Top Ten Favourite Hollywood Flicks. [Archive]

groucho070

17th June 2009, 08:34 AM

Was revisiting my website on my top ten favourite flicks (http://rakeshkumar7.tripod.com/id115.html) that I listed seven years ago. Strange, there is nothing much to change.

1st September 2002

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Harrowing. Eerie. Brando's best performance and Coppola's perfect direction will never be matched again, even by themselves. Knowing the making of this film will add to the intensity. "The Horror...the horror..."

Big Sleep, The (1945)

Raymond Chandler is my favourite writer. Bogart plays Philip Marlowe, my favourite fictional P.I. It is all there, the dialogues, the characters, the humour and the performance. The book came alive in this film, and I can watch it again and again and again and again... : "Is it any of your business?" "I can make it my business" "I can make your business mine" "You won't like it, the pay's too small"

Citizen Kane (1941)

A must for every director wannabe. Often immitated, sometimes to excess. Directed by a 25 yearl old Orson Welles. This film will stand alone as the yardstick for every other film, in cinematograpy, direction and what-nots. "I run a couple of newspapers. What do you do?"

Duck Soup (1933)

There will never be another Marx Brothers, especially Groucho. This is their best, and easily the best comedy I had ever seen. Satire, spoof, parody, you name it. It is all in this film. "Clear? Huh! Why a four-year-old child could understand this report. Run out and find me a four-year-old child. I can't make head or tail out of it."

Empire Strikes Back, The (1980)

Lucas may make more prequels and sequels, but it ain't gonna be the same as this baby. Its a screen spectacle beyond imagination that Lucas manage to pull with better budget than Star Wars. Darth Vader and his imperial march theme is what Star Wars is all about. "No, I am your father. "

From Russia With Love (1963)

Perfect Bond movie that has never been remade (all bond films are Goldfinger remakes, period). It is also the favourite of its director Terence Young, actor Sean Connery, and editor Peter Hunt. I even have its soundtrack. "My job is to kill you and deliver the Lektor. How I do it is my business"

Godfather, The (1971)

Can a movie about a family be exciting. Watch this. A wet dream for casting department. The theme of loyalty and betrayal had never been explored with such intensity as witnessed in this epic. I could put Godfather part 2 to share this spot. Can I? "Ill make him an offer he cant refuse."

Julius Caesar (1953)

I got hooked with Bard with this one. I realised how great an actor John Gielgud was. This film shows that you can even shoot a poetry and make it an entertaining movie. Kudos to Joseph L. Mankiewicz. "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears..."

Raging Bull (1980)

This movie will make you sweat, grit your teeth and not blink a second - figure of speech. De Niro's finest performance. Scorcese's yardstick product. Thelma Schoonmaker's examplary editing. The last of the great photography in Black and White. "Hey, Ray, I never went down, man! You never got me down, Ray! You hear me, you never got me down."

White Hunter Black Heart (1989)

Clint Eastwood in his best form, both as an actor and director. Only Eastwood can spot humour in cynicism, and fun in self-destruction. Apart from all that, this is one hell of an entertainment. "You know, one of these days they'll even name an academy award after me and you know what? All the wrong guys will get it."

--------------------------------------------------------------
I wrote them in 2002 and I don't want to change anything.

Okay, I am tempted to remove Caesar (I was obsessed with Brando those days, so its my fault) and might wanna put Heat (1995). Got to think about it.

What about you guys?

ajithfederer

17th June 2009, 09:54 AM

From the very few I have seen and in no particular order. Might have forgotten some movies and it will be added later.

The Godfather 1/2

Pulp Fiction

The Dark Knight

Saving Private Ryan

T - II

7

Matrix - 1 (Only)

Taxi Driver/Raging Bull

Dr. Strangelove.

groucho070

17th June 2009, 10:04 AM

All wonderful films, except TDK as BR, to me, is superior and SPR which had great sound. T2 is fantastic action piece. 7 re-kick started thrillers, albeit gorier version in the 90s.

Now, Dr. Strangelove is another candidate that should be able to make it to my list. But then, there was 2001: Space Odyssey. Tough, very tough.

ajithfederer

17th June 2009, 10:05 AM

salaam_chennai

17th June 2009, 10:11 AM

Same here, from whatever movies i have seen, this is my favorite 10 in no particular order.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
The Godfather - 2
Goodfellas
Rainman
The Killing
Lock Stock and 2 smoking barrels
Unforgiven
Raging Bull
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Seven
The Man from Earth

ajithfederer

17th June 2009, 11:01 AM

Groucho enna ippadi solliputeenga

TDK has one of the finest pieces of writing in Hollywood atleast in this decade. Nolan just drills deep into the criminal minds of Joker and brings out a complete freak. Performance pathi sollavae thevai illa. The dialogues compliment the movie too well. The action scenes are the finest frames captured in camera especially the bank robbery and the underground chase. Easily one of the best films in this decade :clap:.

All wonderful films, except TDK as BR, to me, is superior and SPR which had great sound. T2 is fantastic action piece. 7 re-kick started thrillers, albeit gorier version in the 90s.

Now, Dr. Strangelove is another candidate that should be able to make it to my list. But then, there was 2001: Space Odyssey. Tough, very tough.

groucho070

17th June 2009, 11:57 AM

AF
I actually wrote a good review about it here (http://grouchydays.blogspot.com/2008/07/dark-knight-best-hollywood-film-this.html)

I mean, this is about a guy dressing up as a Bat going around chasing bad guys. I prefer Batman Returns (yeah, laugh all you want) because it's dark, at the same time it reminds us that this is from comic book. It had tragic moments, and at the same time ass-kicking action scenes. And this is coming from the time when before Batman 1989, the on screen Batman was the campy Adam West series. I like TDK very much. I watched it thrice on big screen. But if I were to put TDK on a list, then BR will be above it. It was there first.

But intha maha-listla antha rendu padathukkum idam illai. Fantasy part is filled by The Empire Strikes Back.

VENKIRAJA

17th June 2009, 12:29 PM

10. Fight club (David Fincher)
9. Requiem for a dream (Darren Arofonsky)
8. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorcesse)
7. 12 Angry Men (Sidney Lumet)
6. Once upon a time in America (Sergio Leone)
5. Memento (Nolan bros.)
4. Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino)
3. Usual Suspects, The (Bryan Singer)
2. Godfather, The (Francis Ford Coppola)
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick)

Honorable mentions : American Beauty, Into the wild, Citizen Kane, Vertigo, Pursuit of Happyness.

VENKIRAJA

17th June 2009, 12:29 PM

Honorable mentions: (Not neccesarily great films)

Forrest gump, The sixth sense, The Prestige, Reservoir dogs, Home alone 1 and 2, American beauty, The usual suspects, Babel, The departed, Casino, A few Good men, The shining, Rambo (1 and 2), Pursuit of Happyness, The Shawshank redemption.....and many more.

Same here, from whatever movies i have seen, this is my favorite 10 in no particular order.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
The Godfather - 2
Goodfellas
Rainman
The Killing
Lock Stock and 2 smoking barrels
Unforgiven
Raging Bull
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Seven
The Man from Earth

Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels... Hollywood illayE! :P

Raikkonen

17th June 2009, 01:10 PM

not an hardcore hollywood fan like you guys.. :lol: but this is my list.. i'm an action fan, no?

1. Black Christmas (1974)
2. Psycho (1960)
3. Strangers on a Train
4. Terminator 2
5. Friday the 13th Part II (Scariest)
6. Se7en (tremendous twist ending)
7. Evil Dead
8. Monster (2003)
9. April Fool's Day (1986)
10. Predator (Thirupachi of hollywood :lol: no logic.. out and out action)

groucho070

17th June 2009, 01:15 PM

Individual taste, Raiks. As I quoted Talaivar long time ago, "Opinions are like...." Oh well.

And this:

3. Strangers on a Train

I thought nobody saw this film. Bravo :thumbsup: Script (adapted) written by my favourite writer who had hard time and hated Hitchcock :lol:

Raikkonen

17th June 2009, 01:27 PM

:thumbsup: Groucho.. loved how you included old movies..

:oops: i forgot the main one.. :hammer: me

spy who loved me.. that was just amazing.. take monster out of the list and enter moore's movie in the middle..

groucho070

17th June 2009, 01:30 PM

Ah, TSWLM, considered as Moore's best Bond outing. Love the pretitle sequence.

By the way, Predator-ai leesa edai poodatheyngga. It's my fav Arnie movie. Monster/Alien movie listla definitely athukku oru idam irukkum.

salaam_chennai

17th June 2009, 02:16 PM

Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels... Hollywood illayE! :P
ada pOnga boss, nangellam "all engilsh movies = Hollywood" range. ada.. beginner'nga

groucho070

17th June 2009, 03:02 PM

Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels... Hollywood illayE! :P
ada pOnga boss, nangellam "all engilsh movies = Hollywood" range. ada.. beginner'nga :D Athukenna, ingga rules & regulesen kidaiyathu. Yen, Mods kooda illai. So be it.

VENKIRAJA

18th June 2009, 04:01 PM

Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels... Hollywood illayE! :P
ada pOnga boss, nangellam "all engilsh movies = Hollywood" range. ada.. beginner'nga

nAn thalainagaram vadivEl kitta "valikkalayE!"-nu solluvAnE chinnapaya appudi sonnadhu... nAn ippO thAn Junior... Arambichu Odikittu irukku thalaivA! :D

By the way... intha kosu thollai thAnga mudiyalappa... Strangers on a train... sssabbba! :cry:

Nerd

18th June 2009, 07:53 PM

No Coen films listed so far :?

Vivasaayi

18th June 2009, 09:22 PM

No Coen films listed so far :?

coen films paathutu

adanguniyaa

vaaippe illa

epidra ipdilam ungalukku thonudhu

ufffff...(perumoochu...out of pure satisfaction)

ipdi endha reaction vandhadhunda....?

:roll:

ajithfederer

18th June 2009, 09:24 PM

Actually I missed out NCFOM in honorable mentions. :oops:

Adhu seri ezhudhirukaradhu 4-ae peru. First neenga ezhudhunga.

No Coen films listed so far :?

Nerd

18th June 2009, 09:38 PM

Viv and AF naan chummA general-A kEttEn. They may not find a place in my list too :P

Warden

19th June 2009, 05:24 AM

This one's interesting.Guess its accessible for non-intellectuals too :P
Here's what I cud think of atm.

Mr Smith Goes To Washington-The climax filibuster episode was the single most powerful scene/piece of acting I've ever experienced.This one from the Capra-Stewart studio left a lasting uplifting impact on me.

Roman Holiday-I've been in limerent love with miss Audrey Hepburn for the past year or so.Wyler arranged for our first meeting in Rome.

The Shining-Never had the clarity to appreciate most of Kubricks,yet sat through a few trying to self-intellectualise.But this one here genuinely scared the shite outta me.Still :shaking: when Olive Oyl examines the manuscripts or when Jacky heaves through doors with that collarbone axe.

The Maltese Falcon-Tough to choose between this and 'The Big Sleep' but that satisfied walk after Bogart's first meeting with 'that fat man' tilts me towards the falcon.You can't help but acknoledging that Bogies probably the coolest man to walk this earth.The kind of coolness that dreams are made of.

My Fair Lady-An abridged version of the play was part of our high school prose.A screening in Woodlands was arranged and watching our Engleesh teacher swear and mock in a fit about our lack of 'class' was among the best days of my school life.6 years later after delightful holidays in Rome,Paris,Tiffany's et all,here I am happily reciting 'The Rain in Spain' having a cuppatea with my loverly lady.

In the Heat of the Night-One of those rare occasions where I wanted to jump into the screen,slap everybody,yell wtf and sort the proceedings out :P

The Philadelphia Story-Always hated Katharine for stealing Hepburn from my darling,but couldn't help admiring her elegance and ruthless arrogance with which she outshines an in form Grant and Stewart in this screwball romcom.

The Green Mile-Liked it better than Shawshank because of the added bizzareness,warmth and yeah Hanks.

Mulholland Drive-Ended up watching it due to the constant Lynchings and Interpretation discussions among my peer groups.Thats the period I was getting started with serious english movies and understandably the climax got my ballzies crushed.Ended up loving the dreaminess during revisits.

Million Dollar Baby-I'm pretty emotional and a big fan of the 'water' genre.This one left me dehydrated.

groucho070

19th June 2009, 06:46 AM

Viv and AF naan chummA general-A kEttEn. They may not find a place in my list too :PWhere's your list?

Nerd

19th June 2009, 08:51 AM

Its so difficult to come up with a top 10. The list will be amended whenever I feel like it :twisted:
(Not in any order)

1. It's a wonderful life - I don't normally get *inspired* by films but I came close with this one :oops: Wonderful script, great characterizations and terrific acting by James Stewart.

2. Psycho - One of the very few movies that really scared me. And its one of the first English films I ever watched. The shower scene still gives me creeps. Great great suspense thriller.

3. Chinatown - Mixture of great acting, exquisite cinematography and brilliant screenplay. The pace of the movie is superb and keeps us engaged from the first scene till the credits.

4. Kubrick (Hard to pick between Strangelove, 2001, The Shining, A Clockwork Orange and The Killing). I am going to pick The Shining simply because I haven't seen the others in a while. As I said elsewhere its a lesson on film-making. Enough said.

5. Tarantino (Again confused between Kill Bills and Pulp fiction). Picking Kill Bill(s) because I havent seen Pulp Fiction recently. And I think Kill Bill 1 and 2 put together > Pulp Fiction anyway. Style thy name is Tarantino.

6. One flew over cuckoo's nest - One of the greatest performances ever in the history of Cinema. Simple yet powerful. Poetic. The imaginary play-by-play commentary scene gives me goosebumps every time I watch it.

7. Lynch (Blue Velvet/Mulholland Dr/Lost highway). I am going with Blue Velvet. Eerie, intriguing, mysterious. There's some really great symbolism in the film. I haven't got the film completely but watching it is an experience.

8. The Godfather (I and II) - Need I say more?

9. Raging Bull - De Niro's best. Scorsese's best. Powerful, emotional and truly spectacular. Great characterizations and the b/w cinematography is a masterstroke.

10. To Kill a Mockingbird - Again one of the first films I saw. Everything is perfect about the film. Don't know what else to say, honestly!!

Honorable mentions (There are about 50 of them :lol: ) Coens (Fargo, TBL, NCFOM), All of Kubrick/Tarantino/Lynch/Nolan, Fight Club, Citizen Kane, American History X, The sting, Shawshank, Forrest Gump, Manhattan, Requiem for a dream, Dog day afternoon, Adaptation, Sunset Blvd, 12 angry men, The usual suspects, Saving private Ryan, A simple plan etc.

groucho070

19th June 2009, 09:27 AM

Okay, we both got Raging Bull in the list. And honorable mention list poota, it will be endless.

Warden, I did struggle between choosing Maltese Falcon and Big Sleep. I have read both books, and am a huge fan of Raymond Chandler, athan I picked The Big Sleep.

And yeah, Bogart is the very definition of coolness 8-)

VENKIRAJA

18th July 2009, 09:10 PM

LM... engE unga list? mathabadi.. CR ellAm engappa?

equanimus

21st July 2009, 01:19 PM

Jonathan Rosenbaum's alternative list (http://web.archive.org/web/20080212005517/http://www.chicagoreader.com/movies/100best.html) of 100 American Films in response to AFI's list of 100 Greatest American Films (http://www.filmsite.org/momentsindx.html).

groucho070

21st July 2009, 02:11 PM

Thanks for the link, Equa. Interesting Alternate. Of the list, I have only seen these :oops:

An Affair to Remember (1957)
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
Eraserhead (1978)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
Gilda (1946)
The Heartbreak Kid (1972)
The Hustler (1961)
The Killing (1956)
Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
The Lady From Shanghai (1948)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971)
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Point Blank (1967)
Rio Bravo (1959)
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)
Woodstock (1970)

GM: Ittunoondu padanggala paarthuttu romba peesurambaa :evil:

equanimus

21st July 2009, 02:18 PM

I suppose that's a lot, Groucho. I just finished counting, I've seen exactly five of them!

Ace in the Hole/The Big Carnival (1951)
Dead Man (1995)
The General (1927)
The Killing (1956)
The Wrong Man (1957)

groucho070

21st July 2009, 02:39 PM

Yeah, but quite a number are distant memory, watched during the Video cassette days. And this is only Hollywood. Pranju, Idly-nu list poota intha pakkamey tirumba maatten :D

Nice to see Kiss Me, Deadly, admittedly one of Tarantino's inspiration for Pulp Fiction. They made a great movie from a trashy novel. Yeah, I love Mike Hammer novels. :D

hamid

21st July 2009, 03:11 PM

My list from the few movies I have seen

1. Godfather 1&2 - Nothing much to say..
2. Casablanca - Can see it any number of times.. for the Heroine :) and the script is awesome. .So many beautiful quotes ( Play it Sam/ Of all the Jin joints in the world she walks into mine/ I feel the beginning of a very good friendship etc etc)
3. Amadeus - what a movie.. those expressionsof hatred :notworthy:..
4. Schindler's List & The Pianist - these movies made me understand the extent of crimes and brutalities committed in world war.
5. A Beautiful Mind.. - Too good of a movie.. Russel Crowe :notworthy:

6. Life is Wonderful - Classic love story with comedy and ends in tragedy.. again World war ( One Vijay movie copied few comedy scenes from this movie)
7. It is a Wondeful Life - Nice positive feel good movie.
8. Men of Honour - Classic.. True story of How a Black joned US Navy. Robert Di Nero and the other guy( whats his name?) are fantastic..
9. Apocalypto - Adventure and thrill all the way
10. And Justice for all - Al Pacino :notworthy:

Some Spl mentions :)
(all Pacino films actually)
Hotel Rwanda
Meet the Parents - Comedy with a strong underlying message
(Now it is time to look for a husband for your daughter)
The Insider
The Prestige
Bridge on River Kwai
Good Fellas ( esp for the climax - I did see a exact copy of this film in Hindi..:evil: dont remember the name.. )
Gladiator

groucho070

21st July 2009, 03:18 PM

Hamid, you too are a Pacino fan? Great to see And Justice in your list. Romba peeru maranthiruppaangga. And The Insider too. Love it. I am so blindly in love with Pacino that I am a proud owner of his stinkeroo DVDs like The Recruit, 88 Minutes and, yes, the biggest crap of them all, and purely because of De Niro too, the DVD of Righteous Kill. Yes, it will be righteous kill if someone were to assassinate me for supporting that piece of turd.

hamid

21st July 2009, 03:27 PM

Groucho :) Can there be anybody who doesnt love Pacino after watching his movies.. I liked Dog Day afternoon also :) what is the other movie name ( Be specific Charlie.. :cool: Blind Pacino... Whoo-aa)

But I have seen almost all movies in DVD only.. BigFlix and seventymm :) The Insider Russel Crowe. was awesome... Did I mention "A Beautiful Mind".. .. I should not have missed that movie.. thats another wonderful movie.( then what do you think friends are for :) Nice fav dialogue)

I havent seen the movie you mentioned.."Righteous Kill" didnt even know thr is a movie like tht.. :oops:

Yes..

groucho070

21st July 2009, 03:34 PM

Hoo-ha! That's Scent of a Woman, he got Oscar for it. Basically an apology Oscar for not giving him the statuette years earlier.

Righteous Kill stars him and De Niro, reunited after 14 years. Reviews are crap. I just bought it today, and I know I'll hate the movie overall, but its perhaps the only time you can see them side by side in a movie. Enna pannurathu, it should have happened long time ago when they were in their prime. :D

hamid

21st July 2009, 03:38 PM

:) Watch it and let us know your views..

Yes.. Scent of a woman.. Do u remember the dialak.. Be specific Charlie.. ( when Test driving the Benz(?) ) :cool:

hamid

21st July 2009, 03:41 PM

Groucho,

Have you seen Amadeus???

VENKIRAJA

21st July 2009, 08:19 PM

Nerd

21st July 2009, 09:03 PM

Rosenbaum unseletted. :twisted:

Seen only three (Eraserhead, Killing, Panic in the streets) and I have not even heard about half of the films.

groucho070

22nd July 2009, 07:15 AM

VENKIRAJA

22nd July 2009, 08:09 AM

Repo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Films_considered_the_greatest_ever

TSPDT has a wholesome list of 1000 movies.
Roger Ebert's list is quite communicable. Has that Santosh Sivan movie too. :)

hamid

22nd July 2009, 09:53 AM

Have you seen Amadeus???Watched it when I was a kid. Don't remember enjoying it, you know at that age.

As for the dialog from Scent of a Woman, not sure which one. Maybe this will help you:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105323/quotes

Hi Groucho, Good Monring..

Please watch it if you get a chance.. too good of a movie.. u'll love it..

That scene is when they test drive the costly car.. (Blind) Pacino will test drive (at great speed )it with directions from Charlie.. He will advise charlie to be specific at a point just avboided an accident.. nice one..

One more list? :)

groucho070

22nd July 2009, 11:00 AM

Hamid, of course, I will feel differently if I were to watch Amadeus now. Will definitely watch it if I get a chance.

And yes, I remember the driving scene SOAW. I need to dig up my old VCD, rembe naalachu paartu. I saw its DVD that day in the store but it lacked extras.

One more list-na? Okay, here's my top ten Pacino, in no particular order.

1. Godfather trilogy.
2. Dog Day Afternoon
3. Serpico
4. Devil's Advocate
5. The Insider.
6. ...and Justice For All.
7. Heat
8. Scarface
9. Carlito's Way
10. Donny Brasco.

Of the list, I bet many have not seen Donny Brasco, thinking that its another Depp flick.

hamid

22nd July 2009, 11:03 AM

Groucho..

I was mentioning about the other list provided by Venky :lol2: anyway nothing wrong in getting the next list of ur fav :cool:

I havent seen half the films u hv mentioned :oops:

groucho070

22nd July 2009, 11:40 AM

Venki's link includes World cinema. Adiyen mainstream Hollywood and konjam British padamthaan paarpen. I've watched very little non-English language films (not counting Tamizh/Hindi/Malayalam/Malay here).

Of course, the highly underrated British cinema needs a separate thread.

equanimus

22nd July 2009, 12:14 PM

And here's the full list (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=greatmovies_fulllist) of films that have been featured in Roger Ebert's ongoing Great Movies series until now.

groucho070

22nd July 2009, 12:40 PM

Thanks Equa. Interesting to see that he didn't list Beyond the Valley of The Dolls that he wrote :P

Edit. Finish checking out the list. Too many, so I put it in Excel file and found out I have watched 84 from Ebert's list. Now I feel crappy, having seen all these wonderful flicks and still watching sh!tbags like Righteous Kill :oops:

Vivasaayi

22nd July 2009, 03:38 PM

City Lights - Chaplin could never be outdated.Right from the scene where he ogles at a nude statue at a shop to the famous boxing match - hilarious.The romance part and the climax... :clap:

Pulp fiction - Non linear screenplay,cool charecters and dialogues,heroism,divine intervention,availability of choices,and salvation - this is my first tarantino movie and what an experience wathing this movie was :clap:

Godfather

kill bill - was tapping my foot while watching the movie

Once upon a time in america - Friendship,romance,nostalgia,action,ennio morricone and sergio leone ..what more

Deer hunter - This movie had some great moments.

carlitos way - wonderful entertainer

Memento - sema mindf@#k!!!

Strangelove - possibly the only kubrick movie that i really enjoyed.Buck turgidson - one of the most hilarious charecters onscreen

The streetcar named desire - Im rating this purely based on Brandos performance.stellar!!!

hamid

22nd July 2009, 04:11 PM

Once upon a time in america - Friendship,romance,nostalgia,action,ennio morricone and sergio leone ..what more

Vivs,

I have heard about this movie and wanted to see that for a long time.. But no CDs/DVDs available .. even in BigFlix, Seventymm I didnt find this..
I also read in one of my friend's blog that Naayakan's lighting and few scenes ( Kamal's childhood) are copied from this movie..

anywher I can get DVD or any links to d/l this movie?

Vivasaayi

22nd July 2009, 04:13 PM

equanimus

22nd July 2009, 04:13 PM

Actually I find Memento quite overrated. It is certainly a clever film but in an in-your-face way. And that's about what it has going for it.

VENKIRAJA

22nd July 2009, 05:10 PM

equanimus

22nd July 2009, 05:28 PM

I'm yet to see Once Upon a Time in America. I was never able to find a DVD copy. Still a novice at downloading films via torrents, you see.

Vivasaayi

22nd July 2009, 05:55 PM

I'm yet to see Once Upon a Time in America. I was never able to find a DVD copy. Still a novice at downloading films via torrents, you see.

its easier than what u think :)

crajkumar_be

22nd July 2009, 06:11 PM

I'm yet to see Once Upon a Time in America. I was never able to find a DVD copy. Still a novice at downloading films via torrents, you see.
Oh, nalla vela, oru aarudhal :oops:

equanimus

22nd July 2009, 06:14 PM

I'm yet to see Once Upon a Time in America. I was never able to find a DVD copy. Still a novice at downloading films via torrents, you see.

its easier than what u think :)
Yeah, I know, it's just the mindset I have. I have downloaded some films (oddly more Tamil ones; when I was killing time for a few weeks in amErikkA). But I often have a feeling that I might face many hindrances. No seeders, hogging my bandwidth and suchlike.

And I'm capable of messing up in ingenious ways too. The last movie I downloaded (came close to finishing it, that is) was Ocean's Eleven (had just seen Limey and was in a mood to revisit Soderbergh), only to find out, after seeding about 13 GB, that it was the Spanish-dubbed version!

crajkumar_be

22nd July 2009, 06:19 PM

:lol:

indha madhiri prachanai venaamnu dhaan naan indha weekend Hyderabad poi oru friend kitterndhu sila pala movies copy pannittu vandhen.. he has around 1900 films. Handpick panni copy panniyum time pathala, will need one more sitting!

equanimus

22nd July 2009, 06:28 PM

I'm yet to see Once Upon a Time in America. I was never able to find a DVD copy. Still a novice at downloading films via torrents, you see.
Oh, nalla vela, oru aarudhal :oops:
ungaLukkum Sergio Leone'kkum AgAdhunnu ninaivu. adhukkAga solRIngaLA? (illai, nIngaLum innum 'Once upon a Time in America' pArkkalaiyA?)

crajkumar_be

22nd July 2009, 06:33 PM

equanimus

22nd July 2009, 06:54 PM

That was for the torrent downloading and similar things . Sila vishayathula "Idhula Sun TV varuma" range :lol2:
adhach chollunga! appa nInga nammak katchi.

groucho070

23rd July 2009, 07:04 AM

I have heard about this movie and wanted to see that for a long time.. But no CDs/DVDs available .. even in BigFlix, Seventymm I didnt find this..
I also read in one of my friend's blog that Naayakan's lighting and few scenes ( Kamal's childhood) are copied from this movie..

anywher I can get DVD or any links to d/l this movie?There are few versions of this film. I think the DVD for restored version is available. I have the early short version in VCD. As for the scenes in Nayagan, I think the right word is "inspiration" :P

P_R

26th July 2009, 01:29 AM

That was for the torrent downloading and similar things . Sila vishayathula "Idhula Sun TV varuma" range :lol2:
adhach chollunga! appa nInga nammak katchi.

naanum romba naaL injineer padippu 7 varusham ukkAndhu padikkaNumnu ninaichittu irundhEn. AdhunAla oru moral high ground vEra. Appuram pazhaya rare padam mattum, appidinnu aatambichu ippp muzhukka ninainjAcchu

groucho070

6th August 2009, 02:37 PM

To keep track of the movies you have watched. I just joined:

www.icheckmovies.com

Avadi to America

12th August 2009, 06:38 PM

Atrocious..... NO sergio leone's western..... A man who redefined the western...... :banghead: :banghead: :cry2: :huh: :cry2: :banghead: :banghead:

P_R

25th August 2009, 12:16 PM

Disclaimer: The list below is based on the 'top of my head now' method. It is a manifestation of momentary fancy and I am myself likely to
argue against it later

Except 1, there is no particular among the rest.

1) Adaptation (wr. Charlie Kaufman dir. Spike Jonze)
....
...
...
..
.
.
2) City Lights (wr. and dir. Charlie Chaplin)
3) Godfather I (wr. Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola and dir FFC)
4) Manhattan/Annie Hall (wr Marshall brickman and Woody Allen dir. Woody Allen)
5) Crimes and Misdemeanours (wr and dir. Woody Allen)
6) Kill Bill I (wr and dir by Quentin Tarantino)
7) Fight Club (wr Chuck Palahniuk and Jim Uhls dir. David Fincher)
8) Citizen Kane ( wr. by Herman Mankieweicz and Orson Welles dir. Orson Welles)
9) Forrest Gump (wr. Eric Roth and dir. Robert Zemeckis)
10) Fargo (wr and dir. Coen Brothers)

salaam_chennai

25th August 2009, 12:21 PM

mikka nandri PR.

groucho070

25th August 2009, 12:28 PM

Whoa! Rendu Woody Allen philims. :shock:

P_R

25th August 2009, 12:30 PM

Whoa! Rendu Woody Allen philims. :shock:

3 if you count carefully. I sneaked Annie and Manhattan in one slot.

groucho070

25th August 2009, 12:35 PM

Yeah. Dayyym. But then, Nammalki listle rendu Brando irukkaan.

But I notice that except for City Lights and Forrest, all of them are scriptwriters films :thumbsup:

P_R

25th August 2009, 12:45 PM

Which film isn't I ask... <start meesic>

For instance Kill Bill. It had to be written to be realized the way it was. The Bride's first line...she doesn't complete her line when the gun goes off in the shortest range possible. The impact as audio-visual as it gets.

Gogo: you can beg better than that

is a 'line', in that it is all about hanging on to the word and expanding on it to fill the situation. But the accompanying fake laugh and the descent to disconcerting tone is what brought it to life. What a pause between two action sequences which are starkly different in feel

kid-glove

25th August 2009, 02:18 PM

Not sure about a definite list, but I like most of the films mentioned here, them all have a rewatch quotient.

Apocalypse Now
Citizen Kane
The Godfather
Raging Bull

Pulp Fiction
T-II
7
Matrix
Taxi Driver
Dr. Strangelove.

The Killing
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Goodfellas

Fight club
Angry Men (Sidney Lumet)
Once upon a time in America (Sergio Leone)
2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick)
Vertigo

Psycho (1960)
Strangers on a Train
Predator

The Shining-Never had the clarity to appreciate most of Kubricks,yet sat through a few trying to self-intellectualise.But this one here genuinely scared the shite outta me.Still Shaking With Fear when Olive Oyl examines the manuscripts or when Jacky heaves through doors with that collarbone axe.
Mulholland Drive-Ended up watching it due to the constant Lynchings and Interpretation discussions among my peer groups.Thats the period I was getting started with serious english movies and understandably the climax got my ballzies crushed.Ended up loving the dreaminess during revisits.

Chinatown - Mixture of great acting, exquisite cinematography and brilliant screenplay. The pace of the movie is superb and keeps us engaged from the first scene till the credits.
One flew over cuckoo's nest - One of the greatest performances ever in the history of Cinema. Simple yet powerful. Poetic. The imaginary play-by-play commentary scene gives me goosebumps every time I watch it.
Lynch (Blue Velvet/Mulholland Dr/Lost highway). I am going with Blue Velvet. Eerie, intriguing, mysterious. There's some really great symbolism in the film. I haven't got the film completely but watching it is an experience.
Fargo

Amadeus - what a movie.. those expressionsof hatred Not Worthy..
Bridge on River Kwai

City Lights - Chaplin could never be outdated.Right from the scene where he ogles at a nude statue at a shop to the famous boxing match - hilarious.The romance part and the climax... Clap
Pulp fiction - Non linear screenplay,cool charecters and dialogues,heroism,divine intervention,availability of choices,and salvation - this is my first tarantino movie and what an experience wathing this movie was Clap
Memento
Once upon a time in america - Friendship,romance,nostalgia,action,ennio morricone and sergio leone ..what more

Adaptation (wr. Charlie Kaufman dir. Spike Jonze)
Manhattan/Annie Hall (wr Marshall brickman and Woody Allen dir. Woody Allen)
Crimes and Misdemeanours (wr and dir. Woody Allen)

groucho070

25th August 2009, 03:00 PM

Nice overall list, Thilak.

PR, I gotta agree with you on that. Every film is a scriptwriter's film, unless its totally 100% improvised. But athulayum kathai irukkanume.

P_R

25th August 2009, 03:02 PM

But athulayum kathai irukkanume.

Apparently that's not a must. I'd say more but Woody would "knock my contacts out"

groucho070

25th August 2009, 03:11 PM

No. Say more. Caveman time campfire-la sutti utkaarntha kathai solla arambichi, innikku varaikkum pala medium-la solluraangga (politician speech udpada). Ippo yaaru no need-urangga?

P_R

25th August 2009, 03:14 PM

Postmodern philosophical musings, the human condition, the victory of the human spirit, cruelty being man's natural inclination, the nature of death, evanascence of human experience, the inconsequentiality of will, death and its relation to social existence...

You must subject yourself to all this before we begin the poll.

kid-glove

25th August 2009, 03:28 PM

None of such themes should be visually articulated? You do like them when embedded to a detailed plot, don't you?

Reductive usage of cinema if it was your way alone. Nothing wrong to prioritize such themes, and sacrifice a fast-paced eventful storytelling/narrative. Expansiveness of Cinema. :notworthy:

P_R

25th August 2009, 03:45 PM

None of such themes should be visually articulated? You do like them when embedded to a detailed plot, don't you? Exacly. Embedding itself won't do. If one can see the plot is an excuse then it doesn't work.

Of late I have become short of patience for any film that asks to be taken seriously. Burn After Reading is such a discomfiting film. But it was said with a laugh. I realize I am being restrictive. But eased me into 'depths' much easier than many other heavy musing films.

Nothing wrong to prioritize such themes, and sacrifice a fast-paced eventful storytelling/narrative. Expansiveness of Cinema. :notworthy: I have hardly ever found it engrossing.

Reductive usage of cinema if it was your way alone. Hmm...I wouldn't argue against that actually :-)

I just feel that at the end of it, it is always about the story of people. If it about the universe it is about people in the universe. People and what 'happens' to them is inevitable. A flower is beautiful but there is a reason why there cannot be movie 'just about flowers'

crajkumar_be

25th August 2009, 04:03 PM

Disclaimer: The list below is based on the 'top of my head now' method. It is a manifestation of momentary fancy and I am myself likely to
argue against it later

2001 - A Space Odyssey
A Clockwork Orange
Dr. Strangelove
The Big Lebowski
Fargo
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Rain Man
The Godfather 1
The Godfather 2
City Lights

P_R

25th August 2009, 04:05 PM

CR, doesn't 2001 belong to the category of "adEi...ennangadA solla vareenga ?!"

crajkumar_be

25th August 2009, 04:06 PM

CR, doesn't 2001 belong to the category of "adEi...ennangadA solla vareenga ?!"
Experience. Never felt like that for any movie (Tarkovsy's "Stalker" is another example)

kid-glove

25th August 2009, 05:35 PM

PR,
it boils down to how receptive, and patient you are. It comes to taste (don't they all?).
No, it's not acquired. It happens inherently, and I'm able to meditate over the Qatsi trilogy of films. It's a worthy experience and it is not true for most.

A flower is beautiful but there is a reason why there cannot be movie 'just about flowers'

That's a limitation/norm which great auteurs have overcome. See, Suicide could be a morbid thing but there is no limitation in "Taste of cherry" being just about its procession. Again, the landscape, natural sounds, the vague details of the lead character (little reactions here and there, lack of emotion, and yeah, we end up knowing it's an actor at the end of it), and the supporting characters (of different ethnicity and different idiosyncrasies - thus, different reactions). I'm able to indulge, PR. How do I articulate it?

P_R

25th August 2009, 06:37 PM

PR,
it boils down to how receptive, and patient you are.
I agree.
The absolutist tone in my posts here are just put-on. Mine is largely a quest - a la officer Panneer- to understand what is it that I am missing in my make-up that stands in the way of me enjoying the films. I mean it is not funny to find myself not clicking with almost all of the big names. Why do I care ? Well because there is something about the medium that is not getting across.

I mean, what is in it in 'Bicycle Thieves' that makes it so interesting to watch, what is in Antonioni's 'Red Desert' that puts me to sleep. I can only think of the presence of a 'plot' as I know it.

No, it's not acquired. Uh oh !

See, Suicide could be a morbid thing but there is no limitation in "Taste of cherry" being just about its procession. Again, the landscape, natural sounds, the vague details of the lead character (little reactions here and there, lack of emotion, and yeah, we end up knowing it's an actor at the end of it), and the supporting characters (of different ethnicity and different idiosyncrasies - thus, different reactions).

I think I wrote about this very film long time back. More than the film what I recall is Kiarostami's interview in the extra features. It was great and one part about his film watching experience. He talked about how he sometimes found film boring when in filmfests. But the films lingered and stayed on with him. I thought he was pulling my leg with some tongue-in-cheek humour.

But that more or less how I remember Taste of Cherry. I would never watch it again. It had its nice overall feel to it. I won't even say it could have been made quicker. It had to have that languid pace for it to work. But the meditative framework is something I find laborious. Make that excruciatingly laborious.

That is what makes me read the blurb of Stalker and download Burn After Reading.

But I think it leads me on to a confession of a larger internal malaise. Novels of that sort and brooding poems do not appeal to me for the same reason. Laughing at the brooding almost always works.

I'm able to indulge, PR. How do I articulate it? I get it. But this 'how to articulate' question doesn't seem to be one that many agonize over sufficiently.

kid-glove

25th August 2009, 08:05 PM

I don't think it is 'entirely' acquired. Put it that way.

But I think it leads me on to a confession of a larger internal malaise. Novels of that sort and brooding poems do not appeal to me for the same reason. Laughing at the brooding almost always works.

I get it now. :)

kid-glove

25th August 2009, 08:11 PM

But this 'how to articulate' question doesn't seem to be one that many agonize over sufficiently.

Noted.

groucho070

26th August 2009, 12:37 PM

P_R

26th August 2009, 01:05 PM

But this 'how to articulate' question doesn't seem to be one that many agonize over sufficiently.

Noted.
Just to be clear I meant:

But this 'how to articulate' question doesn't seem to be one that many filmmakers agonize over sufficiently.

kid-glove

26th August 2009, 01:25 PM

But this 'how to articulate' question doesn't seem to be one that many filmmakers agonize over sufficiently.

They'd have to make an 'adaptation' to have some transparency. :D

crajkumar_be

26th August 2009, 01:40 PM

-indha post-a appadiye kondu poi TN ku sift pannitten! :oops: -

kid-glove

26th August 2009, 01:44 PM

Spellbound - Rubbish :x

wrong thread. :lol:

Anyway what about Ingrid? :oops:

groucho070

26th August 2009, 01:45 PM

:lol: Avaru etho book ezhuthunaaram, udane avarthaan antha psychiatrist-aam. Nobody checked. Etho Gregory Peck-naala padatta paarten...plus that dream scene designed by Dali. Mathapadi a better class rubbish :P

kid-glove

26th August 2009, 01:46 PM

I confused this with "Notorious", which is easily better I guess.

VENKIRAJA

29th August 2009, 08:05 PM

To keep track of the movies you have watched. I just joined:

www.icheckmovies.com

http://www.listsofbests.com/

This is the best place online. Fellows can join here and post links of their lists too.

VENKIRAJA

3rd September 2009, 05:52 PM

yArAvadhu Non-English movieskum oru thread pOdunga. ennaya mAdhiri ALunga pArka vENdiya padam ellAm therinjupOm... :)

ajithfederer

3rd September 2009, 10:43 PM

Deniro/oscar acceptance/raging bull (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH5c-WeE07c&feature=related)

Waat ae dedikesan ya :notworthy:.

From the very few I have seen and in no particular order. Might have forgotten some movies and it will be added later.

Raging Bull

groucho070

15th October 2009, 08:38 AM

I was thinking about what great films came out during the year I was born, 1973, and well, not bad. Check this out and figure out what films came out when you guys were born (unless you are shy to reveal your age)

http://www.filmsite.org/1973.html

Of the list, I've seen only:

American Graffiti
Badlands
Enter the Dragon
The Exorcist
Last Tango in Paris
The Long Goodbye
Mean Streets
Serpico
Sleeper
The Sting

Wow! All classics, except for Last Tango...which could be classic for some though all I can think of is Butter. :P

tamizharasan

15th December 2009, 10:21 PM

My list not in particular order

Godfather I-II
Silence of the Lambs
One flew over cuckoo's nest
Citizen Kane
Beautiful Mind
Forrest Gump
Gandhi- I know it is made by british director.
Gone with the wind
Sixth Sense
Schindler's List

ajithfederer

23rd January 2010, 03:20 AM

Fav films this decade

The Dark Knight (2008)- Writer Director Nolan, Heath Leger, Christian Bale and Sir Michael Caine.
The Departed (2006)- Scorsese, Dicaprio and Damon.
The Bourne Ultimatum(2007) and the series in General - Director : Paul Greengrass, Matt Damon, Franka Potente and Julia Stiles.
Babel (2006)- Alejandro Gonzales Innaritu, Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett.
The Good Shepherd(2006) - Robert De Niro, Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie.
Little Children(2006) - Todd Field (Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson)
Blood Diamond(2006) - Edward Zwick
Kill Bill Vol 2(2004) - Quentin Tarantino, David Carradine and Uma Thurman.
Rocknrolla(2008) : Guy Ritchie, Mark Strong, Gerard Butler, Tom wilkinson, Tom Hardy, Thandie Newton and idris Elba.
No Country For Old Men(2007) - The Coen Brothers with special mention to Javier Bardem.

Might have missed a few and they will be added later. Honorable Mentions too will be added Later.

kid-glove

2nd February 2010, 12:50 AM

:thumbsup:
Apart from "Blood Diamond" (which was eminently watchable anyway) and "Good shepherd" (which is to be watched this week), the other films are all favorites of mine. "Little Children" is a surprise. Have you seen his earlier film, "In the Bedroom"? That's quite good too. A lot like "Little children" in its allegorical characters and relationships, but a bit subtle and nuanced.

ajithfederer

2nd February 2010, 12:58 AM

Little children belongs to Kate Winslet. The subject matter is taboo and done very well. One of the few actresses who could completely dominate Jennifer Connolly. I haven't seen The reader for which she was given an academy award but I thought this one deserved an award. I haven't seen "In the bedroom". Will keep that in mind. :).

I thought you watched "The Good shepherd". Paathutu enna solla poringalo :lol:

kid-glove

2nd February 2010, 01:00 AM

Btw, Todd field and Andrew Dominik (Assassination of Jesse James,,,) are going to adapt Cormac McCarthy books. (Just finished "The Road", the book is just perfect. Even better read than "No country for old men". Interestingly Coens have adapted it indelibly, I should say. Yet to see the recently released "The Road" adaptation. Not sure if John Hillcoat's film adaptation could appeal as much, because the book has so much poetry even at its lurid vignettes, that I see it being lost in translation )

kid-glove

2nd February 2010, 01:02 AM

Little children belongs to Kate Winslet. The subject matter is taboo and done very well. One of the few actresses who could completely dominate Jennifer Connolly.

I thought the whole cast ("children" :P) were brilliant.

ajithfederer

2nd February 2010, 01:04 AM

AOJJ padam tvla neraya thadava pottan. But being the somberi i am oru thadava kooda fulla paakala. The road adaptation will take some time to come to tv. I have to wait.

Btw, Todd field and Andrew Dominik (Assassination of Jesse James,,,) are going to adapt Cormac McCarthy books. (Just finished "The Road", the book is just perfect. Even better read than "No country for old men". Interestingly Coens have adapted it indelibly, I should say. Yet to see the recently released "The Road" adaptation. Not sure if John Hillcoat's film adaptation could appeal as much, because the book has so much poetry even at its lurid vignettes, that I see it being lost in translation )

hehe. I am biased towards Katie :noteeth:.

Little children belongs to Kate Winslet. The subject matter is taboo and done very well. One of the few actresses who could completely dominate Jennifer Connolly.

I thought the whole cast ("children" :P) were brilliant.

kid-glove

2nd February 2010, 01:09 AM

"Good shepherd" - seen it once in a desolate mood. Somehow Damon never cuts across to me. I know he wants to be subtle and not over the top. But Jolie was good (especially when he reveals: "I married you because of him". You could see how to reveal some level of emotion without going overboard). Turturro was impressive. I believe Matt Damon was playing a complicated character. Maybe this time, I will play better attention.

above all, I was impressed by lighting of the scenes and production values. It was impeccably done by De niro with limited budget.

salaam_chennai

23rd February 2010, 12:35 AM

Out of curiosity i went through all the pages to know the results of the hubbers top 10 movies. Here is the result.

1. Number of votes - 8
The Godfather (1971)

2. Number of votes - 5
The Godfather 2 (1974)

3. Number of votes - 3
City Lights (1931)
Dr. Strangelove. (1964)
Kill Bill - 1 (2003)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Raging Bull (1980)
Se7en (1995)

4. Number of votes - 2
2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Fargo
Fight club (David Fincher)
It's a wonderful life
Memento (Nolan bros.)
Once upon a time in America (Sergio Leone)
One flew over cuckoo's nest
Psycho (1960)
Rainman
Schindler's List
Taxi Driver
Terminator - II
The Shining

5 - Number of votes - 1
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Big Sleep, The (1945)
Duck Soup (1933)
Empire Strikes Back, The (1980)
From Russia With Love (1963)
Julius Caesar (1953)
White Hunter Black Heart (1989)
The Dark Knight
Saving Private Ryan
Matrix - 1 (Only)
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Goodfellas
The Killing
Lock Stock and 2 smoking barrels
Unforgiven
Raging Bull
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Man from Earth
Requiem for a dream (Darren Arofonsky)
12 Angry Men (Sidney Lumet)
Usual Suspects, The (Bryan Singer)
Black Christmas (1974)
Strangers on a Train
Friday the 13th Part II (Scariest)
Evil Dead
Monster (2003)
April Fool's Day (1986)
Predator
Mr Smith Goes To Washington
Roman Holiday
The Maltese Falcon
My Fair Lady
In the Heat of the Night
The Philadelphia Story
The Green Mile
Mulholland Drive
Million Dollar Baby
Chinatown
Kill Bill - 2
Blue Velvet
To Kill a Mockingbird
Casablanca
Amadeus
A Beautiful Mind
Life is beautiful
Men of Honour
And Justice for all
Deer hunter
carlitos way
The streetcar named desire
Adaptation
Manhattan
Crimes and Misdemeanours
Forrest Gump
Annie Hall
A Clockwork Orange
The Big Lebowski

P.S - I got this list compiled about 2 months back. So, movies listed in last 2 pages might not be in the above posted consolidated list.