The other 80 would either feature in a lot of people's top 100 or were selections that at the very least had some redeeming features (although more fell into the latter category IMO).

The 20 movies that were highlighted are (again only IMO) average at best & I find it strange that you'd rate all of those above a modern classic like Se7en . But you like what you like and have justified the reasons behind your choices so I'm almost convinced it's not a wind up ...

Sometimes I amaze even myself.

I think the violence in the Scream trilogy is not all that graphic and clearly necessary to the film. You can't really have a slasher movie without some slashing going on.

As this thread has taken off a bit I feel obliged to give it a better response than my initial smilie based one

It is a very strange list and I'd replace at least ten of them even if I could only use films watched in the last two weeks but I'll go with these as films that would probably be in my favourite 100:

Blade Runner
Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind
Memento
The Terminator
A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back

These as possibles:

Alien/s
Donnie Darko
The Sixth Sense
The Shawshank Redemption
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Being John Malkovich
Return of the Jedi

These as ones I thought were above average or good but wouldn't make my list:

Unbreakable
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
The Goonies
The Green Mile
Gladiator
Scream
The Ring
Ben Hur
American Beauty
Labyrinth
The Matrix
Empire of the Sun
Jurassic Park
A Beautiful Mind
Top Gun
Spartacus
Back to the Future
Ocean's Eleven
Fight Club
The Dark Knight
Man on the Moon
Minority Report
Twelve Monkeys
Forrest Gump
Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Men in Black

The rest I either haven't seen or I thought were a bit rubbish. Razorback has already highlighted the most dubious

Special mention for the new Star Wars films that I thought were really poor and a massive disappointment. I was also a huge fan as a kid. I had all the toys and was in the local paper with my collection , they'd be pretty valuable if my dad hadn't thrown away all the boxes when we moved house I've still got one of the original cinema posters somewhere from when they showed the first two back to back "together and as they should be seen on a big screen" might also be worth something if it wasn't covered in sellotape

Anyway, they were just a waste of time. Not totally awful but just really really dull. I don't even think of them as being part of the same thing and still think of Star Wars as a trilogy. It seems hard to imagine anyone who loved the three proper films first time round feeling anything other than disappointed and even a little bit betrayed by the new ones. As though a little part of their childhood has been tainted. I went a bit melodramatic at the end there. Sorry about that.

Also Prince of Thieves for being odd. It could have been a really good family film if it wasn't for a couple of 'unsuitable for kids' type scenes and the really weird comedy rape scene at the end. One of the more inappropriate scenes I've ever seen and really quite bizarre.

And lastly Dune just for being awful. It would be on my worst 100 list. A total mess of a film, like it's been edited together in the dark and nobody bothered to check the end result.

Wow, that's harsh - it's still Star Wars. It has light sabres and laser guns and the force. I can't work out what people who disliked the prequels were expecting to be different.

In what way is Finding Nemo a Christian allegory?



It can be interesting to look at IMDb scores but the people who vote on it tend to prefer a certain type of film, that is, hard-edged and macho. For example their Top 5 of all time are The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, The Godfather II, Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) and Pulp Fiction. Sixth is Schindler's List. This suggests to me that, apart from anything else, the electorate is overwhelmingly male. And maybe males who don't get out much or form relationships? Just a thought!

Finding Nemo has similarities with the parable of the lost sheep and other stories Jesus told.



Marlin (father) loves Nemo (his child) so much that when Nemo is lost Marlin risks his life in a lengthy, perilous journey to find him again. The bible frequently uses the term lost to refer to those who are not yet Christians. God (our Father) took human form and died on a cross to give all of us (His children) the opportunity, if we accept Him, to have a relationship with Him, and go to heaven to be with Him when we die, rather than be lost for eternity.

I could take issue with that on both cinematic and existential grounds, but we are worlds apart in our respective beliefs so I won't take it any further.

Thanks for provoking an interesting thread anyway!

I had to look up existential

Is that why Christian's put a fish symbol on their cars then, coz of Nemo?

Always makes me laugh when a car with a fish symbol cuts me up!

The Godfather (and even more Godfather II) is all about relationships!

Lucky for us that the FISO electorate isn't formed of males who don't get out much, eh?

The Godfather is all about relationships between men.

(Sorry it took a couple of days to reply - I've been out )

Is it? Personally I think it's more appropriate to describe 'The Godfather' as being about the various relationships that form within families (both male & female )...

This conversation is not making me think that I must see the Godfather.

Are you winding me up? I'll take the bait anyway, in which case ...

Both Godfather films are about business and dynastic relationships, the underlying themes being power and respect (and their antithesis, corruption and contempt). It is these relationships that drive the story, and they are all between men. Women, on the other hand, have no part in these power/respect relationships, and thus have little or no influence over either their men or the events of the film(s). The early image of Sonny banging a bridesmaid up against the door symbolises women's position in this patriarchal society - they are not there to have a "relationship" with. For example the "relationships" between Michael and Kay, and then Michael and Appollonia, are never explored: the women are simply there, to fulfil a role, while Michael goes about his business (notice how throughout the film, Michael completely ignores Kay's wishes about how he should behave or how they should live their life together). As for Michael and Appollonia, I can't remember them having so much as a conversation before they were married. I could go on, but just in case you were winding me up, I'll stop now!

But seriously...what is the biggest event that occurs in the second movie? In terms of the timing of that particular event, it's very much heavily influenced by a female character IMO. I find it quite interesting that you choose to dismiss the influence of The Godfather's female contingent as easily as, for example, Michael choosing to dismiss Kay's wishes ...

Well, I think I've found the Greatest movie ever. Oakwood Grange, situated in Oakwood, Leeds. (It does say Roundhay, but those in the know, know it's Oakwood) Spookily for me, I use to live a couple of Hundred yards away from it.
The Director was a genius. Unfortunately, just as he was about to submit his work and set up patents, he mysteriously disappeared. Edison claims the glory with the Lumiere brothers, years later.
Le Princes son was found shot dead in New York, 2 years after the suit against Edison. This must be seen as the Greatest achievement in movie making. http://www.precinemahistory.net/1885.htm

Michael dismisses Kay's wishes because he's a chauvinist operating in a patriarchal society, which is exactly why I've dismissed the influence of The Godfather's women on events. I haven't "chosen" to dismiss their influence, the evidence is in the film - indisputably in Godfather I.

As for Godfather II, I'm not sure which event you're referring to. Whatever it is, I don't recall any examination or development of male/female relationships in the film, which was my main point and where this discussion started, other than men ignoring women, beating women or holding them in contempt.

Interesting thread. Not been on FISO in aaaages and just perusing a few old favourite forums. Whatever - my opinion of you dropped like a stone when you said you've never heard of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, so not taking any notice of any more of your film opinions

However, I do agree with you that you can like certain types of film - for example, I've never been at all impressed by special effects (or sci-fi/fantasy really but more the former) so I've never understood the fuss over:

Star Wars
Lord of The Rings
Terminator
Matrix (although I thought the concept was refreshing)
Harry Potter

I just like a good plot, strong cast, believable characters etc.

A few glaring omissions (in my humble opinion) from your list:

The Sting (and Butch Cassidy for that matter)
Pan’s Labyrinth
The English Patient
Road to Perdition
Some Like It Hot
The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Deer Hunter
City of God

And others that I know are not considered “classics” but I really like:

Carlito’s Way
The Hours
A Clockwork Orange (not sure this one’s for you!)
An Officer and a Gentleman
Midnight Cowboy
The Wicker Man
The Lives of Others
Deliverance
Sophie’s Choice
The Crying Game

The list goes on. But then as someone else said, if we all liked the same films life (or at least this thread!) would be boring!

I was surprised when you said that was not in there. I had to go back and check and you are right. It was in the draft lists but must have just missed out in the final ordering.

Having given it careful thought I have added it to my top 100 films - it is better than The Terminal but not as good as The X Files (the first one).

All the rest of the glaring ommissions you mention I haven't seen.

Whatever - how about a list of ten films (that have been suggested to you) that you are going to try?

I'll nominate

Princess Bride
Stand By Me
Empire of The sun (have you seen it?)
Godfather 1+2
Batman Begins (have you seen it?)
28 days later (might be a bit gory??)

let me know a final list and I'll get it sorted as your sweepstake prize

Sounds good.

Princess Bride and Stand By Me Following on from your repeated reccomendations I have picked up both these on video and will watch them soon. Stand By Me I saw a long time ago. I cannot remember it very well but I suspect that it will go into my top 100.

Empire of The sun is already in my top 100.

Batman Begins and 28 days later are both good but not quite top 100 material.

So to start off the list of 10 we have the following that have been reccomended more than once, and that I have not seen:

Princess Bride
The Godfather
The Godfather part 2
Pulp Fiction
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

so we need five more...

I have never made a Top 100 films list, but I think The Godfather may be the only one I've seen listed here that might make it. Well, maybe Goodfellas. Not even a great Hitchcock film, such as Vertigo or Rear Window listed. No Taxi Driver. Virtually nothing foreign or made before 1970, which leaves out about 90% of cinema. It's like a great books list without Shakespeare, Chaucer, Plato, Melville, Joyce, etc.
My list would include in no particular order, films such as:
Citizen Kane
Tokyo Story
Bicycle Thieves
The Night of the Hunter
Sunrise
Taxi Driver
Pickpocket
Persona
The Searchers
Vertigo
The 400 Blows
Breathless
The Passion of Joan of Arc
M
How Green Was My Valley
The Battle of Algiers
The Godfather
Grand Illusion
Rules of the Game
Sullivan's Travels
Rashomon
Young Mr. Lincoln
Lawrence of Arabia
A Man Escaped
Touch of Evil
City Lights
Modern Times
The General
Paths of Glory
Lives of Others
Aguirre, Wrath of God
(Three Colours) Red
Jules and Jim
No Country for Old men
Blood Simple
All Quiet on the Western Front
Dr. Strangelove
All That heaven Allows
Ugetsu
A History of Violence
The American Friend
L'Aventura
It's a Wonderful Life
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Chinatown
Nashville
etc.

add
Riff Raff
A'Talante
Seven Samurai
Man With a Movie Camera
Battleship Potemkin
Ashes and Diamonds
Landscape in the Mist
4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days
The Decalogue
Le Samourai

Normally with people's Top 100 lists I'd count up how many I haven't seen, but with this one it's more a case of counting up how many I haven't even heard of! It's a distinctive list though, and several of these films are already on my Must See list. It would have been even more interesting if you'd managed to list them in order - but I know from my own efforts at compiling a Top 100 (which ended up being a Top 300), it's an impossible task.

You certainly seem to know your films. Pick one and I'll add it to my list.

Not Citizen Kane or It's a Wonderful Life as I've seen them and The Godfather is already on the list.

Check out Blood Simple, the first Coen Brothers film. It's clever, imaginative and a real hoot. Or Chinatown, Roman Polanski's masterpiece with Jack Nicholson as a tough-talking private eye in old time LA, swimming amidst the corruption. You can always just ogle Faye Dunaway if all else fails. There's always the very recent A History of Violence, which I adore. It is clever, violent and though provoking.
Take your pick my friend. I have always been a film nut and watched many foreign films, but in the past two years I retired a little young and have gone back to Uni taking mostly film courses, which has really opened my mind to many great films from foreign countries, as well as many top English language films I had never seen, like Night of the Hunter. Most of us are too busy to do that, but I am loving it. Discovering very challenging geniuses like Ozu, Bresson and Dreyer have been a real eyeopener but these are very challenging films, awash in ambiguity and unanswered questions. Ozu is easier than the others, but his Nineteen Fifties films about the Japanese family are as slow moving and polite as Japanese society and take their time to eventually develop a devastating punch for the patient viewer, ready to engage with a different culture. His Tokyo Story is the best new film I have seen in years. It is the kind of filmmaking you have to develop a taste for, like trying sushi for the first time. Once you get that taste it is almost insatieable. I just received a box set of five new Ozu films and plan to start on it tonight.

Just thought I'd say thanks to Whatever for starting this all off, I've missed these educational threads

Yeah, thanks Whatever. It is fun and stimulating to hear different people's opinions and ratings. Along with Bazza's World Cup and some of the other threads kept alive largely by Razor, there is a lot of interesting talk about movies to read and jump in on.

The reason this thread has taken off is partly because Whatever produced an honest, personal and not necessarily fashionable list, then was prepared to defend it against the inevitable comments. Fair play to you mate.

I'm intrigued by Tokyo Story and would say that curently it's at the very top of my Must See list. The first time I was aware of it was in a Guardian readers' list of favourite foreign films. Then, within the past couple of weeks, it appeared in the Spectator magazine's list of greatest all-time films. Now Pouzar has recommended it. Just gotta see that film!

It is a great film Billy, in my top 5 all time, but a warning. It is slow moving and developing, very understated minimalist cinema, but ends up packing a devastating punch. Ozu never moves the camera, just sets it up and lets the actors perform their roles in front of us. He shoots from the angle of someone sitting on a tatami mat and at times it feels as if you are looking into your neighbour's house and watching them interact. I was so impressed that I bought a 5-pack of his films and rented a couple more from the library. They all very good in a typical old-fashioned, polite Japanese way, but Tokyo Story is a cut above the others. Best film ever about the relationship between parents and grown children. Unforgettable. Let me know what you think. I admit that I had never heard of him six months ago but now consider him one of the masters of cinema.