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Post by Finarvyn on May 28, 2019 21:06:40 GMT -6
You know the routine … deserted island … you and a DVD player and a choice of only ten movies. What’s your list? Mine aren’t necessarily in order, but pretty much how I thought of them. What I’m looking for is (1) some variety, so not all alike, (2) a good story, and (3) a great soundtrack. What I discovered is that I couldn’t stop at ten, but instead picked most of my ten and then added in a bunch of honorable mention movies.
In other words, I failed. Can you limit your list to ten?
Star Wars – I can’t have all of them, but I would take the original. Ideally, not the George Lucas revised versions, but the actual 1977 original. A little dated perhaps, but still the gold standard of science fiction movies and John Williams crushed the soundtrack.
Pirates of the Caribbean – again, the first one of the series. You can’t really beat a good pirate romp, and “Curse of the Black Pearl” is one of the best ever. Plus has a great soundtrack.
Raiders of the Lost Ark – again, a franchise where several of them are great but the original is the best. Fantastic soundtrack.
Lord of the Rings – I can’t take the whole trilogy, so I’ll pick Fellowship of the Ring as my favorite. Nazgul, Rivendell, Galdriel, Moria … my favorites all in one movie.
Tombstone – a classic story, and Kurt Russell. Tough combination to beat.
Star Trek – the first Chris Pine one. Yeah, it surprised me a little, too. I just found that in rewatching the old cast movies that they just didn’t weather that well, but the reboot movie really grabs me. In a fit of nostalgia I might pick Wrath of Khan instead, but at the moment it’s the reboot.
First Blood – before Rambo became “super Rambo.” A great action-adventure movie with a lone hero against long odds.
The Magnificent Seven – the 1960’s one, not the remake or the sequels. I feel a little funny putting two westerns in my top ten, but this one is hard to leave off.
That's eight "definite" choices (I think) but I have another dozen or more I can't choose between to round off the ten.
- - - - - - - - - -
Patton – a classic WWII movie. Another great soundtrack.
Van Helsing – I didn’t like the ending, but otherwise it’s a fantastic movie with vampires and slayers and all sorts of swashbuckler action.
Jurassic Park – fun monster movie romp, with dinos eating everyone.
To Catch a Thief – I feel like I have to have a Cary Grant movie somewhere, and this is one of my favorites.
Support Your Local Sheriff – I can’t really have a “top ten” without a James Garner movie. I hate to put a 3rd Western in my list, but this one is one of the greats.
Chisum – Also tough to have a “top ten” without a John Wayne movie, but a 4th Western just seems absurd. This one is one of my favorites, or I could pick “True Grit” or “Big Jake” or “Sands of Iwo Jima.”
Vertigo – Hitchcock. Jimmy Stewart. Neither should be left off of the list. This is one of my favorites. If not this one, then “Destry Rides Again” (another Western!) or “The Man Who Knew Too Much” or “Rear Window.”
The Princess Bride – One of the most quotable movies ever.
The Terminator – The original is Schwarzenegger at his finest.
The Sting – a classic con movie with Newman and Redford.
Ghostbusters – the original is clearly the best, IMO.
And I’m sure I left some classics off the list.
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Post by DungeonDevil on May 28, 2019 21:39:33 GMT -6
How did I get to this desert island??? I specifically told my travel agent that I wanted a dessert island!
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Post by derv on May 29, 2019 5:26:07 GMT -6
My short list of five off the cuff-
1. Apocalypse Now 79
2. Cool Hand Luke 67
3. Jeremiah Johnson 72
4. Caddy Shack 80
5. Good Guys Wear Black 78
Honorable Mention- Dirty Dozen 67
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Post by Zenopus on May 29, 2019 6:32:13 GMT -6
I'd pick movies that I re-watch every year, or every few years, since they have already demonstrated their durability on repeat viewing
Wizard of Oz (1939)
Casablanca (1942)
Jaws (1975)
Star Wars (1977)
Watership Down (1978)
The Thing (1981)
The Dead Zone (1983)
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
Brazil (1985)
Metropolitan (1990)
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Post by Greyharp on May 30, 2019 5:04:07 GMT -6
I can do 10
Babe
Shaun of the Dead
A Field in England
Dredd
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
The Full Monty
A Clockwork Orange
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Snatch
The Fifth Element
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Post by Finarvyn on May 30, 2019 5:33:53 GMT -6
I'd pick movies that I re-watch every year, or every few years, since they have already demonstrated their durability on repeat viewing Honestly, that was a large part of my criteria. If it's a movie I have watched repeatedly, that must mean something.  |
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Post by clownboss on May 31, 2019 2:55:29 GMT -6
Everybody here picks action or fantasy or sci-fi films, but I have a girl's brain and I love sappy mellodrama and character stories. Although I would agree there is a big difference between films you'd carry for a desert island and all-time favourites, there are a lot of films that are purely eye candy for me. So I'd go with the following:
1. The Knack and How to Get It
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey
3. A Hard Day's Night
4. A bout de souffle
5. Metropolis
6. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
7. Andrei Rublev
8. The Fifth Element
9. Interstella 5555
10. Star Wars Episode IV
So somehow we ended up with 5 films that can be classified as sci-fi.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2019 15:53:41 GMT -6
I must watch too many movies, because I'm finding this to be an impossible task. If I can only take 10, maybe something like the following (in no particular order):
1. Coherence
2. The Ninth Gate
3. The Thin Red Line
4. The Big Lebowski
5. Bad Santa
6. Layer Cake
7. Donnie Darko
8. Ronin
9. Pride & Prejudice
10. Gattaca
What this odd collection has in common is that I've watched each of these many times and I always want to see them again.
I have all kinds of runners-up. But it would be embarrassing to list that many movies.
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Post by makofan on Jun 3, 2019 12:01:40 GMT -6
Hmmmm, as I think of them - these are the ones I tend to watch about once per year - I am not a big movie buff, and I don't pay attention to sound tracks. I'm not one for drama too much either
Blade Runner
Casablanca
The Lord of the Rings
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
The Princess Bride
The Three/Four Musketeers (early 70's version)
Star Wars
Th Empire Strike Backs
Bull Durham
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2019 14:44:54 GMT -6
For me, it's easy, because I sort of like trilogies: So, it's "The Lord of the Rings", "Infernal Affairs", and "The Godfather". Plus, as a tenth option, "Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves", adult-me chuckles, but back in the day, this was one of my entry keys into the worlds of medievalism and fantasy.  In this context, a honorable mention goes to "Record of Lodoss War": That's technically a TV series, but between the RoLW series, and it's (spiritual successor) follow-up, "Legend of Crystania", I would probably be set for months. |
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Post by sirclarence on Jun 4, 2019 9:30:54 GMT -6
In no particular order. Inception
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Woodstock
Alien
Matrix
Pulp Fiction
Zodiac
and of course... Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Return of the Jedi
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2019 14:48:23 GMT -6
Plus, as a tenth option, "Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves", adult-me chuckles, but back in the day, this was one of my entry keys into the worlds of medievalism and fantasy. I’m an avid Shakesperian, but I have my share of guilty pleasures on my movie shelf. Nothing wrong with some easy-to-digest fare sometimes. The trick is, the movie is neither bad for a "Robin Hood" movie, nor for a fantasy movie - it's just really bad for a history flick, and really bad for an adaptation/echo of the "Robin of Sherwood" series of the 1980s. But by itself, it's remarkably coherent and concise. Not saying that as a fan, but - I think - from an adult perspective. Watched the extended edition that came out on DVD, and even reread the novelization a few years ago. (Done by Simon R Green, of "Hawk and Fisher"/"Blue Moon" fame.) - It's okaaayyy. Costner is costnering, which creates a few cringeworthy moments, yes - but between Alan Rickman, Mary Elizabeth Iwon'teventrythatname, and Morgan Freeman, and then-teenie-superstar Christian Slater, and some smaller cast members like Michael Wincott and Michael McShane, the cast delivers a story that works. (Examples of stories that DON'T work in the genre are Crowe's "Robin Hood", or whatever that Robin Hood/Green Arrow crossover was supposed to be that was released last summer.  ) Logn story short, now I want to watch 80s knight movies. Where art thou, DVD of the 1982 "Ivanhoe" TV-special, starring the professor from Jurassic Park, and the Scarlet Pimpernel?! |
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Post by verhaden on Jun 4, 2019 16:25:33 GMT -6
- The Princess Bride: A lovely film all around. Wonderful story, memorable characters, etc. Hits all your sweet spots.
- Blade Runner: Perhaps my favorite film. What does it mean to be human? I find something new with each watch.
- Die Hard: Need something to watch every Christmas.
- The Thing: And something to watch every Halloween.
- The Royal Tenenbaums: This and Rushmore. I think Royal is a more complete film, but I also think Rushmore's rawer nature lends it greater weight...
- My Neighbor Totoro: This is my daughter's favorite film. It's so beautiful and contemplative.
- Raising Arizona: Difficult to pick just one Coen Brother's film, but I'm a big Nic Cage apologist. My wife and I watched this movie a lot before the birth of our first child.
- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Need at least one western. There are so many good ones to choose from, but I think this is the quintessential Leone film.
- You've Got Mail: I have a big crush on 90s Meg Ryan, and who doesn't love Tom Hanks? Easy to enjoy and lots of good quotes.
***
Movies that almost made the cut: Young Frankenstein, The Fifth Element, Grosse Point Blank, The Jerk, Apocalypse Now, Cannibal! The Musical, Barry Lyndon, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, O Brother Where Art Thou?, Rear Window, Tremors, Ernest Scared Stupid, Friday, In Bruges, Joe Vs. the Volcano, and Terminator...
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Post by makofan on Jun 4, 2019 21:51:00 GMT -6
Oh man, I NEED to put Tampopo on my list
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Post by tdenmark on Jun 6, 2019 22:56:22 GMT -6
I'd pick movies that I re-watch every year, or every few years, since they have already demonstrated their durability on repeat viewing Wizard of Oz (1939) Casablanca (1942) Jaws (1975) Star Wars (1977) Watership Down (1978) The Thing (1981) The Dead Zone (1983) Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) Brazil (1985) Metropolitan (1990) Good list! I might have to rethink the one I'm putting together. |
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Post by tdenmark on Jun 6, 2019 23:17:42 GMT -6
The Matrix
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Spirited Away
Seven Samurai
Tombstone
Once upon a time in the West
The Thing
Aliens
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Pirates of the Caribbean
Things that surprised me I didn't put on the list:
Anything Star Wars. I realize I'm just burned out on the franchise
Ghostbusters. I love this movie, but I've watched it so many times. I mean really so. many. times.
A Sergio Leone film with Clint Eastwood, I knew I had to have at least one Leone film, but upon reflection I realize Once upon a time in the West really is his masterpiece.
Choosing Aliens over Alien was hard
Princess Mononoke or Nausicaä : there are a dozen Miyazaki films I could have picked, but if I'm only going to pick one it has to be Spirited Away.
Reading all these lists I feel like I'd be fine almost any of them being my only 10 desert island movies.
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Post by makofan on Jun 7, 2019 9:24:09 GMT -6
Hard to decide between Good Bad and Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and Outlaw Jose Wales. I agree that Ghostbusters is awesome - it made my consideration list
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Post by verhaden on Jun 8, 2019 10:09:54 GMT -6
I think Once Upon a Time in the West is a masterpiece -- and perhaps Ennio's best work -- but I also find myself wanting to fast forward through parts of the film on successive viewings. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly shines in its interplay between Blondie, Tuco, and Angel Eyes. Eli Wallach stole every scene he was in, and that alone puts it above Once Upon... on my list.
***
Edit: And I'll go out on a limb and say Unforgiven was Eastwood's best film.
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Post by clownboss on Jun 9, 2019 13:25:19 GMT -6
Holy crap yes "Once Upon a Time in the West" is his best. The perfect film to end the Western with.
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Post by makofan on Jun 11, 2019 14:05:49 GMT -6
I will say that Henry Fonda's character was one of the most evil portrayals I have ever seen - made my skin crawl
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Post by xerxez on Jun 16, 2019 17:47:14 GMT -6
1. Ralph Bakshi Lord of the Rings
2. The Fantastic Planet (Renee LaLoux animation)
3. The Seventh Seal by Ingrid Bergman
4. Star Wars A New Hope
5. Rankin Bass The Hobbit animation
6. Logan’s Run
7. Conan the Barbarian (Dino Delaurentis version)
8. A Clockwork Orange by Kubrick
9. The Shining by Kubrick
10. Excalibur
I would watch very sparingly, like every 10 weeks. If I had a means of keeping track of time I would watch the horror films only around what used to be Halloween. Honestly I’d rather have books!!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2019 23:31:43 GMT -6
I can do 10 Babe Shaun of the Dead A Field in England Dredd Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory The Full Monty A Clockwork Orange The Rocky Horror Picture Show Snatch Battle: Los Angeles I had not heard of A Field in England before. Watched it a week or so ago. Really, really weird. In a good way. |
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Post by Greyharp on Jul 10, 2019 7:14:32 GMT -6
I had not heard of A Field in England before. Watched it a week or so ago. Really, really weird. In a good way.
It's definitely not just a movie but rather an experience. :-)
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Post by captainjapan on Sept 13, 2019 13:23:58 GMT -6
There are "my favorite movies" and then there are movies that are masterpieces. Sometimes they're the same:
The Shining
Raising Arizona
Ghostbusters
Moulin Rouge
Goodfellas
The Shawshank Redemption
The Natural
Brazil
Mad Max:Fury Road
Adaptation
Ooo! Evil Dead 2/3 (doesn't matter which) Is that too many?!
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Post by scottenkainen on Sept 13, 2019 18:00:06 GMT -6
Not unexpectedly, I'm way different from all you...
La La Land, Interstellar, Frozen, The Adventures of Tintin, Up, Across the Universe, Cars, The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Incredibles, The Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring.
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Post by stevemitchell on Sept 13, 2019 20:49:36 GMT -6
Not many fans of Bergman, Fellini, Truffaut, Dreyer, Bresson, Goddard, Rohmer, Lang, and Kurosawa, it seems. Well, they better have a streaming service for the Criterion Channel on MY desert island--but I'd also want my personal copies of The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Haunting, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Thing, and The Long Riders, among many others.
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Post by Starbeard on Sept 13, 2019 21:26:37 GMT -6
I gave it a go and failed miserably too. In the end I had to cut out all the stuff that I really like and just go with the ones I end up rewatching the most out of a given group. Some that kept bubbling up include:
Spirited Away (or Totoro, can't decide)
Magnificent Seven (or True Grit, or GB&U, or The Searchers)
The General (or Safety Last)
Akira Kurosawa's Dreams
Baraka
Sleeping Beauty (or Dumbo)
The Court Jester
Star Wars (or Jaws, or Raiders of the Lost Ark)
American Graffiti (or Close Encounters, or E.T.)
Forbidden Planet
But really, I would probably just pack away 10 DVDs of wilderness survival demonstrations in a tropical habitat.
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Post by verhaden on Sept 14, 2019 6:52:59 GMT -6
Not many fans of Bergman, Fellini, Truffaut, Dreyer, Bresson, Goddard, Rohmer, Lang, and Kurosawa, it seems. Well, they better have a streaming service for the Criterion Channel on MY desert island--but I'd also want my personal copies of The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Haunting, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Thing, and The Long Riders, among many others. I'm a fan of many of the directors listed, and have been duly impressed by their work. E.g., Charles Laughton's The Night of the Hunter is one of my favorite films, but it's not something I'd care to watch over and over on a deserted island. |
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Post by Starbeard on Sept 14, 2019 7:54:49 GMT -6
Spirited Away (or Totoro, can't decide) I'll help with this one: ( Tonari no) Totoro! Only if it's in Japanese though! Egads, those Disney dubs are awful, they practically double the amount of dialogue and it's always bad. |
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Post by tdenmark on Sept 14, 2019 12:13:45 GMT -6
Recently rewatched Lord of the Rings with the family after my kids read the books. I have to put Fellowship of the Rings and Two Towers on my list somewhere! They've aged so well and are just great, great, great! But it would be unsatisfying to not be able to finish the series, and while Return of the Kings isn't as great, it's still pretty awesome. In particular it's the only one I prefer the director's cut over the theatrical release.
Dang, so I have to bump 3 movies off my list to make room. My revised list looks like this:
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
The Matrix
Spirited Away
Seven Samurai
Once upon a time in the West
Aliens
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Pirates of the Caribbean
Oh, that was hard.
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