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Escapist's List of Essential Movies

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Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1207
Joined: 17 Oct 2008

Requiem For a Dream
The Apartment
Good Will Hunting

Ill be back to this thread...

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1766
Joined: 2 Jul 2008

image
The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari.

Escapist Co-Founder
Posts: 829
Joined: 21 Nov 2004

Agree with these mentioned:
Silence of the Lambs
Braveheart
The Matrix
Godfather 1 & 2
Schindler's List
Pulp Fiction
Shawshank Redemption
Forest Gump

Others I haven't yet seen mentioned:
Breakfast at Tiffany's - the movie itself is a cultural icon, about a cultural icon, starring a cultural icon
Gone with the Wind - epicly epic of all epics, beautifully done
Office Space - one if the first slice of life movies to really nail it
Goldfinger - James Bond is a part of our culture, and this is one of the better
Vertigo or Psycho or Rear Window - Alfred Hitchcock is still THE master of the thriller, cannot be touched
Titanic - modern-day epic taking advantage of all modern tech had to offer
Blade Runner - genre busting and defining
Casablanca - just plain classic romance
Dr. Stranglove - Fantastic satire of international relations and hysteria
ET - children's movie standing the test of time
It's a Wonderful Life - best feel good movie ever
Unforgiven - modern western, deeply ... moving's not the right word - unsettling? stirring?
The Deerhunter - punch in the gut good
Rocky 1 - normal guy becomes everyman's hero
Ben Hur - historical epic - holy crap chariot scene with thousands of extras, worth watching just for this
To Kill a Mockingbird - beautiful movie adaptation of Harper Lee's perfect novel, with beloved Atticus Finch

j-e-f-f-e-r-s:
Rebecca (Hitchcock at his creepiest)

Totally agree, but it's a lesser known, so I didn't mention it. Glad someone did.

Copy Clerk
Posts: 51
Joined: 6 Jan 2009

Ghostbusters.
Goodfellas (and read the book "Wise Guys"!)
Street Fighter 2
Troll 2 [a movie which was made to be serious and scary, but turned out so bad that its hilarious!]
Bad Boys 2
Shrek
Ace Ventura
The Mask
and the Lion King

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1775
Joined: 13 Sep 2008

Full Metal Jacket,
The Wild Geese,
Ghostbusters,
The Long Walk (La Grande Vadruille),
The Soviet Story,
Le Gendarme de St. Tropez,
Indiana Jones.

Paperboy
Posts: 11
Joined: 29 Dec 2008

The Boondock Saints
Blade Runner - Anyone who has seen and enjoys/enjoyed Star Wars should watch this one at least once.
Goodfellas
Saints and Soldiers
Band of Brothers - Is a series that should count as a movie, and a great portrayal of war. (Yes, all 10 of them.)
Those are my nominees for the list.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 2074
Joined: 1 Jan 2008

Personally, I would've added American History X. You really have to see this movie (the whole thing is up on Youtube). It's hard to describe what makes it good, but I really liked it.

Also, no Full Metal Jacket?

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1589
Joined: 28 Aug 2008

Dark City.
The Matrix can fuck off.

Dead Mans Shoes
Beyond stunning!

Paprika
Satoshi Kon is a genius

Bad Leiutenant
Kietel at his best

Brick
Stunning.

RoboCop
Comply!

Predator
There's somthin' out there...And it ain't no man.

BANNED
Posts: 814
Joined: 23 Apr 2008

While it's not the best, perhaps arguably not particularly 'important', I think that everyone should watch - once -

Irreversible (2002) Gaspar Noe

It is, from all the movies I've seen, the epitome of uncomfortable focus on hatred, violence, ugliness... It's a movie most people wouldn't want to see; the reason they should. Not because it has any point or politics or message, but because it shows WHAT kind of thing you can do with a movie to illicit a visceral reaction from the audience. It's arty and maybe a bit full of itself and it gets increasingly boring as it goes along since it begins begins at the climax and proceeds to the beginning. But people evacuating the theatres during its release is a testament to how potent it is at delivering some of the most violent and exploitative scenes like a shotgun to the audiences face. I'm glad it was made for the reason I'm glad people experiment and explore expression, even when I don't like it. I like it because it's not a movie you can have a neutral opinion about.

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On the Record
Posts: 5656
Joined: 9 Jul 2008

Fightgarr:
I recommend all of Miyazaki's films but for sake of examples I'll list the 4 I think everyone needs to see:

Princess Mononoke
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Spirited Away
My Neighbor Totoro

I've only seen Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, but they were great, so point taken.

Anyway, after having just seen it, I have to say Gran Torino.

Muckraker
Posts: 313
Joined: 26 Jun 2008

I haven't watched much in the way of "classics", but I would recommend A Christmas Story and Juno.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1083
Joined: 11 May 2008

Heavens...

OOOOK Got more to add still, but let me just say it here as well. I'm not looking for recomendations. I'm not looking for movies that would have you say to someone "Oh yeah that's a great movie, you should see it." What I am looking for are movies that you would expect everyone to have already have seen, and would be shocked, stunned, and or flabbergasted if someone hasn't seen them...

Muckraker
Posts: 316
Joined: 22 Sep 2008

Absolute reccomendation for:
V for Vendetta, not only an amzing and intelligent action movie, but an arguement for acceptance and democracy
Fearless, just an amazing martial arts movie and a good bit of history.
The Illusionist, intelligent and enthralling. I can't really describe it so just imagine Sherlock Holmes with magic, intrigue, and he's smithing the "crime" not unravelling it.
Also Minority Report, which is just a really good film.

On the Record
Posts: 5945
Joined: 7 Feb 2008

I would say anthing and everything by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli
Here's a full list...

The Castle of Cagliostro, one of my favorites, stars Lupin the 3rd and has some of the most fun action ever.

Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind, the manga is better but the movie is still worth watching.

Castle in the Sky, pretty much every RPG rips off this movie and does it poorly.

My Neighbor Totoro, if this movie doesn't charm you... you have no soul.

Kiki's Delivery Service, it's like bottled happiness, though not quite as much as Totoro.

Porco Rosso, a movie about a WW1 flying ace in Italy who also happens to be a pig, my personal favorite Miyazaki film.

Princess Mononoke, probably Miyazaki's most mature and violent film and with one of the strongest stories he's ever told.

Spirited Away, probably Miyazaki's BEST film in terms of story, charm and animation.

Howls Moving Castle, Miyazaki's weakest film but still worth it for the cool scenes and machinery, even if the ending is extremely rushed.

The Cat Returns, a rousing, sugar coated adventure that will make you feel good.

Whisper of the Heart, a cute film set in the real world, a little slow, but like I said, cute.

EDIT: Yes I know I missed Grave of the Fireflies, that's because I haven't seen it yet, I don't know if I can handle that level of sadness.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1113
Joined: 19 May 2008

Fucking Åmål, a Swedish film about puberty and loneliness. It's very emotional and very sad. In English-speaking countries, it's called Show Me Love.

Beat Writer
Posts: 131
Joined: 27 Sep 2008

What about Apocalypse Now?

Probaly anything by Stanley Kubrick, maybe one of George Romero's '... of the Dead' probaly Night of the Living or Dawn.

Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 772
Joined: 28 Jun 2008

Isaac Dodgson:

300a

Aliensa
American Psychoa

The Aviatorc

Barbarellaa

Batman Foreverc

A Beautiful Mindc
Bicentennial Manc

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventurec (Their "Bogusc" adventure is recommended)
Black Hawk Downc
Bladea

Casino Royalec

The Dark Knighta

Desperadoa

Eight Heads in a Duffel Baga

Forrest Gumpc
Fridaya, Next Fridayc, and Friday After Nextc
The Frightenersa

Get Cartera

Gladiatora

GoldenEyec

Jumanjic

Men in Black 1c and 2c

Who came up with this list? Granted, some of these movies are essentials, plot points to the human landscape. But the ones I've quoted were either movies that were alright, but hardly noteworthy, or movies that are crap that people lauded undeserved praise upon.

On the Record
Posts: 5945
Joined: 7 Feb 2008

If you can find them "The Three Musketeers" and "The Four Musketeers" from the 70's are fantastic comedy/adventure films with some of the most creatively directed action scene's I've ever seen. They're also quite accurate compared to the books, which is a suprise.

Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 884
Joined: 19 Sep 2008

Braveheart is on the list? And you suggest the remake of Italian Job? Not even crack would make it watchable.

Anyway, I'd recommend Monty Python's Life of Brian over Holy Grail, but both are essential.

I'd like to suggest Eraserhead, as there hasn't ever been a movie that's anything like it.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1083
Joined: 11 May 2008

Well...I started out throwing everything suggested on the list...but i should go back and remove some...a lot of these are just good movies, but no the must sees...

Paperboy
Posts: 27
Joined: 12 Jan 2009

I think Last of the Mohicans belongs on that list. The majority of people I know have seen it.

Infamous Scribbler
Posts: 543
Joined: 10 Jul 2008

"A Fistful of Dollars"

Not quite "The Good the Bad and the Ugly", but still, a top-notch western.

EDIT: Also, the original Pink Panther movies belong on the list, as well as "Dr.Strangelove"

Peter Sellers FTW.

Muckraker
Posts: 262
Joined: 27 Jan 2008

Nobody has said Cool Hand Luke, yet? For shame.

Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 884
Joined: 19 Sep 2008

Uncompetative:
image
The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari.

YEEESSS!!! This, along with Metropolis, is essential to see where people like Tim Burton get their ideas from.

Beat Writer
Posts: 157
Joined: 12 Jan 2009

Hot Fuzz
Shaun of The Dead
American Pie (All of them)

BANNED
Posts: 366
Joined: 18 Sep 2008

Fightgarr:
I would also like to add:
The Wes Anderson films:
Rushmore
The Royal Tenenbaums
The Life Aquatic
The Darjeeling Lmtd.

I'd add BottleRocket to that.
Plus Millers Crossing, Fargo, The Hudsucker Proxy and ALL Coen Brothers films.

User was banned for: Probation posts. (Permanent)
BANNED
Posts: 366
Joined: 18 Sep 2008

'DucereExemplo':
I think Last of the Mohicans belongs on that list. The majority of people I know have seen it.

You reminded me to say There Will be Blood, Gangs of New York and My Left Foot.
Oh and off topic, Snatch, Lock Stock and Oldboy.

User was banned for: Probation posts. (Permanent)
Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1207
Joined: 28 Dec 2008

Uncompetative:
image
The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari.

Your sir win, one of my most favourite films of all time.
Tim Burton would be nowhere without this.

Muckraker
Posts: 331
Joined: 26 May 2008

Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Blazing Saddles
The Bourne Identity, Supremacy & Ultimatum
Ocean's Eleven, Twelve & Thirteen
Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1083
Joined: 11 May 2008

new_age_reject:

Uncompetative:
image
The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari.

Your sir win, one of my most favourite films of all time.
Tim Burton would be nowhere without this.

Well...i thought Burton was influenced by low budget horror films and anything to do with Ed Wood...but sure if you say so...

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 2343
Joined: 21 Aug 2008

I notice you look over Chasing Amy, seeing as how you have all the other good kevin smith movies I thought you would have his best on there, and I am saying it's better than clerks, much much better. however apart from that you should probably mention which casino royal your talking about because if I'm not mistaken there are two movies with that title. also add the original producers(the Mel Brooks one), silent movie(also Mel Brooks), high anxiety(Mel brooks, again), OK lets just say all Mel Brooks movies. Also Also, I notice spirited away, while that's good it's also not his best, my personal favorite was Kiki's delivery service, but that's just me and I know many people don't share that opinion. In any case you should probably add most of Hayao Miyazaki's work as well.

P.S. if anyone knows a place where I can get Porco Rosso(Miyazaki) I would be in your debt.

BANNED
Posts: 366
Joined: 18 Sep 2008

As a lot of people are mentioning recent films, a few Golden Oldies:
12 Angry Men
The Shootist
The Cowboys
True Grit
Seven Samurai
High Noon
Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid (R.I.P. Paul)
The Wild Bunch
The Hustler

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Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1207
Joined: 28 Dec 2008

Isaac Dodgson:

new_age_reject:

Uncompetative:
image
The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari.

Your sir win, one of my most favourite films of all time.
Tim Burton would be nowhere without this.

Well...i thought Burton was influenced by low budget horror films and anything to do with Ed Wood...but sure if you say so...

Well maybe implying that his sole influence was this was a little bit presumptuous and wrong, however it cannot be denied that it's this era of film that has had one of the largest influences upon his work visually (conscious or not) and probably a fair few of his noted influences.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1207
Joined: 17 Oct 2008

black lincon:
P.S. if anyone knows a place where I can get Porco Rosso(Miyazaki) I would be in your debt.

I saw it at Zavvi verry cheaply as its closing down, dunno if theres one in your area but it may be worth a look. If not its on amazon for £7.38 :)

Looking at the big ol' edit, the LOTR films should really be there.

The Red Balloon should be there if its a list for film-buffs, which it looks like it is. Same with Grave of the Fireflies.

To whoever said Paprika, thats a wondefull film, a little obscure to be essential though.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 2343
Joined: 21 Aug 2008

Avida:

black lincon:
P.S. if anyone knows a place where I can get Porco Rosso(Miyazaki) I would be in your debt.

I saw it at Zavvi verry cheaply as its closing down, dunno if theres one in your area but it may be worth a look. If not its on amazon for £7.38 :)

thanks, Pedro PMed me the link, now I have to buy it.

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