100. Ben-Hur (1959) - This movie is extremely long, but never lulls. There's some serious gay subtext between Judah Ben-Her & Messala that I thought I was imagining until I saw it on wiki after reading it. I'd go three, three and a half stars. It was watchable, but not re-watchable.
99. Toy Story (1995) - The movie that kick-started Pixar, but, honestly on the bottom of my list of their oeuvre. Only a few of their films rank below it (Toy Story 2, Cars, and Wall-E). Such an enjoyable film, lighthearted yet serious and very, very nice to look at still. Seen it a bunch of times, always entertaining. A good four, four and a half stars, only because Pixar has done better movies (Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., Nemo) I've never seen Ratatouille. I should rectify that.
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) - I can't believe I haven't seen this before. James Cagney sings and dances his ass off. Still, peppered with songs that it is, I don't think I'd call it a musical. Great, fun movie. Five stars.
97. Blade Runner (1982/2007) - This is one of those movies I always meant to watch, but never got around to. Apparently there are seven versions of this movie, I watched the "Final Cut" which begins with an introduction from Ridley Scott himself saying it's hit preferred version. Probably the best piece of Sci Fi I've ever seen. Five stars.
96. Do The Right Thing (1989) - A powerful movie. four and a half stars easy. I do admit that the riot makes me uncomfortable, but I understand it.
95. The Last Picture Show (1971) - Holy crap. I can't believe I've never seen this before or heard of it. A pseudo-"coming of age" story set in a boring Texas town, but so much more than that. I can't describe. Everyone should see this once. Five Stars
94. Pulp Fiction (1994) - It's Pulp fucking Fiction. Five Stars
93. The French Connection (1971) - What was that? Just...boring. Perhaps it hasn't aged well is the problem but it just did not hold my attention at all. Even the vaunted car chase was yawnworthy. No stars
92. Goodfellas (1990) - As far back as I can remember, I've always loved this movie. Brilliant little film about the gangster life. If there's a flaw (IF) it's that the first quarter to first half aren't a cohesive plot driven story so much as a collection of vignettes watching Hill grow up. That's so minor the flick still gets Five Stars.
91. Sophie's Choice (1982) - There's a whole host of movies which exist and for my whole life have heard they were great, but nonetheless avoided watching for various reasons. In this case, it just didn't look like my kind of movie. Boy was I wrong. Meryl Steep, Kevin Kline, & Peter MacNicol all turned in amazing performances in a powerful story. Simply amazing. Five stars isn't enough for this film. Hell, Streep earned five stars just for the "choice" scene.
90. Swing Time (1936) - Here we have an odd movie. While I can see it getting four or five stars from other people, it's just not going to get that from me. As much as I enjoy musicals, I've never cared for 'dance' flicks. I can muster up Two Stars for it, and even that is stretching it since the plot was suspect. Truly it was but a showcase of Fred & Ginger dancing.
89. The Sixth Sense (1999) - When this movie was new I had a lot of hatred for it because I saw through the "twist" almost immediately and was bored waiting for the reveal. It would have been easy to just give it One Star based on that, but I did actually watch it again as promised. It's still pretty boring in parts, but both Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment work their asses off. Still, it's not the kind of movie people should give multiple viewings. For the performances alone, Two or Three Stars. The story is still lamesauce.
88. Bringing Up Baby (1938) - A solid Four Star comedy (it gets a little long in the middle before bouncing back). I love Cary Grant, love his voice, could listen to him read the phonebook. Katherine Hepburn is gorgeous and nutty and hilarious. The whole movie is worth watching for two scenes: the nightclub/dress tearing scene and the jail scene. What's disturbing is that this movie failed, the director was fired, and Katherine Hepburn was labeled "box office poison" and struck from movies in general after. Further proof that people are stupid.
87. 12 Angry Men (1957) - This is an amazing movie. Aside from the intro and outro (for a lack of better words) it takes place in one room and features 12 characters without names. Weird thing is, first time I watched it I didn't even notice. This movie is so good even the 1997 remake is good. Five stars, easy.
86. Platoon (1986) - This is a hard movie to review. I haven't seen it in ~10 years, at which time I thought it was overrated overblown crap. A bit older I enjoyed it a hell of a lot more, still though it has to compete with the likes of Full Metal Jacket (somehow not on the list!) and Saving Private Ryan (71). Sure it's a good film about war, but it can't stand next to those. The only thing I can think is to give it a tentative Four Stars with the caveat that it's because it's in such a stacked genre.
85. A Night at the Opera (1935) - Five Stars easy. The Marx Brothers were comedic gods, this is simply a fact. If you can watch the worst Marx movie (for me I think that's Cocoanuts) and not spend a good half the running time laughing until you hurt then your humor has run down and possibly broken off.
84. Easy Rider (1969) - I hated this movie the first time I saw it and hated it this time. After years of hearing that it's so amazing I can't help but think maybe it's simply aged badly and in 1969 there was an audience for this and it was actually counter culture and subversive. These days it's just boring. Two Stars for good performances from Fonda and Hopper and the countless parodies and references it has made possible (not the least of which is the holy shit moment at the end of the first season of The Venture Bros and one of my favourite episodes of Duckman.
83. Titanic (1997) - Eugh. This is how dedicated I am to this project, I will watch the things I know to be crap from bell to bell. This movie, as I'm sure everyone knows, is equal parts lame and cheesy with a hint of eyerolling stupidity thrown in. Yet, again, a decent performance (Kate Winslet). If you're into this kind of chicky flick it's probably worth more, but for me it's One Star, one and a half tops.
82. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) - It's really not fair for me to give a review of this movie. The second oldest thing on the list (58. Gold Rush is two years earlier) it's silent. I have a problem with most silent movies (can watch Chaplin or Keaton silents, but only so many) in that I can not passively sit and watch anything. I have to be reading or frakking around on the laptop or cleaning or something. ANYTHING but just sit and watch. So I watched it, but only about half paying attention.
81. Spartacus (1960) - Why do people enjoy this? I mean, really? I honestly just made it to Intermission before I threw in the towel. Just couldn't take it.
80. The Apartment (1960) - Hi. Larry. Us. I've only seen a handful of Billy Wilder films, but I've yet to see a bad one. Five Stars easy.
79. The Wild Bunch (1969) - There was a time when I simply rejected westerns out of hand. Wanted nothing to do with them. I've since matured a bit and found that come can be pretty good. Plus, ya know, Sam Peckinpah. It's a good movie, but it feels long. I had to take a break and come back to it. Four stars if you have the patience for everything that happens, less if you don't. It's beautifully and masterfully shot, if nothing else.
78. Modern Times (1936) - Like most other Chaplin flicks, this is both hilarious and a bit touching. The first twenty minutes are about the funniest thing I've ever seen in life. A product of it's time, it's a little frantic. That's truly the only negative about it. Four Stars because it made me pay more attention than I should have had to!
77. All The President's Men (1976) - I am honestly not sure what I thought of this movie. It's weird storytelling. Watching two reporters run around interviewing people and trying to get sourced quotes. I want to give it four, but got so bored at one point I can't give it more than Two Stars and still feel good about it.
76. Forrest Gump (1994) - I loved this movie when it came out. Loved it. I thought watching it made me smarter or more worldly or something. In the years since my opinion of it has dropped, I now see it as (and I hate this phrase) "tardsploitation" like Radio and even Rain Man. It's mostly a touching story, though. Wonderfully done. It doesn't deserve a full five stars, but I can't justify giving it less than Four Stars
75. In the Heat of the Night (1967) - Now THIS is how you make cop drama. Sidney Poitier is awesome & Rod Steiger is even better. Hell, it's even a tad "whodunit", if only because Steiger keeps deciding the last person he saw did it based on nada. Five Stars easy. However, I watched the trailer on the disc? Gives away the whole movie in order. Who's bright idea was that?
74. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - Another flick I've loved for as long as I can remember. In fact, I used to argue that Hannibal Lecter was, in fact, not a villain but a really flawed anti-hero. Really flawed. I have to sentimentally give this Five Stars.
73. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) - Perhaps it's simply my aversion to the western genre popping up again, but this movie bored me to no end. A star. That's it.
72. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - Yet another movie you either love or are a moron for not loving. It's brilliant. Which is something considering it sprang from the mind of Stephen King. Five Stars before I even put the disc in.
71. Saving Private Ryan (1998) - Best war movie ever? Maybe after Full Metal Jacket. When it was new I only watched the opening battle scene and was convinced the movie had peaked in it's opening. Turns out, it gets better. Five Stars.
70. A Clockwork Orange (1971) - For some reason I'd never been able to watch this all the way through for some reason, yet I still liked the movie. Now that I have seen it all the way through it turns out it lives up to it's hype. Five Stars
69. Tootsie (1982) - Another of those movies I never bothered because I just knew I wouldn't like it, turns out I was way wrong. It's quite hilarious. Four Stars
68. Unforgiven (1992) - Now here's a flick I never expected to like. A western where people change overtime and have actual personalities and everything isn't build between gunfights. Four Star
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) - Another movie I totally didn't expect to like and ended up loving. It's really hard to describe, and even follow at some points, but it's fascinating watching Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. Fascinating. Five Stars for being rewatchable as hell.
66.Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) 0 I still remember the first time I ever saw this, which wasn't that long ago. Maybe...10 years or so. I'd put it off for the same reasons of putting any popular movie off, then downloaded it totally illegally and fell in love. Watched the next ones, loved them. Suddely got jokes that referenced the series! Oh..right...Raiders of the Lost Ark is a damn fun film. Five Stars.
65. African Queen (1951) - This is the first, and I believe only, movie on the 100 list not available on DVD in North America. If I can track down a download I'll revise this.
64. Network (1976) - I actually watched this for the first time not long ago when it came on Turner Classic. God, how I love Turner Classic. Um, anyway, Network has a lot of good ideas, but it aged very badly. Originally it probably would have been pulling Five Stars, but for what is now eyeball rolling it's probably Three Stars.
63. Cabaret (1972) - Finally, a movie I thought I wouldn't like that I didn't like. It's so very refreshing to realize I do know my own tastes. The few moments in this that are worth something (the tutoring scene, the Money song) aren't good enough to wash the rest away. I like my musicals to be musicals. Two Stars.
62. American Graffiti (1973) - I am honestly not sure what the hell to think of this movie. If it had a plot beyond "kids out" I missed it, but large parts of it were damn entertaining. I...I just don't know. Call it Three Stars
61. Sullivan's Travels (1941) - Another for the "I'd never heard of it" pile. Very funny, and full of the 1940s style "super fast talking" acting style that makes the jokes that much funnier. The plot's been done since, and better (e.g. Life Stinks) but you can't deny the funny here. Fourish Stars
60. Duck Soup (1933) - Marx. Brothers. Five. Stars.
59. Nashville (1975) - What the fuck was that? I didn't even finish this it was so bad. I wouldn't watch this if you paid me. No stars
58. The Gold Rush (1925) - The one I got from Netflix was the "rerelease", which proves that directors were mucking with their movies and adding new tech to them long before George Lucas. In this case taking a silent movie and adding sound. I can't tell you how weird it is to, the whole thing watches like a story being told with Chaplin reciting everyone's dialogue ("'Come on, come on.', he said"). Nonetheless, Chaplin=funny. I'll call it Four Stars just because I'm betting it's funnier without narration. Turns out the funniest scene is on YouTube.
57. Rocky (1976) - I love the Rocky series as a whole. They've never done me wrong. Sure, they essentially rehash the same story a couple times, but do so well. I came close to buying the box set when it was released after Rocky Balboa, but I found out they include some totally not real "Rocky V" thing. WTF is that?
56. Jaws (1975) - I have a confession to make. In all my 27 years I have never seen Jaws. Not all the way through anyway. I've seen enough parodies and homages–from The Simpsons to Chasing Amy–that I had the gist of the thing so I figured; why bother? And ya know what? Turns out I was right. A good movie, to be sure, but nothing amazing. And the shark looks fake. Three stars for being exactly what I expected it to be.
55. North by Northwest (1959) - Ya know, NxNW is not my favourite Hitchcock movie. Despite it always placing in the top of nearly every critic who know much more that me about these things list of Hitch movies. And Cary Grant being in it. I just never loved it as much as Rope, Vertigo, or Rear Window. Three stars because he's done better.
54. M*A*S*H (1970) - Last time I made the confession that I'd not seen Jaws all the way through. Here's another, which I think most people know, actually; I hate MASH. Hate the film, hate the TV series, won't touch the book. I know people think it's great and blah blah whatever, it just causes me to glaze over. Two stars at best.
53. The Deer Hunter (1978) - Now here's a movie I love, even if it's about 90 hours long. It would never be released now, not at this length. The studio would probably force them to cut half of both first acts. Four stars, losing one simply on length.
52. Taxi Driver (1976) - Another classic. For the longest time I was in the crowd that thought the end of the movie was a delusion. I wish I hadn't heard that it definitely wasn't, it made the movie so much better. Still it's a five star watch it often type of flick.
51. West Side Story (1961) - One of my favourite musicals. I've always wanted to see the play live as it was written, but kinda fear it will ruin the movie for me. Right now I can watch West Side Story just about any time. It's been my 'watch-it-until-I-fall-asleep' movie more times than I can count. Five stars (I'm not gay)
50. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (2001) - No. 0
49. Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916) - Another silent movie that I just couldn't hack. I made it 20 minutes. This was a silent, silent movie: as in bad organ music and copious captions. If a story has been introduced in the first 20 minutes maybe I could have watched it, but instead of a story the movie starts jumping back in time to watch a pharisee pray and then something about a queen and...what? Yawn yawn yawn. Zero. Also, does anyone find it just hilarious that D.W. Griffith, he of Birth of a Nation fame made a movie called Intolerance? I was half expecting it to be a how-to guide.
48. Rear Window (1954) - My single favourite Hitch flick, and easily one of my top 5 movies of all time. The decision to film 98% of the movie either in or from L.B. Jeffries (Jimmy Stewart) apartment is the clincher. It's claustrophobic and gets the feeling of voyeurism (and then, once [reading from top to bottom] Lisa Carol Fremont finds herself in trouble the viewer feels as helpless and anxious as Jeff. Five stars.
47. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) - Another movie I never actually sat down and watched and am now happy I have. Five star performances all around, and of course Tennessee Williams as a jumping off point.
46. It Happened One Night (1934) - One of the first "classic" movies I ever watched when I decided there had to be more than the summer blockbusters & such and started to explore out in the history of film. Which is a good thing, because the amazingness of this movie (which none of the stars wanted to make because they thought it would fail) encouraged me to explore more. Made in 1934 and still one of the funniest & most romantic movies ever.
45. Shane (1953) - I'm finding out about myself that I guess I just don't dig on non-spaghetti westerns. Shane, however, was a decent little flick. It shows some age by having people just fall into their place and not develop characters so much as would be required now (especially the kid, the kid falls head over heels in man-crush in about 20 seconds), but the story is engaging enough. Three stars because I actually found myself upset when my scratched Netflix disc froze and I had to skip to the next "chapter".
44. The Philadelphia Story (1940) - Ever watch a movie, love it, but not catch the name so you could never watch it again? This is a case of that. I once saw a movie on TCM starring Katherine Hepburn, Clark Gable, and Jimmy Stewart, watched it and laughed my ass off, but missed the title. This movie is hilarious. Fast and witty, if you don't mind that it's also dated. Four stars.
43. Midnight Cowboy (1969) - Not the firs time I've seen Midnight Cowboy, but the first time both in a long time and that I've seen it all the way through. It's classed drama, but so much of it is funny that comedy should be printed on the box too. The kind of movie I forget about, despite it being four star watching.
42. Bonnie and Clyde (1967) - A stripped down & simplified, oft goofy, yet just as often gory, retelling of the story of Bonnie & Clyde. This was purposely a schizophrenic flick. Kinda weird. It switches from goofy hilarity to gory and serious (best example: when Clyde kills his first person). I don't entirely love the characterizations, but they mostly worked. Three stars. It kinda reminded me of Natural Born Killers (made in the 60s), actually.
41. King Kong (1933) - I wanted to watch this with the four year old, but couldn't make it happen. I still remember being in awe the first time I watched this, giant apes and dinosaurs fighting each other, Fay Wray being gorgeous, and the islanders dancing and chanting. Just the kind of movie that was amazing at a young age. It's less awe inspiring now–and it's probably a good thing I didn't watch it with the kid because it starts a bit slower than I remember–but is still infinetly watchable. I think I'll try sitting the kid down with it but skipping to a later chapter and ingoring all the boat stuff. Five Stars
40. The Sound of Music (1965) - I do so love a good musical, and this is among the best. Probably not one of my top five, but quite possibly top ten. It's certainly got some seriously singable songs. Five Stars with ease, even if it's not one of my all time favs.
39. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) - I've never found this to be the 10 Star hilarious movie everyone else does, but it is funny. Four Stars funny. It'd be three if Peter Sellers wasn't King Amazing.
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) - Not at all the movie I was expecting and I'm now sad I waited so long to watch it. Five stars just for Bogie going completley insane. A hell of a movie with a hell of a story. This was one of those situations when I realize I've seen the parody more than the movie. Not the Steenkin' Badges thing, though we've all seen that a billion times, but this movie is paralleled in the excellent second season Simpsons episode Three Men and a Comic Book.
37. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) - This flick was a wow moment. Never heard of it, turned it on, and got blown away. There's a little suspension of disbelief with all the guys living so close together and such, but letting that slide, the depiction of these vets returing from WWII (one without his hands) and adjusting–especially with the changing sentiment from some people, is heartwrenching. Five stars because as soon as I put it in the mail I wanted to watch it again.
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) - If someone asked me, just after finishing it, what this movie was about (not a plot recap), I would struggle for 10 minutes then shrug and offer up "Allied POWs in a terrible camp. A bridge is built." I'm very conflused and conflicted about this'n. Alec Guinness, for one, was his usual awesome self, but I don't think I'd really watch it again. I can go a high as four stars without feeling too bad, because the march in and the very end are worth the rental themselves.
35. Annie Hall (1977) - Now this one I do find to be 10 stars of hilarity. Not laugh out loud hilarious–for the most part–but hilarious nonetheless. Everything except for "Joey Five Cents" because the first time everyone sees it they think they're HILARIOUS. Five stars easy.
34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) - This, I think, is one of those movies everyone has seen so nobody watches. It's been forever and a week since I've watched it last and I swear, though I remembered the important parts, I forgot just massive chunks, which made it a fun watch. Not exactly like the first time, but fun nonetheless. I watched this'n with the 4-year-old who loved it. It's paced funny, I never noticed before. That there are title cards before the end instead of showing the glass coffin being made is distressing and they could have shown the wedding. I dunno, it's weird. I've gotta give it Five Stars on principle, but if it were released today the pacing problems would likely lower it a star or two.
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - I love this movie. Always have since the first time I saw it. It may be the first time I saw a movie then read the book (vastly superior!) instead of the other way around, come to think of it. My favourite Nicholson performance after Chinatown–a near perfect neo-noir flick that it isn't fair to compare to. Five Stars is getting off light for this. I'm shocked Hollywood didn't come up with some prequel to capitalize on the RP McMurphy character.
32. The Godfather: Part II (1974) - I've never seen the original Godfather placed higher on a movie list and agreed with it. I just can't. Part II has DeNiro! I guess some people have trouble with the dual storylines, the ride of Vito inter-cut with the life of Michael and his attempts to legitimize his business, but then again I guess some people are morons. Five Stars. You'll notice there's no Part III listed so I'll take the time now to say people are unnecessarily harsh on III, which is bad when compared to I and II but is pretty good when compared to, say, Night at the Museum and a work of genius next to Baby Geniuses.
31. The Maltese Falcon (1941) - This is one of those films I feel confident saying I've seen, but have never actually seen all the way through at a shot. Even in bits and pieces it's a Five Star gem. Bogey & Lorre in a noir flick? Complete with dames and McGuffin? There's nothing better ever.
30. Apocalypse Now (1979) - One of those movies that, through parody, tribute, and clips, it feels like I've seen, but never sat down to watch all the way through. Now that I have I'm torn. It was a damn good movie, one that you should definitely see in your life if you're a movie fan, but I can't see watching repeatedly. I'll go Four Stars instead of five for that.
29. Double Indemnity (1944) - A Billy Wilder production of a James Cain story? Instant Five Stars. I can only wonder how it would have turned out without the freakin' Hayes Code being the morality cops of America.
28. All About Eve (1950) - I Fell asleep the first time I watched this–a combination of a long morning & drugs–and was so upset for missing chunks I simply had to watch it again. Old Hollywood (from when they could still make movies about themselves without being accused of egocentrism) with old Hollywood dialogue and pacing.
Ths movie makes me want to watch more Bette Davis movies and hope they're all Five Star like this'n.
27. High Noon (1952) - Well, that confirms that, westerns and I do not mix. I have never been more bored than trying to watch this. Yes, I'm aware it's an allegory for the HUAC & McCarthyism and stuff. Yes, I read Wikipedia, but I still don't care.
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) - I first saw this not that long ago when I realized I had not seen it. It's hailed as a classic, and with good reason. I went in expecting hokey, and got it. But I also went in expecting some pretty nice drama and got that. There's no choice but to give it Five Stars, if only for the awesome filibuster scene.
25. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) - I love this movie, despite its flaws. Mostly I think I love the book, which watching the movie always makes me want to watch. The book just has so much more in it. The movie, though, does a good job of excising the stuff in a way that it's not missed by anyone who didn't read first. Five Stars.
24. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - The first movie I ever saw. And of course I will only watch the original guns not walkie talkies version. For years and years and years I still cried when E.T. died. I actually find it annoying to think of the movie as a Christ allegory, but facts is facts. This movie will be Five Stars in my book until the day I die all old and dessicated.
23. The Grapes of Wrath (1940) - Let's begin with another confession. I, somehow, have never read The Grapes of Wrath (nor seen the movie before now). It was always a "why bother, you'll read it in a classroom eventually" type of book, but then my life happened and I somehow missed it (twice) as an assignment. Now, I'm not a complete clod, I know who Tom Joad is and I know the struggles of the Joad family and I can recognize a parody of the whole thing, I've just never gotten to it. ALL THAT SAD; now that I've watched it, I do want to read the book. The ending is supposed to be much more depressing, and you know I'm into that. The movie? Four Stars. Kinda slowish at times.
22. Some Like It Hot (1959) - Watched this the first time only because Marilyn Monroe was in it and I was going through a Marilyn phase of sorts. I'd heard it was funny, but didn't expect it to stop my breathing. The last line in this movie is possibly the funniest thing ever put on to film.
21. Chinatown (1974) - Neo or not, this is the first piece of noir I'd ever watched. It's simply brilliant, if hard to follow for those who don't actually pay attention. When you do, though, the Five Stars state is apparent.
20. It's A Wonderful Life (1946) - Five Stars. Simply the best "holiday" movie I've ever seen (it feels weird to watch it between January and November, doesn't it?). For a movie that's like 90% depressing, it's a damn fine pick-up by the end.
19. On the Waterfront (1954) - I don't know what to give this movie. The performances are solid (Brando, man) but only about half of the movie's plot isn't ho him. It could easily have been my state of mind at the time, I wasn't really feeling my best, but the movie I say was Three Stars tops.
18. The General (1926) - I have never not laughed at Buster Keaton, but before I started this I realized for the first time I have also never not seen an entire movie of his. Mostly shorts and clips & such, and not 10 minutes in I began to wonder if perhaps it would grow old quick. It did not. Between hilarious gags and a somewhat decent story, I actually enjoyed this immensely. Five Stars easy, but one question does pop up for me; when was the last time you saw a civil war era movie where the south were the heroes?
17. The Graduate (1967) - I have a really f'd up history with this movie. Every time I've attempted to watch it in the past, something has interrupted or otherwise stopped me. And one time, for some reason, I started watching it with a music free audio track and didn't notice. Even this time, the first time I watched it I fell asleep. It's weird. BUT! I powered through this time and found, holy carp, it's an enjoyable movie. What is funny is how it could never be remade today. Most of the "shocking" plot points are ho-hum these days. Affairs? Old/young? A child out of wedlock?! Aaaaaanyway, Three Stars for the movie, but I still don't understand the Mrs. Robinson song. No idea.
16. Sunset Blvd (1950) - There is nothing about this movie I do not like. Seriously. I'm upset that there was a stage-musical that I never got to see. This is the first movie I'd ever seen that messes with time (starting with your lead male dead? nice) an it blew my mind that someone had even thought of that. Five Stars for one of my favourite movies of all time.
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - I've never known what to think of this movie. There are two camps, it seems. People either think this is the single greatest piece of science-fiction (or SyFy) ever lensed, or they think it's ungodly boring. I fall solidly into the second camp. No stars because I only made it to about the halfway point.
14. Psycho (1960) - Do I have to tell you about this movie? Sure, it too suffers from a bit of aging (the opening is much less scandalous now, Mother is less scary, the detective's tumble down the stairs is a bit goofy looking now), but it's not really about those things, is it? It's about crazy Norman and the hunt for Marion. And it's played out brilliantly. Five Stars and if you disagree I hate you. To be frank, I'm shocked there's so little Hitchcock on this list.
13. Star Wars* (1977) - Whiny main character, bad effects, plot holes (but that's the series, which the fans hate.) *sigh* what's not to love. I can't wait to sit the fiancee in front of it to watch it for real so she can see the Five Star entertainment.
12. The Searchers (1956) - I don't know what I feel about this movie. It's a western, so I was expecting to get bored and be done with it before it finished, but it actually held my attention the whole way through. On the other hand, a big part of the reason for that was that it was so incredibly racist and I wanted to see where it went next. Not to mention, according to every article in the world about kids kidnapped by Indians, inaccurate about how she would respond to an attempted rescue. The whole movie is like one long excuse to hate Natives and justify it. I can't rate it.
11. City Lights (1931) - I'm not sure what to think of this either. Right after t started I nearly switched it off because a bunch of characters were "talking" like adults in Peanuts cartoons. (silent movie with music, instruments were used to approximate voice sounds with no words) I powered through, though, and that cut out and an actual movie happened. Funny, funny gags, but I really don't get how it's #1 in Romantic-Comedies. There's very little of the romance and it's spread thin. In fact, the romance could easily be replaced with The Tramp's affection with another kid he sees between getting trashed with the millionaire. Three Stars on principle, I guess, but there's so many other Chaplin flicks I'd rather watch,
10. The Wizard of Oz (1939) - The sister's favourite movie. Loves it, she does. So I've seen it 10 bazillion times and purchased her approximately 90 copies for various gift giving occasions. I have to say, I truly enjoy it, though. The transition from sepia to colour hooked me as a kid, and having read the book (some of the books) now I have to say they captured most of the spirit of the thing, if not the entire plot. (Also good, the recent Marvel comic series). Five Stars, and not even only for sentimental reasons.
9. Vertigo (1958) - Wow. One of my favourite Hitch-flicks knocks me on my ass every time. When Scottie reveals that he figured everything out after seeing the necklace is such an awesome Explanation-Scene that they should have been renamed in Vertigo's honor. Five Stars is not enough for this movie.
8. Schindler's List (1993) - This movie...god this movie. I'd seen it twice before this viewing, vowing ater both I would never watch it again. It's painful and depressing and just too much. Five Stars and this time I'm never watching it again for real.
7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962) - Isn't this movie British? In, like, every way? I don't know why it's on this list, but I do know it's a damn good lullaby. Maybe I just hate "epics". I don't know. I do know this, too, I didn't finish. No stars
6. Gone with the Wind (1939) - And another one. What the hell? Even realizing the era it's set in I just can not take this movie. Every time a character darker than a sheer of notebook paper opens their mouth I either cringed (chicken chasing) or was filled with rage (everything Hattie McDaniel did). I'm not oversensitive, I don't think. I can forgive some things as being products of their era. Hell, I Love Lucy is one of my favourite TV shows and the only few black characters are the racist porter stereotype when they're in LA and I love those episodes. I can read Eisner's The Spirit even with Ebony White looking like a monkey and talking da jibe talk. But this movie just pissed me off. It should be noted I couldn't watch The Jazz Singer either.
5. Singin' in the Rain (1952) - I can not explain how much I love this movie–and how shocked by that even I was. I avoided this movie for years just because I thought the plot was ridiculous, and as a musical? Bah. I did not expect it to be fucking hilarious. Five Stars may not be enough considering the singing/dancing, humor, drama, and love story.
4. Raging Bull (1980) - And here's a little hypocrisy. Some of the first lines of dialogue in this movie are Joe Pesci yelling about moulinyans (as seems to be his wont) but god DAMN this is a fine movie. Brilliant, brilliant performance by Robert De Niro especially. Pesci & Cathy Moriarty ain't half bad, either. Scorsese's best film by a long shot. Five stars despite airy punches.
3. Casablanca (1942) - Oft called the most romantic movie ever. Hard to fight with. Not many, then or especially now, had or have the guts to end a movie in such a way. Even though you want it to go one way it HAS to go the other. Five Stars even with the myriad flaws
2. The Godfather (1972) - It's still not as good as II. II is amazing. But ya know what? The end (everything from the baptism to the credits) is about the best ending in the history of film. Five Stars, but that means II gets like...another 1/4 of a star.
1. Citizen Kane (1941) - Best. Greatest. Most amazing film ever. The first time I saw it I ended up watching it at least once a week for about two months. It still enraptures me when I watch. There's a scene in an episode of The Sopranos where Carmella & the girls watch it (doing what I just finished in reverse, as a matter of fact) and after are bored. This scene just bothered the hell out of me. I don't know how anyone can watch it and come to any such conclusion. Five Stars cos I can't give it ten. And, no, there's no "error" with the last words getting out; the majordomo is there.
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