I can't handle doing a top ten movies list.There are way too many that are way too good.
However, there are a set of movies distinguished by the fact that, whenever I see them on TV and decide to watch for a minute or two, I cannot stop watching, regardless that I've seen them a hundred times before.
Here's a few of them, I'm not saying they're brilliant and I'm not saying they're the best... I'm just saying I can't stop watching them:
Body Heat
As Good as it Gets
It's a Wonderful Life
Finding Neverland
Goodfellas
Misery
Blade Runner
A Shot in the Dark
Dirty Harry
Fargo
Blood Simple
GlenGarry Glen Ross
There's loads, I'll add a few more...
Jean De Florette
The Magnificent Seven
Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Misery
Perhaps you might suggest a few of your own - I bet some of them get added to my list too.
God, I hope none of them are on today, I've got things to do.
Just read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and have a Blade Runner DVD sat here waiting to be watched.
ReplyDeleteI must confess to having a softspot for Dune and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It makes me sound as "nerdy" as Weird Al Yankovic, I know. :)
Has this post been on before? You're confusing me now...
ReplyDelete'Shawshank Redemption' is on TV what...every fortnight... but if I start watching it I'll probably still be there at midnight!
And 'Goodfellas' - absolutely...seen it loads of times. 'Fargo' I keep meaning to try again because I couldn't see what the fuss was when I watched it years ago...
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Dominic: Blade Runner is Super - these days, it's got to be one of the myriad of Director's Cuts that you see. The original voice-over and namby-pamby ending just doesn't cut it any more. Holy Grail could easily be on my list - helped my the fact that my son and his friends (13) love it too.
ReplyDeleteRachel: Confused? Darling!! :) This post was languishing back in feb 2008 when nobody came here, you probably had a look 'cos (as mentioned before somewhere, you are a 'Darling') :) I'm currently juggling a spate of earnest writing and DIY that means I have to duck and dive a little on the blog. New posts soon on the Twickenham Tramp, my acting experiences and some more 'Loving It So You don't Have To', it's a book up next and, no, it's not Westlife - a Biography. :)
We share some of the top ones; I love As Good As It Gets and It's A Wonderful Life.
ReplyDeleteI'd need to add the Princess Bride and (forgive me, maybe it's the music) Repo Man. And on behalf of my entire family, Shrek the Third...although for some reason I feel I should be saying that with a paper bag over my head.
Susan: Shrek the Third is my least favorite of the three, oddly enough. The first one blew me away when I say it with John - I brought Trish the next night. My fave bit is when the wolf is in the bed dressed as Granny and he says 'What?'
ReplyDeletePrincess Bride, Yesyes yes. I love William Goldman and all he writes. We watched Misery last night again - a masterclass in tense screenwriting.
I haven't seen Repo Man since it first came out - the car flew away didn't it? That threw me a bit. I must revisit.
Rachel: Try Fargo again. go on go on on go on.
ReplyDeleteShawshank gets me too - but how did he get the poster back on the wall??
I guess your really liked misery ???
ReplyDeletewhat about
Pan's Labyrinth
Dances with wolves
Gone with the Wind
Titanic
and Citizen Kane (never mind, that's for the worst movie of all time list)
Alan: That's funny! You observant thing you. I actually watched Misery for the umpteenth time last night and it was that which prompted the post. I will leave the mistake in so that people can appreciate your comment.
ReplyDeleteI watched it last night with my thirteen year old son and I now look forward to all the great films I can enjoy again through his eyes.
I saw Citizen Kane in the cinema once (as well as all the bloddy TV viewings) and it was quite good in the darkened focused space. But, God, it *is* over-rated isn't it?
Andromeda Strain
ReplyDeleteNational Treasure
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
All the Harry Potters
All the Lord of the Rings
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Star Wars original 3
Ten Commandments
Any Star Trek
Sleepers
Any Superman
Any X-Men
Rudy
ABBA: The Movie
Titanic
Braveheart
Twister
Something for Joey
Brian's Song
Miracle (1980 USA Hockey Team Victory at Lake Placid)
Far and Away
Days of Thunder
Risky Business
Legal Eagles
Up Close and Personal
Flashdance
Fame
Grease
...to name just a few...
Agreed...Citizen Kane. It just doesn't stand up. It must have been something in its day for all the old theater people to still vote it #1, but it's not a movie that really lasts like the Wizard of Oz--which I don't automatically watch every time it's on tv.
ReplyDeleteI have to add the Princess Bride as well, it's my all time favorite. But for some unknown reason I will always stop for "Blast from the Past" with Brendon Frasier. I love how quirky it is.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a list. Here are mine for the moment, some are jaded, lol:
ReplyDeleteThe Notebook
Sound of Music
The Godfather
The Ten Commandments
Where Eagles Dare
Star Wars
Armageddon
Shrek
Titanic
Braveheart
I like all the Shreks (with or without children present). Probably the second one least of all but even that has some great bits - the princesses are pretty funny.
ReplyDeleteFeb 08 - heck we are old friends by now then.
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Hi Matt, you have great films in your list, as always, but I struggle to find many that I would be tempted to stop and watch *every* time they are on. I did watch Titanic the last time it appeared and, God knows, I've seen it a few times. Have you seen an earlier version, with Kenneth More, called A Night To Remember - that's one I would watch if it was on.
ReplyDeleteCarlae: Is that the one with Christopher Walken as the dad and they send the son out into the world...? I think it is, I've never seen it all the way through, I will keep an eye out for it now.
Jena: This is sad but, on your list of fine movies, I think the one I would be most likely to watch over and over is... 'sound of music'... oh dear, I'm in trouble again. :)
Rachel: 'Old friends', I can use. :)
Good list. Misery makes me cringe every time I see it. At least Chronicles of Riddick didn't make your list. It's on my husband's and I've seen it more than I care to!
ReplyDeleteI love Finding Neverland and Blade Runner too, can watch them over and over again. Favourite quote : "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die. "
ReplyDeleteOther movies I can see over and over :
Groundhog day
What dreams may come
Bicentennial Man
Chocolat
Treasure Planet
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
The Maltese Falcon
ReplyDeleteStalag 17
Twelve Angry Men
Schindler's List
Double Indemnity
Casablanca
Holiday Inn
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The Big Sleep
Cape Fear (1962 version)
Night of the Hunter
His Kind of Woman
The hits keep coming:
ReplyDeleteDr Stangelove
Anatomy of a Murder
Giant
High Fidelity
The Big Lebowski
Its a solid list - I would submit for your consideration:
ReplyDeleteResevoir Dogs
Princess Bride
The Empire Strikes Back
Deliverance
Animal House
ANY Buster Keaton movie
Forest Gump
Raiders of the Lost Ark
A Christmas Story
Pulp Fiction
Oh, I see I copied a few from previous posts. Well, I could go on ... but I think you get the idea.
Ken,
ReplyDeleteI really didn't like either of the two movies regarding the sinking of the Titanic prior to Titanic. Perhaps it's because I saw Titanic first. My mother saw A Night To Remember and loved it and had no interest in seeing Titanic. Eventually she saw it on television though and agreed it's a classic.
Titanic is a different film, kind of like 2 films in one--while the science and documentary part takes a backseat to the love story between Jack and Rose, A Night to Remember is more a Documentary, but Titanic succeeds in setting the stage, providing the science behind the sinking, and documenting the real historical stories better, I think, than A Night To Remember.
Funny post. I love your comment about things to do - isn't that the truth. My list:
ReplyDeleteThe Breakfast Club
About Last Night
St. Elmo's Fire
(0kay so maybe I have a Rob Lowe thing)
Legends of the Fall
When Harry Met Sally
The Way We Were
Anything with Carey Grant
Pillow Talk
The Brady Bunch (I know it's not a movie but I get sucked into that dang show everytime it is on - even if it is always all about Marcia)
that no one comments on Body Heat astounds me. I first saw this movie in an old style dramatic theater and fell in love with William Hurt. I channeled Kathleen Turner best I could. I LOVE that movie. Casablanca is another.
ReplyDeleteAnd I loathe to admit, Mary Poppins!
Why has no one mentioned anything with Bruce Willis in it? Surely they're the crack cocaine of movies?
ReplyDelete