Movie Thread

[nowhereman]

I work in the film industry, and have for over 35 years. And this is one of the most inappropriately named threads I've ever seen in this forum. And at the same time one of the most senseless discussions, because it throws art into a competition. Maybe because we think of the Academy Awards as a competition, or because many of use like to watch or take part in bicycling competitions, we easily lend ourselves to the insanely absurd question of: "Best Film(movie) ever made?"
I tell you what. Why don't we have a competition(thread) for the best Statue/Sculpture ever made? Or the Best Painting ever painted? Or the Best song ever sung?
Don't we realize that all of the above subjects are too open to the most subjective of opinions in all of us? And that this subjectivity, makes this a totally futile exercise.
Bad enough that the title implies that there could be a best film(movie) ever made. There are too many genres to consider, and that's not even remotely mentioned!
Some people don't like animated features, some don't like films with any violence in them at all, no matter the films overall value. Some don't like comedies. Some love horror films. Not to mention some people are just too dim to get the point/message of some incredibly profound films. Given all these variables in peoples tastes alone, how could we ever come close to agreeing on the best film(movie) ever made?
Simply put: There is NO "best film(Movie) ever made"!
Many fine films have been named in this thread, and many absolutely idiotic films have been entered into consideration in this thread, for God knows what reason. The fact is, Art stimulates us, and in it's best form, it inspires us. But as we are all so very different, while some of us might agree with someone else's pick for a good/great film. There never was, and never will be, a Best film(movie) ever made.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Maybe the title is not so proper and there is NO best films, however, personally, for most movie fans, there indeed are some best films in their minds.

In my mind, they should be:

1. Avatar
2. Star Wars
3. The Great Escape
4. This Is Spinal Tap
5. Brassed Off

Avatar was absolutely awful. Try watching on a small screen without the benefit of the special effect and you'll probably agree. Anyways, a few of my favorities would be American History X, Saving Private Ryan, The Usual Suspects, The Departed, Traffic, and most recently-Inception.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Anybody seen Inception?

A friend of mine has watched it and claims it's so awesome I gotta watch it ASAP.

 

[marinoni]

Avatar was absolutely awful. Try watching on a small screen without the benefit of the special effect and you'll probably agree. Anyways, a few of my favorities would be American History X, Saving Private Ryan, The Usual Suspects, The Departed, Traffic, and most recently-Inception.

Wow, two people in a row talking up Inception, I'll have to check that out. I don't agree about Avatar. The whole point of it is the amazing fx. It's like saying without the sex scenes porn flicks aren't very good.

 

[marinoni]

Saving Private Ryan

I have a hard time picking one or a few movies as the best because they're all too different. But in terms of pure visceral impact it's Private Ryan. I've studied WW11 history pretty intensively for 20yrs or so and have interviewed several dozen vets for a museum so I had a certain emotional investment in the film. I remember seeing that early scene with the waves crashing against a beach obstacle and somehow knowing I was in for something extraordinary. The best way I can describe the first few minutes of the landing is it was like standing in front of a fire hose. I actually found myself wishing they'd stop the movie for a second; I just couldn't process what I was seeing. For about an hour after the movie I couldnt even talk about it without crying.
I also did the uncle thing once:and took my niece to see High School Musical. I cried for several days after that one.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Anybody seen Inception?

A friend of mine has watched it and claims it's so awesome I gotta watch it ASAP.

It was amazing. Best blockbuster movie I've seen in years, maybe the best film of the 21st century so far. Make sure your awake, its complicated and long. And to the guy talking up Avatar, I realize how good the special effects and visuals were. But you take that away, the movie is awful.

 

[marinoni]

It was amazing. Best blockbuster movie I've seen in years, maybe the best film of the 21st century so far. Make sure your awake, its complicated and long. And to the guy talking up Avatar, I realize how good the special effects and visuals were. But you take that away, the movie is awful.

The point about taking the fx away makes no sense. What do you think, he was trying to be the next Truffaut? He called the mineral unobtainium for god sake. It was meant to entertain and the sfx are a major part of that. Why would you take them away? If you take away a major part of any movie it'll be terrible. Like I said above, it's like taking the sex scenes out of a porn flick and then complaining that the movies bad. Not that I would know anything about that.

 

[D Avoid]

Hum like it snot

Benten

Casablanca

 

[D Avoid]

Avatar was absolutely awful. Try watching on a small screen without the benefit of the special effect and you'll probably agree. Anyways, a few of my favorities would be American History X, Saving Private Ryan, The Usual Suspects, The Departed, Traffic, and most recently-Inception.

I watched the Departed, once in the cinema and once on the box and Saving Private Ryan 3 times on telly, the third time a New Jersey Jew decided I hated Jews because I refused to join in with his Nazi taunting of every German that appeared, that was an interesting ordeal, neither of the two films were watchable a second time. Dynamic as an unknown quantity, but nothing to keep you there a second time. Pulp Fiction was the same.

 

[Anonymous]

I watched the Departed, once in the cinema and once on the box and Saving Private Ryan 3 times on telly, the third time a New Jersey Jew decided I hated Jews because I refused to join in with his Nazi taunting of every German that appeared, that was an interesting ordeal, neither of the two films were watchable a second time. Dynamic as an unknown quantity, but nothing to keep you there a second time. Pulp Fiction was the same.

Did you mention to him that it was a movie and they couldn't hear him...not to mention the fact that they weren't really Nazi's?

 

[Steel4Ever]

...it's like taking the sex scenes out of a porn flick and then complaining that the movies bad. Not that I would know anything about that.

Leave the sex scenes IN a porn flick and you still have a bad movie!



or so I've heard....

 

[D Avoid]

Did you mention to him that it was a movie and they couldn't hear him...not to mention the fact that they weren't really Nazi's?

I wrote a reply that became very long, encompassing death, destruction, a huge rip off scam, me being sidelined for years, I'm a builder of sorts and would have spotted this very quickly, it is a very sad story and I was caught up in the middle of it, mental illness is the main ingredient, combined with a whole series of con men, including their own accountant. You can't win when he is in on it, it doesn't excuse what they did to me though. I was run out of the house as a Jew hating, Nazi sympathiser, snoring was the other reason offered. If I could make it up, it would be funny.

 

[marinoni]

Lighten Up!

I work in the film industry, and have for over 35 years. And this is one of the most inappropriately named threads I've ever seen in this forum. And at the same time one of the most senseless discussions, because it throws art into a competition. Maybe because we think of the Academy Awards as a competition, or because many of use like to watch or take part in bicycling competitions, we easily lend ourselves to the insanely absurd question of: "Best Film(movie) ever made?"
I tell you what. Why don't we have a competition(thread) for the best Statue/Sculpture ever made? Or the Best Painting ever painted? Or the Best song ever sung?
Don't we realize that all of the above subjects are too open to the most subjective of opinions in all of us? And that this subjectivity, makes this a totally futile exercise.
Bad enough that the title implies that there could be a best film(movie) ever made. There are too many genres to consider, and that's not even remotely mentioned!
Some people don't like animated features, some don't like films with any violence in them at all, no matter the films overall value. Some don't like comedies. Some love horror films. Not to mention some people are just too dim to get the point/message of some incredibly profound films. Given all these variables in peoples tastes alone, how could we ever come close to agreeing on the best film(movie) ever made?
Simply put: There is NO "best film(Movie) ever made"!
Many fine films have been named in this thread, and many absolutely idiotic films have been entered into consideration in this thread, for God knows what reason. The fact is, Art stimulates us, and in it's best form, it inspires us. But as we are all so very different, while some of us might agree with someone else's pick for a good/great film. There never was, and never will be, a Best film(movie) ever made.

This has to be the most pretentious and condescending post I've ever seen on this forum. Your arrogance is astonishing.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

I work in the film industry, and have for over 35 years. And this is one of the most inappropriately named threads I've ever seen in this forum. And at the same time one of the most senseless discussions, because it throws art into a competition. Maybe because we think of the Academy Awards as a competition, or because many of use like to watch or take part in bicycling competitions, we easily lend ourselves to the insanely absurd question of: "Best Film(movie) ever made?"
I tell you what. Why don't we have a competition(thread) for the best Statue/Sculpture ever made? Or the Best Painting ever painted? Or the Best song ever sung?
Don't we realize that all of the above subjects are too open to the most subjective of opinions in all of us? And that this subjectivity, makes this a totally futile exercise.
Bad enough that the title implies that there could be a best film(movie) ever made. There are too many genres to consider, and that's not even remotely mentioned!
Some people don't like animated features, some don't like films with any violence in them at all, no matter the films overall value. Some don't like comedies. Some love horror films. Not to mention some people are just too dim to get the point/message of some incredibly profound films. Given all these variables in peoples tastes alone, how could we ever come close to agreeing on the best film(movie) ever made?
Simply put: There is NO "best film(Movie) ever made"!
Many fine films have been named in this thread, and many absolutely idiotic films have been entered into consideration in this thread, for God knows what reason. The fact is, Art stimulates us, and in it's best form, it inspires us. But as we are all so very different, while some of us might agree with someone else's pick for a good/great film. There never was, and never will be, a Best film(movie) ever made.

Dude, its called a friendly debate. We all know there is no such thing as "the best movie ever made" But that doesn't mean it isn't fun to discuss and share our favorites. And to agree with the poster above me, this is a pretty obnoxious post.

 

[Archibald]

while not my favourite movie, I still believe the greatest movie ever made is Akira Kurosawa's "The Seven Samurai"
truly a cinematic masterpiece

 

[D Avoid]

while not my favourite movie, I still believe the greatest movie ever made is Akira Kurosawa's "The Seven Samurai"
truly a cinematic masterpiece

Pulse 1

You then realise how badly Hollywood cons us when you see their version, different planet.

 

[sienna]

Once Upon a time in the West.

 

[Steel4Ever]

Once Upon a time in the West.

First time I watched that I fell asleep.
But not because it was terrible.
It's quite a movie, really, and pretty much always on the "Under the Radar" list.

 

[Steel4Ever]

Pulse 1

You then realise how badly Hollywood cons us when you see their version, different planet.

Applicable to 99% of every Sh!ttywood remake.

 

[usedtobefast]

although there are exceptions, i think "Hollywood" movies quality fell badly from
1980 to now. prior to then every decade had very good direction and an inherent craft about them that got lost along the way.IMO.

 

[Steel4Ever]

although there are exceptions, i think "Hollywood" movies quality fell badly from
1980 to now. prior to then every decade had very good direction and an inherent craft about them that got lost along the way.IMO.

Seeing as how the 80's was personified (and awarded) with the mantra "Greed is Good!", I'm thinking the inherent 'art and craft' part of movie making was replaced by a very deliberate pursuit of the almighty dollar.

'Police Academy 7' anyone?

 

[The Valley]

The Dance Of The Vampires
Chinatown
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (so much more than "just" a teen movie)
Lord of the Rings trilogy
Pauline A La Plage (Eric Rohmer)
Subway (Luc Besson)
The Wizard Of Oz

Edit - forgot Mulholland Drive

 

[Climbing]

Best in what sense?
Technically? Visual impact? Story Telling (Hollywood trademark), Actors acting?
Not an easy answer, you see.
Favourite movies, yeah that could be answered.

- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Blade Runner
- The Deer Hunter
- Once Upon a Time in America
- Apocalypse Now
- Citizen Kane
- 8 1/2
- Zabriskie Point
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
- The Old Man and the Sea

Just to a name a few with great significance from my perspective.

 

[Jan the Man]

Das Boot
Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others)
La Haine
Aurevoir les Enfants
Godfather Part I and II
Goodfellas
Raging Bull
Cidade de Deus (City of God)

Other favourites of mine-

Good Morning Vietnam
This is England
Heat
The Departed
Soldier of Orange
Leon
Le Conseguenze dell'amore (The Consequences of Love)
Ničija zemlja (No Man's Land)
Lacombe Lucien

 

[jobiwan]

I'd have to go with Saving Private Ryan.