This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
My inner 15 year old still finds Animal House hilarious. Belushi at his best. The original cut is much darker. After the chaotic homecoming parade, JFK is shot the next day, and the cast is expelled and drafted to go to Vietnam to die. End of an era of innocence.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
Blimey, you lot watch some rubbish movies. Try Some like it hot, The General, The Apartment, any of the Ealing comedies, Tirez sur le pianiste, The life and times of Colonel Blimp...
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less.
Similarly Black Book, Full Metal Jacket or In the Fog are better war films than Zulu.
Nah, the redcoats' "front rank, second rank" shooting scene from Zulu, by itself, puts in a league of its own
I will also give an honourable mention to 1917, which kinda got overlooked as the Plague swept all aside. Sam Mendes' war movie is the best of the 21st century. The hallucinatory quality of the nocturnal scenes is pure directorial genius
Fury, enemy at the gates, Patton, das boot (originally tv), private Ryan, are all a better watch than 1917 let alone Zulu.
Fury? F-off mate, that's Shia Le Boeuf toilet.
Other picks are good.
Are there any British warfilms you like?
Repeat please?
Battle of Britain.
Flood the cowling; plenty of it. Great music; great aerial combat scenes; yet somehow a little dull.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Some Like it Hot.
My 13 year old daughter thinks that is one of the greatest movies of all time.
Overall: Shawshank Redemption Animated: Shrek Space: Apollo 13 Romcom: Four Weddings (obvs) Murder mystery: Gosford Park Sports: Chariots of Fire War: Dunkirk Musical: Yesterday Costume drama: Pride & Prejudice (2005 version) ...and Comedy: Shirley you don't need to ask?
Concur with the Shawshank Redemption. Best film I have ever seen.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Life of Brian holds up better than Holy Grail which holds up better than anything else in the Python universe.
Yes, if you actually watch the Python TV series, there are many dragging minutes of totally unfunny, laughless cringe. But then suddenly they hit you with a genius sketch - Shortened Proust = then its back to cringe or yawns.
Very variable. Holy Grail is similar, but better, the good bits are ace, the bad bits are less frequent, but they exist. Life of Brian is their Ulysses, nearly perfect from beginning to end, and endlessly clever and inventive.
Even now the humour bites.
Judean Popular Front? Where is he?
Where you gonna grow the baby? In a box?
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: with a whistle, on the crucifix
Romans, Did For Us?
We're all different, we're all individuals! (Voice aside): I'm not
I am happy to nominate it as the best comedy ever, and one of the very very few that remains amusing AND relevant decades after it was made
Any love for The Princess Bride? Easily my favourite sword fight in film history plus "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." I have seen that held up as a perfect introduction: a greeting, my name, my relationship with you, and what I want to get out of the meeting.
Some great films mentioned but I am not sure if anyone has named any of my favourites yet.
For my top 3 - in no particular order and based on he number of times I have rewatched them even though I know every line:
Bladerunner. Casablanca. Local Hero.
3 films which are, to me, perfect in every frame.
That said there are huge numbers of great films that can run these very close.
My guilty secret is The Great Race with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood. Even if only for Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk's Laurel and Hardy tributes and the best pie fight ever filmed.
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less.
Similarly Black Book, Full Metal Jacket or In the Fog are better war films than Zulu.
Nah, the redcoats' "front rank, second rank" shooting scene from Zulu, by itself, puts in a league of its own
I will also give an honourable mention to 1917, which kinda got overlooked as the Plague swept all aside. Sam Mendes' war movie is the best of the 21st century. The hallucinatory quality of the nocturnal scenes is pure directorial genius
Fury, enemy at the gates, Patton, das boot (originally tv), private Ryan, are all a better watch than 1917 let alone Zulu.
Patton?? Jeez and lol. No
This guy has been reviewing movies for well over twenty years. Back in the early 2000s he made a top 100 list. Patton was number 1. He's been updating and adding. Nothing has shifted Patton from his number 1 spot. I don't agree, but I'd put it in my top 20 (maybe top 10). https://www.reelviews.net/reelthoughts/reelthought_1524425989
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less.
Similarly Black Book, Full Metal Jacket or In the Fog are better war films than Zulu.
Nah, the redcoats' "front rank, second rank" shooting scene from Zulu, by itself, puts in a league of its own
I will also give an honourable mention to 1917, which kinda got overlooked as the Plague swept all aside. Sam Mendes' war movie is the best of the 21st century. The hallucinatory quality of the nocturnal scenes is pure directorial genius
Fury, enemy at the gates, Patton, das boot (originally tv), private Ryan, are all a better watch than 1917 let alone Zulu.
Fury? F-off mate, that's Shia Le Boeuf toilet.
Other picks are good.
Are there any British warfilms you like?
Repeat please?
Battle of Britain.
Surely BoB is ripe for a remake with modern CGI?
Also, the original has to be a serious contender for the worst case of fashimposing - which is a word I have just made up meaning: imposing the fashions of the time of shooting over the fashions of the era depicted. See especially Susannah York.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
Blimey, you lot watch some rubbish movies. Try Some like it hot, The General, The Apartment, any of the Ealing comedies, Tirez sur le pianiste, The life and times of Colonel Blimp...
Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is another contender for best British War film.
"Not a single case of flu detected by Public Health England this year as Covid restrictions suppress virus Experts say decline in infections could justify continued use of hand sanitiser and masks following coronavirus pandemic"
Blimey, you lot watch some rubbish movies. Try Some like it hot, The General, The Apartment, any of the Ealing comedies, Tirez sur le pianiste, The life and times of Colonel Blimp...
Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is another contender for best British War film.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Spinal Tap. Still has umpteen references in modern culture.
Blimey, you lot watch some rubbish movies. Try Some like it hot, The General, The Apartment, any of the Ealing comedies, Tirez sur le pianiste, The life and times of Colonel Blimp...
Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is another contender for best British War film.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
My inner 15 year old still finds Animal House hilarious. Belushi at his best. The original cut is much darker. After the chaotic homecoming parade, JFK is shot the next day, and the cast is expelled and drafted to go to Vietnam to die.
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less.
Similarly Black Book, Full Metal Jacket or In the Fog are better war films than Zulu.
Nah, the redcoats' "front rank, second rank" shooting scene from Zulu, by itself, puts in a league of its own
I will also give an honourable mention to 1917, which kinda got overlooked as the Plague swept all aside. Sam Mendes' war movie is the best of the 21st century. The hallucinatory quality of the nocturnal scenes is pure directorial genius
1917 is one stunningly directed movie, but I could never give it truly great movie status when the plot totally unravels for the sake of visual dramatics. I find it impossible to watch the poor hero understandably take a 5 minute breather at the end without reflecting that if he had just spoken up instead he'd literally have saved hundreds of lives, because then we'd miss out on an (awesome) shot if he didn't.
Best animated comedy detective film noir is Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Some great films mentioned but I am not sure if anyone has named any of my favourites yet.
For my top 3 - in no particular order and based on he number of times I have rewatched them even though I know every line:
Bladerunner. Casablanca. Local Hero.
3 films which are, to me, perfect in every frame.
That said there are huge numbers of great films that can run these very close.
My guilty secret is The Great Race with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood. Even if only for Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk's Laurel and Hardy tributes and the best pie fight ever filmed.
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less.
Similarly Black Book, Full Metal Jacket or In the Fog are better war films than Zulu.
Nah, the redcoats' "front rank, second rank" shooting scene from Zulu, by itself, puts in a league of its own
I will also give an honourable mention to 1917, which kinda got overlooked as the Plague swept all aside. Sam Mendes' war movie is the best of the 21st century. The hallucinatory quality of the nocturnal scenes is pure directorial genius
Fury, enemy at the gates, Patton, das boot (originally tv), private Ryan, are all a better watch than 1917 let alone Zulu.
Fury? F-off mate, that's Shia Le Boeuf toilet.
Other picks are good.
Are there any British warfilms you like?
Repeat please?
Battle of Britain.
Surely BoB is ripe for a remake with modern CGI?
Also, the original has to be a serious contender for the worst case of fashimposing - which is a word I have just made up meaning: imposing the fashions of the time of shooting over the fashions of the era depicted. See especially Susannah York.
Nope. It'd be shite CGI.
Original had superb all-star cast, nice script, and real aircraft from both sides.
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less.
Similarly Black Book, Full Metal Jacket or In the Fog are better war films than Zulu.
Nah, the redcoats' "front rank, second rank" shooting scene from Zulu, by itself, puts in a league of its own
I will also give an honourable mention to 1917, which kinda got overlooked as the Plague swept all aside. Sam Mendes' war movie is the best of the 21st century. The hallucinatory quality of the nocturnal scenes is pure directorial genius
Fury, enemy at the gates, Patton, das boot (originally tv), private Ryan, are all a better watch than 1917 let alone Zulu.
Fury? F-off mate, that's Shia Le Boeuf toilet.
Other picks are good.
Are there any British warfilms you like?
Repeat please?
Battle of Britain.
Surely BoB is ripe for a remake with modern CGI?
Also, the original has to be a serious contender for the worst case of fashimposing - which is a word I have just made up meaning: imposing the fashions of the time of shooting over the fashions of the era depicted. See especially Susannah York.
Any love for The Princess Bride? Easily my favourite sword fight in film history plus "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." I have seen that held up as a perfect introduction: a greeting, my name, my relationship with you, and what I want to get out of the meeting.
I have three (tenuous) connections with that movie.
(1) My daughter is in the same school class as Fred Savage's daughter. Her name, believe it or not, is Lily. (2) My wife is very good friends with Damian Elwes, and Damian's brother played Wesley. (3) I was once at a very nice Japanese restaurant and was asked (as I was dining alone) if I would mind sharing my table with two ladies. I said, "sure". And one of the ladies was Robin Wright.
"Not a single case of flu detected by Public Health England this year as Covid restrictions suppress virus Experts say decline in infections could justify continued use of hand sanitiser and masks following coronavirus pandemic"
Blimey, you lot watch some rubbish movies. Try Some like it hot, The General, The Apartment, any of the Ealing comedies, Tirez sur le pianiste, The life and times of Colonel Blimp...
Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is another contender for best British War film.
Tge Apartment is there and thereabouts. Very good performances..
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Some Like it Hot.
Actually that's a good point. I need a new category: Best musical comedy.
That Marilyn Monroe performance of I Wanna Be Loved By You - wow!
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
The best RomCom is There's Something About Mary, it is probably the best film in a whole host of other categories as well.
The Godfather pts I & II rival Goodfellas as best gangster, wouldn't you say? All three are great (Gf I & II + Goodfellas)
Raging Bull is probably the only Boxing film I have seen other than Champ... Champ affected me quite deeply though, I bawled my eyes out. Oh and a couple of the Rocky's I suppose. Never really got into them
The best Gambling film is The Sting
The Lives of Others is great @Casino_Royale, so is Play Misty For Me, and two of my all time faves, Cool Hand Luke, and Hombre
Once Upon a Time in America comes close, but doesn't quite beat, Godfather pts I & II, especially not together.
However Once Upon a Time in the West is definitely the best Western of all time.
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less.
Similarly Black Book, Full Metal Jacket or In the Fog are better war films than Zulu.
Nah, the redcoats' "front rank, second rank" shooting scene from Zulu, by itself, puts in a league of its own
I will also give an honourable mention to 1917, which kinda got overlooked as the Plague swept all aside. Sam Mendes' war movie is the best of the 21st century. The hallucinatory quality of the nocturnal scenes is pure directorial genius
1917 is one stunningly directed movie, but I could never give it truly great movie status when the plot totally unravels for the sake of visual dramatics. I find it impossible to watch the poor hero understandably take a 5 minute breather at the end without reflecting that if he had just spoken up instead he'd literally have saved hundreds of lives, because then we'd miss out on an (awesome) shot if he didn't.
Best animated comedy detective film noir is Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less.
Similarly Black Book, Full Metal Jacket or In the Fog are better war films than Zulu.
Nah, the redcoats' "front rank, second rank" shooting scene from Zulu, by itself, puts in a league of its own
I will also give an honourable mention to 1917, which kinda got overlooked as the Plague swept all aside. Sam Mendes' war movie is the best of the 21st century. The hallucinatory quality of the nocturnal scenes is pure directorial genius
Fury, enemy at the gates, Patton, das boot (originally tv), private Ryan, are all a better watch than 1917 let alone Zulu.
Fury? F-off mate, that's Shia Le Boeuf toilet.
Other picks are good.
Are there any British warfilms you like?
The Way Ahead is a truly great British War film. Propaganda, but very well done.
Angels One Five is surprisingly good. The Cruel Sea and In Which We Serve. The 1950s war films and even the wartime propaganda films hold up surprisingly well. Twenty years ahead of Hollywood in showing the darker side of war.
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less...
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Dr Strangelove, if we’re including black comedy.
His Girl Friday still works (and was extendedly referenced in BoJack Horseman, so also still popular-ish culture.)
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Life of Brian holds up better than Holy Grail which holds up better than anything else in the Python universe.
Saw it in the cinema on an anniversary release, place was packed. Bar the weird alien bit, it works in near every scene. So quotable.
Some great films mentioned but I am not sure if anyone has named any of my favourites yet.
For my top 3 - in no particular order and based on he number of times I have rewatched them even though I know every line:
Bladerunner. Casablanca. Local Hero.
3 films which are, to me, perfect in every frame.
That said there are huge numbers of great films that can run these very close.
My guilty secret is The Great Race with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood. Even if only for Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk's Laurel and Hardy tributes and the best pie fight ever filmed.
Nothing guilty about The Great Race, I nominated it above as Best Comedy.
It’s actually a great story, and the casting is superb.
I still wonder and worry about what actually happened to Miss Wood. A dark Hollywood secret.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Some Like it Hot.
Actually that's a good point. I need a new category: Best musical comedy.
That Marilyn Monroe performance of I Wanna Be Loved By You - wow!
"We like them so much we named the company after them..."
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less.
Similarly Black Book, Full Metal Jacket or In the Fog are better war films than Zulu.
Nah, the redcoats' "front rank, second rank" shooting scene from Zulu, by itself, puts in a league of its own
I will also give an honourable mention to 1917, which kinda got overlooked as the Plague swept all aside. Sam Mendes' war movie is the best of the 21st century. The hallucinatory quality of the nocturnal scenes is pure directorial genius
Fury, enemy at the gates, Patton, das boot (originally tv), private Ryan, are all a better watch than 1917 let alone Zulu.
Fury? F-off mate, that's Shia Le Boeuf toilet.
Other picks are good.
Are there any British warfilms you like?
Repeat please?
Battle of Britain.
Surely BoB is ripe for a remake with modern CGI?
Also, the original has to be a serious contender for the worst case of fashimposing - which is a word I have just made up meaning: imposing the fashions of the time of shooting over the fashions of the era depicted. See especially Susannah York.
Nope. It'd be shite CGI.
Original had superb all-star cast, nice script, and real aircraft from both sides.
To be fair there are still plenty of the real aircraft flying for a real action version.
Blimey, you lot watch some rubbish movies. Try Some like it hot, The General, The Apartment, any of the Ealing comedies, Tirez sur le pianiste, The life and times of Colonel Blimp...
Would add; Double Indemnity, The Sweet Smell of Success, Les Quatre Cent Coups, I Know Where I'm Going, The Third Man, All About Eve.
And also .. a movie I saw for the first time as lockdown began & it cheered me up immensely, The Lady Eve.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Life of Brian holds up better than Holy Grail which holds up better than anything else in the Python universe.
Yes, if you actually watch the Python TV series, there are many dragging minutes of totally unfunny, laughless cringe. But then suddenly they hit you with a genius sketch - Shortened Proust = then its back to cringe or yawns.
Very variable. Holy Grail is similar, but better, the good bits are ace, the bad bits are less frequent, but they exist. Life of Brian is their Ulysses, nearly perfect from beginning to end, and endlessly clever and inventive.
Even now the humour bites.
Judean Popular Front? Where is he?
Where you gonna grow the baby? In a box?
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: with a whistle, on the crucifix
Romans, Did For Us?
We're all different, we're all individuals! (Voice aside): I'm not
I am happy to nominate it as the best comedy ever, and one of the very very few that remains amusing AND relevant decades after it was made
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less.
Similarly Black Book, Full Metal Jacket or In the Fog are better war films than Zulu.
Nah, the redcoats' "front rank, second rank" shooting scene from Zulu, by itself, puts in a league of its own
I will also give an honourable mention to 1917, which kinda got overlooked as the Plague swept all aside. Sam Mendes' war movie is the best of the 21st century. The hallucinatory quality of the nocturnal scenes is pure directorial genius
1917 is one stunningly directed movie, but I could never give it truly great movie status when the plot totally unravels for the sake of visual dramatics. I find it impossible to watch the poor hero understandably take a 5 minute breather at the end without reflecting that if he had just spoken up instead he'd literally have saved hundreds of lives, because then we'd miss out on an (awesome) shot if he didn't.
Best animated comedy detective film noir is Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Niche genre
True but Who Framed Roger Rabbit wins it hands down.
Any love for The Princess Bride? Easily my favourite sword fight in film history plus "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." I have seen that held up as a perfect introduction: a greeting, my name, my relationship with you, and what I want to get out of the meeting.
I have three (tenuous) connections with that movie.
(1) My daughter is in the same school class as Fred Savage's daughter. Her name, believe it or not, is Lily. (2) My wife is very good friends with Damian Elwes, and Damian's brother played Wesley. (3) I was once at a very nice Japanese restaurant and was asked (as I was dining alone) if I would mind sharing my table with two ladies. I said, "sure". And one of the ladies was Robin Wright.
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less.
Similarly Black Book, Full Metal Jacket or In the Fog are better war films than Zulu.
Nah, the redcoats' "front rank, second rank" shooting scene from Zulu, by itself, puts in a league of its own
I will also give an honourable mention to 1917, which kinda got overlooked as the Plague swept all aside. Sam Mendes' war movie is the best of the 21st century. The hallucinatory quality of the nocturnal scenes is pure directorial genius
Fury, enemy at the gates, Patton, das boot (originally tv), private Ryan, are all a better watch than 1917 let alone Zulu.
Fury? F-off mate, that's Shia Le Boeuf toilet.
Other picks are good.
Are there any British warfilms you like?
Repeat please?
Battle of Britain.
Surely BoB is ripe for a remake with modern CGI?
Also, the original has to be a serious contender for the worst case of fashimposing - which is a word I have just made up meaning: imposing the fashions of the time of shooting over the fashions of the era depicted. See especially Susannah York.
Nope. It'd be shite CGI.
Original had superb all-star cast, nice script, and real aircraft from both sides.
To be fair there are still plenty of the real aircraft flying for a real action version.
Not sure about that. The Spanish (Franco era) air force at the time still had lots of Junkers and Heinkels, as well as Me109s.
I am a huge fan of Hot Fuzz - funny, endearing, and one of the greatest third acts in movie history. The action movie tropes alongside english quaintness is genius.
Any love for The Princess Bride? Easily my favourite sword fight in film history plus "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." I have seen that held up as a perfect introduction: a greeting, my name, my relationship with you, and what I want to get out of the meeting.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Life of Brian holds up better than Holy Grail which holds up better than anything else in the Python universe.
Yes, if you actually watch the Python TV series, there are many dragging minutes of totally unfunny, laughless cringe. But then suddenly they hit you with a genius sketch - Shortened Proust = then its back to cringe or yawns.
Very variable. Holy Grail is similar, but better, the good bits are ace, the bad bits are less frequent, but they exist. Life of Brian is their Ulysses, nearly perfect from beginning to end, and endlessly clever and inventive.
Even now the humour bites.
Judean Popular Front? Where is he?
Where you gonna grow the baby? In a box?
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: with a whistle, on the crucifix
Romans, Did For Us?
We're all different, we're all individuals! (Voice aside): I'm not
I am happy to nominate it as the best comedy ever, and one of the very very few that remains amusing AND relevant decades after it was made
You've missed the best line. "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy."
A remarkably prescient critique of the Johnson administration to boot.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Life of Brian holds up better than Holy Grail which holds up better than anything else in the Python universe.
Yes, if you actually watch the Python TV series, there are many dragging minutes of totally unfunny, laughless cringe. But then suddenly they hit you with a genius sketch - Shortened Proust = then its back to cringe or yawns.
Very variable. Holy Grail is similar, but better, the good bits are ace, the bad bits are less frequent, but they exist. Life of Brian is their Ulysses, nearly perfect from beginning to end, and endlessly clever and inventive.
Even now the humour bites.
Judean Popular Front? Where is he?
Where you gonna grow the baby? In a box?
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: with a whistle, on the crucifix
Romans, Did For Us?
We're all different, we're all individuals! (Voice aside): I'm not
I am happy to nominate it as the best comedy ever, and one of the very very few that remains amusing AND relevant decades after it was made
"Not a single case of flu detected by Public Health England this year as Covid restrictions suppress virus Experts say decline in infections could justify continued use of hand sanitiser and masks following coronavirus pandemic"
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
Groundhog Day is the best Romcom.
Apocalyse Now is better than Zulu because of its complex themes and exploration of the human condition. A war film purely about war is something less.
Similarly Black Book, Full Metal Jacket or In the Fog are better war films than Zulu.
Nah, the redcoats' "front rank, second rank" shooting scene from Zulu, by itself, puts in a league of its own
I will also give an honourable mention to 1917, which kinda got overlooked as the Plague swept all aside. Sam Mendes' war movie is the best of the 21st century. The hallucinatory quality of the nocturnal scenes is pure directorial genius
Fury, enemy at the gates, Patton, das boot (originally tv), private Ryan, are all a better watch than 1917 let alone Zulu.
Fury? F-off mate, that's Shia Le Boeuf toilet.
Other picks are good.
Are there any British warfilms you like?
Repeat please?
Battle of Britain.
Surely BoB is ripe for a remake with modern CGI?
Also, the original has to be a serious contender for the worst case of fashimposing - which is a word I have just made up meaning: imposing the fashions of the time of shooting over the fashions of the era depicted. See especially Susannah York.
I get the idea, but often only visible in retrospect, like 1950s hair and make up in westerns.
We need some distance to see these things. The Sixties and Seventies look very different in contemporaneous films to their depiction in more recent films
Overall: Shawshank Redemption Animated: Shrek Space: Apollo 13 Romcom: Four Weddings (obvs) Murder mystery: Gosford Park Sports: Chariots of Fire War: Dunkirk Musical: Yesterday Costume drama: Pride & Prejudice (2005 version) ...and Comedy: Shirley you don't need to ask?
Some interesting calls there
I agree the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice is an overlooked masterpiece. For a start it had some of the finest movie music ever written. It's like Chopin
Some great films mentioned but I am not sure if anyone has named any of my favourites yet.
For my top 3 - in no particular order and based on he number of times I have rewatched them even though I know every line:
Bladerunner. Casablanca. Local Hero.
3 films which are, to me, perfect in every frame.
That said there are huge numbers of great films that can run these very close.
My guilty secret is The Great Race with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood. Even if only for Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk's Laurel and Hardy tributes and the best pie fight ever filmed.
Very fine choices!
Casablanca is a very obvious choice for the very obvious reason that it is a perfect picture. I’m in the market for the anniversary Blu-Ray edition which is supposed to be an impressive master.
I am a huge fan of Hot Fuzz - funny, endearing, and one of the greatest third acts in movie history. The action movie tropes alongside english quaintness is genius.
I do think Hot Fuzz is the best of all the Cornetto Trilogy films.
I really like Paul as well. Love all the sci-fi references thrown in.
Oh and in the same vein of Sci-Fi comedy, Galaxy Quest.
Any love for The Princess Bride? Easily my favourite sword fight in film history plus "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." I have seen that held up as a perfect introduction: a greeting, my name, my relationship with you, and what I want to get out of the meeting.
I have three (tenuous) connections with that movie.
(1) My daughter is in the same school class as Fred Savage's daughter. Her name, believe it or not, is Lily. (2) My wife is very good friends with Damian Elwes, and Damian's brother played Wesley. (3) I was once at a very nice Japanese restaurant and was asked (as I was dining alone) if I would mind sharing my table with two ladies. I said, "sure". And one of the ladies was Robin Wright.
Best name drop!
If you're going to drop a name, I reckon Robin Wright is one of the better ones to drop.
Blimey, you lot watch some rubbish movies. Try Some like it hot, The General, The Apartment, any of the Ealing comedies, Tirez sur le pianiste, The life and times of Colonel Blimp...
Would add; Double Indemnity, The Sweet Smell of Success, Les Quatre Cent Coups, I Know Where I'm Going, The Third Man, All About Eve.
And also .. a movie I saw for the first time as lockdown began & it cheered me up immensely, The Lady Eve.
Yep. I don't know The Lady Eve - I'll check it out.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Life of Brian holds up better than Holy Grail which holds up better than anything else in the Python universe.
Yes, if you actually watch the Python TV series, there are many dragging minutes of totally unfunny, laughless cringe. But then suddenly they hit you with a genius sketch - Shortened Proust = then its back to cringe or yawns.
Very variable. Holy Grail is similar, but better, the good bits are ace, the bad bits are less frequent, but they exist. Life of Brian is their Ulysses, nearly perfect from beginning to end, and endlessly clever and inventive.
Even now the humour bites.
Judean Popular Front? Where is he?
Where you gonna grow the baby? In a box?
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: with a whistle, on the crucifix
Romans, Did For Us?
We're all different, we're all individuals! (Voice aside): I'm not
I am happy to nominate it as the best comedy ever, and one of the very very few that remains amusing AND relevant decades after it was made
"How shall we fuck off, oh Lord?"
and
"Blessed are the cheese-makers?"
"He wanks highly in Rome!"
"Found this spoon, sir"
"Get away with crucifixion?"
A night spent quoting the movie is a good time. Although people who don't like the movie must be tearing their hair out.
Some great films mentioned but I am not sure if anyone has named any of my favourites yet.
For my top 3 - in no particular order and based on he number of times I have rewatched them even though I know every line:
Bladerunner. Casablanca. Local Hero.
3 films which are, to me, perfect in every frame.
That said there are huge numbers of great films that can run these very close.
My guilty secret is The Great Race with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood. Even if only for Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk's Laurel and Hardy tributes and the best pie fight ever filmed.
Very fine choices!
Casablanca is a very obvious choice for the very obvious reason that it is a perfect picture. I’m in the market for the anniversary Blu-Ray edition which is supposed to be an impressive master.
Overall: Shawshank Redemption Animated: Shrek Space: Apollo 13 Romcom: Four Weddings (obvs) Murder mystery: Gosford Park Sports: Chariots of Fire War: Dunkirk Musical: Yesterday Costume drama: Pride & Prejudice (2005 version) ...and Comedy: Shirley you don't need to ask?
Concur with the Shawshank Redemption. Best film I have ever seen.
The 67th Academy Awards saw a real duel between two all-time classics for the Best Picture Oscar. Shawshank Redemption vs Pulp Fiction.
Which film walked off with the gong? Forrest Gump, FFS.
Re previous posts. "Lawrence of Arabia" is easily my favourite film. The best film ever made, and what cinemas are for.
I think Apocalypse Now is my favourite. Every time that I watch it, I see something new.
For a very long period of my life I'd also have said the same. I went to see it when I was perhaps 15, and I'd had to drag my Dad along because it was AA certificate. I rather love the film because we saw it together - the only film that I ever saw just the two of us. We both emerged a little shocked and speechless.
Anyway in recent years I've come to view David Lean's masterpiece as edging it.
ZULU is peerless: so many superb scenes
Asking what is the best movie is like asking "what is the best country" or "what is the best weather" or "what is the best form of cooking eggs". You have to choose a genre
As a war movie, Zulu beats Apocalypse Now, shorter, sharper, more wrenching and yet exhilarating
Rom coms? Notting Hill? Richard Curtis is much maligned these days, but that was excellently done
Boxing? Raging Bull. Maybe indeed the best movie about masculinity in general
Gangsters: Goodfellas, for sure.
Damn that's two Scorseses in one list. He is impressive
The best RomCom is There's Something About Mary, it is probably the best film in a whole host of other categories as well.
The Godfather pts I & II rival Goodfellas as best gangster, wouldn't you say? All three are great (Gf I & II + Goodfellas)
Raging Bull is probably the only Boxing film I have seen other than Champ... Champ affected me quite deeply though, I bawled my eyes out. Oh and a couple of the Rocky's I suppose. Never really got into them
The best Gambling film is The Sting
The Lives of Others is great @Casino_Royale, so is Play Misty For Me, and two of my all time faves, Cool Hand Luke, and Hombre
Once Upon a Time in America comes close, but doesn't quite beat, Godfather pts I & II, especially not together.
However Once Upon a Time in the West is definitely the best Western of all time.
True, but the final gunfight in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is one of the best scenes in cinema, showing just how to put score and cinematography together.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Life of Brian holds up better than Holy Grail which holds up better than anything else in the Python universe.
Yes, if you actually watch the Python TV series, there are many dragging minutes of totally unfunny, laughless cringe. But then suddenly they hit you with a genius sketch - Shortened Proust = then its back to cringe or yawns.
Very variable. Holy Grail is similar, but better, the good bits are ace, the bad bits are less frequent, but they exist. Life of Brian is their Ulysses, nearly perfect from beginning to end, and endlessly clever and inventive.
Even now the humour bites.
Judean Popular Front? Where is he?
Where you gonna grow the baby? In a box?
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: with a whistle, on the crucifix
Romans, Did For Us?
We're all different, we're all individuals! (Voice aside): I'm not
I am happy to nominate it as the best comedy ever, and one of the very very few that remains amusing AND relevant decades after it was made
"How shall we fuck off, oh Lord?"
and
"Blessed are the cheese-makers?"
Also: the stoning scene. "He said Jehovah". "You just said it". Cue more stoning.
A prescient prediction of the desolate lunacies of Islamism
Looking back, it was pure genius, in multiple ways
Oceans Eleven Die Hard Die Hard 3 Raiders of the Lost Ark Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Casino Royale The Ladykillers Shawshank Redemption
There may be some other movies worth watching, but if so, I haven't seen them.
Try The Accountant, and R.E.D.
Enjoyed R.E.D.
My wife says The Accountant is incredibly stressful.
If you like the Die Hard movies, you should like the Accountant. I am anything but a Ben Affleck fan, but he and Anna Kendrick are perfect in this. Throw in John Lithgow, Jeffrey Tambor, JK Simmons and Jean Smart and it is quite something. One of those films that if it is on the TV, I'll watch it regardless of where it is in the movie.
There are a couple of stressful parts of the movie where it shows how the Ben Affleck character deals with his autism.
Best film about politics? Can't think of many. All the President's Men wins almost by default.
Meryl Streep did a good Mrs T in The Iron Lady but the film seemed a bit pointless, as do many biopics which descend into romps through over-familiar chat show anecdotes.
"Not a single case of flu detected by Public Health England this year as Covid restrictions suppress virus Experts say decline in infections could justify continued use of hand sanitiser and masks following coronavirus pandemic"
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Life of Brian holds up better than Holy Grail which holds up better than anything else in the Python universe.
Yes, if you actually watch the Python TV series, there are many dragging minutes of totally unfunny, laughless cringe. But then suddenly they hit you with a genius sketch - Shortened Proust = then its back to cringe or yawns.
Very variable. Holy Grail is similar, but better, the good bits are ace, the bad bits are less frequent, but they exist. Life of Brian is their Ulysses, nearly perfect from beginning to end, and endlessly clever and inventive.
Even now the humour bites.
Judean Popular Front? Where is he?
Where you gonna grow the baby? In a box?
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: with a whistle, on the crucifix
Romans, Did For Us?
We're all different, we're all individuals! (Voice aside): I'm not
I am happy to nominate it as the best comedy ever, and one of the very very few that remains amusing AND relevant decades after it was made
"How shall we fuck off, oh Lord?"
and
"Blessed are the cheese-makers?"
Also: the stoning scene. "He said Jehovah". "You just said it". Cue more stoning.
A prescient prediction of the desolate lunacies of Islamism
Looking back, it was pure genius, in multiple ways
It is my favourite. But, you you have to allow for “strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government” in the Holy Grail. Also, Brave Sir Robin.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Life of Brian holds up better than Holy Grail which holds up better than anything else in the Python universe.
Saw it in the cinema on an anniversary release, place was packed. Bar the weird alien bit, it works in near every scene. So quotable.
Thanks @Benpointer for the category titles. Here are mine.
Overall: Animated: Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers Space: I don't think I have a fave space film Romcom: Four Weddings (agree!) Murder mystery: Gosford Park (agree!) Sports: Chariots of Fire (hattrick - worrying!) War: Where Eagles Dare Musical: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Costume drama: The Railway Children I am adding: Thriller (not horror): Rear Window Sci Fi: The Fifth Element Comedy: Rat Race (I know it's a crap film, but when I saw it I absolutely howled)
Oceans Eleven Die Hard Die Hard 3 Raiders of the Lost Ark Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Casino Royale The Ladykillers Shawshank Redemption
There may be some other movies worth watching, but if so, I haven't seen them.
Try The Accountant, and R.E.D.
Enjoyed R.E.D.
My wife says The Accountant is incredibly stressful.
If you like the Die Hard movies, you should like the Accountant. I am anything but a Ben Affleck fan, but he and Anna Kendrick are perfect in this. Throw in John Lithgow, Jeffrey Tambor, JK Simmons and Jean Smart and it is quite something. One of those films that if it is on the TV, I'll watch it regardless of where it is in the movie.
There are a couple of stressful parts of the movie where it shows how the Ben Affleck character deals with his autism.
Anna Kendrick is underrated. A Simple Favour was hilariously bonkers. The Accountant was no masterpiece, and makes no sense, but it was entertaining.
Some great films mentioned but I am not sure if anyone has named any of my favourites yet.
For my top 3 - in no particular order and based on he number of times I have rewatched them even though I know every line:
Bladerunner. Casablanca. Local Hero.
3 films which are, to me, perfect in every frame.
That said there are huge numbers of great films that can run these very close.
My guilty secret is The Great Race with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood. Even if only for Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk's Laurel and Hardy tributes and the best pie fight ever filmed.
Very fine choices!
Casablanca is a very obvious choice for the very obvious reason that it is a perfect picture. I’m in the market for the anniversary Blu-Ray edition which is supposed to be an impressive master.
Anabob, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
The anniversary release I attended definitely had some people shifting a bit more at that scene than I bet they did at the time (granted, I wasn't even a sperm back then). But I think it holds up
Best rom com/relationship comedy? When Harry Met Sally
Best noir? Chinatown
Best cheap sci-fi you've probably never heard of? Primer
Best Film to make Blokes Cry: Field of Dreams
Best Single Blubbing Moment in Cinema? "Daddy my Daddy", The Railway Children
Field of Dreams, Nice call.
Made me blub as its all about father and son, and any father, or any son, will be moved by it, even as they fight to be stony faced, and unmoved, as any father or son should do
"Not a single case of flu detected by Public Health England this year as Covid restrictions suppress virus Experts say decline in infections could justify continued use of hand sanitiser and masks following coronavirus pandemic"
"Not a single case of flu detected by Public Health England this year as Covid restrictions suppress virus Experts say decline in infections could justify continued use of hand sanitiser and masks following coronavirus pandemic"
Oh, and The Leopard. The only recorded instance in history where both the original novel and the movie adaptation are such masterpieces that neither disappoints. I think I'd recommend reading the novel first, but either way round works.
This is a tricky one, as comedy ages SO badly. Not many comedies can elicit a laugh 20 0r 30 years later. Or even 10
I would go for either of the two Monty Python masterpieces, Holy Grail and/or Life of Brian. Both of them are, stilll, constantly referenced in popular culture, in Anglophone countries, from the Knight who loses all his limbs and asks for a draw, to What Have The Romans Done For Us
Or Airplane. But I wonder if Airplane would stand up to a viewing now?
The Producers? Early Woody Allen?
Life of Brian holds up better than Holy Grail which holds up better than anything else in the Python universe.
Yes, if you actually watch the Python TV series, there are many dragging minutes of totally unfunny, laughless cringe. But then suddenly they hit you with a genius sketch - Shortened Proust = then its back to cringe or yawns.
Very variable. Holy Grail is similar, but better, the good bits are ace, the bad bits are less frequent, but they exist. Life of Brian is their Ulysses, nearly perfect from beginning to end, and endlessly clever and inventive.
Even now the humour bites.
Judean Popular Front? Where is he?
Where you gonna grow the baby? In a box?
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: with a whistle, on the crucifix
Romans, Did For Us?
We're all different, we're all individuals! (Voice aside): I'm not
I am happy to nominate it as the best comedy ever, and one of the very very few that remains amusing AND relevant decades after it was made
"How shall we fuck off, oh Lord?"
and
"Blessed are the cheese-makers?"
Also: the stoning scene. "He said Jehovah". "You just said it". Cue more stoning.
A prescient prediction of the desolate lunacies of Islamism
Looking back, it was pure genius, in multiple ways
It is my favourite. But, you you have to allow for “strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government” in the Holy Grail. Also, Brave Sir Robin.
It was not exactly a vintage year for films last year (and having checked it actually came out in 2019) but Knives Out was a recent film that might make it into my personal favourite list. It is certainly a film you want to see at least twice.
Comments
The original cut is much darker.
After the chaotic homecoming parade, JFK is shot the next day, and the cast is expelled and drafted to go to Vietnam to die.
End of an era of innocence.
They really shouldn't have bothered with any further sequels, until Prometheus.
Very variable. Holy Grail is similar, but better, the good bits are ace, the bad bits are less frequent, but they exist. Life of Brian is their Ulysses, nearly perfect from beginning to end, and endlessly clever and inventive.
Even now the humour bites.
Judean Popular Front? Where is he?
Where you gonna grow the baby? In a box?
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: with a whistle, on the crucifix
Romans, Did For Us?
We're all different, we're all individuals! (Voice aside): I'm not
I am happy to nominate it as the best comedy ever, and one of the very very few that remains amusing AND relevant decades after it was made
Oceans Eleven
Die Hard
Die Hard 3
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Casino Royale
The Ladykillers
Shawshank Redemption
There may be some other movies worth watching, but if so, I haven't seen them.
For my top 3 - in no particular order and based on he number of times I have rewatched them even though I know every line:
Bladerunner.
Casablanca.
Local Hero.
3 films which are, to me, perfect in every frame.
That said there are huge numbers of great films that can run these very close.
My guilty secret is The Great Race with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood. Even if only for Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk's Laurel and Hardy tributes and the best pie fight ever filmed.
Patton was number 1.
He's been updating and adding.
Nothing has shifted Patton from his number 1 spot.
I don't agree, but I'd put it in my top 20 (maybe top 10).
https://www.reelviews.net/reelthoughts/reelthought_1524425989
Best rom com/relationship comedy? When Harry Met Sally
Best noir? Chinatown
Best cheap sci-fi you've probably never heard of? Primer
Best Film to make Blokes Cry: Field of Dreams
Best Single Blubbing Moment in Cinema? "Daddy my Daddy", The Railway Children
Also, the original has to be a serious contender for the worst case of fashimposing - which is a word I have just made up meaning: imposing the fashions of the time of shooting over the fashions of the era depicted. See especially Susannah York.
Edit @Sunil_Prasannan got there before me!
"Not a single case of flu detected by Public Health England this year as Covid restrictions suppress virus
Experts say decline in infections could justify continued use of hand sanitiser and masks following coronavirus pandemic"
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/flu-cases-covid-england-phe-latest-b1805124.html
The Blues Brothers has aged well too.
Original had superb all-star cast, nice script, and real aircraft from both sides.
(1) My daughter is in the same school class as Fred Savage's daughter. Her name, believe it or not, is Lily.
(2) My wife is very good friends with Damian Elwes, and Damian's brother played Wesley.
(3) I was once at a very nice Japanese restaurant and was asked (as I was dining alone) if I would mind sharing my table with two ladies. I said, "sure". And one of the ladies was Robin Wright.
That Marilyn Monroe performance of I Wanna Be Loved By You - wow!
However Once Upon a Time in the West is definitely the best Western of all time.
His Girl Friday still works (and was extendedly referenced in BoJack Horseman, so also still popular-ish culture.)
It’s actually a great story, and the casting is superb.
I still wonder and worry about what actually happened to Miss Wood. A dark Hollywood secret.
Try The Accountant, and R.E.D.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000sld8/tearlach-ceannadachcharles-kennedy-a-good-man-speaking
My wife says The Accountant is incredibly stressful.
And also .. a movie I saw for the first time as lockdown began & it cheered me up immensely, The Lady Eve.
However I rather like it.
and
"Blessed are the cheese-makers?"
True but Who Framed Roger Rabbit wins it hands down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7vk5keNbRc
The best bit being Mozart would have thoroughly approved of the name...
"He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy."
A remarkably prescient critique of the Johnson administration to boot.
The Commission has decided now is a good time to question border closures...
https://twitter.com/DaveKeating/status/1364336259087429637
Fight Club
Taxi Driver
Should I be worried?
We need some distance to see these things. The Sixties and Seventies look very different in contemporaneous films to their depiction in more recent films
I agree the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice is an overlooked masterpiece. For a start it had some of the finest movie music ever written. It's like Chopin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4upyq5QztM
Watch from 0:00 until you get bored
I really like Paul as well. Love all the sci-fi references thrown in.
Oh and in the same vein of Sci-Fi comedy, Galaxy Quest.
"Get away with crucifixion?"
A night spent quoting the movie is a good time. Although people who don't like the movie must be tearing their hair out.
Pleasant dreams.
Which film walked off with the gong? Forrest Gump, FFS.
A prescient prediction of the desolate lunacies of Islamism
Looking back, it was pure genius, in multiple ways
There are a couple of stressful parts of the movie where it shows how the Ben Affleck character deals with his autism.
Meryl Streep did a good Mrs T in The Iron Lady but the film seemed a bit pointless, as do many biopics which descend into romps through over-familiar chat show anecdotes.
Overall:
Animated: Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers
Space: I don't think I have a fave space film
Romcom: Four Weddings (agree!)
Murder mystery: Gosford Park (agree!)
Sports: Chariots of Fire (hattrick - worrying!)
War: Where Eagles Dare
Musical: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Costume drama: The Railway Children
I am adding:
Thriller (not horror): Rear Window
Sci Fi: The Fifth Element
Comedy: Rat Race (I know it's a crap film, but when I saw it I absolutely howled)
De Niro in particular, as there’s just too much of him when he plays the lead.
The cast, with great actors scattered around in cameo roles, is simply amazing.
Made me blub as its all about father and son, and any father, or any son, will be moved by it, even as they fight to be stony faced, and unmoved, as any father or son should do
What's your favourite colour?
The Knights who say Ni.
How do you KNOW she's a witch?
"What - the curtains?"