manson and a speechless and uncomfortable Charlton Heston make this compelling viewing

 

The Dark Knight - For me easily the best and most accomplished Superhero movie. It transcends the genre to become a gritty crime drama where the hero just happens to dress as a bat.

 

The Elephant Man - David Lynch's most straightforward and affecting movie chronicalling the life of the tragic John Merrick. If you're not moved by this you dead inside. Featuring stunning performances by both Hopkins and Hurt in the leads.

 

Colin - Unexpected choice perhaps but this shows what you can do with a bit of creativity, inspired use of resources and £45. See also last years impressive Monsters

 

Das Boot - At 6 hours long this is a gruelling, suspense journey as a single U-Boat attempts to navigate from the Atlantic through enemy territory at the Strait Of Gibraltar back home. Claustrophobic throughout and with a truly shocking ending.

 

Jurassic Park - May seem unspectacular now but in 1993 this re-wrote the rules on special effects movies and combined with Spielberg's talent for suspense made one of the groundbreaking and definitive 90s movies.

 

The Good, The Bad Ad The Ugly - Sergio Leone's final instalment in the 'man with no name' trilogy. The series that made Clint Eastwood a Hollywood icon and mega-star.

 

Fight Club - David Fincher's clever and innovative film that virtually defies classification. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton both excel.

 

The Silence Of The Lambs - Hopkins again returns to the role of a Doctor in a career definign performance but it is Jodie Foster who owns the movie. I also recommend Manhunter - the original Hannibal Lector film.

 

The Seven Samurai - Akira Kurosawa's classic was taken wholesale and remade as The Magnificent Seven years later. Just one of many of his groundbreaking films.

 

Vertigo - Probably Hitchcock's best film but whilst it is a masterclass in suspense it is not among his most unique films. James Stewart is as always brilliant.

 

Brick - Incredibly complex and convulated Film Noir style story based around a high school students investigation of an ex-girlfriends mysterious phonecall and an unexpected appearance by a brick.

 

Goodfellas - Martin Scorcese's incredible tale of Mafia life with an ensemble cast dominated by De Niro and Pesci.

 

The Terminator - The film that gave the breakthrough to director James Cameron and turned Arnold Schwarzenegger into a bona fide star. Still his best role. Three sequels would taint the franchise, two essentially using the same story but with bigger effects and silly gags,

 

12 Monkeys - Inspired by the same short story as The Terminator this is a clever Terry Gilliam directed film that proved there was more to Bruce Willis than Moonlighting and Die Hard.

 

First Blood - Along with Rocky this showed Stallone could play a character with more than one dimension. The tale of a returning US soldier who can't adapt to life in peacetime is remarkably well done and often overlooked. The sequels were frankly dog $h!t.

 

Frankenstein - James Whale's 1930s Horror classic contains one of the most controversial scenes in cinema history. The 'monster' and the little girl by the lake. Deemed so shocking at the time many demanded the film's banning and TV only recently began showing the scene uncut. Higly recommended also is the sequel The Bride Of Frankenstein

 

Near Dark - This was to The Lost Boys what let The Right One In Is to Twilight. Smarter, funnier, sexier and basically just much, much better.

 

Get Carter - Micahel Caine turns in a career best performance as a hard nosed London gangster travelling up north to investigate his brothers disappearance.

 

The Jungle Book - Literally the last one I dropped and I'm pained to do so, but this isn't Disney's best animation, nor is it their best story or cast. But it is easily their most fun loving and has all the best songs too. I love this film and I hate Disney. So consider this #51

Goodfellas and The Dark Knight would make my top 50 easily, nice to see Vertigo getting a mention, I actually wrote an essay on it for Media studies once, i keep meaning to watch Brick.

Saving Private Ryan - Mainly for the frankly stunning opening 25 minute D-Day landings. After that it can't keep up the momentum but continues to be a masterclass in how to make a War movie. Spielberg and Hanks both on top form throughout and the attention to detail with the military hardware is exceptional.

 

Fight Club - David Fincher's clever and innovative film that virtually defies classification. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton both excel.

 

The Silence Of The Lambs - Hopkins again returns to the role of a Doctor in a career definign performance but it is Jodie Foster who owns the movie. I also recommend Manhunter - the original Hannibal Lector film.

 

Frankenstein - James Whale's 1930s Horror classic contains one of the most controversial scenes in cinema history. The 'monster' and the little girl by the lake. Deemed so shocking at the time many demanded the film's banning and TV only recently began showing the scene uncut. Higly recommended also is the sequel The Bride Of Frankenstein

 

The Jungle Book - Literally the last one I dropped and I'm pained to do so, but this isn't Disney's best animation, nor is it their best story or cast. But it is easily their most fun loving and has all the best songs too. I love this film and I hate Disney. So consider this #51

Definitely agree with the above ^ I totally agree with your comments on the opening part to Saving Private Ryan, it's incredible!

Goodfellas and The Dark Knight would make my top 50 easily, nice to see Vertigo getting a mention, I actually wrote an essay on it for Media studies once, i keep meaning to watch Brick.

Indeed those are all excellent but there just isn't enough room in a top 50 for everything and I've not neccessarily picked my favourite films. Hell, I'd put Starship Troopers in that list but it's not that good really just great fun. I've more gone for films that broke ground or just need to be seen. Most people will have seen Goodfellas and Dark Knight so there place was less warranted than something less well known. Such is the fickle nature of human taste that I can never decide on my favourite film (it's always between 3) and this list might look noticeably different in a few years time.

Whittling it down to a final 50 proved to be a right headache. The following all just missed out for one reason or another and as such come highly recommended by me. If you're interested I'm sure the trailers are on Youtube.

Avatar - Groundbreaking certainly and hugely impressive in the cinema so it almost got in but effects aside it is poorly scripted, clumsy in narrative and ultimately disappointing after the twelve year wait. Note to Mr Cameron - Right yourown story next time don't just steal one.

 

Bowling For Columbine - Michael Moore's hard hitting documentary about America's love/hate relationship with the firearm. Notable turns bya eloquent Marilyn Manson and a speechless and uncomfortable Charlton Heston make this compelling viewing

 

The Dark Knight - For me easily the best and most accomplished Superhero movie. It transcends the genre to become a gritty crime drama where the hero just happens to dress as a bat.

 

The Elephant Man - David Lynch's most straightforward and affecting movie chronicalling the life of the tragic John Merrick. If you're not moved by this you dead inside. Featuring stunning performances by both Hopkins and Hurt in the leads.

 

Jurassic Park - May seem unspectacular now but in 1993 this re-wrote the rules on special effects movies and combined with Spielberg's talent for suspense made one of the groundbreaking and definitive 90s movies.

 

The Silence Of The Lambs - Hopkins again returns to the role of a Doctor in a career definign performance but it is Jodie Foster who owns the movie. I also recommend Manhunter - the original Hannibal Lector film.

 

The Jungle Book - Literally the last one I dropped and I'm pained to do so, but this isn't Disney's best animation, nor is it their best story or cast. But it is easily their most fun loving and has all the best songs too. I love this film and I hate Disney. So consider this #51

 

 

love these ones. saw jurassic park for the first time the other day and i'm really impressed. i've not seen that many iconic films so because they've become so hyped up when i do eventually watch them they're a let down but this one was great!

 

really wanna see saving private ryan and fight club. ive seen the beginning of saving private ryan so many times cos we had to study it in english but we never got to watch the rest.

 

will keep lookin at this. will be interesting to see your countdown seeing as though i like so many of the ones not making the list. or maybe that's a bad thing! :P

Some good choices there.

 

Kath

 

 

Edited January 25, 201114 yr by Kathyp

Definitely agree with the above ^ I totally agree with your comments on the opening part to Saving Private Ryan, it's incredible!

I remember seeing Ryan on a massive screen at the cinema and flinching during that opening 25 minutes. Absolutely brilliant film and would probably make my Top 10.

#50

 

A Clockwork Orange

 

 

Year - 1971

Director - Stanley Kubrick

Starring - Malcom MacDowell

 

Why You Should See It

In any list of the most notorious or controversial films of all time this is almost certain to appear. Based upon the bestselling novel by Alex Burgess, this highly satirical film addresses themes of morality and redemption as well as employing the novel's fictional slang language. It focuses on the story of young Alex (MacDowell) and his fellow droogs as they fight, steal, murder and rape their way through their daily lives in order to relieve their boredom. The film's score heavily uses the music of Ludwig Van Beethoven - Alex's favourite musician - and Stanley Kubrick's cold, aloof style of directing gives an almost documentary feel to some of the proceedings. Never allowing use to empathise too much with the central character. Eventuall Alex's crimes catch up with him and after a short spell in jail he is entered into a new rehabilitation programme using aversion therapy to cure him of his violent ways.

The film was hugely succesful on it's initial run and gained much critical acclaim, including an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Kubrick was already an established and highly respected director but it made a star of Malcom MacDowell and it remains the role he is best known for even today. The film has permeated popular culture with bands like Blur borrowing the iconic boiler suit image for their The Universal video to bands like Moloko and Heaven 17 taking their names from the movie. It is considered one of the landmark films that demonstrate the relaxation of censorship laws in the early 1970s, some arguing it went too far. These critcisms may have seemed justified after a young boy was tried for the manslaughter of a classmate and the similarities to scenes from the film were demonstrated in court. Coupled with a rape case where the perpetrator had sung 'Singing In The Rain' much like Alex does in the film itself the case for banning the film was raised. In a rare move Stanley Kubrick himself asked for the film to be withdrawn from release and popular belief at the time was that it was due to these 'copycat' attacks. The film remained banned until after the director's death and claimed the existence of London's legendary Scala cinema which was shut down after they illegally screened it uncut. Following Kubrick's death his widow revealed in a documentary that the director had actually pulled the film after receiving death threats to his family.

Despite a signifigant difference from the novel author Alex Burgess has for the most part praised the film especially MacDowell. His major grievance being the omition of the books final chapter that deals with Alex's redemption. This is because the US release of the book lacked this chapter and Kubrick used a screenplay based on that version. He was apparently unaware of the final chapter until after making the film. Burgess has always accepted this explanation.

With its themes of morality, youth gangs and social violence it could be argued the film is more relevant today than when it was made back in the early 70s. It still remains powerful viewing and has a sharp sardonicly black sense of humour running throughout that time seems unliekly to dim. Kubrick is for my money one of the greatest directors that ever lived and this is among the best and most astonishing in his filmography.

Wowwww! 'A Clockwork Orange' is one of my most favourite books of all time, it's such an incredible read - and the film reflects this fantastically. It's not one of the easiest books to pull off, but Kubrick does it exceptionally well! (As does Malcom MacDowell also, who plays Alex superbly; he gives a very real and believable performance).

i've never seen A Clockwork Orange and have never understood why not. *adds to Lovefilm list*

#49

 

Memento

 

 

Year - 2000

Director - Christopher Nolan

Starring - Guy Pearce, Carrie Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano

 

Why You Should See It

Memento is a psychological thriller that makes expert use of a non linear narrative in spectacular fashion. Former Neighbours 'heart-throb' Guy Pearce plays Lenoard Shelby, a man who has a psycholigical disorder characterised by the inability to store new memories. Lenoard's last exact memory is the murder of his wife by an unknown assailant. With the help of the mysterious Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) he uses post it notes, polaroid photos and tattoos the re-tell himself the story every time his memory fails him until finally he is able to piece together the full story and take out his revenge on the murderer.

The film opens with Leonard killing Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) in revenge and then plays out in two different narratives. One in black and white which is played out in chronological order and a second in colour which details his investigation that is in reverse chronological order until finally the two stories converge. In each sequence the viewer is as confused as Leonard as to what has just happened ut as the events unfold a small sense of understanding is given until the next sequence where the confusion returns. All of this juxtaposition keeps the viewer embroiled in the events as they unfold and make the viewer attempt to solve the puzzle alongside Leonard. It's not the outcome we are trying to decipher but the course of events that lead us to it. Hugely more intriguing than a standard linear narrative where the guilty party of often easily indentified in the early part of the movie before the film actually provides the reveal.

Originally Brad Pitt was to have the lead role but a scheduling conflict caused him to pull out. Whilst I have no doubt he would have done a fine job it is the use of the then relative unknown Australian Pearce that gives the film much more of a sense of reality. After all we always know it's Brad Pitt no matter how much we try to believe it isn't but unknow actors carry no baggage of recognition. The film made stars of both Pearce and director Nolan and both have gone on to immense acclaim since. The film gained massive praise on the festival circuit and was picked up by several distributors around the world but America proved reluctant at first, probably as American audiences were considered too easily confused by the narrative. Steven Soderbergh eventually picked it up and the film eventually grossed $25m in the states.

Scientifically the film has been praised for its depiction of retrograde amnesia.

 

If there is anyone single flaw in the film it can only be that the film does not stand up to repeated viewings. Whilst it is brilliantly conceived and executed once you understand the plot and narrative the impact can't helped but be lessened but for a first time viewing the film is quite simply stunning. Interestingly, the dvd comes with the film also presented in a linear chonological fashion. Something I have never watched and right now never intend to.

 

Fascinated to see what you've got here, there's a handful of films I'd love to see appear

Star Wars, Se7en being the principle two

and many more I've probably forgotten about.

Memento is another one I really should have seen/keep meaning to watch, big Nolan fan.

A Clockwork Orange is such a fantastic film and it's not even Kubrick's best.

 

There are at least three of his films I consider to be even better.

i love a clockwork orange! the scene of him eating at the end is just brilliant

 

wasn't keen on memento though but that might just be because it confused the hell out of me

I don't really like A Clockwork Orange. Possibly as we were made to watch this in the 70's as part of our curriculum and I remember thinking 'what the hell is all the fuss about'. I forced myself to watch it recently to see if I'd just 'not been ready for it' the first time. My opinion hadn't much changed.

 

I do love Kubrick - I've seen about 8 or 9 of his films - and for me (and this is just my opinion) it is possibly the worst of the ones I've seen.

 

Kath

 

I've not seen Memento - but its one of those film that I keep telling myself to watch.