Top 100 Films of all time
Spoiler-free mini-reviews under each title. If there isn't one it means I haven't seen it in over a decade so is due a rewatch.
List is quite english-biased, many from a man's point of view, some obvious choices, maybe a few you haven't seen yet, much 'fantastic' fiction, plenty dark tones but rarely grim, sporadic lightness also about.
How-to-watch Recommendations:
Shout out to these pictures which just missed out:
Paranormal Activity 3
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Village of the Damned (1960)
The Thing (1982)
From Russia with Love
Deliverance
Airplane!
Avengers: Infinity War 3D
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
The Untouchables (1987)
Wild Tales (2014) anthology and the 1998 X-Files flick being a connected part of the series-mythology don't really count as movies but are both excellent 9/10's.
List is quite english-biased, many from a man's point of view, some obvious choices, maybe a few you haven't seen yet, much 'fantastic' fiction, plenty dark tones but rarely grim, sporadic lightness also about.
How-to-watch Recommendations:
- foreign-language entries in their original language so you get to appreciate the full range of the acting, the intent of the creators and the original audio mix (essential for immersion). As most of you know, subtitles are easy to digest once you get used to it.
- Home Projector with decent speakers makes movie-watching a really special joy. Most of my watches are DVDs, their dated resolution is often no issue. However, 3D films are recommended in uncompressed 1080p Bluray.
Shout out to these pictures which just missed out:
Paranormal Activity 3
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Village of the Damned (1960)
The Thing (1982)
From Russia with Love
Deliverance
Airplane!
Avengers: Infinity War 3D
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
The Untouchables (1987)
Wild Tales (2014) anthology and the 1998 X-Files flick being a connected part of the series-mythology don't really count as movies but are both excellent 9/10's.
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100 titles
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsKeir DulleaGary LockwoodWilliam SylvesterAfter uncovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, a spacecraft is sent to Jupiter to find its origins: a spacecraft manned by two men and the supercomputer HAL 9000.2001 is still widely-regarded as the greatest sci-fi film ever, why then do so few attempt to follow it? The formula is no secret: intelligent & epic with realistic characters playing professional non-emo roles. Interstellar, Gravity, Arrival etc all failed as they put too much weight on emotional main characters, thinking that's the most effective way to pull the audience in. 2001 proved 50 years ago that's not what we want from our sci-fi: we want grand ideas which tickle the intellect, we don't want to be distracted by one sole character's emotional issues, issues that better suit being handled via a family-drama film. Deep sci-fi as a genre isn't about human emotion: it's about our imagination. 2001 will be lauded in another 50 years time while the afore-mentioned films will be forgotten.
Let's make sci-fi deep again! - DirectorJohn BoormanStarsNigel TerryHelen MirrenNicholas ClayMerlin the magician helps Arthur Pendragon unite the Britons around the Round Table of Camelot, even as dark forces conspire to tear it apart.Where 2001 is for the mind, Excalibur is for the heart. Almost overwhelmingly-stirring, nicely balanced by striking eccentricities of dialogue & direction. A dream movie.
- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsChoi Min-sikYoo Ji-taeKang Hye-jeongAfter being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.Perfect execution all round. Choi Min-Sik ties with Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood) in offering us the greatest of acting performances.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsDaniel Day-LewisPaul DanoCiarán HindsA story of family, religion, hatred, oil and madness, focusing on a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.Proper cinema. As with all 10/10's TWBB has a gorgeously-effective soundtrack which elevates the hypnotic drama to another level.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMartin SheenMarlon BrandoRobert DuvallA U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.Poetic horror. Spellbinding.
Watch the original cut if you haven't seen it before. The Redux is good but the film loses its perfect pacing so better save it for the rewatch. - DirectorAlan ParkerStarsBob GeldofChristine HargreavesJames LaurensonA confined but troubled rock star descends into madness in the midst of his physical and social isolation from everyone.The greatest album of all time gets a film outing, and it couldn't be better.
- DirectorIrvin KershnerStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherAfter the Rebel Alliance are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.It's true what they say: Empire is the best Star Wars, and thus one of the greatest films of all time.
As with all original trilogy, watch the 'original' Originals, available on certain older DVD releases, or online as unofficial "despecialized" editions: original theatrical cuts but with the recent HD remastering. - DirectorTerry GilliamStarsJohnny DeppBenicio Del ToroTobey MaguireAn oddball journalist and his psychopathic lawyer travel to Las Vegas for a series of psychedelic escapades.The funniest and most accurate portrayal of total psychedelic hedonism.
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsJames StewartDonna ReedLionel BarrymoreAn angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.Saw this for the first time at age 42...felt actual tears in my eyes (very rare for me). Powerful life-affirming stuff!
- DirectorRobert WiseStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyWhen an alien spacecraft of enormous power is spotted approaching Earth, Admiral James T. Kirk resumes command of the overhauled USS Enterprise in order to intercept it.Hard sci-fi is more of a book genre than one we see in film, here is its best cinema example after Kubrick's 2001: epic science fiction space story of the kind we rarely see anymore. No previous Trek experience required. Recommend first original cut, thereafter then the Director's Edition as a rewatch.
- DirectorNelson ShinStarsOrson WellesRobert StackLeonard NimoyThe Autobots must stop a colossal planet consuming robot who goes after the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. At the same time, they must defend themselves against an all-out attack from the Decepticons.I'm still bemused by the success of the irritating modern CGI movies. I'm still amazed by how good the 1986 animated effort is. Chock full of memorable scenes, and an incredible Big Bad.
- DirectorJaume BalagueróPaco PlazaStarsJonathan D. MellorManuela VelascoÓscar ZafraIn order to ascertain the current situation inside, a supposed medical officer and a GEO team step into the quarantined and ill-fated apartment building.Adds enticing mythology and a memorable support cast to the hectic visceral REC.
REC 3/4 are sadly not worth watching. - DirectorJaume BalagueróPaco PlazaStarsManuela VelascoFerran TerrazaJorge-Yamam SerranoA television reporter and cameraman follow emergency workers into a dark apartment building and are quickly locked inside with something terrifying.Powerful zombie horror. Intense as hell!
- DirectorMartin RosenJohn HubleyStarsJohn HurtRichard BriersRalph RichardsonHoping to escape destruction by human developers and save their community, a colony of rabbits, led by Hazel and Fiver, seek out a safe place to set up a new warren.Beauty is in the eye of the rabbit. So much soul here.
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsGregory PeckRichard BasehartLeo GennThe sole survivor of a lost whaling ship relates the tale of his captain's self-destructive obsession to hunt the white whale, Moby Dick.That the giant whale still looks more spectacularly tangible than any modern CGI efforts just shows what a masterclass this production is. Add the great build-up, memorable characters and realistic whaling to the mix.
- DirectorKen RussellStarsWilliam HurtBlair BrownBob BalabanA psycho-physiologist experiments with drugs and a sensory-deprivation tank and has visions he believes are genetic memories.Impressive on first watch, many years later a rewatch confirmed it as one of the greatest of all time. Mixes hard sci-fi with trippy dream logic & artful direction.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsGary OldmanWinona RyderAnthony HopkinsThe centuries old vampire Count Dracula comes to England to seduce his barrister Jonathan Harker's fiancée Mina Murray and inflict havoc in the foreign land.Darkly-horrific yet sympathetic romance, and by far the best filmic telling of the great tale of Dracula.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsSigourney WeaverTom SkerrittJohn HurtThe crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin.The original and best. In music as in film, it's the quiet moments in between the loud which accentuate the thrills (if done expertly, which this is). More realistic characters also improve the immersion.
Aliens is still a very good sequel, and Prometheus is entertaining (but messy). Alien 3 & Resurrection aren't worth a watch, unfortunately. Covenant is awful. - DirectorOren PeliStarsKatie FeatherstonMicah SloatMark FredrichsAfter moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence.The only horror film to make me feel genuinely uneasy after watching. Needs to be watched alone...after midnight...no lights. Surprisingly holds up well on a rewatch years later.
Parts 2 & 3 as well as The Marked Ones are very good. Part 4 is a bore. Ghost Dimension is a disappointing lightweight copout.
As with all PA films, watch the original cuts rather than extended editions so you get decent pacing. - DirectorOrson WellesStarsOrson WellesJoseph CottenDorothy ComingoreFollowing the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance: 'Rosebud.'Famous for often topping Greatest Movie Of All Time lists. Turns out it's not far off! Addictive story-telling, worth rewatches every few years.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMalcolm McDowellPatrick MageeMichael BatesIn the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn't go as planned.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsUma ThurmanDavid CarradineMichael MadsenThe Bride continues her quest of vengeance against her former boss and lover Bill, the reclusive bouncer Budd, and the treacherous, one-eyed Elle.Alongside Kubrick, Tarantino technically also bags 3 films in the top 50 but Kill Bill 1 & 2 is clearly one production. And what a production! It more than pays tribute to the classic martial art flicks, it surpasses them. 2 is slightly preferred over 1 due to the disarming change of pace with the 'grave scene'.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsUma ThurmanDavid CarradineDaryl HannahAfter awakening from a four-year coma, a former assassin wreaks vengeance on the team of assassins who betrayed her.1 is just as immense as 2, tho'...one of the greatest final battles in film too.
- DirectorRichard MarquandStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherAfter rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebel Alliance attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke struggles to help Darth Vader back from the dark side.Used to be my favourite as a kid, but now these old critic's eyes see the Ewoks for what they are: cute teddybears who defeat the most powerful troops The Emperor can muster!
Apart from that, there's still so much magic here. Features one of cinema's most powerful scenes: namely Luke, Vader and the Big Bad.
As with all original trilogy, watch the 'original' Originals, available on certain older DVD releases, or online as unofficial "despecialized" editions: original theatrical cuts but with the recent HD remastering. - DirectorGeorge LucasStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherLuke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.One of the most talked-about films in history, and the first in an almost-perfect trilogy. The trench run at the end remains spinetingly epic!
As with all original trilogy, watch the 'original' Originals, available on certain older DVD releases, or online as unofficial "despecialized" editions: original theatrical cuts but with the recent HD remastering.