Ten Best Movies Ever Made (actress, sci-fi, picture, James Cagney)

[LexusNexus]

Shaka Zulu (best ever)
Red River
Ben-Hur
One-Eyed Jacks
Godfather I and II
El Cid
Taras Bulba
The Big Country
The Ten Commandments

[IanBeano]

For me I don’t find him as being “preachy” but rather appreciate it as his (and/or humanities) spiritual quest. Beyond that, I find some of his films (such as “Stalker” and “Mirror”) to be stunning in their complete and utter beauty, visually (and at times sonically) speaking (that is). I can not pay attention to the subtitles and simply let his films wash over me, akin to a moving painting. I find much of his work as being examples of great art within cinema (that which not many have reached within film, in my opinion).

As for Woody, ironically (given your comments about Tarkovsky), I can’t stand when he’s too uppity and intellectual with his attempts at being clever (“Annie Hall” strikes me this way), is why I prefer “Take The Money And Run” (akin to high-end slapstick, similar to how I feel about “Raising Arizona”). Normally I tend to appreciate his more serious films (particularly “Husbands and Wives” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors”) than his obvious attempts at comedy (strangely enough, I suppose). Though a sort of liked “Manhattan Murder Mystery” (for some reason), “Zelig” was an interesting take on comedy as well. Generally speaking, your assessment of Tarkovsky - quintessence of the bore, I hate when directors preach too much and try to overintellectualize- is pretty much how I feel about Woody Allen (more times than not), only minus the visual (and at times sonic) splendor (not to mention the humanity – something I rarely feel when viewing Woody Allen) found in a Tarkovsky film.

Originally Posted by FlashM

I never liked Tarkovsky. To me it's the quintessence of the bore. I hate when directors preach too much and try to оverintellectualize. Why do you like it?

Anyways on the whole this flick is pretty bad compare to other later Woody's works. Some jokes are really silly.
For example I like 'Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex But Were Afraid To Ask' MUCH better. Not to mention of course such mastepieces as 'Love And Death' and 'Annie Hall'

[FlashM]

IanBeano, great post! I'm glad you here now cause you've got a very interesting attitude I'd like to talk about

Originally Posted by IanBeano

appreciate it as his (and/or humanities) spiritual quest

You know I watched 'Stalker' all the way through though I can't see where 'spiritual quest' lies.
I guess there were kind of innuendoes during all the movie but I couldn't see them. What are they?
I would be grateful if you tell me in details about spiritual quests in this movie.

Originally Posted by IanBeano

Beyond that, I find some of his films (such as “Stalker” and “Mirror”) to be stunning in their complete
and utter beauty, visually (and at times sonically) speaking (that is).

As I said before I watched 'Stalker' all the way through though I gave up watching his 'Mirror' in the middle cause it seemed to me that there's no such thing as a pronounced plot. I was watching the 'Mirror' and something was happening in it but I asked myself, "So what? So what you director want to tell me by showing this?". I really can't get the point. Besides, 'Mirror' has no action at all. 'Stalker' at least was a bit dynamic
cause there was a travel, but 'Mirror' is completley static.

You say about visual and sonic beauty... Well, maybe... But in what particular episodes? Maybe the movie on my DVD was pretty bad relating to quality and resolution though I could not notice any beauty.

Moreover, these two movies seemed to be dark, obscure, grey and black when it comes to visuals. Everything is really gloomy and depressing.

IanBeano, I'm not trying to argue and I'm interested in opening new directors up for me I could become a fan of. I just ask you to help to do that. Cause in case I missed something just let me know and I'll give
Tarkovsky another chance and try to watch his movies again.

Originally Posted by IanBeano

As for Woody, ironically (given your comments about Tarkovsky), I can’t stand when he’s too uppity and intellectual with his attempts at being clever (“Annie Hall” strikes me this way)

You say that Woody seems to be too uppity in 'Annie Hall'. Could you tell me what particular episodes are uppity? In what fragments does Woody try to be clever?
I've have watched 'Annie Hall' a lot of times (it happens that it is one of my all time favs) and did not once think he's uppity. The whole movie is filled with jokes, irony and sarcasm. That's all. Even all of his sophisticated statements like 'I feel that life is divided up into the horrible and the miserable' is nothing more than just a joke. Yes, it's not a slapstick like 'Take The Money And Run' but it's not philosophical movie either.

Maybe you just don't share his pessimistic and ironic attitude to life and
that's why you believe that he's uppity?

I'd like to add that the quintessence of Woody of being uppity is his 'Manhattan' (1979). I dislike it intensely cause a) there's no jokes at all and b) he tries to be another 'Bergman' or 'Fellini'
Though I have to admit two things that are really good in this movie:
-Soundtrack
-Director of photography's work

Originally Posted by IanBeano

(strangely enough, I suppose)

Yeah, it's strangely enough Do you remember his 'Stardust Memories' flick? That's a good movie about this issue (whether to make funny movies or serious ones). I do like the beginning of 'Startdust Memories'. Do you remember Woody sitting in the wrong 'sad' train instead of sitting in the right 'merry' train?

Originally Posted by IanBeano

Normally I tend to appreciate his more serious films (particularly “Husbands and Wives” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors”)

Anyways, I like 'Husbands and Wives' a lot. A very good one. The only thing I dislike is that it is a kind of duplicate of Bergman's movie named 'Scenes from family life'. Do you know why I dislike it? Cause Woody kind of stole the idea.

I watched 'Crimes and Misdemeanors' though I don't even remember the plot. That probably means that I'm not into it Lol

Originally Posted by IanBeano

Though a sort of liked “Manhattan Murder Mystery” (for some reason)

Hey, I'm very glad you like it cause it is one of my Woody's favs. Very funny one!
I guess you like it cause Woody doesn't try to be uppity as you say (there's no philosphical and sophisticated jokes in this movie)

Do you remember this episode when Woody tried to break down a door but failed?

LARRY: Oh, relax, relax, relax. Don't... I'll break it down. Stand back.
CAROL: Careful, now.
LARRY: Don't worry. Just-Just give me a second.
CAROL: Don't hurt yourself.
LARRY(when he failed): Must be one of those new doors.

Originally Posted by IanBeano

“Zelig” was an interesting take on comedy as well

I don't care for Zelig.

Originally Posted by IanBeano

to mention the humanity

What do mean when say 'humanity'? Any examples?

[wilvan]

My favorites:

1. Trading Places
2. Enemy of the State
3. Foul Play
4. Raiders of the Lost Ark
5. The Boys from Brazil
6. The Godfather I & 2
7. The Joy Luck Club
8. The Time Machine (1960)
9. The Ten Commandments
10. The Sound of Music

[FlaGrrrl]

Some that I thought were great.. Rushmore, Apt Pupil, Godfather, Bronx Tale, Goodfellas, Veronica Guerin, Amelie, etc.

I didn't read through all the others listed but some that I saw posted and like a lot:

Silence of the Lambs, Deer Hunter, Color Purple, Good Will Hunting [I can't believe Affleck and Damon were responsible for this, wow], Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Shining

Someone mentioned Requiem for a Dream.. totally disturbing film but good one.

[xGrendelx]

1: The most important film ever created and, imo, the greatest work of art in this and any other century is 2001: A Space Odyssey.

2: There Will Be Blood
3: The Shining
4: Tombstone (vastly underrated)
5: Terminator 2
6: Raging Bull
7: Das Boot
8: Apocalypse Now
9: American Beauty
10: Network

[TaRaN-RoD]

- Rocky
- The Godfather
- Rain Man
- Titanic
- Once Upon a Time in America
- Gangs of New York
- JFK
- Pulp Fiction
- Sin City
- GoodFellas

I hope some of you are kidding... how can someone put Raging Bull in his top, but does not put Rocky!!!! Rocky is SO much better!!!!

[perticusrex]

Gangs of NY
The Godfather
The Godfather II
Goodfellas
Casino
Rear Window
American Gangster
Pulp Fiction
American Beauty
There Will Be Blood

[JHG722]

Shawshank Redemption
Cinema Paradiso
City of God
Oldboy
Taxi Driver
No Country for Old Men
A Clockwork Orange
Brick
Happiness
8 1/2
Capote
Cool Hand Luke
Dog Day Afternoon
Seven
Amores Perros

Can't really cut it shorter than that.

[ExPit]

Just saw this one, and want to watch it again to be sure it's as good as it seemed the first time. Expertly written, directed, and acted, I also want to look back and see who did the music; it's one of the best soundtracks I've heard in years.

Anne Hathaway, might as well accept it by now, is a true heavyweight, an actress with subtlety and depth, she is able to take us places only the real people go. Her co-star, Rosemary DeWitt, unbelievable, such intelligence in her work in this movie, I have to admit I don't know her other work, but I will go out of my way now to find it. This is one of those movies that's so real, it could have been shot with a hidden camera. Jonathan Demme directs!