To me, nothing will EVER top the magic of Smokey and the Bandit.
Literally one of Hal Needham's and Burt Reynolds's greatest works to date. The plot is very simple: The Bandit accepts a challenge set by Big and Little Enos, which is to travel down to Texarkana, TX to illegally bootleg 400 cases of Coors, and deliver them back to Atlanta, GA, all within a 28 hour time limit. This film's plot actually makes a lot of sense when you think about US laws of the time. Bootlegging laws were much more stricter back then, especially in Texas. Taking beer east of Texas was considered as bootlegging, and it would have severe consequences for anyone who was caught doing it. So, this film's plot is actually based off of the real US laws of the late 70s. It only adds to the authenticity. Laws since then have gotten much more leniant, but they are still made to keep people in check from time to time. It's almost interesting to see the changes from the late 70s to now. It was like a completely different world entirely, and that authenticity only made the film more special, since we got to see the relics of a by-gone era of the United States. I mean, just look at the set comparisons on YouTube. It's like it became a whole different world overnight.
Then, you also have the AMAZING and WONDERFUL country soundtrack composed by the one and only Jerry Reed. He actually stated himself that the film, originally, did not have a music score when he was pulled in as the composer, and the film was nearly ready to be released. So, within a short time span, Jerry Reed composed an entire film soundtrack in such a short timespan, and gave us one of the most legendary pieces of country music in the form of "Eastbound and Down". But that's not it. Jerry would also make "Westbound and Down" as well, which would prove to be quintessential to the film's plot. You see, in the film, when they are heading down to Texas to get the beer, they are going westbound, and you hear "Westbound and Down" playing as a result. This is during the very beginning of the journey. And when they are on the freeway passing by a truck convoy, they are heading back to Georgia, which means they're going eastbound, and that's why you hear "Eastbound and Down", which plays MUCH later into the journey. It shows which direction they are traveling across the US at that time; "Eastbound and Down" playing signals they are nearing the end of their journey, and "Westbound and Down" means the journey has just begun. All in all, that is some truly EXCELLENT soundtrack continuity. It really goes to show how much of a blast they were having making this. He did a wonderful job composing the soundtrack.
But, of course, the star of the movie, is of COURSE Jackie Gleason, who plays as Sheriff Buford T. Justice. Oh man, he was SO FUNNY in this film. In fact, most of his dialogue was completely improvised and wasn't even actually in the script. The things he said during the movie? That was all him doing that on the fly, off the top of his head. His improv in this film was truly off the charts. He made that movie very special. In fact, you know that entire scene where Buford T. Justice and The Bandit run into a restaurant and have a nice, friendly chat, all the while Buford doesn't even realize he's talking to the very person he is after? Guess what? That was Jackie's idea. That entire scene wasn't even supposed to be in the movie. He came up with the idea himself, and as such, it was added to the film on Jackie's request and he made that scene entirely his own. Well, lemme tell ya, that scene became one of the most important scenes of the film, and quite frankly, one of the funniest as well. If it weren't for Jackie Gleason with his incredible improv, this film would have just been a mediocre 'modern-day Western'. But, Jackie's funny dialogue made the movie, he quite literally stole the show. His incredible talent in this film will never be matched. Ever. His improv was literally incredible. God, I miss him and his energy...
This is an absolute must-watch for any car/truck lover. You will absolutely love this film and have a good laugh!
52Monty Python and the Holy Grail, followed by Life of Brian.
32Favorite is difficult and changes over time. But it's gonna be one of these:
- The Big Lebowski
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
- Clerks
- Tron
- Airplane!
- Die Hard
- Escape From New York
Now I think The Pianist is the best movie of all time, which is a different thing, but that newer movie 1917 sure competes.
29Shawshank Redemption
18The Lord of the Rings
17It would be boring if I said The Empire Strikes Back so I’m going to say The Thing instead
14Airplane!
13Arrival
12The Big Lebowski
12Interstellar is the first one that comes to mind.
12The prince of egypt. I'm not even religious, but the musics, the story and the visuals stayed in my heart. I will also say:
-Léon / the professionnal
-Interstellar (i am basic)
-Nausicaä and the valley of wind
-Inside out, wall-E and Up
and a ton of others...
9One is not enough, and a lot of great movies where already named, still, some great movies are missing:
- Heat (Michael Mann) Every single time I see it, it is brilliant and I discover something new
- Jin Roh (The original animation movie), awesome atmosphere and only after the 2nd viewing one can really appreciate it
- Near Dark (1987) Why the hell did nobody ever produce something like this ever again?
- Miami Vice (Michael Mann), 'Style over substance', in a great way, although I have the shaky camera
- Seven Samurai
- Casablanca
- Strange Days
- Point Break
- XXX (Nobody understood that it was a parody back in the days :-P)
- What we do in the shadows
- Brazil
- Rocky
- Eternal Sunshine ...
- The city of lost children
- Leon the professional
- Dolls
- The Killer (The original of course)
- The last unicorn
- Dark City
- The thing
- The Lost Boys
- Spirited Away
- Donnie Darko
- Rashomon
- Brother (2000)
- Parasite
- Hatsukoi (First Love)
... from the top of my mind. :-P
9Brazil (1985)
8Well that changes weekly, but if I had to pick just one to be stranded on a desert island with it would be the original Robocop(1987) - just so much nostalgia personally but a really great satire ahead of it’s time.
Although next week, I might could say the hilarious meta mindfuck Adaptation. Peak Nic Cage, Spike Jonez and Charlie Kaufman - a really fun and wild ride and I love how self indulgent it is.
7The Mummy (1999)
7Pulp Fiction. Also, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. And Snatch. Also... aw man, there's so many...
7War Games!
7Grammas boy
62001: A Space Odyssey
5One of my favorites that I don't often see mentioned is Upgrade. It's very nearly perfect as a near-future cyberpunk dystopia.
5Ratatouille.
4No one ever mentions this movie but my favorite movie is The Fountain, with Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz.
It's basically a love story set in three timelines, with absolutely amazing music, dark storytelling, and an unbelievably satisfying ending. A lot of it is left up to interpretation but it's not overly complicated. Cemented me as a huge fan of Aronofsky even if he's not always a pop culture favorite.
4Strictly Ballroom
4I love old movies. Here are 15 great ones. Watch these and you will love old movies too! Most are available on internet archive. I could probably add another 85 to this list.
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- All About Eve (1950)
- The Apartment (1960)
- What Ever Happened to Baby Jane (1962)
- Sunset Boulevard (1950)
- Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
- The Maltese Falcon (1941)
- Rear Window (1954)
- Laura (1944)
- Rope (1948)
- To Have and Have Not (1944)
- Key Largo (1948)
- Lifeboat (1944)
- The Letter (1940)
- Now Voyager (1942)
Edit: bonus movie
- Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
4My most watched movies:
Jurassic Park
The Firm
The Verdict
Children of Men
Arrival
Lord of the RingsBut you know all of those already. Here's one you probably haven't seen: Love me some stage play adapted to movie. Doubt (2008)
3Matrix
3Lilo and Stitch!
3Frozen II
3Hard to pick just one, and it changes from time to time. For this specific post, I’ll choose Sicario.
3Waking Life
3I'm a fan of most of the movies listed, but didn't notice anyone mention one of my favorites, Moneyball. Don't let the baseball fool you. I don't even like baseball. To me it's not about baseball, it's about trying to succeed in a flawed system.
3It's a tie between The Motorcycle Diaries and Howl's Moving Castle.
The first I found extremely touching, the second is just incredibly magical and charming.
3E.T.
I am absolutely charmed by the characters, the story, the optimism, and the connection to the unknown.
3V for vendetta
3Buckaroo Banzai will forever live near the top of my list...
3I'll throw this one out there "Dogville"
3Cinema Paradiso
Honorable mentions for Galaxy Quest and Heist.
3Aliens.
Alien is good too but Aliens is damn near perfect for me.
Idk what the heck James Cameroon is doing now but, Avatar just didn’t land in the same way to me.
2Die Hard
By a pretty huge margin.
That. Movie. Is. Perfect.
2Lots of great picks here! I could go with a dozen that have already been mentioned, but I will throw out Blade Runner. The look, the feel, the sound, the ideas... Rutger Hauer's classic monologue, Sean Young at peak compelling...
2Overall favorite: Shawshank Redemption
Watched the most times: Notting Hill and Coming to America2- inception - dreams within dreams
- less known honourable mention: Paprika - inception if it was an anime and the main character was a therapist
- Your Name - anime romance scifi
- prince of eygpt (in spite of not being religious) - story of moses
- less known honourable mention: Jesus christ superstar (because I'm not religious) - what if Jesus Christ's death was a disco musical
- 2001 space odyssey - I'm afraid I can't let you do that dave
- But I'm a cheerleader - young Natasha Lyonne (from oitnb) and Dante Basco (zuko from atla) go to a gay conversion camp run by rupaul
- equillibrium - in a world where emotion is illegal, Christian bale is a gun ninja policeman
- Castle in the sky - because I would feel bad putting every ghibli film
1- inception - dreams within dreams
The Bagdad Café. It's not exciting, or romantic, or tragic, or even that funny. But it's beautiful. God I love that film. It seriously has some of the best acting, directing, and writing I've ever witnessed. Second would probably be Casablanca/Lawrence of Arabia/Pulp Fiction/Eight and a Half/......
Edit: also black cat white cat Edit: Pane e Tulipani Edit: Buster Keaton's The Cameraman
1toss up between
1I’m not really a movie watcher, but at the moment I’d say Punch Drunk Love, Onward, Dune, 5th Element, and Tombstone. Oh! People Vs Larry Flynt.
1Depends on my mood, but usually the Amazing Bulk.
1My all time favourite is god bless america, it's kind of relatable
1One older one: Disneys Atlantis A newer one: Ready Player One
1I have two that flip for my favorite depending on my mood at any given time: "There Will Be Blood" and "Blade Runner 2049". They are both kinda slow and require attention to really appreciate, so probably my favorite movie to turn my brain off and have fun is "Mad Max: Fury Road".
1For me, it's Poor Things. I watched it three times in a row, when it came out. First of all, it's a perfectly executed movie for me, the style, the acting, the storytelling, Emma Stone. What makes it special for me, is that it embodies everything I like about my sexuality and I hope that humanity is heading in that direction of norm-breaking freedom of leading your life. Yorgos Lanthimos has a way of transporting a fresh view on possible paths for society.
1it's such a beautiful day
Perfect animated film Makes me feel things
1Angel's Egg
1I have pretty thoroughly stopped caring about movies.
The only movie in the last 15 years I've wanted to sit down and just watch. By myself, not as a thing to do with friends or family, not as something to have sound in the house while I do something else, to sit down with a bowl of popcorn and a beer and WATCH, was Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. So we'll go with that I guess.
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