Of course, if "V" hadn't been a made-for-TV movie ...
Time for those high-falutin' AFI folks to tell us what's good:
www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/21/afi.movies.ap/index.html
I'd change the order here, as you might guess. And don't get me started on the omissions. Hello? Have none of you jokers seen "Real Genius?"
posted by Jefferson @ 12:50 PM
15 comments
15 Comments:
I figured I've seen 93 of these and parts of four others (All About Eve, A Streetcar Named Desire, West Side Story, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf). Fanned on Sunrise, Swing Time and Sophie's Choice.
No huge quarrels, but I gotta wonder about the additions of Cabaret and Do the Right Thing. Also sorry to seem personal faves Fargo, Rebel Without a Cause, Giant and Stagecoach get the boot.
If my math is right, there were 20 movies from the 1970s (probably about right; it was a golden age of sorts), 17 from the '60s, 16 from the '50s, 12 from the 30s, 11 from the '90s, 11 from the '40s, 8 from the '80s, 3 from the '20s, 1 from the 1910s and 1 from the 2000s (although Transformers will almost certainly change that).
Freddie Got Fingered got robbed, I tells ya.
By my count, I've seen only 22 of these films. Other than Wizard of Oz, I don't think I've seen any of the movies released prior to 1954's Rear Window. And no, I haven't seen Citizen Cane, Cassablanca, Gone with the Wind, etc. etc. Who needs 'em? I've got a fever, and the only prescription is a good ol' fashion Revenge of the Nerds quality movie. And yes, Transformers WILL most certainly have an impact on the list...... forever.
Oh wait........do I owe slumus money for using this name?
Wow ... Don't think I've ever seen that before ... "Revenge of the Nerds" and "quality" in the same sentence. And I've seen it more times that I care to admit.
Guess what we really need is a "Screw AFI: The Top 100 Movies That People Really Like (Crap Included) List."
I'll start. "Fletch," anyone?
I've seen 63, which is about right. I've yet to hear anyone say they've seen "Sophie's Choice," which would be the first movie I'd kick off this list.
If I thought about it, yeah, I could come up with 10 or 20 movies that should be here. But I'll go with Dad on this one. Might take some time, but maybe I can cobble together the anti-AFI list. Not stinkers, per se, but the movies everyone has seen but doesn't claim in Serious Conversations About Film. And yet, their influence is unquestioned. "Fletch," "Die Hard," "Fried Green Tomatoes."
(Wait, did I just say that out loud?)
I am a truck that turns into a robot.
I maybe kicked in the yarbles for this, but I think Barry Lyndon should replace A Clockwork Orange on that list. Oh, give me Porky's over RotN. The princpals office scene w/ Ms. Brubreaker (?) always has me in tears. WTF is the Searchers doing at #12? Good movie, but it was obviously all shot on a lot with painted backgrounds, and the writing was standard of that time. Should take the place of Shane. Many of these films are average to great movies with groundbreaking film, sound, edit techniques. that being said, why isn' The Matrix at the lower end of the list?
Mr. Lordicus makes some thoughtful points ...
1. Don’t think I’ve seen “Barry Lyndon” since it came out. Beautiful movie but somewhat, ah, deliberate. Friend of mine said it was like watching a painting. That said, wouldn’t argue about booting “A Clockwork Orange,” an unpleasant movie that I’ve always thought was overrated.
2. I’d take “Animal House” over both “Porky’s” and “Revenge of the Nerds,” neither of which would exist without it.
3. True, “The Searchers” might be a little high at No. 12 (although more than a few folks still think it’s the best western ever made), but I have to take issue with the painted background comment. I’ve seen it again recently and can remember only a couple outdoor scenes (in the cemetery before the attack, then the ambush by the campfire) that were obviously on a soundstage. You can quibble about the geography of it (the story takes place in Texas), but that’s really Monument Valley (a favorite location of John Ford’s) in the background. Watch the DVD or better, the HD DVD. It’s a gorgeous movie. I won’t claim the plot is anything special, but the racism element was unusual for the time and Wayne was very good.
4. Not a huge fan of “The Matrix” but certainly can appreciate its technical innovations. I agree that it probably deserves a place on the list as much as “Toy Story,” which I assume is there for the same reason.
"Porky's" ... eh, it's OK. But let's not mix apples and oranges. That's high school, and "Animal House" and "Revenge of the Nerds" are college. Then again, Pee Wee was -- what? -- 25 or 26 in "Porky's." Dude looked old.
Stay tuned for my take on "The Searchers," which I just watched over the weekend. The scenery is the real deal, and it's amazing.
I'd slide "The Matrix" onto the list and keep "A Clockwork Orange." Surprised to see a push for "Barry Lyndon," but when you've got Kubrick on the brain ...
I admit there were times during "Eyes Wide Shut" when I thought it was the best movie ever made. Then it cut to a scene with people wearing clothes, and I got bored again.
The "Painting" simile is a good one.I am a sucker for 18th century England films. The Madness of King George belongs in the top 150. "What, What"
How many films does John Wayne say "Is your head cold," to someone wearing a hat indoors? I have only paid attention to several films, different western characters, and he has said this line each time.
I've seen every Wayne film worth seeing and a lot that are not -- I'm looking at you in particular, "The Green Berets" -- and I've never noticed the running cold head line.
Guess it'll give me something to look for the next time I pop in "Red River" or my personal underrated fave, "Big Jake."
I could be wrong on this, but the cold-head line IS in "The Searchers," but Wayne doesn't say it. Something makes me think it was Ward Bond to the Duke's son, Pat Wayne, who was playing a young soldier.
The Shootist is the other film with the quote.
Yeah, Ward Bond says it to Patrick Wayne toward the end of "The Searchers." Didn't notice it in "The Shootist," which was on again recently, but I can see Wayne or somebody else saying it to Ron Howard.
Of course, now that I think about it, I have a pretty good idea why that line (and the whole hat indoors business) might jump out at certain folks more than others.
Give my regards to Slumus Lordicus the Elder the next time you see him.
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